I think the deities were jealous of writers, so they invented a curse for us. This curse, is known as Writer's Block. Sadly, I had this curse and it took me forever to get out of my funk. I'm not sure yet if this chapter is, or will ever be, what I had planned for it but I didn't want to torture my readers anymore. I'm almost a week late as it is. Sorry about that! Editing was done very quickly and I know this is a little rough around the edges. If you haven't noticed, I have started to revise and improve past chapters (look for the stamp at the bottom) and this chapter will get its own editing day soon. Still feel welcomed to point out mistakes or constructive criticism!
My thanks go out in three different directions today! First one goes to the reviewer, Paxloria. She helped me to clean up the last chapter quite a bit and I thank her for it. Two other shout-outs actually go to two different songs that helped to give me inspirations for this chapter and helped to get rid of the block I was having. Those songs are Tears of An Angel by Ryan Dan & the song Lullaby for a Storm Night sung by Vienna Teng.
Disclaimer~
After so many chapters, you would think by now that you know I don't anything. Inuyasha and Kuroshitsuji belong to their rightful owners, who are wise and keeping them far away from me. I only own this plot, Bram and a muse who has not been working with me lately. If you recognize it, then it does not belong to me. Give your respects to the rightful owners and not to me.
The young earls sat across from each other. Two pair of eyes, with only a few shades difference between them, assessed their opponents. Whatever Claude had used on Alois' eyes was slowly giving back his vision and while he could not fully see yet, he could make out fuzzy outlines of the others in the room. Behind Earl Alois Trancy, a demon maid named Hannah stood in front of three identical triplet demons. In front of their group and directly behind Alois was the 'spider butler' who was currently named Claude.
Across the room, Sebastian stood directly behind his young master. The only other witness on the Phantomhive side was Snake. The scaled man was gazing curiously at the weaker demons behind Claude. A few times, his forked tongue would flicker out to taste the air around him. Since the dance earlier that night, Snake had not muttered a word and none of his pets could be seen.
"This doesn't seem like a fair match. Doesn't chess have equal amount of pieces on each side?" Alois sat on one side of the circular table, staring unnervingly at Ciel.
"Yes. Each side has an equal amount of pieces because it is a game of strategy. Why do you ask?" Ciel was fingering the white rose that laid on the plate before him. In front of Alois, an identical white rose with a purple stem rested before him. Ciel was personally unsure why a rose was needed for a Demon's Oath but it didn't seem important enough to ask Sebastian about.
"Well in this game, you and I are the kings." Ciel nodded in confirmation. "Claude and Sebastian would be one of our chess pieces." Neither of the butler liked being compared to such common game pieces. "I also have the triplets on my side and Hannah. All of them are demons. You, only have Sebastian and a handful of humans on your side. It's not going to be much fun if I win so easily." Alois stick his bottom lip out as he pouted. "I want to see you wither in pain and cry for mercy while all your powerful pieces fall before me. This is just pathetic."
"Who says that I do not have more pieces on my side?" Ciel's asked with a narrowed eye. "I have two other demons on my side and the Phantomhive servants. They are more than enough to take on your household."
"You must bring in at least one more player. All the humans you have on your side could barely equal up to the weakest triplet." Three pairs of identical crimson eyes blinked in surprise, unsure of which one he was referring too. "I refuse to play unless this is fun."
"Then I shall have Kagome on my side," Ciel answered simply.
"No, no!" Alois slammed both of his hands on the table, suddenly furious at the thought. "Kagome is the prize. She can not be a player and the prize at the same time. That is cheating!"
"Then I will simply have Sebastian find us another player after the deal is made then." Ciel was growing very annoyed with the emotional boy. He just wanted the oath to be done with by now. The more time that was being wasted, the more time Kagome could be in serious trouble.
"Fine, but you must have a player by tomorrow night or the deal is void."
"Fine." Ciel could feel a headache forming behind his temples. "Let us make our oath."
Simultaneously the demons behind the boys pulled off their gloves with their teeth and bared their contract marks to all in the room. Their true demonic eyes glowed in the dim light as they stared each other down. Alois grabbed the silver knife that rested besides his white rose and handed it to Claude without moving his eyes from Ciel.
Sebastian bared his lengthened canine before biting deep into the veins of his wrist. Claude took the knife from his master and swiftly brought the blade across his own wrist. Both demons quickly extended their arms over the shoulders of their young masters and let their crimson blood dip onto the flowers that laid on porcelain plates. As their strange blood splashed onto the once pristine roses, the petals bled a bright crimson.
Two demons glared at one another but they let their masters speak for them. After all, the oath was being made between the two boys. The demons were simply being used as pawns to ensure that the young miko was kept safe. If it was left up to Sebastian and Claude, they would handle it like any other demonic mating fight, which included a lot of bloodshed and torture.
Humans were such weak creatures.
"A battle for the woman, Kagome Higurashi will be done in the shadows." Alois spoke with dark glee. "It shall be a strategic match between the Trancy and Phantomhive households. No outside interference is allowed."
"Kagome Higurashi shall be kept safe from this game at all times." Ciel added monotonously. "The household that harms her, forfeits Kagome."
Both demons spoke at the same time, their dark tones overlapping each other. "This match shall continue until either a demon falls or their contracted prey dies. The surviving team wins Kagome Higurashi."
"The oath . . ." Claude murmured from behind Alois. Alois picked up his crimson rose and tossed it at Ciel. Sebastian reacted quickly and caught it just inches from his young master's face.
"Is sealed." Sebastian confirmed as Ciel picked up his own bloody flower and tossed it towards Alois. Claude caught the rose but it was much closer to Alois' face since one of the thorns were pressed against the tip of his nose. The unstable boy didn't even blink at the small prick.
Claude and Sebastian raised their still bleeding wrists to the roses. Droplets of demonic bloods mixed together on the flowers. The fragile nature of the blooms couldn't handle the dark energy that was concealed in both sets of blood, so their petals lost moisture and turned a haunting purple that matched their unnatural stems. The crimson glow left butlers' eyes as the oath was sealed.
Sebastian gave a self-confident smile as the tucked the rose into the pocket of his jacket.
`·.¸¸.·´´¯`··. . .·
Kagome had insisted on a change of clothes so Rin had offered her assistance. It had taken Lady Elizabeth and her servant Paula to get Kagome into the dress but it only took one girl with yokai features to get angry enough to rip it off of her. She gave a yelp as she felt the sharp edges of claws skimming her back, tearing any fabric in her way.
Tatters of the dress and the blood filled bandage fell to the floor in a heap around her. Cold air licked at her naked skin causing her to shiver. Immediately Rin started to wrap a fresh strip of gauze around her, starching the flow of blood. The young girl worked with a medical persona, not blinking when her hands brushed against Kagome's bare skin and she didn't stop when the touch of the cloth against her wounds caused Kagome to flinch.
The only time the young girl hesitated was when her fingers brushed against Bram's scales. The serpent was still draped around Kagome's neck and it showed no intentions of moving anytime soon. The cobra didn't like Rin's touch and he immediately hissed and tightened his grip around Kagome's throat. Rin glared at the snake but when she made no more threatening moves towards him, Bram loosened up and once again pretended to be a faux necklace.
After a few minutes, Kagome had her back tightly bandaged. She could feel her blood still seeping out of the wound, soaking the bandages but it was slower now and her body was adjusting to the pain, letting her become numb. Gently, Rin helped Kagome dress in the clothes she had requested from the mortician.
"Do I want want to know where he got these from?" Kagome asked quietly as Rin pulled the thin shirt over her head.
"He said something about his guest often bringing in things they no longer need." Rin shrugged as the clothes fell into place over Kagome's thin body.
"Well, how do I look?" Kagome did a small twirl in her outfit to show off the weird garments she now wore.
To the miko from modern times, her outfit would be considered normal but to those who lived through history instead of just skipping around it, her outfit was a strange sight. Kagome insisted on wearing men's brown trousers paired with a dirt streaked white shirt. She finished it off with a pair of riding boot that were two sizes too big for her. It was unsettling to see a Victorian-era lady in men's clothing.
"You look like you normally do." Rin decided to answer vaguely with a small shrug.
Her answer enticed a laugh from Kagome and she gave a grin. "So I look out of place once again?"
Rin returned the grin and just grabbed Kagome hand. Together the two females exited the back room that Undertaker had lent them. The shop was empty of any living beings so Kagome followed Rin as she lead the way out of the funeral parlor. As Kagome stepped outside, the day's fresh sunlight bathed over her and welcomed her with warm arms.
"Ready to go, miko?" Sesshomaru was standing not far from entrance with his back to the emerging duo.
"We will be back tomorrow night, right?" Kagome asked.
"If you delay no longer, than it is possible."
"Then I'm ready."
No more words were exchanged. Sesshomaru started to walk down the empty streets as Rin grabbed one of Kagome's hands and led her after the inuyokai. Kagome didn't even have a chance to say good-bye to Undertaker and when she quietly asked about him, the only answer she received was silence. They continued to travel down the streets without seeing any other citizens. They must have decided to avoid the chilly morning as long as they had a warm home to take shelter in.
They had reached the cover of the forest after just a few minutes. The shadows of the tall pines stood defiantly as the sunlight around them grew stronger. The trees created thick shadows and offered a hiding place to those who needed it. Rin, Sesshomaru and Kagome didn't hesitate as they melted into the dark shadows.
They traveled for a few minutes, away from the peering eyes of any mortals. Deeming them safe enough, Kagome saw Sesshomaru disappeared into a ball of light. It jerked around several times before falling back to the floor. Several trees groaned and crashed to the ground under the weight of the canine Lord Sesshomaru. A second, lighter colored ball of light crashed to the floor just a few seconds later. Kagome looked to her right in surprise to see that Rin no longer stood by her side. Instead a large inuyokai puppy, around the same size of Pluto, stood by her side.
Kagome couldn't stop her amazement at seeing her Rin as a canine. She was adorable! Her body was much like Sesshomaru but miniature in size. Her paws were too large when compared to her thin legs and her ears, which should have been perked up, were flopped at the corners and fell into her eyes. Her pelt was much fluffier than her elder and a light brown in color with streaks of white. Her long tail thumped on the ground once she realized that Kagome was watching her and her lips split into a cheshire grin that showed her deadly teeth.
"How is this even possible?" Kagome asked the puppy but Rin just gave a yelp of an answer that Kagome couldn't understand.
"They are so much cuter when they are younger." Kagome squeaked loudly as Undertaker dropped from a branch above her.
"I thought I told you to wait for me." Kagome could only blink in surprise as she watched Undertaker turn to scold the white canine like he was a naughty puppy. "I only left to gather a few items! I bet you were trying to leave me behind."
Sesshomaru gave a growl that shook the air around them. His eyes were narrowed in annoyance and his tongue swiped around his lips like he was imagining the taste of the mad man. Despite it all, Undertaker stood bravely in front of the inuyokai with his hands on his hips in a very feminine way. He may have looked serious if not the for the ridiculous top hat that covered half his face and the large notebooks he held in his hands.
"Dogs, they simply have no manners unless you train them." Undertaker sighed pitifully as he shook his head back and forth. Rin gave a deep huff as she moved to trot past Undertaker and Kagome but the Reaper just reached a hand out and patted the puppy's nose as she passed by. "Not you dear. You're much too cute to be mannerless."
Kagome couldn't decide is this was a truly insane man or a great warrior. It didn't seem to matter much anyways because from the look in Sesshomaru's eyes, the strange man would not be living much longer. With a snarl, Sesshomaru took a threatening step forward.
With a large flourish, a silver blade appeared from under Undertaker's trench coat. Kagome watched, massively impressed, as the large scythe swung down and stopped just a few inches away from Sesshomaru's lowered muzzle. Blood red and glowing green irises clashed in a silent battle of wills.
It was Rin who broke the staring contest. She gave an impatient high-pitch bark and bounced towards Kagome, who was still unsure what to do. The puppy wiggled herself into a low crouch right by Kagome side. Her strawberry colored eyes looked at Kagome expectantly as she gave a shake of her fluffy pelt.
Understanding the silent invitation, Kagome climbed onto the back of the canine, settling herself just behind the massive shoulder bones. A large amount of fluffy fur whipped around her, wrapping her in warmth and giving her something to tangle her fingers in so she could keep her balance.
With a last snarl at the Grim Reaper, Sesshomaru took a step back. Both canines lunged into the sky without a warning, leaving the Reaper behind. Kagome looked over her shoulder once to watch as Undertaker was slowly swallowed by the forest around him.
She was too far away to see facial feature so she never noticed when a strange grin appeared on the Reaper's lips. Undertaker watched the miko and two yokais disappeared into the air and the clouds above. He chuckled lightly as he leaped into the nearest tree and gave pursuit.
`·.¸¸.·´´¯`··. . .·
They traveled all day and most of the night. Being yokais, the two canines needed little rest. They traveled effortlessly over the towns, high out of sight where the clouds played. They bounded over a large ocean and not once did anyone consider stopping. Growls of hunger from the miko went unheard and the dryness of her throat was easily ignored. When she grew restless or bored, Kagome would just reach a finger up and stroked Bram, who was currently hiding from the wind by curling into her warm hair. Kagome had given Rin and Sesshomaru strict orders. They were not to stop, for anything. She wanted to see them. She wanted to say her final good-byes to the past and the pain it held for her. She wanted to get back to her Demon as soon as possible.
Different colors of land passed below them. Various bodies of water, both large and small taunted her thirst as they passed from high above. Morning turned to afternoon. A light cloud cover became thicker as the wind started to howl in rage. As night stalked across the heavens, the clouds themselves grew darker and the scent of rain became stronger.
Only when night firmly fell and the stars twinkled in the dark sky did Kagome feel a shift in the air. The two demons were changing their course and were slowly descending to the ground below. The wind picked up, trying to steer them off course but the powerful dogs battled back until four sets of paws landed on the ground just below a large grassy hill.
Kagome, with the help of Rin, managed to wiggled herself off of Rin's large back and onto the forest floor. As her boots touched the ground below, a flash of lightning lit up the sky and a roll of thunder gave a mighty call. Two balls of light later and a human Rin and Sesshomaru stood on each side of her.
"It is never good to visit a cemetery during a storm. It is a bad omen to see the dead on a night such as this." Rin stated wisely. "We have plenty of time to see them after the storm passes."
"She is right." Sesshomaru would never admit to being superstitious but he had heard that to step foot near the dead under the cover of the night with rain as a companion was an invitation to spirits. "Visit them in the morning, miko."
Kagome wanted to argue with them. She had battled demons of all kinds, the darkest of human kind and still lived to tell the tale. She was not afraid of some legend that may or may not be true. Superstition or not, Kagome didn't want to delay. She had already waited too long and she didn't want to waste more time just because of some rain that had yet to fall. One look at the Rin and Sesshomaru's face though showed Kagome that this was one argument she was not going to win.
"Where are we?" Kagome decided to ask instead. She could sense powerful energy dancing in everything around her, including the trees and grass. Demonic energy and holy powers from both mikos and monks were weaved together beautiful. As far as she could sense, the wards extended for miles in all directions.
"We are in the heart of the yokai sanctuary." Rin lightly grabbed one of Kagome's and started to lead her away from the hill. "Only those who are shown the way by a yokai can find it. It is a place where all demons, no matter how powerful or weak, can find a home. Our cemetery is placed right in the center so all can mourn those who are lost."
"It's so beautiful," breathed Kagome. The trees were in full bloom, bearing fruits and flowers of all kinds. The panicked cries of various birds and random animals filled the silence as the storm grew closer. Even in the dark the world that surrounded her was a pleasant sight and filled her with contentment.
Rin lead her to a nearby clearing where a ring of rocks already rested. As Sesshomaru took his classical pose against one of the nearby trees, Rin moved with practice hands to start a large fire. Kagome grabbed an apple from a nearby tree before sitting in the ring of light.
"Are they all up there?" Kagome asked after a bite of her apple.
"Of course they are. There is a plot of ground set aside for the Taisho bloodlines and their packs." Sesshomaru replied with closed eyes. "A strange Grim Reaper helped me to recover what was left of my brother's pack after the final battle."
"Sesshomaru-sama promised me that I will be buried up there when I die." Rin chirped in, sounding much too cheerful than somebody should be when talking about a grim subject.
A tired smile tugged on Kagome's lips and her eyes stung with unshed tears. "At least you won't have to worry about that for a very long time. The lifespan of a demon can be such a blessing at times."
Rin gave her own sad smile and Sesshomaru's whole body tensed. "Onee-san, it is foolish to make assumptions based on looks alone. I may appear like a demon but I am mortal. My death swiftly approaches me every day."
"I don't understand." Rin looked healthy to the young miko. She was young but she had a healthy golden glow to her skin. She was physically fit and Kagome had not seen any symptoms of a sickness. Her demonic form, along with her canine eyes and striped hair only seem to support the fact that Rin was now a demon.
"Miko, do you remember what happened three hundred years ago?" Sesshomaru asked suddenly. "Do you remember the words I use to tell you?"
"I remember you leaving. You stopped visiting and left me in the hands of Koga and his pack." Kagome shrugged her shoulders. "I don't remember any words."
"Sesshomaru-sama stopped visiting you when I became sick." Rin's small hands moved up to clasp together over her beating heart. "He smelt it on me first. The scent of sickness and decay but we could not find any injuries. I thought maybe he was being paranoid but a few days later, I started to feel sick. My chest hurt and I could not breath. I started to cough up blood and the scent of death started to seep into my skin.
"I was dying but we could not figure out from what. Even now, we are unsure what it is and how to stop it. We just know that it located in my lungs and it grows like a fungus. Sesshomaru-sama started to give me transfusions of his own blood three hundred years ago in a desperate effort to heal me.
"It had some side-effects." Rin ran her fingers through her silver striped hair. "My hair started to fade from its original color at first. Several years later my senses grew stronger and my eyes started to change. It took us quite a while to realize that I was no longer aging. My mind shows my knowledge of three centuries but my body still looks like a young girl.
"Sesshomaru-sama's blood helped to stop the growth of the disease but it has yet to destroy it. The sickness just rests inside my body, decaying it from the inside. Nothing we have done so far has healed me and as more time passes, my body grows weaker. It is only a matter of time before my heart has no more strength and my lungs become too weak to work."
"I'm . . . so sorry." Kagome was unsure what else to say.
What do you tell someone when you learned they were dying? Kagome, in her heart, felt horrible for the young girl but the miko was no longer the woman she use to be. She had lost too much in such a short amount of time to feel pity for anyone else. Death was a part of life. You lived, you suffered and you died. Kagome, as far as she knew, was the only human to stand outside this rule because she was immortal. She hadn't even seen Rin in centuries and Sesshomaru, she couldn't bring herself to forgive him, not even now.
After this trip, it was unlikely that she would ever see them again. This was the closing chapter of her old life. Her chance to say what she wanted too before she continued on with her journey. It was painful and it was unfair but that was life.
`·.¸¸.·´´¯`··. . .·
After Rin's tale, Kagome watched as Sesshomaru gathered her in his arms and they rested together against a tree. Kagome was left alone on the other side of the campfire with only the weak heat and Bram for company.
Kagome watched as the girl nuzzled around until she found a comfortable spot on Sesshomaru's chest and then fell into a deep slumber. Sesshomaru stayed awake, watching the miko as she watched him. No words were exchanged because Kagome did not want to talk to him and Sesshomaru was not a conversationist. Finally, Kagome grew tired of the silence and laid on the cold floor with her back to him.
The blood red serpent unraveled from his place around her neck, and partly in her thick hair, and curled in the pocket between the base of Kagome's neck and her chin. Bram nudged his pointed nose against the point of the miko's chin like a puppy looking for attention. His forked tongue tapped at her skin repeatedly, creating a soothing rhythm that caused her eyes to droop and she had to resist the urge to cuddle with the poison reptile.
She could have sworn she had fallen asleep under Bram's gentle touches and Sesshomaru's watching gaze.
So where was she? The glow of the fire was nowhere around, leaving darkness to shroud her. The wind took advantage of her loneliness and yelled its anger as it played and tugged on her hair. She was alone with only the trees standing by her side. Ice cold rain crashed down upon her, soaking her clothes. Thunder exploded across the sky and lightning flashed, brightening the world around her.
It was beautiful. Even the Heavens were crying for her and her misery. She stood between two Japanese maple trees. Fire red leaves twirled on the wind before falling to the floor to create a colorful pathway. Between the two trees, three slabs of stone stood tall. The center stone was the largest while two smaller stone were nestled into its side. This was all that remained of her family.
'Inuyasha
A Loyal Mate and A Brave Father'
Below his headstone was the engraving of a paw print and a large sword that resembled Tessaiga. Here, the first love of her life rested. Did his body even rest below this ground or was the tombstone just a mark so he would not be forgotten? Kagome collapsed in front of his tombstone as the energy leaked out of her limbs.
"I'm here. I'm back." Kagome whispered to the stone.
'A Beautiful Daughter
A Flower Not Yet Ready To Bloom'
The engraving glared harshly at her from the smaller stone on the left. That was all that was inscribed about the nameless child she once carried. One half of the twins that Kagome use to sing too even when they were in the womb. The daughter who never had a chance at life except for the brief moments before her death. Tears gathered once more in Kagome's eyes as her mind became tormented.
"I'll can hold you now."
'A Strong Son
Heir to the Taisho Bloodlines'
The headstone on the right marked the resting place of the son she never got to see. The two heart that once beat within her now laid cold and forgotten in the ground. The son who would have carried on his Father's proud name and inherited Tessaiga when he was old enough. She never even got to see his face. All she knew about her unborn son was that he died trying to fight off a death she couldn't protect him from. The only reason she knew what he looked like was because of the stories she was once told.
"I am here, tonight."
Tears mixed with the surrounding rain as both forms of liquid dripped down her face. Two thin arms wrapped around the smaller stones and she rested her forehead on Inuyasha' grave. She attempted to give her family one last hug, one last part of her but she could only feel the dead kiss of headstones.
There was nothing but cold stone and the merciless rain. Kagome squeezed her eyes hurt as she tried to hold back her tears. She thought she knew what she would tell them. She had such sweet words to tell her children and mate. She wanted to explain to them since she never had to the chance to before. She wanted to apologize for disappearing on them but the words refused to move past her closed throat.
All she could give them was her silent tears.
The rain grew meaner, lashing at her exposed skin like icy daggers. The wind became stronger and plowed into her in an attempt to pry her away from the headstones. She refused to let go. She dug into the smaller stones until the skin on her fingers split open and dripped scarlet blood of the gravestones. Kagome could feel the harsh pain of the jewel activating and healing her wounds.
She was determined to tell them something. Something to convey her pain, fears and dreams. She wanted at one time to be there for her family. In the past, she had prayed and begged for someone to kill her so she could rest in the ground with the small family she let down. Tears flowed swiftly down her face as she silently begged for forgiveness. It was different now.
She loved her family but she no longer wanted to die.
She found a new story and a new journey she wanted to start. She would always love her children and Inuyasha would always be her first love but her heart belonged to someone else. She loved her Demon as much as she loved her Hanyou.
She was only human. Humans were meant to adapt and adjust to their circumstances. Kagome knew agony and mortality and at one point, she wanted to join her family. She had tried multiple times in the past but her will to live and survive had reawakened.
She wanted her Demon. The one who had changed his names multiple times. The one who risked purification to make sure she lived. He was a dark, cold demon to most but he showed her a side no living mortal would know. Even in her slumber, Kagome grew to love him and she knew, her path now laid with him.
"Please forgive me." Kagome begged quietly as the wind and rain drowned out her voice. "I was only human and I am prey to my heart. I still want to live."
The cold touch was unwelcoming but she was too weak to be startled by it. Kagome blinked back the rain from her lashes and was met with a startling image. A sound escaped her but she didn't know if it was a gasp or a sob.
Standing hazily before her was a very familiar hanyou. He was colorless, outline by the falling rain and translucent like the ghosts from stories. No matter how long Kagome lived though she would never forget those adorable puppy dog ears or the outfit that, when not bleached of color, was normally a fire red. He appeared in the prime of his health, before the disaster of the Final Battle.
"Inuyasha?" whispered Kagome.
The hanyou dipped his head and a one fanged smirk appeared on his face. His lips moved as he spoke but his voice didn't reach her ears. Another shot of misery embedded itself in her heart as he continued to speak words she couldn't understand.
"I can't . . ." Kagome struggled to get the words past, "I can't hear you."
Inuyasha blinked several times in surprise before his smirk dropped and his own pain was etched over his face. His ears dropped to lay flat against his skull and Kagome could just picture the pitiful whine that should be escaping his throat. How long had he waited for her? How long had he been stuck, denying the chance to be reincarnated just to talk to her? Now he discovers that his words could not reach her ears.
Instead, Inuyasha dropped into the canine sitting position that he normally took. He turned his head, moving his lips rapidly while making gestures at the shadows behind them and then towards Kagome. Kagome squinted and tried to peer through the darkness but human eyes could not see what Inuyasha was trying to show her. Thunder clashed once more and a few seconds later, lightning raced across the sky, illuminating two faces that she never thought she would see.
She had never seen their faces with such maturity but there was no mistaking them. They were standing side by side, with their hands linked together to show their close bond. The smaller of the two had an arrogant one fanged smirk that was a replica of her father's smile. Her snow white hair fell almost to the floor and framed her face, which held a pair of blue eyes that matched her mother's perfectly. By her side, her brother stood tall. A gentle smile was on his lips and his bright golden eyes stared at Kagome like he was seeing the sun for the first time. Midnight black hair was cropped short to his head, giving him an untamed look despite his angelic features. Each one had a pair of adorable puppy dog ears that matched their hair color.
Kagome smiled through her tears. Her children. Their pups stood just a few feet in front of her, separated by three cold gravestones and the watery image of their father. They were so beautiful. They were more than she ever dreamed of. More water streaked down her cheeks and she no longer cared if it was rain or tears.
Inuyasha moved his hand in a familiar motion and the children shyly crept forward. Like a dying man searching for water, Kagome reached her hands out over the graves. Two pairs of identical, smaller hands reached out around their father to touch her. As skin met apparition, their colored bled out too until they were at a shimmering appearance like their father. Inuyasha reached out both of his hands. One hand clasped over Kagome's and their daughter fingers that were tightly woven together, while the other hand reached out and tightened over Kagome's and their son's hand.
No words were needed at that moment. Feeling, thoughts and memories flowed as one into the miko.
The Shikon no Tama that was hidden within her hip flared to life. Such innocent thoughts and emotions gave it power. The pain that once coursed through Kagome because of the jewel tampered off, healing her leftover aches and bruises. Soothing warmth, a typical sign of her healing abilities, filled her body and knitted her back together. Kagome could feel her powers returning to her, dancing and splashing in her blood.
Their emotions were strong. Love, protectiveness and forgiveness flooded her veins. Kagome gasped as the intensity of their feeling gushed in a never ending stream through her fingertips, down her body and into the jewel that rested inside her. Kagome gasped as something inside her lit up and gave her the appearance of a Japanese lantern. Pink energy pulsed several times before it dimmed and retreated back inside her.
The world around her faded until nothing matter to her. She didn't feel the cold rain or hear the thunder's call. She didn't even care that her family was just a mere reflection of what once was and what could have been. They were there and that's all she cared about. It was too precious to let the outside world interfere.
Hesitantly, their nameless son broke their connection. He freed her hand, only to reach out and wipe away the tears that Kagome was unaware that she was crying. His tiny finger brushed her skin, leaving a trail of frost behind him but his fingers just passed through the tears. His mouth moved, saying something but like his father, Kagome could not hear him. The ghost of Inuyasha must have explained it because she saw her hanyou's lips moving and then their son nodding in understanding. The boy draped himself over his own grave and laid his hand flat against her breast, where her heart beat underneath.
She could feel the final connection between her daughter, and by extension Inuyasha, breaking too. The female twin bounced forward until she was sitting on her grave. A single clawed hand reached out and placed itself over her brother's hand. Kagome's heart beat quicker at the gentle touches.
Finally, Inuyasha got to his feet and walked through his own headstone. He towered above Kagome, who was still kneeling on the ground. Slowly he leaned down and placed his forehead against Kagome's, leaving their eyes leveled with each other.
Her family was together as one. It was beautiful to see but torture to experience. She could only feel stinging coldness. She could not feel the heat of their tiny hands or the skin that should be pressed against her forehead. She could see their colorless bodies but there was no heat, touch or noise to signify that they were really there.
"I'm so sorry." Kagome finally said the words she also wanted to say to them. "I was only human. I tried so hard."
Three angelic faces each gave a gentle grin. Kagome's daughter leaned forward so Kagome could clearly see the words mouthed perfectly. "We forgive you."
Her son leaned forward, drawing her attention to his moving lips. "We will never forget you."
Finally Inuyasha reached a cold hand out and cupped Kagome's cheek. He leaned forward until his lips brushed against her own. Tears flowed down Kagome's face and pooled together on the dip between her top and bottom lip. His other unfelt hand reached out and moved to brush away her tears but his hands had no effect on the falling liquid.
"We will always love you." His final words to her.
Rain gathered on her lashes, causing her to blink to clear away the watery image. They stayed together, her children's hand still resting over her heart and Inuyasha holding the side of her face. For a few mere seconds, the world around them was frozen. The seconds paused, the stars froze and even the rain stopped in its track. Wide blue eyes watched her family, drinking in every last detail about them. Inuyasha leaned forward so he could brush his own cold lips against hers.
This kiss was different from the other before. It had no passion or longing. It was simply a brush of skin, barely a touch. Even their first kiss, back when two young teenagers were unsure of each other, had more skin contact than this. The single tear that trailed down from his closed eyes confirmed Kagome's belief.
This was good-bye.
One more crackle of lightning and a final clash of thunder and they were gone like a flame being blown out. Kagome was left alone, kneeling before their graves. Their colorless reflections were gone, their joyful smiles and healthy bodies becoming the rain around her.
It was enough for her. With a final scream, mixed with agony and joy, she fell the floor. The wet ground morphed around her and cradled her close as the rain repeatedly kissed her skin. Her eyes were growing too heavy to stay awake so she let herself fall in the friendly darkness.
The moonless sky laid watch over the miko who slept in front of her family's graves.
`·.¸¸.·´´¯`··. . .·
When Kagome awoke once again, she was warm. She was still laying on the ground and the ground was still wet and cold below her but the rest of her was surrounded in warmth. Kagome groggily opened one eye to see an expanse of black laid over her.
"I can sense the power of the jewel has returned to full power." A dark voice drawled from above her.
Kagome pushed herself off the ground with one hand while clutching the black cloth to her body. As she blinked her eyes free of sleep, Kagome realized that a large black coat was draped over her. A very familiar black trench coat. When she turned her head she was not surprised to see Undertaker sitting on top of Inuyasha's grave.
His grin was absent and his silver bangs were combed back so his eyes were on display. Leaning against his side and braced against the grave was a long silver scythe. The blade shined in the weak morning light, displaying the skeleton handle and the barbed wire wrapped around it. His annoyed face and the sight of his weapon caused Kagome to tense like a rabbit before a wolf.
She could feel the Shikon no Tama flaring to life in response to her emotions. A small pink dome that sparked and hummed with powerful energy appeared over her. Undertaker just shook his head in mock disappointment at the sight.
"Calm down miko, your purification energy is stronger now." Undertaker quickly leaned back to avoid a small streak of purification that was aimed for his face. "If I wanted to hurt you I already would have done it before you had awakened."
"Why are you here?" Kagome asked uncertainly. Didn't they leave him behind back in London?
"I assume you would like a way back to your demon." Undertaker answered seriously. "I highly doubt that your doggies are going to take you back. Their whole mission was to get you here. They had no intentions of taking you back to London."
"I . . . they would never do that to me." Kagome whispered.
"Then where are they?" Undertaker swept his hand around to emphasize that there was nobody but them around. "Inuyokai have a strong sense of smell. Even the adorable hybrid would have known the second you were aware from them. They would have realized by now that you were gone yet no one is here to offer to take you back. In fact, if you return to your temporary back I bet they will be gone. I sense them farther north in a cave. They are most likely preparing your resting place in their home."
"Why do you care?" Kagome grew suspicious of the mad men's intentions. The large grin that stretched across his face did not reassure her in any way.
"Did you know that laughter is hard to come by?" The Grim Reaper giggled. "I'm sure the competition between the two demons for a single miko would be good for quite a few laughs."
"So there's nothing in this for you but laughter?" Kagome asked in disbelief.
"But of course." Undertaker lost his grin as he stared intently at the miko. One of his long pale fingers traced the blade of his scythe. "You are no longer like the rumors once made you out to be. You are no longer the beautiful, perfect doll. You lied to me before and I have no doubts that you would do it again. The gem below your skin is now awake so I can no longer make more beautiful scars on your skin. You are alive now and it was always the Doll that I was interested in.
"Besides, I have been inspired by you." Undertaker dropped a wink that sent shivers down Kagome's spine. "I believe I can make a Doll that is as beautiful as you once were. It's still a work of progress but I'm sure I'll have them done soon."
"So you'll take me home without any favors needed?" Kagome didn't even want to ask about these 'Dolls' that Undertaker was working in. He didn't seem as the most stable creature on this planet but Kagome didn't want to become one of his dolls. She did feel bad for whoever got caught in his cruel grasps.
"Well," Undertaker hesitated for dramatic effect, "I would love if you could tell me about your past one day. It's not often that you can get a clear story of the Shikon no Tama and its guardian straight from the source."
"That . . . sounds fair enough to me."
"Well then, my dear miko, I think I should return something from you. It took me forever to get it but I think it belongs rightfully to you." Undertaker leaned back to reached behind the trio of graves.
Kagome reacted with instincts that she thought was long dead. Her hand moved without thought and she easily caught whatever Undertaker threw at her. She was startled to feel a familiar energy fill her hand.
"How?" In her hands was her old bow. It was the same curving shape as before. Familiar nicks and cracks were seen in the age old wood. If the gentle power of purity didn't confirm it was her bow, then the two initials she had engraved in it when she was a young teenager left no doubt in her mind. K.H. "How did you find this?"
Before Undertaker could answer the shield around Kagome dropped and was sucked into the wood like a wind tunnel. The bow crackled and swelled before a bright light blinded the human and Reaper. After several long seconds their vision returned to normal and they were surprised to see that the old wood had healed itself. Kagome and Undertaker could feel the new, pure energy that now flowed through the bow.
"It never did that before." Kagome extended her hand and twisted her wrist. The bow was defiantly larger and heavier but it moved fluidly with her. It literately felt like an extension of her arm. "The jewel hasn't even been kind to me these last few days."
"The jewel is much more powerful now." Undertaker's bang fell back into his face, blocking the calculating gleam that rested there. "The last few centuries, its energy has gone into keeping its host alive. It must have been exhausted and protested at any extension use. The souls I sensed last night must have done something to it and caused its revival. I can sense that its at the peak of its power now."
"That's so cool."
"Come on, miko. Let's get back to your demon before they trace you here."
"Wait! I have one more thing to do." Kagome insisted stubbornly. At Undertaker's inquiring look, Kagome rushed to explain. "I need to leave a message for them. I can't just abandon them after all this time."
"And what message do you plan on leaving?"
"Is that thing sharp?" Kagome gestured towards the scythe.
"A Death Scythe can cut through anything." Undertaker giggled as he extended his scythe towards the young woman. "Do you plan on cutting up the doggies?"
"Of course not!" Kagome exclaimed in shock. "I just need to borrow it for a quick moment. Then I need to find Bram."
Undertaker's grin lessened at the name of the cobra. "Why do you keep the serpent? Surely it would be happier in the wilderness where it belongs?"
"I need to return Bram back home." Kagome explained as she pushed herself to her feet. Undertaker's sharp hearing barely caught the next words the miko whispered to herself. "I can't leave him behind. He's like my living shikigami."
`·.¸¸.·´´¯`··. . .·
One wild search later, Kagome found the blood red serpent curled up around the dying embers of the dead campfire. Over one of her shoulders, her bow was being carried and in a free hand, she carried Undertaker's Death Scythe. The strange Grim Reaper followed behind her with a large grin.
Kagome was not surprised to see that Sesshomaru and Rin were both gone. Maybe Undertaker was right and they meant to strand her here? Is that why they were so prepared to help her? Kagome reached a hand down and let Bram slither his way up and around her arm. The snake greeted her with low hisses and licks along her arm.
They made one last trip to her family's graves. Undertaker respectfully stood back and let Kagome say her last good-byes. When she was done, she turned and returned the scythe back to the Grim Reaper.
Undertaker made an extravagant flourish and swept Kagome into his arms bridal style. Kagome didn't care. She just wanted to return back to London and the only way to do that was to trust Undertaker.
She didn't regret that she didn't look back. As the wind rushed past her, Kagome closed her eyes so she could meditate peacefully. She could feel it much more powerfully now. The jewel's power roared beneath his skin, racing faster and faster but it was obedient now. Kagome knew that if she wanted the summon the power of the jewel, it would be gladly obey her.
She was more powerful now than she ever was.
`·.¸¸.·´´¯`··. . .·
Rin stood between two Japanese Maple trees. She had told Sesshomaru-sama that Onee-san would not stay. She was too wild and untamed to live an easy, happy life like her alpha planned. When caged and forced to do something, the miko would run and get into trouble.
Sesshomaru-sama thought that it would easier to take Kagome's choices from her. Past experiences with the miko showed that convincing her to go with them, to live a life away from her new friends and potential mate, would not go well. Her alpha's plan to bring her here and then refuse to return seemed like a good idea at first but Rin had her doubts. Rin was not surprised that when they returned from their home to pick her up, that Kagome was gone once again.
After tracing onee-san's scent, Rin came across the musty scent of the Grim Reaper. Onee-san was resourcful and she made friends with everyone, even those who don't deserve it. The mad man sent shivers down Rin's spine, especially with the way that death hung heavily over him but she didn't think he would harm Kagome. He idolized her too much to harm her. No, Kagome would be safe until she was returned to the Hell's Demon that they had stolen her from originally.
In her hands, Rin held a single note. It was the last thing her onee-san left behind for her and it gave her the hope she needed. She could still feel her illness eating away at her body but it didn't seem so dark now. She had hope. Rin opened the tiny note to read the words once again.
'Hold on and be strong. Everyday, hope will grow.'
Rin smiled and lowered the note so she could see the headstones once again. When she had first traced Kagome's scent towards the graves, she had overlooked the small change. At first, all she saw was the innocent little note resting on Inuyasha's grave but Kagome had left one last proof of her visit. She had given her family something that nobody else could.
'Riri,
A Beautiful Daughter
A Flower Not Yet Ready To Bloom'
'Sentoki,
A Strong Son
Heir to the Taisho Bloodlines'
Next chapter we will return to our lovely Demon Duo and the Young Earls. I plan to create a few chapters within the Trancy/Phantomhive household so if there is a scene you would like done or a prompt you would like to give me, don't be afraid to put it in your review. Riri is meant to be Japanese for lily while Sentoki is meant to be Japanese for fighter. I do not speak Japanese though so I relied on a translator for both of them. If I am wrong, please let me know. The stories and legends that supplied Spirit Inuyasha, Riri and Sentoki were taken and created by several different legends from around the world.
Some questions to dwell on as you wait for the next chapter. What are the finer details of this Demon's Oath? How are the demons going to react to Kagome being gone so long? With Ciel fighting with a clear mind, how long can Alois compete against him? Who will be the Phantomhive's secret chess piece? Should a chapter of your life be closed before you start another one?
Two answers to reviews can be found here. I thought I would address them but sadly, the reviewers are Guest Reviewers so I'll answer here!
ason21 - I actually debated quite a bit with the timeline. Kuroshitsuji is said to take place in the Victorian-era, which is described to be from the Early 1800s to around the early 1900s, during the time that Queen Victorian reigned. Until the end of Kuroshitsuji Season 2, the timeline and date were unclear. We only really found out because the (spoilers) death of Ciel on his Death Card, which was around the late 1800s, early 1900s (1889 was on his card). (end spoiler) Kagome falls into the well around five hundred years into the past. Remember, they don't know the exact date she fell back, only she does. All they have are the rumors and stories of the Shikon no Tama and its Guardian. Rumors are stretched, mixed up and tangled, normally leaving dates unclear. So, since the Kuroshitsuji crew is still in the 1800s (barely) and the rumors for Kagome take place around the 1500s, I have Sebastian assuming its around 300 years. Honestly the exact time will never be confirmed and I'm just going to leave it around 300 years, give or take a few decades.
Breezies - First, thank you for your kind words. There are times (like most writers) where I debate long and hard on if I am doing the characters justice. A good example would be my doubts on these last few chapters including Sesshomaru, Rin and Undertaker. As for Ash/Angela, I included that in the dialogue because at the time, I was unsure where the plot was going to unravel. I seriously did want to include the Angels and even wrote a chapter about Angela/Ash and Kagome. My thoughts were the same. Their obsession with purity and cleansing the world would have been interesting consider Sebastian and the Shikon no Tama jewel. Sadly, I decided to go another route and this story takes place after Angela/Ash. So no, they will not be making an appearance here. However, I still have the pre-written chapter on my computer. You will probably see this chapter some time in the future under the companion piece, Doll's Shattered Fragments.