Chapter Ten
A glimpse into the past
'Midoriko, please, I'll do anything to stop Naraku,' Kagome prayed as she held onto the Shikon no Tama in her hands. The small gem was blinking weakly as dark energy swirled within it, trying to dominate the purity that's left inside it. 'I want to help you fight, Midoriko, please.' Again, Kagome prayed as she shut her eyes tightly from her surroundings, but she couldn't block out the battles that were taking place around her or the images of her fallen friends. 'I can't let Naraku take Sesshomaru too… I just can't.' The Shikon no Tama began to blink as a small amount of energy emanated from it. 'Are you sure, Kagome? If you do this you will fight for all eternity. There's no going back." The ancient miko warned gravely, but from the tire tone of her voice only made Kagome's resolve strengthen. 'Yes, I'll help you fight. Just tell me what I need to do to stop Naraku and I will do it.' The ancient miko paused for a moment to ponder on the young miko's resolve.
'Alright, first you must embrace Naraku and I will take it from there.' Midoriko explained briefly. Kagome nodded before opening her eyes and staring at the dark hanyou with solemn eyes. With a final glance towards Sesshomaru the miko poured all her love into that one look. "I'm sorry Sesshomaru, I love you so much." She professed one final time. 'This is it.' She thought to herself as she made her way towards the enemy, the very same enemy who destroyed so many lives since the beginning of her travels. 'I'll never see my family again and I hope they will forgive me for not coming back home this time.' She thought sadly as she approached the dark hanyou. 'I hope this will avenge my friend's death and keep Sesshomaru safe. I know he'll watch over Shippo for me and Lady Kaede.' The sound of her footsteps hitting against the blood stained grass was the only thing she was able to hear. All noise outside that ceased to exist. Her vision took in nothing, but the dark haired hanyou before her who watched her with suspicious eyes. He was her target and nothing else. With his death everything will end and she will be the one to end it, finally, even at the cost of her life just like the previous guardians before her.
'You still have time to change your mind, Kagome.' Midoriko suggested her voice slightly anxious and weary. 'No, I won't change my mind. This is what I was born to do, Midoriko. I was born to fight Naraku and keep the world safe. I was born to help you fight inside the Shikon no Tama.' Her words did not waver nor did her choice and the closer she got to Naraku the more she felt her confidence rise. It was reflected in the firmness of her strides. 'I won't let anyone else be a victim to Naraku. I won't let Sesshomaru and the rest who are still alive die.' The young miko vowed as she spread her arms open to receive Naraku in a crushing embrace.
'I will try my best to aid you.' That was the last thing she heard before she made contact with Naraku and as soon as she touched him a blinding light erupted from the center of her chest that consumed both of them.
The moment she opened her eyes she was no longer in the field on that fateful night with the rest of the warriors fighting. She was in a dark abyss, floating aimlessly with seemingly no purpose. "Where am I?" She asked in wonder and confusion as she searched her surroundings. There was nothing, but darkness saved for the light coming from her chest. It was bright and lit up any area within twenty yards from her position. She could feel dark energy cackling in the air outside the radius of her light. Looking out, Kagome saw thousands of eyes of all shades glaring at her in disdain with one in particular glaring furiously at her. "Miko, where have you taken me?" Naraku demanded angrily with a murderous edge to his tone as he kept his distance from the miko and her blinding light. He was anxious being in this unknown area.
The anger was evident in his blazing red irises and Kagome flinched at the look. "I don't know." She replied honestly as she continued to take in her surroundings and then to the light emanating from her chest. 'What is this light?' Kagome thought as she placed her hand against her chest, right in the center from where the light was coming from. The white light bathe her hand in its warmth and the young teen felt something stir inside her at the contact. She pulled her hand away at the feeling and felt the stirring in her chest settle down. "What is this?" She questioned while bringing her hand up to her face to examine the gradually fading shimmering residue from her hand.
"You are in my world now, but you won't be for long. You, Kagome have chosen to fight to subdue evil for all eternity, but I have taken pity on you and will bestow upon you a gift for your sacrifice. I will not make you suffer as I have."
Kagome's eyes widen at Midoriko's words before the scenery changed and her world went spiraling out of control. Closing her eyes tightly, Kagome waited until her surroundings were stable once again. She felt nausea rising in her belly and she prayed for the world to stop spinning. 'What in the world is going on?' She thought in growing panic. Why was she remembering her moments after she made the decision all those months ago?
The teen felt a change occur within her chest and when she looked down this time she was surprised to see that the bright light was no longer white, but a dark violet color instead. Some specks of white could be seen, but the violet overpowered it with its mass. With growing realization and trepidation, Kagome quickly snap her head up in order to deflect an oncoming assault coming from her right side.
Bringing up a glowing blue hand, Kagome purified the snake like demon charging at her with its sharp, venomous teeth ready to strike at her due to her sudden vulnerability. When did she return to her world inside the Tasogare no Tama? Did she fall unconscious somehow? No doubt, in her weaken state Naraku had taken full advantage from the gloomy, dark scenery she was now in was proof enough.
It wasn't long before more demons came for her and she was left to fight them off one after the other. With the white light no longer emanating from her chest she was left vulnerable to the demons that Naraku unleashed in an effort to be gain control. The very same light that protected her from any harm and restricted the demons to one area due to its purity, but now she was left with no choice but to fight until the white light returned. In order for her to do that she needed to mediate intensely.
What happened?
What went wrong?
Summoning the power of the Shikon no Tama, Kagome's hand grasp a bow that materialized a foot in front of her and as she brought her other hand to pull back the string, a glowing arrow materialized before it was let loose and annihilated a group of demons. The momentary peace she created for herself was spent searching for Naraku's whereabouts. The only reason this chaos was happening right now was because she had gone unconscious, unaware, somehow for a long period of time. She needed to mediate on purifying the Tasogare no Tama from darkness.
"It's nice of you to finally come visit me in person." Naraku's dark voice stated with an amuse undertone to it. Kagome brought her heated gaze onto the vile hanyou and with a look of displeasure she glared at him. "I was getting annoyed at that substitution of yours." At the mention of her substitute, Kagome quickly sought her out. In the far corner, a dim light radiated from a weakened and battered form. Kagome's brows furrowed in worry before she brought her gaze back onto Naraku this time with a simmering anger in her azures eyes. "You were able to overpower Kagami, but you won't be able to overpower me, Naraku." The miko proclaimed while aiming her arrow head to the center of his chest. It would be pointless to fight against him seeing as how he cannot die being a soul and all, but it was necessary in order to subdue and weaken him. Naraku scowled at her before smirking darkly. "There has been a shift and the coins are turning in my favor now." Kagome scoff at his words. "What are you talking about?" She demanded.
"There is a force working against you in the outside world. They know about our existence, miko. That is why they attacked you earlier." At his words Kagome's eyes widen as memories rushed to her and she remembered the attack from the demons on her campus. The way their demonic auras coated her like a thick blanket and the way they attacked Yuka. Panic rose in her chest as she recalled Yuka who probably alone and unprotected at the moment. She needed to get out of here and fast, but first thing first, she needed to clean her world of this tainted evil.
Kagome released her arrow and successfully hit Naraku in the center of his chest. He grunted in pain as the arrow pushed him back several feet from his previous position. "That should hold you off for a long time. At least until I'm done cleaning the mess you made of this place." Kagome made her way towards Kagami and knelt beside the wounded helper. Looking into her face, Kagome grimaced slightly at her wounded form. The traditionally dressed, Kagami in her miko garbs, groaned slightly in pain. Her main objective was to restrain Naraku whenever Kagome was not in her place or when Kagome was left disorientated like she had been earlier and vulnerable to attacks. "Kagami, are you alright?" Kagome asked full of concern as she gently laid a healing hand onto her most serious of injuries.
Kagami waited until the pain had stop to respond to Kagome. "Now I am, thanks, but what happened out there?" Kagome's eyes darken at the question as confusion filled them. "I'm not sure just yet, but I have to get out of here, but before I do I have to clean up here and purify the gem. The last thing I remember was Yuka being attacked and me fighting demons before ending up…here." Kagome's voice was slightly strained as she looked around her current surroundings. She hated it when the world became rotten and dark as oppose to its original form where it resembled the beautiful forest filled Feudal Era. If she was to be in this world she might as well make it to her liking.
Kagami's own azure eyes lowered at Kagome's hatred of the state of the world with its current darkness, her eyes mirroring her creator. "The Tasogare no Tama has been tainted severally, giving Naraku the upper hand and turning the world to this." Kagami pointed out, bringing Kagome out of her deep musing. "I know, but I can't purify it with all these demons attacking me. I'm going to need your help until I can bring the white light back." Kagome explained with determined set brows. Kagami nodded her head and pulled her arm out to the side to grasp a newly materialized bow. "I'll keep them away while you purify it." Kagome smiled in thanks before taking a seat and mediating, concentrating all her energy into the gem that was her entire world. Little by little the dark energy swirling around her began to disintegrate and the world she created in the image of the Feudal Era came alive once again in vibrant colors and detail.
As Kagome purified the tainted gem, Kagami blasted the oncoming demons away. 'Hopefully, Kagome doesn't take long. The state Naraku put this place in makes me sick.' She thought as she set her lips in a tight line while she destroyed the demons trying to break through her set barrier. From the corner of her eyes, Kagami could see the small specks of white light expanding and overpowering the violet light in Kagome's chest and as it did the darkness that made up Kagome's world was slowly changing from darkness to light once again. She couldn't help, but to smile at the sight of green grass and blue, clear skies.
Navy blue eyes gazed worriedly at the sleeping form of Kagome. White bandages were wrapped securely around her head in order to hold the gaze pad that was placed behind her head where her wound bleed few drops of blood from time to time. It was mostly healed, but tender to the touch meaning it hadn't healed completely. Kagome didn't have any other wounds besides the already fading bruises around her neck, which were a pale yellow. Yuka was amazed at the rate Kagome was healing at. It wasn't normal and yet it was another thing Kagome hid from her along with, casting an anxious glance over to the door where demons were just outside, the existence of demons and her association with them.
Yuka was still reeling from the fact that Arashi was one of them. She couldn't help, but feel jittery around these powerful beings and desperate for Kagome to finally wake up from her apparent coma. Sighing, the college student pressed the back of her hand against Kagome's cheek. Wincing slightly at the abnormal coldness to the supposedly warm flesh, Yuka's concern only grew. 'Kagome's skin is getting colder with each day that passes. Even with all the blankets covering her she, she isn't producing enough body heat to keep her body warm.' Yuka gazed intently at Kagome's features. She had gotten paler since she went unconscious and her brows were furrow in a strain manner as if she was concentrating.
'Wake up soon, Kagome.' Yuka pleaded.
At the sound of the door opening, Yuka turned her head to see the one she had come to know as Lord Sesshomaru enter with minutely trouble eyes. "I'll give you some privacy." Casting one final look at her friend, Yuka got up and made her way pass the demon lord and out the room. She needed to eat and freshen up before she went to bed. It's been six hours since the attack at the campus ended and she was both physically and mentally exhausted. As Yuka walked along the long hallways she couldn't help, but to overhear voices bickering over the news. "That is complete non-sense! These humans don't know what's coming to them." The voice was rough and edgy and so Yuka identified it to belong to Koga.
"Nobody really knows why the entire city of Osaka went unconscious for nearly three hours. The cause is still unknown, but police officials are investigating the anomaly with extreme determination and vigor. Men, women, children and even animals weren't spared from the unexpected onslaught that affected the city's entire population more than six hours ago, but there are those few lucky people who were unaffected by the city's sudden sleeping spell and their stories will be reveal when we return in a minute."
"So, not everyone went under the demon's spell." The smooth, wondrous tone belonged to Shippo and Yuka furrowed her brows in surprise. There were people who weren't affected by the spell, but how and why? She hadn't been one of them because the demons had mistakenly taken her for Kagome, the one they were after. "Their spiritual energy, no matter how underdeveloped and weak, must have neutralized or blocked the spell from affecting them. I wouldn't be surprised if they're dormant abilities begin to manifest now that demons are resurfacing after all these centuries." Yuka stiffen at Arashi's comment and paused just in front of the entrance to where the demons were gathered in. There were more people like Kagome out there with the ability to fight off those evil demons from earlier?
"Yuka," At the sound of her name the teen brought her troubled gaze to Arashi. "Is it true, will more people with Kagome's abilities be able to fight against those crazy demons?" Her question was left unanswered. "I'm not sure, but it would explain why they weren't affect by the demon's spell." Arashi replied finally. "Yeah, the only one able to resist high ranking attacks is high level demons like us and strong monks or priestesses like Kagome. That sleeping spell was mild at best and those with slightly above average spiritual energy manifested as a defense mechanism against it." Shippo commented while taking out a chocolate bar from inside his vest.
Koga's face was set in a scowl with his tail swishing back and forth, clearly agitated with all this. "Even if they're powers are manifesting, they're still useless and clueless on how to use them properly. There aren't many people in this era that train like they did in the past. They are nothing, but a former shadow of the old ways." Koga grunted out with a frown, his arms crossed in front of his chest.
Yuka felt insulted at his statement. "Who would think demons really existed in the twenty first century, especially after having the notion since young that demons were nothing, but fantasies and fairy tales? You can't really blame us!" With that Yuka stormed out of the room, her appetite vanished and all she wanted right now was to go to sleep.
Shippo and Arashi both looked pointedly at Koga. The wolf demon scoffed at the retreating female until he felt two sets of eyes staring intently at him. "All I said was the truth." He defended with a shrug of his shoulder. He really didn't care about hurting the female's feelings. The only one who mattered to him was Kagome. Right now she was still unconscious and it was making him go on edge. "Still, you should be more considerate about yours words towards Yuka. This is all new to her, unlike it is to Kagome." Arashi stated before getting up and making his way to Yuka's assigned room for the night. He had explained things as best he could while they were on their way to the manor, but it seemed Yuka was still having difficulties coming to terms with things.
Sitting besides his beloved, Sesshomaru examined his miko's face with a critical eye. With a raise of a single clawed finger, he felt the coldness radiating off her skin and his eyes flashed in disdain and concern. The golden irises that were inherited from his father were thoughtful at the abnormality, not only did her head wound mostly heal, but the bruises she sustained as well along the curve of her slim neck for the most part. He allowed his finger to trace her nearly frozen cheek, down to her pouty, chapped lips and finally along the length of delicate jaw line. This was the second time he touched her and even though he knew it couldn't be a dream he couldn't help, but feel as if it was. How often had he dreamt of touching her like this or of having Kagome in his home and in his bed, but under different circumstances?
Whoever was behind the attack earlier would surely pay for this, but somewhere deep inside his heart he couldn't help, but feel a relief of being able to be this close to her because of it. If it hadn't been for the attack he wouldn't have appeared before her until the four months. At that time she would be turning nineteen and what better birthday gift than to have everyone she lost reunite on the day they were all taken away from her last year?
Lost in his thoughts, Sesshomaru was pulled out of them when he heard a shift from Kagome. He brought his golden gaze onto her face where she turned her head to the side, the first movement she made since she went unconscious six hours ago. He could see the blood beginning to rush to her face, making her cheeks a faint, but growing red color. She was able to produce enough of her own body heat again, but it wasn't fast enough for her teeth began to clatter, obviously feeling the cold now. Sesshomaru felt relieved at the change and swiftly took off his shoes before climbing into bed with her. It brought back memories of their last time in bed together back in the Feudal Era the only difference now was that they were clothed.
Sesshomaru brought her into his chest and wrapped one arm around her waist, holding her close. Sesshomaru carefully buried his nose against the side of her head, inhaling her scent that made his stomach stir in a warm fashion. He was pleased when she buried her face into his chest and brought her body even closer to his own, trying to take in the warmth his body provided for her. "Hmmm, Sesshomaru," At her whisper, the Taiyoukai peered down at her expecting for her to be awake, but found her still asleep with a small smile on her lips. "Kagome, open your eyes." He commanded softly. Kagome furrowed her brows slightly at him, her smile fading. "No, if I do you'll disappear again and then my heart will break again." She explained to him in a soft voice. "I assure you that this Sesshomaru will no vanish." At his statement, Kagome peer one eye open.
Her vision was blurry at first, and she had to blink a few times to clear it, but once it was clear both eyes widen in shock and disbelief.
She tentatively brought up her hand to touch his cheek and at the feeling of warm, living flesh Kagome gasp sharply before sitting upright and crashing into him with a fierce hug. "Oh my goodness!" She exclaimed in a breathless manner, tears rapidly developing within her eyes as she felt his arms wrap around her waist. "You're real…" She stated in awe before pulling back to gaze into his eyes. "You're alive," She whispered out in relief before bringing her face close to his. Tears fell down her cheeks as she became hesitant of her movements and unsure with her eyes scanning his face critically, looking for anything that would disregard his existence right now. Besides from looking older and having his hair tied in a high ponytail, Sesshomaru was the same but with a strong resemblance to his father now.
"I will not vanish and lose you again, Kagome. I have been waiting five hundred and four years to have you in my arms again and despite this not being the reunion I had planned for us I feel no regret." He told her in a firm tone, his golden irises burning brightly as he gazed into her azure eyes. Kagome smiled lightly at him before pressing her forehead against his and savoring the moment. She wouldn't ask why or how now because that can wait until later. Right now all she wanted was to be with Sesshomaru and be with Sesshomaru she shall.
Kagome pressed a light kiss against the tip of his nose before shifting her position from his laying by his side to now straddling his lap. Gazing into his eyes, Kagome brought her hand up to cup his face lovingly. "Sesshomaru…I'm s-so sorry." At her apology, Sesshomaru's eyes widen slightly before softening in understanding. "You did what was necessary." He told her and at the feel of his hot breath against her face as he spoke, Kagome was yet again reminded that he was really here with her and not a figment of her imagination or apart of her dreams. "I know, but the guilt…" She was interrupted when her lips were suddenly made occupied against Sesshomaru's. Without the earlier hesitation she felt before, Kagome swiftly and smoothly wrapped her arms around his neck to deepen the kiss and she could feel the familiar electric signals flowing throughout her body.
'I'm not going to waste this moment. It's been so long and now that I have him again...' With that thought, Kagome gently tore her lips away from his and trailed along his jaw line placing open mouth kisses before finally making her way to his neck. There she sucked lightly on his pulse while Sesshomaru reveled at the affection she was bestowing upon him. The rise of her body temperature, partly due to their kissing and her growing arousal painted her cheeks a vibrant red, warming her body up nicely. The smell of jasmine became even more prominent in her scent and a heat of his own began to grow in the bottom of his stomach, making his pupils contract sharply before he secured and pressed her hips down against his groin. A low growl erupted from within his chest and at the sound of Kagome's muffled moan at his neck was the end of his restraint.
Kagome yelped in surprise when she was suddenly pressed against the mattress with Sesshomaru on top of her with blazing molten eyes. At the sight, her heart sprinted and the heat in her belly intensified. "I love you so much Sesshomaru." She utter gently with warm eyes. In response to her words Sesshomaru captured her lips again with much vigor showing that his actions spoke much louder than words could describe.
A/N: So, I'm going to stop here and probably pick this up in the next chapter . I hope you all enjoy the chapter and there is still more to come. I would like to thank all for reading and for reviewing! Hopefully, I get some more reviews in this chapter LOL! I promise more fluff in the next chapter and then some. Does anyone sense lemons in the near future? I can't help, but feel as if I rush them getting together again, but I guess you all wouldn't agree with me on that LOL hopefully the timing is good. Oh, and don't worry Kagome's fury will come soon once she starts asking for answers. First, she needs some loving!
Yuka is now in on the secret and I have something special plan for her. In the next chapter all hell will break loose in all the major cities of Japan and once again our heroes will be needed. As for Kagome's world inside the Tasogare no Tama and her relationship with Naraku, hopefully you guys got the idea of it, maybe. It's a battle of will and power just like the Shikon no Tama, but with a little twist.
Don't mind the grammar I shall fix it once my beta is free!
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Lady Manami