Shi no Kirei Chapter 10, an inuyasha fanfic

A.N. Wow. Broke double digits… It only took me a good decade. But so much has been going on, surprise surprise. However, I ranted all in Simply Business' a/n, so I'll simply say, thanks for reviewing…and reading lol.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Shi no Kirei

(Tsuki)

Chapter Ten

(Tsuki)

Two immortals, husband and wife, with a fondness for Kirei offered their services many years later. The mistress though filled partially with human blood, was hard not to adore.

Had they known that their enemy would gain enough power to kill an immortal, they still would have repeated their fatal actions.

They were the first two of the mistress' favored ones to die. Though they did so together, as they did everything…They died so that she could have the same marital happiness they shared. The house was never the same.

It was then that Kirei knew that the day that he would lose his daughter was coming near. His daughter long since had fallen in love with a demon and would not allow even her father to convince her to retreat to the lands past that of Earth. Demons could not cross there.

Which was exactly why she refused.

To flee from the demon that stalked her, she would have to leave the one that loved her.

Although he wished to dismiss Inuyasha and Kikyou, and protect his daughter himself, they foolishly stayed, too.

After all, he was not as young as they were, he would probably have the strength and skill to defeat the hanyou. He feared though, leaving the grounds to search for the hiding coward. He knew that would be when the hanyou would make a move.

But Kirei was lured out anyway.

The village he so loved…

The memories of his wife…the people he had grown fond of.

That hanyou had had everything slaughtered by minions to get him away. And while, Kirei tried to save as much as he could, Naraku had struck.

Though a strong demon, her lover had been ill. His daughter's husband had been hindered by word of the deaths of his parents. While he had attempted to seem blasé about their unnatural passing, the fact hat he had fallen ill, showed that he had been affected by the news. Inuyasha and Kikyou also were ill prepared for the horde of demons the hanyou brought with him due to their own losses. Their child and the child left orphaned by the death of his parents, had both been in the manor during the attack and decapitated before their eyes.

To end the death and destruction, Kirei had been told by his son-in-law, in his last words that she had given herself up to the hanyou to end everything.

Yet once in his hold, he had never ceased the killing spree. He forced her to watch in hopes that it would aid in breaking her spirit.

In fact, Kirei returned home, just seconds before he could rip out the heart of daughter's beloved.

In his haste, the hanyou had quickly vanished while placing a containment spell on the nearly devastated woman.

It was an ancient dark magic, that was centuries old…

But Kirei had understood every word that he said. As the last wisps of miasma disappeared from the manor, Kirei could hear, "If I can't have her, then no one can. In her box she will stay, just waiting for me to reclaim her," over and over like a taunting mantra.

In the end the father and the adoptive son of his daughter that had gone along with him, were the only survivors.

The son, almost a century old, committed suicide, and a lone immortal punished himself to walk the world for all eternity in solitude to repent for all the children that he hadn't been able to save.

(Tsuki)

That night, Sesshoumaru dreamt for the first time in months. And as luck would have it, he had a dream about the decrepit woman from the herbal store and the perverted entity that was Mirouku.

Of course upon awakening, he had no recollection of what exactly occurred, however he had the faintest inkling that it had been something quite disturbing.

A dream with those two together? How could anything else be plausible description?

He had a light sheen of cold sweat upon his forehead and the pallor of his hand was noticeably increased.

Sesshoumaru would have examined the other hand, but currently it was occupied. He vaguely had remembered sleeping on his side facing the completely barren wall, completely alone when he had dozed off.

But now?

He had company.

Curled against his back was the familiarly aggravating form that was Kagome. He could not see her, but he automatically knew it was her. Apparently she had taken to his bed at some point during the night and to make matters even better, she had taken his hand hostage as well.

Sesshoumaru scowled.

He removed his hand from her grasp and rose from the bed without a backward glance at her. He spared the digital alarm clock on his night stand one, however, to take note of the time. A sigh left his lips as he realized he had woken up an hour earlier than he needed to.

After splashing his face with water, he headed towards the house's den.

Sesshoumaru was slightly surprised to find Inuyasha there. His sibling had been staring at a picture until he saw Sesshoumaru enter and then he commenced to hide it between the cushions of the couch he was sitting on.

This had been Inuyasha's favorite place in the house when he resided there, Sesshoumaru remembered after a moment. Whenever Inuyasha disappeared within the house, he always headed towards the den.

Apparently old habits did die hard.

The raven haired man strolled into the room and headed immediately towards the computer that was set up in a corner.

Inuyasha ran a hand through his hair, "S-Sesshoumaru? What are you doing up?" He nervously began playing with the zipper of the zip up hoodie he was wearing over a button up pajama top.

Sesshoumaru took a seat in the red office chair that was set up in front of a metal desk that had apple red tinted shelving. He turned slightly towards Inuyasha. "If you worry so much about that girl, you should go and see her."

His brother flushed and crossed his arms, "Kagome's the one I'm worried about right now, Sesshoumaru." Inuyasha suddenly stared off into space, "I feel… like I need to be there for her for some reason."

"Go home, Inuyasha."

"I told you—!"

"Who was in that picture?"

Inuyasha's flustered appeared increased as his cheeks became a stark rouge color. "N-none of your damn business, that's who!"

"Hn…"

Inuyasha pursed his lips, "At least I know how old Rin is, you senile bastard."

Sesshoumaru smirked and turned towards the computer. "Senile bastard, am I?" Inuyasha merely gave a nod and a grunting confirmation. Sesshoumaru let the insult drop, "Have you spoken to Rin after you left her house?"

"Yeah. I apologized awhile ago so she sends me a few texts now." His eyes lit then and he suddenly snapped his fingers and he instantly blurted, "She said to tell you something about not pressing charges."

The faux blonde saw his brother turn around. "Against whom?"

"She said she would email you." Inuyasha let out a yawn and stretched out against the two seat-er couch with the den.

It was one of two twin, red slip cover adorned, loveseats in the den. Besides the loveseats, red framed pictures of Inuyasha, Rin, and even a few of Sesshoumaru adorned the walls. An oval shaped lady bug shag rug that was slightly worn, adorned the floor. It had been decorated by Inuyasha when he designated it a sanctuary of sorts, years ago and Sesshoumaru had never felt like changing it.

Inuyasha rolled onto his back and cupped his hands behind his head. "…Do you really think I should head home?"

Sesshoumaru logged onto his account within the computer. "Would I have told you to go if I didn't?"

Inuyasha scoffed, "True."

There was an abrupt yet gentle knock on the door, and Kagome gingerly entered the room, "Excuse the intrusion…"

Inuyasha smiled a bit, "Couldn't sleep, princess?"

Kagome's eyes roved towards to Sesshoumaru before she responded cryptically, "…I was not supposed to be asleep in the first place."

Sesshoumaru absentmindedly heard her as he signed into personal email account. The topmost email was unsurprisingly from Rin.

Inuyasha looked Kagome over. She was dressed in an old pajama set of Rin. It was noticeably small on the girl, so the blonde could only guess that it was from Rin's teenage days. The pale yellow long sleeved top bared her midriff slightly and the pants ended several inches above her ankles. "Idiot, what are you doing wearing that old thing?"

Kagome moved towards the couch and gestured towards the cutesy dango prints that lined the waistline and breast pocket the pajamas and patterned the pants, "The humorous images on it, they had reminded me of ….something."

Sesshoumaru skimmed his email as Kagome crawled onto the couch and lay next to Inuyasha, "I had a dream, Inu-chan…" she said in a muffled voice as she buried herself into his chest.

Inuyasha initially had frozen up at the name, but eased considerably as the girl spoke. "I felt quite comforted by it. Is that odd?"

Sesshoumaru reread the message.

Hi Papa!

I meant to tell you earlier, but I was asked if I wanted to place charges against that store I had that nasty little accident in (which reminds me, you still need to pinky promise me that you won't tell Kohaku!). But they sent me reparations in store credit form!! (How nice right?) Personally, I feel since Kagome, my baby, and I are all fine, there's no need to go through all that hassle. Besides, I don't know how I could possibly hide a lawsuit from Kohaku…

Anyway, my baby shower's looking like it'll be absolutely amazing, so spread the word!!! Remember, it's three days from when you read this (four if Inuyasha promptly remembered to tell you what I texted him—which I doubt)! Soo exciting! Kohaku said my baby's due in a month exactly to that day! I know I told you that before, but I'm so excited! I'm having a baby!!!!

Love you always,

Rin

If Kouga abused the emoticon concept, Rin massacred not only that, but the point of exclamation points as well…. Sesshoumaru stopped looking over it, feeling the colorful text and icons coupled with the curvaceous font a little too much for such an early hour. He turned around in his chair as Inuyasha responded to her question. He tuned into their conversation. Inuyasha was asking her question. "Why would that be weird, princess?"

"What does it feel like to have a father, Inu-chan?" Her voice sounded drowsy in addition to being muffled.

Inuyasha looked at Sesshoumaru with a perplexed expression as he answered, "What do you mean?"

"How did it feel when you two were together?"

Sesshoumaru looked at Kagome abruptly, "You believe you had a dream about your father?" It was less a question than it was a statement. For some reason, he could not get the sight of that woman—Kaede out of his mind.

Kagome looked at him with a small smile, partially due to the fact that she was glad that he was speaking to her, and partially out of remembrance of her dream. "I dearly wish it was of him… That man seemed so kind and I felt strong affection towards him."

"And it was not Inuyasha?"

Kagome detached herself from the man in question and looked at him. Azure eyes narrowed a bit in thought. She slid off the couch and kneeled in front of him. The girl touched his cheek and scrutinized him, "No. It was not him."

Inuyasha stared back at her and slowly sat up, careful not to hit her with the action. He was starting to get uncomfortable with how comfortable he felt around her. But he tossed over what she had revealed, in his own mind. "Your father," he mused mostly to himself. His eyes glazed over a bit as he zoned out.

Would it possible for he too, to be able to recall this father of hers?

Sesshoumaru abruptly rubbed his eyes, "So you do have family." That did nothing to ebb away the confusion he felt at her appearance.

Inuyasha slowly rose from the couch completely. Perhaps he needed some time to think. "You know, Sess, I think I will head home. I have to return that stuff Kagome wore yesterday anyway." He patted Kagome on the head, "I'll see you later though, princess," he added when Kagome's face suddenly clouded over.

Sesshoumaru nodded vaguely and rose as well. "Try not to get into trouble," he murmured dryly as he left the room.

His brother rolled his eyes with a snort, "He always knew how to deliver the most touching good byes."

He took off his hoodie and put it over Kagome's shoulders, "I'll see you later," he repeated after zipping it up. He headed, then, out the door of the den and made his way to the room he had been situated in during his impromptu stay. 'I just hope she cooled down. It'll be quite the bitch if I pack all my shit for nothing…'

Kagome watched him leave as she slunk down into the loveseat.

As she plopped down, her hand hit a something hard.

The raven haired girl cradled her hand briefly in response to the sharp pain. However as it quickly ebbed away, she slid her hand within the folds of the couch to see what had been the cause.

With confusion, Kagome dug out a silver picture frame. She unconsciously began mouthing a name.

Kikyou

(Tsuki)

Kikyou awoke with a start.

The room was pitch black and groggily she moved to sit up. 'I could have sworn someone…' She mentally trailed off, in favor of finishing the sentence incredulously out loud, "Called my name."

But no. That was impossible.

She was alone. After all, Inuyasha had left.

And she had not had the courage to apologize ask him to come back home that Monday with Suikotsu.

Not only had she made up some excuse as to why the two of them could not see her roommate then, she was even planning on skipping breakfast with Suikotsu this morning.

She grimaced as she rubbed her eyes to clear her vision. When she opened them again, she noticed with a slight twinge of shock that she wasn't in her own room. Unless of course she had redecorated in her sleep, the room definitely wasn't hers.

Kikyou's vision suddenly swam under the plethora of red and one blink was enough to alert her that she had begun crying.

A surprised hand moved to her now tear-streaked cheek.

She vaguely noted the time and that she had woken later than the normal hour she usual greeted the morning at.

Kikyou slowly got off the bed and headed towards her own room, feeling a bit suffocated. There, she threw on a large green knit sweater and slipped into a pair of shoes not caring that the sweater's lime color looked borderline heinous over the orange colored night dress and the black boots that seemed to be the only footwear she could find. She threw her hair up in a quick ponytail and grabbed cab money before rushing out of the apartment.

She heard herself murmur an address to the cab driver and soon found herself in front of a house she had visited many a times during her adolescence.

Kikyou shakily stepped out of the cab, paying him the sum in her hands, idly wondering why she had come to this house of all places. She waved off the change the driver produced and with a wry smile she slowly headed towards the front door.

'I doubt he would be awake now…' She smacked her head lightly, "Just what the hell am I doing?"

She turned around and started back down the walk way, just as the door opened.

"…Kikyou?"

The raven haired woman went still. After a second she turned back around. She could not suppress the small smile that now played across her lips. "Inuyasha."

He was standing in the middle of the doorway, rubbing the back of head sheepishly, "You look like shit."

With a laugh Kikyou broke the distance between them and rushed into his arms. Inuyasha let go of his suitcase as he haphazardly caught her.

He reprimanded her gently as he steadied himself under her weight, "Crazy girl! Do you realize what time it is? What are you doing here anyway?"

Kikyou hugged him tightly, "I don't know…"

He huffed as he shifted the two of them so that he could close the front door. He got a better look at her and immediately wished that he had left the door open. "And you're basically in your pajamas no less. I'm starting to think all girls just are born not to be health conscious," he grumbled sarcastically.

"I'm sorry Inuyasha."

"Yeah, yeah, you were wrong, you're sorry, and I forgive you. So let's just skip to me making you breakfast, 'cause you feel a hell of a lot lighter, Kikyou."

"Please let me finish my apology, Inuyasha, or I'll never stop feeling guilty," she breathed out. Inuyasha shook his head at her, but let her continue. The raven haired girl released him and ran a hand through her hair, "I'm sorry I misunderstood the situation between you with Mirouku. I honestly don't know what was running through my head. I never should have snapped at you because without you, I can't even function anymore…"

Inuyasha felt his heart skip a beat for some reason. With a nervous chuckle, he picked up his suitcase and headed back towards the front door, "What did I just say? You were already forgiven," he murmured somewhat gruffly.

"Now let's go."

(Tsuki)

"Mistress-sama, it's time for your studies. Please follow me."

The blue eyed child looked up at the tall, raven haired woman. Her pristine skin seemed to glow beneath the slivers of sunlight that broke through the canopy of the gardens yet cool, chocolate eyes stared back at her.

She was a pride of the immortal realm. Her strength was well noted, but no more so than her passion for knowledge. She had a love for mortal history and medicine like no other

Kagome nodded a bit and commenced to follow the stoic woman. After a moment she paused. Her guardian stopped walking as well. "…Are you unhappy to be within my company?"

"Whether I am unhappy or not that has nothing to do with the fact that I promised to do your father a favor."

Kagome gingerly took her hand, "If you are unhappy, then I will be unhappy too."

The woman sighed and stiffly took back her stolen appendage, "Nonsense…Emotions do not work like that."

Kagome shook her head in disagreement, "But they do! It would make me sad to know that I am the cause for your unhappiness. I cannot be happy know that I rob you of happiness."

With a resigned sigh she admitted, "You do not make me unhappy, mistress."

Shock spread onto the younger girl's features, "I don't?"

A curt nod greeted the question, "Such surprise is unnecessary, mistress…It has been a rather interesting few months and I have somewhat enjoyed them. However, I am not used to such affections. Especially not from someone I serve. In this manor I am beneath you."

Kagome again shook her head, appalled at the thought, "But you don't serve me and papa and I never thought either of you beneath us!" She looked down at her feet, "You and Inuyasha are the only friends I have besides papa. The villagers age so quickly that every time I return, it is like," she closed her eyes, "…like we have to start over again as perfect strangers." Her tone saddened and for a second time she clasped the woman's hands, "May I see us as friends?"

And for the first time since Kagome had met the woman, she smiled. It was a small smile, but a smile nonetheless. "I suppose there would be no harm in it. You may."

Kagome giggled and in a fit of joy, embraced the woman.

(Tsuki)

Blue eyes met amber once Inuyasha rang the doorbell. The azure orbs swam with excitement, "You have returned!"

She clasped her hands together and tightly embraced him.

Kikyou raised a brow as soon as she heard a female voice. A raven haired girl, of average height, if she was guessing her age correctly, with oddly colored eyes. What shocked her though, was that Inuyasha freely embraced her and even went as far as to ruffle her hair, "Run inside, princess. I thought I told you to change your clothes."

As the girl stepped aside, never relinquishing hold of the man, she suddenly caught sight of Kikyou.

Kikyou looked on in confusion as the girl paused before extending a hand towards the woman.

"…Hello," Kikyou murmured, slowly reach to grasp the extended hand, wondering if the girl intended to shake hands.

But she didn't.

Rather she pulled Kikyou into a tight embrace, "You are someone that I have dreamt of… I know you… Chère protectrice !"

Kikyou felt her head swim at the affectionate utterance.

It reminded her…

It reminded her of something she had heard before….

"You seem to love French the most, mistress …Why is that?"

"Kikyou! You said it again! That's the third time this week! Remember, please call me Kagome."

"My apologies…Habits are hard to break, I suppose… Kagome-chan. Now answer my question." She smiled a bit, "I am rather curious."

"I only really use it when talking about you, Kikyou… French is one of the most beautiful things that I have heard, yet it is complicated and sometimes hard to understand. To me, it is like you, Protectrice…"

"I suppose I can say the same thing about you, little one." She laughed a bit, and in a slightly uncharacteristic move, she spontaneously requested, "Teach me how to say, 'mistress,' in French. If you can get away with calling me by my title, you certainly must allow me to call you by yours."

Kagome giggled. "Deal!" She closed her eyes and tried to remember the words that her father had taught her… "So you will be ma chère protectrice, et moi…je suis ta chère—"

Kikyou furrowed her brows and the word suddenly fell off her tongue, "Maitresse."

Inuyasha looked alarmed. He looked between the two. One was utterly confused, the other seemingly content, whether she understood why or not.

But if he was guessing correctly.

Inuyasha felt a spasm of nausea… If he was guessing correctly, then Kikyou was the other guardian.

Did that mean that…?

Once upon a time…

Inuyasha's eyes widened.

Had he loved her?

(Tsuki)

Turquoise eyes shot open and a red haired boy shot out of bed, feeling excited. "She's awake!"

He chuckled quietly, "She always seemed like she would be the most stubborn one, but she's basically ahead of the game."

Shippou hurriedly dressed, "This has to be a sign of some sorts…!"

His door suddenly creaked open and the red head froze, biting his tongue to keep from letting out a surprised yell, "So you can feel it, huh, Shippou? Every time one of us awakens…"

Shippou whirled around to see Mirouku.

He looked a bit troubled and had dark rings under his eyes as if he hadn't slept. Shippou smirked a bit hoping to keep an upper hand in the situation, "So you've finally decided to stop playing dumb, Mirouku? Are you ready to tell me now, how much have you remember?"

This encounter was inevitable. During his guardianship, he had been one who had had the potent gift of an oracle. There was no doubt in Shippou's mind that with every passing second, more and more of his abilities were returning.

And the Mirouku of that era, never would have ignored all of these signs. Neither would he have waited this long to say something.

The raven haired man quietly spoke and Shippou vaguely noted a slight quiver to his voice, "In a week's time, I will have memory of everything. And you?"

"I never lost any of it…I think that was my punishment for taking my own life."

Mirouku turned away. "…That must have been difficult."

"It gets easier… And now I think will be the final time—"

"I never thought that…" Mirouku interrupted suddenly and he placed two firm hands on Shippou's shoulders, "I saw those children growing up and falling in love with each other! They were not destined to die by that bastard's filthy hands as they did, Shippou. They have returned onto their path, and I would not be able to bear it if that happens a second time!" Abruptly Shippou knew what had been keeping the man up all night. He had seen something he probably shouldn't have. The death of his son…

Shippou sighed, "That won't happen a second time…"

"But what I am seeing—it must have some bearing on the future, or else I would not see it! Why do you think I have been acting so oblivious?! Should we be pushing this?"

"What you see in the past will have no reflection on the future…Kagome's presence is simply awakening the past. They are because of her powers, not yours." Shippou sadly murmured, "So in those regards, we have no choice. Kirei set things into motion for a reason. He loved her more than any of us ever could. Do you think he would force her through any more?"

Mirouku leaned against the younger man, trying to rationalize, "I cannot see her losing my grandchild, but I probably am not strong enough yet to see that far into the future."

Shippou sighed, "She won't lose the baby Mirouku… Kagome won't meet you, me, or Sango until the shower. And even then, there's no guarantee that she'll remember us. She basically seems to be remembering things in the order that they happened." He grimaced, "So she has to meet all of the mercenaries first."

"What makes you think that Naraku won't act before then?"

"Naraku knows that she's awake, but you can trust that he won't make a move until he remembers everything. And from what I can tell, he going at a slower pace than any of the others. After all…he's just a reincarnation as well."

Mirouku froze, "What do you mean? I knew nothing of his death…"

"Demons are not called immortals for a reason, Mirouku."

"He died of natural causes," came an incredulous and disgusted inquiry.

"Thankfully no…" Shippou's eyes flashed, "He had promised the demons that possessed him, 'time' with my mother, once she was captured. He never expected that his own spell would backfire on him. So they devoured him, from the inside out. Such thing would not be possible for an immortal, as you know."

"Well, even that sounds too good for him…"

Shippou rubbed his temples, "So what are you planning on doing?"

Mirouku moved towards the window. He pushed away the thick black curtains and took a glance outside. It was a still dark out.

"Sango won't be up for another hour and I don't have work for awhile either. Did you have any plans?"

Shippou shook his head, suddenly a bit sheepish, "I hadn't really figured anything out. I was probably headed to the Goshinboku out of habit though."

Mirouku pulled a chair from a desk that had been in the corner of the room, with a nod at Shippou, "I have been piecing things together from visions alone. Kirei for the most part has refused to supplement any of my theories. You actually remember every, if not all the details, though."

Shippou took the hint and plopped back down on his bed. "Well…I suggest you get comfortable…."

(Tsuki)

A.N. I'm such a sickie –frowny face- I caught my third cold since the beginning of the school year and I'm running low on Dayquil. So next update date is iffy. I'm having lotsa issues as you all can see, heh.

R&R