Chapter Seven: Genesis
It should be easier.
The opposite however was the truth in this case.
She'd ripped not just the bandage free of the wound but had completely torn away the fresh scab that had begun to form over her heart. Instead she was left bleeding again, her tears may as well have been red. She'd finished it, and all the choking regret kept her from making sound to match her cries. Inuyasha was told to go away and she couldn't chase after him, she didn't want to, she wanted to fall apart and let the world do as it would without her.
Cupid was a cruel winged creature indeed. Haphazardly shooting his arrows with little care as to any casualties he left in his wake. The arrow that had pierced her heart had been ripped away to leave the now bleeding wound. What mistress could be more cruel than that of love?
She was aware that Sesshomaru was holding her lightly, that small comfort was the only reason she hadn't fallen to her knees and tried to scream in protest of the way things had turned. This wasn't the way it was suppose to be, was she fated to have cursed romances simply because she was a priestess? We're they all doomed to die without happiness as Kikyo and Midoriko had done before her? Despite her resolve, she knew if she hadn't had someone else there she might have given into the hopelessness that seemed to be reaching out in front of her like a grave.
The demon lord that was being so patient with her was also exceptionally strong, even though her own body was wavering he was holding her steady. She didn't care though, she wasn't nervous or worried that it was someone that had previously tried to kill her on multiple occasions. Instead she was delighted that someone was there at all to keep her tied to not just this world but the world of the past. If Sesshomaru could be here and Inuyasha could pass backward in time then she could return again, she hadn't given up everything in her distraught rush away from him.
Maybe things would be alright then?
Perhaps this horrible agony of heartbreak would finally start to heal now that she'd told him she wanted him gone. It was as if there had been dirt in the deep cut and she'd had to not only pull out the arrow but let it bleed all over again to clean it out. It would sting for a while but it would get better, she had to believe that...
It offered a measure of bittersweet closure that she'd finally gotten to tell him what she felt, that she wasn't going to just be second best to Kikyo anymore. She was Kagome, a wonderful strong girl that wouldn't accept being with someone that only cared for her because of her appearance.
Though as she cried she eventually ran out of energy again, and was still not fully aware that she was passing out standing up held by Sesshomaru of all people. The demon lord meanwhile wasn't sure what he should do. Part of him, the more demonic emotions he normally pushed aside, wanted him to chase down Inuyasha and use his claws to dismantle every bone. The more reasonable part knew he couldn't just drop the girl and do it, and neither did he desire to do so. He'd said to himself that they were connected now somehow and knew it to be true.
It was anathema to him but somehow this girl was now his responsibility. A new duty that he'd have to look after her, not that it was too out of the way as he intended her to be his guide, but there was something behind that anger for Inuyasha that was beyond the normal distaste of the half-breed.
"Was this what you meant father?" He thought in vague annoyance as he realized the process of his thoughts. "I don't care for her. I don't even know her. This cannot be the sort of protection you mentioned then. Even I could read the meaning between those words. You wanted me to protect someone I loved. But I don't love anything."
He could still recall that snowy evening on the beach, the last time he'd speak to his dishonorable father. The cryptic comments he'd offered hadn't been much more than he'd ever given to Sesshomaru, this time had been nothing much to differ from the other few days he'd had personal conversations.
His thoughts weren't completely true, he cared for Jaken and Rin even if he wouldn't admit it to himself. More for Jaken as it would be inconvenient to find another trustworthy lieutenant but Rin was almost like a daughter and he would and had killed to protect her in the past. Nonetheless he didn't see it that way, he'd brought her back to life at the whim of his sword and now she was his property.
Though pushing those thoughts aside, he was left with the difficulty of the girl. It took no effort at all to return her to her room and settle next to her bed again. Her haunting request to have him present still echoed in his mind, he didn't want to unsettle her further.
So he sat there, he prefered the outdoors but the various scents of a teenage girls room had him intrigued. She owned perfumes and soaps most nobles would pay immense amounts for. Her beds were washed with even more different smells and it took even his apt nose quite a while to pick apart the wide variety of scents within.
Even when her family returned an hour later he hadn't finished. Her mother frowned a little at his presence but didn't protest as Kagome's hands were tangled into his tail when she checked on her daughter. He could only assume the glare was suppose to be a warning but was distracted with his own thoughts so pushed the vague insult of that gesture aside.
She may have won the day and frightened Inuyasha off for the time being but it wouldn't stay so easy, his brother had a nasty habit of being too hardheaded for his own good. Once the shock wore off he'd return to try to weasel his way back into her life. It was an unacceptable option, his claws wouldn't miss removing the half-breed's adams apple next time if it came to that. Instead they could find another sanctuary in this world, she was still required to show him the way of things here, if they moved away from this place Inuyasha might get himself killed being too direct in his search for her.
The smallest smile curled the edge of the demon lord's lips at that idea, a wicked cruel sort of humor reflecting in his golden eyes.
Then his gaze was drawn toward the well as the purplish-pink light flickered from it a second time that evening and he could smell the aura of magic mixed with both human and a demon he was familar with.
"Jaken?" He thought idly and curiosity finally got him to pull himself carefully free of the slumbering girl to move and inspect the well. There was no imp standing within, but a rolled up parchment that was tied with a thin red ribbon at it's center.
Retrieving it was no problem, opening it and reading it however made him frown anew. The message was from the village elder of the village where Inuyasha often stayed. The half-breed was eternally the fool. He'd left the Tetsuaiga and wandered off. None of them could apparently find him and Sesshomaru knew as well as they that without the mystical connection to their father's blade he would allow himself to fall into his demon form. A good way for him to exterminate more of the humans but also possibly get himself killed. They wanted Kagome to come and try to help them find him and return him to thinking clearly.
"Fools these humans are..." He commented distastefully. "...as if that unworthy creature has ever thought clearly."
He was more concerned with the idea of Kagome being forced to help his brother once again. This would be news that would only hurt the priestess further if she was to discover the truth. He eyed the makeshift invitation only a moment before it dissolved in the acidic poison his claws created around it.
Returning was the only viable option. On the destruction of their entire villiage would her former companions and the villagers listen to his demands. No one would tell her what had come to pass with the half-breed. He didn't like threats or extortion but in this case it would be needed to protect the girl that had somehow tied herself to him when she'd pulled the sword from his father's tomb those years ago.
Activating the well wasn't overtly difficult now that he knew how to augment his demonic energy to match it's own signature, something like a lock and key. Instead he knew that time was of the essence, he had to return before she woke or she would be suspicious of his actions.
Nonetheless the dark smile returned, if only for a moment, perhaps things would work out and Inuyasha would get himself killed. The stars curled around him and he was gone from the future in a wave of stars.
End Chapter
Whee, I've had almost no time lately, took me way too long to get this out and I will finish this fiction dammit! *Growlsandrawrs*
-Aura
Lyrics:
Breathing an air,
permeated, soaked in darkness,
emanating from within,
resonating like a scream no one can hear
The abyss becomes me,
I wear this chaos well.
Though none should save me,
desperation keeps me here,
my need for innocence,
the place where I began
With you I stand in hope that
god will save us from ourselves.
Every cry a wasted moment
until another day is lost.
Even lands we once called home
lie undiscovered and unknown.
Only heaven's silence for an answer.
And did our laughter, did our tears
have some purpose after all?
Did we toil in vain in hope
that wisdom came from what we'd done?
Even lands we once called home
lie undiscovered and unknown.
Only heaven's silence for an answer.
Are these not words of heresy
a venom on my lips, a poison?
My spirit im-purified
in every word I choose to say
If I would shed my skin, the layers left,
but not the lessons learned
it would not undo what I have done
or grant forgiveness in some better days.