Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or his characters, and have no right to it except as a long time fan.
Midoriko's Gift
Part Two
Chapter Four: His Chosen
Sesshomaru looked around from his position on the battle field. The half-breed abomination and his incarnates were finally gone. He glanced around at his pack and temporary allies as they celebrated, but he knew it was not quite over. He looked to the miko standing off by herself, the complete jewel glowing softly in her hand, and met her eyes when she looked to him.
He could easily see her thoughts matched his own, and he nodded and waited for her to get rid of the jewel. She returned his nod and focused on the jewel.
"I wish for Midoriko to be free." He heard her whisper the wish, an appropriate one in his opinion, not waiting for her companions to gather around or see what they thought. He respected her all the more for that. She didn't waste time on such trivial things and chance something else happening to the jewel.
Sesshomaru watched as the jewel began to grow brighter and brighter, gaining everyone's attention, and felt the miko's power spike. He knew she wasn't doing it in preparation for anything. It was more that her powers were suddenly growing at a rapid rate.
Before he could decide whether to question her about it or not she and the glowing jewel vanished. His sensitive ears easily picked up her companions crying out her name and running to the spot she had been standing at as if that would solve anything.
His eyes narrowed ever so slightly in his confusion. He didn't understand. Where had the miko gone? He'd heard her wish on the jewel and saw nothing wrong with it. It had still been pure after she spoke the wish. There was no reason for her to have vanished as she did.
Perhaps it is a function of how the jewel works. He considered. Would it have done that no matter the wish or who spoke it? Or was it a consequence of a selfless wish being spoken by the priestess of the sacred jewel? He wondered as he watched the gathering.
Sesshomaru glanced down as he felt tiny arms wrap around his leg. He saw Rin clinging to him and at her side was the kit that the miko had claimed. He had heard the soft pattering of their footsteps but had ignored the sounds since they were no threat.
He was briefly surprised that the kit was near him instead of with his companions, but didn't give it much thought since he figured the kit wanted to be near his ward. His nose twitched at the scent of sadness rolling off them. It was uncomfortable but he knew it was because they were concerned about the miko's disappearance.
He looked back to where the miko's companions stood and saw that they were talking, or rather arguing, and appeared to be grieving at the same time.
He was suddenly concerned that the miko might be dead. The vague thought that she might reappear at some point had just barely entered his mind, but he had never thought she was dead.
I do not want her to be dead. He realized in that moment. She was one of the few beings he respected, and he certainly didn't think she deserved such a fate after working so hard to put the jewel back together and destroy it.
Still, regardless of whatever had happened to her there was unfortunately nothing he could do. He did not know enough about the jewel to know exactly how it would work in any given situation.
He didn't even know if the miko had been transported back to her home wherever that was. He was aware that she spent much time with the half-breed in the village in Edo near the bone eaters well, but he knew that was not really her home considering how unusual she was and all the strange things she had with her.
The miko's companions seemed to come to a conclusion before the half-breed turned in his direction.
"Let's go runt. We gotta go." He called to the kit.
The kit appeared to be hesitant but after a long look at his ward he ran toward the group and joined them as they began to leave the area.
Sesshomaru lightly placed a hand on Rin's head as he watched the kit.
"Come Rin." He said before he turned, forcing her to release his leg, in the opposite direction of the group and began to walk.
Now that the spider half-breed abomination was gone he had no ties to the half-breeds group what so ever, especially with the miko having disappeared. As far as he was concerned she was the only one of that group that was worth associating with, with the exception of the kit who was too young.
So he headed for home. It had been some time since he had been there since he had focused solely on Naraku's destruction. The last thing he had wanted was for him to cause any trouble on his lands.
Luckily Naraku had never been foolish enough to set up a hideout or cause trouble on his lands. Clearly he had known what kind of trouble that would bring down on him.
~oOoMGoOo~
Sesshomaru had been home for a few weeks now and had finally finished catching up on the paperwork that had piled up while he had been hunting the spider.
He had conducted various meetings that he had had to postpone or miss altogether, and took a few minutes here and there to reject some unwanted female who thought to try and arrange a mating. He had no time for a female and even if that wasn't the case he wouldn't pick one he didn't want simply because she wanted him. That would be the height of foolishness.
Beyond that his lands and his home was quiet. Rin amused herself with the gardens and her flowers when she wasn't busy with her lessons, but he was not so busy that he hadn't noticed that her happiness was subdued.
When he questioned her about it he learned that she missed the kit. She enjoyed her lessons and all the flowers she had constant access to, but she didn't have anyone to play with.
He understood. His ward was lonely. The few children that lived in the palace were either too young for her to play with or old enough to think she was too young or didn't want to play with a human. She'd had similar problems during their travels when he stopped in an area to allow her to play. It was either that or the children became afraid when they noticed his presence.
He'd never had play time during his childhood and wanted her to have it, and enjoy it with how hard her young life had been. Something she had always been able to do with the kit. So with that information it wasn't any trouble to take her to the half-breed's village since that was the most likely place the kit would be.
When he and his ward arrived he scented the air, laboriously filtering through the stench of the human village, and ascertained that the kit along with the half-breeds group was there but that the half-breed himself was not.
He took Rin to the hut where the kit was located and informed her he would retrieve her when the sun began to go down. He then walked off and began to patrol the outskirts of the village to make sure it was safe to leave his ward there for any length of time.
This repeated every few days before he made arrangements to leave his ward in the elder priestesses care. It would take her away from her lessons but he would let it pass for the time being. She could pick them back up at a later point. He would provide for her care and allow her to stay there as long as she was happy.
His decision pleased Rin and even made the kit happy. He was aware, beyond their happiness, of the whispers of the humans, both the villagers and the couple that was a part of the half-breeds group, believing that he was leaving his ward in the village to be with her own kind.
He was leaving her there to be close to her only friend, but he cared not what others thought and had no such thoughts on correcting them.
Eventually the half-breed finally made an appearance in the village and tried to make a fuse out of him leaving his ward there, but he quickly set the whelp straight. He informed the half-breed that he could do as he pleased and that his ward was none of his business and not his concern so he had nothing to complain about.
Sesshomaru then left and went back home. He made sure to visit his ward every few weeks and regularly send provisions for his ward as was arranged.
He learned rather quickly that the whelp was often away from the village he called home, and discovered while patrolling his land what indecent and revolting activities kept him away. He didn't mind not having to deal with the half-breed when he checked on his ward, but he often wondered if the whelp ever thought of the miko when he was engaging in his proclivities.
Regardless if the miko is dead or simply unable to return from wherever she is does he not remember her and consider how she would feel if she learned of his actions? Has he forgotten her so soon?
~oOoMGoOo~
A few years after the eradication of Naraku Sesshomaru was on his way to visit his ward. When he got within sight of the village he caught a scent he hadn't smelled since the final battle.
He continued on his way and eventually entered the village, heading toward the scent of his ward, and found the previous scent was becoming stronger, indicating to him that the scents were together. He flared his youki briefly since he also smelled the half-breed and didn't want him over reacting to his presence.
On this occasion instead of the half-breed rushing out a familiar yet changed face came out and greeted him, though the half-breed was right behind her.
"Hello Lord Sesshomaru." The quiet calm voice of the miko flowed toward him.
It appeared the miko had reappeared from wherever the jewel had sent her. He found that he was pleased that she obviously had not been dead, but he wondered where she had been as she had clearly grown in her time away.
"Miko." He greeted her in return. "Rin." He greeted his ward who had exited the hut as well.
He visited with Rin for a while before he decided to leave. He quietly took leave of her then exited the hut, but was followed by the miko who asked to speak to him.
He allowed that and continued to walk as the miko clearly didn't want to stand in one place and speak. He didn't want to stay in the village longer than necessary so he didn't mind.
They had reached the village boundary before she finally decided to speak. He learned that the jewel had sent her home, and that her home was five hundred or so years in the future, but now she was back for good.
He also learned that his future self had appeared days after her return and had gotten her through her grief. They had also become rather good friends if she were to be believed. She smelled of no deceit and he had no reason to disbelieve her so he accepted her words.
The miko then revealed that he had apparently known to come to her then because she had told him when she returned to the past just as she was informing him now.
"What else can you tell me of your encounters with my future self?" Sesshomaru asked curiously.
He learned of his future self's visits to her, that he had helped her come to terms with the issues she'd had while they had been hunting Naraku and the jewel shards, and that he'd helped her with her powers as well.
~oOo~
Days turned into weeks and Sesshomaru found himself coming to the village, visiting the miko every few days. They would always end up in the well clearing, and though the half-breed usually accompanied her he always left when they began speaking of things he didn't understand.
That didn't bother him. If the half-breed wanted to remain ignorant that was his purgative.
Sesshomaru could admit that the miko intrigued him. First with the knowledge that his future self had approached her and started their friendship, then with just her. That future friendship seemed to have changed her behavior when it came to him.
No longer was she wary around him. She was actually comfortable and had no problem speaking to him. No longer was she hesitant to approach him like she had been during the time they were still dealing with the spider. Now she sought him out whenever she knew he was around.
He didn't mind these changes. He found himself enjoying them. They spent a lot of time talking about her time. He didn't ask about events that could change the future. He didn't care about that. He made his own future day by day.
Instead he asked about the differences between his time and the one she was born to. He learned of the different modes of transportation, changes in clothing, advancements in healing, gender equality, government and laws, and subjects of education.
It was then that he discovered just how intelligent the miko was. He had been aware she had had some form of learning simply from the way she spoke and reasoned, but speaking to her now he learned just how educated she was. She had studied mathematics, sciences, history, different forms of literature, and a different language.
The miko had spent her years away completing her education, and apparently had passed on what she called 'higher education' in order to return to the past. A past where she felt more comfortable and could be herself while surrounded by friends, instead of remaining in her time to study more and be uncomfortable and alone.
Her family was there, however, despite knowing of her travels to the past they did not know the extent of her experiences. They had apparently met the half-breed but that was not the same as coming across other half demons and demons on a daily basis. They also could not relate to her when it came to her powers as they did not have any.
His future self was also there but he understood that they still lived separate lives. He had responsibilities to see to and could not forget about them to spend his time with her, especially if all she would be doing is focusing on her education.
The knowledge of their future friendship, their present talks, and his intrigue of her ultimately resulted in their becoming friends as they had been in the future.
Though Sesshomaru was honest with himself and admitted that he was developing feelings for the miko as well.
He didn't care that she was human. Despite common belief he didn't hate humans. He thought of them like he did nearly everyone else; that they weren't worth his time.
The miko, however, had qualities going in her favor.
She was educated, which was a major positive to him. They could easily hold intelligent conversations and debate. She was powerful. That was something she had shown him one day since he was curious. Apparently his future self had made sure she could thoroughly mask her power and use it whenever she wanted.
He appreciated greatly that she came from a time where being clean was the norm. She had always been that way from what he had observed and had clearly continued on her return to his time so she was always clean, allowing her natural scent to surround her.
The miko was no longer a child. She had grown and matured in her time away. Childish antics were a thing of the past. She even dressed properly now, although he had come to learn that her previous clothing was a product of her time and what the majority of females her age wore.
She was comfortable around him, which was more than he could say for most females. They could make their desire for him as a lover or mate known, but they couldn't stand his silences or hold a conversation with him when he tried. She had never feared him but she had been rightly wary. Their future friendship, and current friendship to an extent, had acclimated her to his presence.
She was clearly good with children. She had done well with the kit in the time she had had him, and she was always good to his ward. He knew she would continue to teach them and protect them to the best of her ability.
She was loyal, kind, caring, considerate, and had a temper. He liked that aspect of her. He knew life would be exciting with her around.
With the feelings he had for her and his affection for her growing by the day Sesshomaru decided he would court the miko.
He was very aware of her feelings for the half-breed, her love for him. Knew that it was part of the reason for her return, but he was also aware of his unfaithful behavior while she was gone. That was a clear mark against him, and no matter how much the half-breed followed her around that fact would always remain.
He was aware, however, that the miko didn't know that information. But that didn't matter. He would inform her later when she returned his affection. He was confident that he could turn her feelings toward him. Their current and future friendship should work in his favor toward that end.
Even better was the fact that despite her affection for the half-breed she was still pure and bore no mark of any kind. No mating mark, courting mark, or scent mark. As long as those things didn't changed everything would be well.
~oOo~
Unfortunately it was just his luck that once he decided to court the miko he would have to deal with unavoidable meetings with his counterparts in the north, south, and east.
They kept him from starting the courtship since he wanted to be able to give her the attention she deserved. However, he was still able to make time to come visit every few days, even though he couldn't stay as long as was his want, but it was long enough to ascertain that the miko was still pure and bore no mark.
Once his duties were done he visited the miko, determined to begin conducting their courtship. They met up as usual and talked of what had gone on while they were parted. As they were speaking of Rin and how big she was getting the miko began to speak of his ward looking pretty and happy at a wedding.
This confused him. He had been trying to figure out the perfect way to introduce her to the idea of him having feelings for her, but the mention of a wedding threw him completely.
"What wedding do you speak of? Did one of the villagers marry?" He asked.
"No. It was my wedding. Inuyasha and I got married. The ceremony was exactly what I wanted. Simple and beautiful." The miko said with a smile.
Sesshomaru stared in stunned silence. She was married. She had married the half-breed and he hadn't even known.
"When did this take place?" He finally asked after a few tense silent moments, his heart hammering in his agitation.
"A few weeks ago. Nearly the entire village was there." She answered, unknowingly adding insult to injury.
His mind reeled and his beast was just as stunned. His beast had been mostly quiet through the years only really speaking up more when the miko returned. It had been in agreement with him to take the miko as their own since she would be the perfect mate.
Now he and his beast were trying to think of what to do next. Sesshomaru forced his mind to work rapidly. The miko still smelled pure so the half-breed obviously hadn't mated her, and she still bore no mark so he hadn't mated her in any sense of the word.
Neither he nor his beast knew if they should be pleased or angry at those facts. He was pleased that she was still untouched, but he was angry that the half-breed was disrespecting her by not mating her.
It had been weeks from what she said so the half-breed was holding back. There was no other excuse. As much as he hated the very thought he knew the miko loved the whelp and would not deny him. From his understanding humans tended to couple right after they were married if they had not already.
Has she questioned the lack of intimacy? He wondered as he blinked slowly.
He glanced at her neck even though he didn't need to and saw no mark even with the white top of her priestess clothing in place. Why didn't the half-breed mate her? He didn't know but the half-breed had obviously made the choice not to, which meant he had made the choice not to tie her life to his. Made the choice to watch her grow old and die long before he would.
"But..you are not mated." Sesshomaru said, his surprise apparent, finally breaking the silence even though in actuality it hadn't been long.
"Yes I am." The miko said with a nod. "The ceremony happened and it was great. All my friends were there to witness. Well, you weren't there but I didn't think you would want to be around Inuyasha even for the short time it would take to link our lives together."
Sesshomaru blinked and realized the miko didn't know, didn't understand. She clearly thought mating was the same as marriage.
I do not understand how? How can she be so unaware that mating is even a possibility or that there is a difference between being mated and being married. He thought, unable to comprehend it.
The half-breed clearly did not tell her. The only other who would possibly know is the slayer, and she either does not know or believes the whelp has mated the miko. It is not as if she would tell the slayer something so personal even with their close friendship. His beast replied.
He nodded and looked at the miko as she talked, unaware of the significant event she had just curtailed. His beast whined and he could understand. The miko, Kagome, was his Chosen. He had never thought of mating anyone before, and now he knew he never would.
Despite his humanoid appearance he was a dog demon and dog demons mated for life. It didn't matter that he hadn't mated her; his feelings and affections were engaged. She was his Chosen and that was enough.
He would not be his father. The princess Izayoi had not been married but she had had an understanding with another man and his father had come in, mated demon that he was, and decided he wanted her for himself.
He would not be the other male in her life, seducing her away from her husband just so he could have her here and there. Such actions would shame her when they were inevitably discovered and he would not even contemplate putting her in such a position. Even if he was low enough to make such an attempt he knew the miko was not the type to stray, and if she did give in she would feel guilt and shame.
Sesshomaru decided then and there to keep his silence. The miko was clearly happy and he knew she was very loyal. Even if she learned the difference between mating and marriage, she may be hurt, but she would still consider herself bound to Inuyasha for life with just the marriage ceremony they had.
He would not show her his affections either. It was not something she needed to know. If he did and she picked up on it she would most likely be uncomfortable, and it would still change nothing as she would remind him that she was bound to the half-breed.
So he would simply be her friend. He couldn't have her as a mate, but he could still be there when she needed him.
~oOo~
As the months and years passed their friendship deepened. Strengthened by their continued talks and the events that happened around them.
The elder priestess passed away, and he comforted the miko the best he could when the half-breed's barely there attempts didn't help. His ward and the kit decided they were in love, which pleased both him and his Chosen, and were given permission to mate.
At the miko's insistence the couple came to live with him. She believed it was for the best and that with a wife now in his life the kit needed to learn things that only he could teach him.
The half-breed decided he didn't want the miko to be the village priestess and another girl was brought to the village for that role. From their talks he learned that the village, his Chosen, and her companions welcomed the girl, but he also heard what was barely mentioned and not said at all.
The miko's friends appeared to be drifting away from her. The distance stretching as time passed, and there was nothing his Chosen could do. They were growing apart. The monk and slayer had their family to take care of, and were friendlier with others in the village with small children of their own than they were with her.
Though the miko was married to the half-breed they had no children. They had no children because they had yet to couple even once. Others didn't know that fact and instead believed they simply were not meant to have them. What the miko didn't know was that her husband was being unfaithful. Had been since they were first married.
Beyond those issues and events Sesshomaru noticed that the half-breed was becoming abusive toward the miko. It started small but it was getting worse as time passed, and every time he would heal her if she didn't heal on her own before his next visit.
He also learned of the half-breed's jealousy of his friendship with the miko when he came for a visit and she came to him seriously injured. As he cleaned her wounds and helped her heal she explained that Inuyasha wanted her to stop seeing him, but she refused and he beat her as if that would change her mind.
Sesshomaru had never been so furious. He wanted to beat the half-demon, gut him, and dismember his body for what he had done to her.
He didn't understand why the half-breed was abusing her. Clearly his Chosen believed that it was because of their friendship, but he didn't believe that at all. It was just the excuse Inuyasha gave her. After all, he didn't have a problem with it when they were first becoming friend's years before.
Still, as much as he wanted to kill the half-breed he knew that would make her unhappy and angry with him since she still loved the whelp.
Instead he considered stepping back and distancing himself from her, but he knew that she wouldn't allow that. She valued all her friends and wouldn't drop one just because someone else had a problem with it. She would come to him if he tried that, which might make her situation worse.
Plus, he realized he was her only true friend. The former monk and slayer were still her friends, but they had drifted away from her so much that they seemed to not care about what was obviously happening to her or were being willfully blind to it.
~oOoMGoOo~
Nearly eleven years to the day his Chosen returned to his time Sesshomaru came upon a sight that changed his world forever.
He had left his home early to visit the miko instead of waiting until later in the day. Rin was pregnant and having a hard time and he needed a break from the emotions he could taste in the air.
As he neared the forest bordering the village the heavy scent of blood smacked him in the face, and both he and his beast came to an instant alert as they realized it belong to his Chosen. He easily shifted from his youki cloud to his light orb and quickly followed the scent to the well clearing. He landed and rushed to her as he saw her figure lying next to the well.
"Miko?" He called as he knelt at her side, his nose already telling him the devastating truth as his eyes scanned her bruised face.
"Miko? Miko?" He continued as he stared, hoping for some movement.
"Kagome?" He tried desperately, hoping her name would make her react and somehow change what he knew to be true. Nothing happened; not even a twitch.
Sesshomaru quickly stood and pulled the Tenseiga but he saw no minions of the underworld. He was either too late or his Chosen did not wish to return.
His eyes bleed red, his beast merging with him in their grief, as he put his sword away and lifted her lifeless body into his arms. His beast whimpered as they realized she was still warm. She hadn't been gone long.
He returned home, passing the kit and his ward on his way to his bedroom, and went directly to his private hot spring. He cleaned and dried her body before he returned to his room and lay her on his bed.
He didn't understand how this could happen. The scent wafting off her body and her injuries told him exactly what happened to her before she died and exactly who had done it.
He closed his eyes briefly.
The half-breed is alive and my Chosen is dead. Was all he could think.
He opened his eyes and looked at her pale bruised body.
Why did he do it? He wondered. She could not have done anything to deserve such a fate.
He shook his head and retrieved the kimono reserved for the Lady of the West and carefully dressed her.
Why did he marry her? Did he love her at all? He wondered as he gently stroked her bruised face. All he ever was was distant, disrespectful, and abusive. He thought as he leaned down and brushed his nose along her neck and face.
He did not deserve her, and now he has ended her. His beast replied and he couldn't help the distressed whine from leaving his throat.
As he finished dressing her he decided to do something he should have done years before and get rid of Inuyasha. No longer would he hold back or hesitate in remembrance of their father. He was sure their father would be appalled at what the half-breed had done.
And even if he was not I would not care. It would change nothing. The half-breed will die. He took my Chosen from!
Sesshomaru had chosen not to reveal his feelings to her, but that didn't mean they hadn't continued to grow over the years. Love wasn't a strong enough word for what she meant to him. That's why the term Chosen existed. She was his chosen in everything.
She was his chosen friend, his chosen mate, his chosen weakness, his chosen ally, his chosen advisor, his chosen to see him at his weakest, his chosen to see emotions he would reveal to none other, his chosen to see him vulnerable.
She was mine! He thought in devastated anger.
He turned away from her and calmly dressed and left his room, leaving a barrier up to protect her body that would not come down without his approval unless he died.
He stopped at Rin and Shippo's room at the sound of Rin's grief, and announced his presence with a flare of his youki. When Shippo opened the door he smelled the faint traces of blood and realized that Rin was about to miscarry.
"Return to your mate. She is losing the kit." Sesshomaru said quietly, seeing the young kitsune's eyes widen, before he signaled to a nearby servant to fetch the healer.
Within a few minutes the healer arrived and disappeared into the couple's room. A few tense minutes later Shippo came out, sad and weary, and closed the door behind him.
"It is over." He said solemnly, clearly struggling to hold in his grief. "Rin's going to be fine physically, but she's incredibly heartbroken. This on top of learning about Kagome was just too much." He explained, and Sesshomaru nodded.
"I will look in on you when I return." He stated quietly.
"What're you going to do?" Shippo asked, clearly noting his still red eyes.
"What I should have done years ago. I will kill the half-breed." He answered, his eyes flashing coldly.
Sesshomaru quickly left his home and returned to the forest close to the village in Edo and began to hunt down Inuyasha. He followed the half-breeds scent to a neighboring village and flared his youki.
It wasn't long before the half-breed came running, and he noticed that he still smelled of her blood; that he hadn't even bathed away the evidence of what he had done.
"What the hell do you want?" Inuyasha asked rudely.
"Why did you rape the miko?" Sesshomaru growled out.
"I didn't rape her. She's my wife. I can do what I want with her." He said with a smirk.
"I was disciplining her. She should've learned her lesson by the time I return to the village. Did she go running to you? Her friend?" He asked with a sneer.
"No she did not." Sesshomaru growled, realizing the half-breed wasn't remorseful and didn't know what had done. "You do not realize what you have done. You killed her. You raped her to death!"
"You're lying!" Inuyasha yelled in shock, not believing him. "I know she ran to you, but she's my wife and I can do whatever I want to her!"
This enraged Sesshomaru and he sped forward, sinking his claws into the half-breed's neck, and ripped his throat out without a word.
He watched the half-breeds corpse collapse where he stood then flung the chunk of flesh and muscle in his claws onto his chest. He then knelt at his side and calmly removed the black pearl from his eye, not wanting to leave his father's grave with him, and the Tessaiga since the half-breed wouldn't need it and it belonged in his family.
He stored the Tessaiga next to the Tenseiga and carefully coated his hand with his own poison acid to clean the half-breed's blood from his hand before he held his hand out over his body and watched the acid fall in streams onto his body. He watched in muted satisfaction as his corpse dissolved into nothing.
Sesshomaru then turned away and took to the sky and returned to his home. He gave his Chosen the burial she deserved, burying her beneath the shade of a large tree on his land near his home, with only Rin and Shippo there to witness and grieve.
He put up a protective barrier around the tree and grave to protect them from damage, not wanting her resting place to be disturbed. He wanted her to have peace in death since she had been denied it in life.
~oOoMGoOo~
The years passed into decades and centuries and Sesshomaru silently mourned through them all. The only thing keeping him going was looking after his ward and the kit, who he had grown to see as his children, and waiting for the time of his Chosen's birth so he could see her again and approach her as she had said he'd done.
When the year of her birth came around he made sure to be in the area, so that it came about that he was close at hand during her birth and was able to see her tiny form. Seeing her little baby figure soothed his grieving heart. It amused him slightly that even as a newborn she had been powerful, giving him a slight sting from just being nearby.
Still, now that she was born and he had seen her he knew he needed to stay away, and wait for the year and day she had mentioned when she was giving him the details.
It would be hard but he consoled himself and his beast by reminding himself that he would have three full years with her. Years he wouldn't have to share her with anyone but her blood family.
~oOo~
More years passed and soon the day the miko had specified arrived. He made his way to her family shrine, where the God tree and the bone eaters well still resided, and flared his youki. It moved outward in a wave until it found her aura, then he surrounded her with it and caressed.
He was sure it was the only time he would get to caress her in any way. His beast whined when nothing happened but he tried again, and this time something happened.
"Sesshomaru." He heard his name being whispered, in her voice, and looked up. He saw her in a second story window before she disappeared.
He closed his eyes briefly to savor the memory of hearing her voice and seeing her face as he remembered for the first time in just over five hundred years. His memory hadn't done her justice. His perfect memory had not captured all her little nuances, and he couldn't help being upset about that.
It meant his memory wouldn't capture those same traits before she disappeared back into the past forever.
He opened his eyes and soon she was in front of him.
"Sesshomaru." She breathed. It was like music to his ears. He wanted to hear it again.
"Miko." He addressed her, when he really wanted to use something more intimate, and looked her over. She looked like he had felt throughout the years. Obviously she was grieving for her perceived lose.
"You do not appear to be faring well now that you are back in your time." He told her, which brought her somewhat back to herself.
"How did you know I was from this time, and why are you here?" The miko asked. "Not that I'm not glad to see you." She added quickly.
"You told me I was here days after the jewel returned you, and that I had become a good friend." Sesshomaru revealed, and watched her eyes widen.
"Really?! I really went back?" She asked excitedly.
"Yes. We became friends there as well." He answered, withering a little inside as he spoke the words that would return her to the past, to the one that would abuse and eventually kill her.
"Can you tell me what happened to everyone?" She asked quickly.
"I will tell you some once we are inside." Sesshomaru said as he gestured toward her house.
He ushered her back inside her home and related to her some of the major events that had happened while she was gone.
He told her what he knew about her friends and those she was closely associated with. That seemed to satisfy her and he was glad she had not asked after the half-breed, but then she asked about him, if he had ever married.
He only said that he had never mated. The one he had chosen had died without ever knowing how he felt.
Thankfully she was fine with that answer and moved on to ask about what he had been doing over the years.
This morphed into conversations every few days like he had enjoyed in the past, but sometimes it was daily conversations. These went on in between and sometimes during her studies.
Sesshomaru was amazed to learn more about her; things he had not learned of once she returned to the past. He learned the complete story of her travels through time while searching for jewel shards and fighting demons, her guilt over shattering the jewel and affecting so many lives in the process, and her inferiority complex over the love triangle between her, the half-breed, and the dead priestess.
Thinking it over he realized that she must have done that on purpose, so that they would have things to talk about. So they could speak of things she remembered telling him. It was something he was grateful for and he silently thanked her for the gift she had given him, more precious then she would have ever known.
Beyond his nonverbal thanks he trained her to mask, call on, and use her spiritual power, determined that she would be able to use them any and all ways she pleased before returning to the past.
Part of him hoped that his training would somehow change things. That she would use her power to defend herself when the time came, but he knew it would not happen. Everything would remain the same, and he would lose his Chosen all over again.