It's been forever. Well, here you go.
The first function of comprehension was a plethora of scents, coalescing into a medley of sensations that cut through the abyss of nothingness. The sensations triggered involuntary actions, detection of receptors, firing of neurons, allowing the brain to receive and respond. More complex nerve cells fired as cognition came into effect and the disclosure of odor molecules awakened the mind. Consciousness that was submerged in the void of the torpid world suddenly emanated, alerting the once inert entity into responsiveness.
'I'm awake,' it said. 'I'm alive.'
The most ancient of all senses and the one he so relied on heavily, heaved him from unconsciousness and into the wakefulness of the living.
'I'm alive.' And with that, eyes flew open.
Sight. Though vieled in complete darkness, his uncanny sense of sight pierced through the black and revelation of his location suddenly registered. The stalactites above him glistened in the precipitation of minerals in the cavern, trickling down the icicle-shaped formation. As the first intake of air collected in his lungs, he watched as the droplet severed from the tip. His eyes failed to follow the drop's path, though when it hit the watery surface of the cavern floor, the sensation of hearing bombarded him. Ears picked up the piercing fluid flick of a single droplet hitting water, echoing eeriely through the cavern. The high pitch reverberated in his head, its ongoing resonance waning into silence.
A soft groan escaped him as he brought himself in an upright position. Soon all motor function of his body came crashing in at once, wracked with the soreness of previous convulsions. He drew in a hiss of pain as his head began to throb. The dull ache thudded against his temple and he absentmindedly lifted an arm to press the heel of his palm against the tender area. Although a simple action, his eyes widened a fraction when a sudden awareness dawned upon him. He withdrew the hand from his temple to analyze the large palm and long digits tipped with lethal claws. His eyes followed the path to his wrist, adorned with two magenta stripes. It was unbelievable. He flexed the fingers to test if it was merely an illusion. But the awareness of mental ability commanding voluntary motor function was unmistakeable.
Drawing in an unsteady breath, he further tested the boundaries by bringing his right hand to touch the other. He grasped his left wrist, traced the length of his fingers, grazed his exposed forearm and continued his inspection until he could no longer deny what his senses were presenting. Sesshomaru had his left arm again.
The demon lord couldn't suppress the slight tremor of his hands as this realization consumed him. Reveling in the awe of such a miracle, one question entered his mind: How?
In the form of an answer, a sound sliced through the silence of the cavern. Rasping breath and a choked cough. Sesshomaru followed the source of sound with his eyes, golden orbs piercing through the darkness. Shortly he spotted a huddled form upon the cavern floor several feet ahead of him. It stirred as another rasping breath echoed through the cave. The body then curled in on itself as rattling coughs wracked against the form. Gasping for air, a retching noise followed, the body heaving and the sound of vomit splattering the ground.
The acrid stench of stomach bile infiltrated his nostrils, along with the astringent scent of sweat and something else familiar: sandalwood.
"Kagome," he uttered her name when he had identified the heaving form. More gasping and heaving and another gut-wrenching sound of retching. By now the miko was on all fours, body convulsing and lurching forward as she expelled a final violent stream of sick. She then collasped and did not stir.
Sesshomaru wasted no time as he approached the fallen miko and gathered her into his arms. Approaching the exit, he came upon the miko's traveling pack and gathered that up as well. The moves were so mechanical, so thoughtless, yet the weight in his arms enhanced the truth.
The sensation of carrying her light weight in both arms nearly left him breathless. He could not deny the feeling of elation swelling in his chest. To finally have his arm again; for too long he battled with the shame of defeat, the lingering mockery of phantom limb. But now he was reunited and he felt whole again. Although his loss of limb did not compromise his demonic power, the circumstances of how it was severed was the harsh reality Sesshomaru had to face whenever his mind fell to it.
He was nearly thankful for the miko's unconscious state. For anyone to witness his current countenance, that of pure awe, and dare he admit it, joy, would utterly deface his reputation as the inscrutable Taiyoukai.
But he could not revel in this private jubilation. The limp weight in his arms brought him back to the present. Staring down at the woman, he realized that she was responsible for the sudden return of his arm. At what lengths did this little miko go to? It couldn't have been a simple feat. Judging by her incredibly weakened state it must have taken an insurmontable amount of energy to perform the regeneration of his arm.
A scowl formed on his features as he ventured from the cave and into the rainfall. All this for him?
Walking through the drizzle, the woman began to shiver in his arms from the cold night's air. He hastened his pace and soon enough the dwelling of his wards came into view.
Jaken sat whimpering as Rin stoked the fire. She glanced at the melancholy imp and sighed. Whenever their lord ventured unannounced, his servant waited pitfully like a lovesick puppy. At times it was endearing, yet mostly it irritated the girl. Lord Sesshomaru always came back. Her unwavering faith of her lord gave her the strength to remain positive when dealing with his absence. After all, there was never a time when he hadn't returned. So, honestly, Jaken could give his sniveling a rest.
As the girl tended to the fire, Jaken sat miserably. How could his lord leave without his faithful servant! Did he doubt his abilities? Through the decades he had served him, Jaken believed he had proved himself more than useful. Wasn't it his lord himself that bequeathed him with the Staff of Two Heads? He would have never had handed him such great responsibility and power to weild the weapon if he deemed the imp useless. Yet now Jaken couldn't help but wonder if his Sire was beginning to question his utilty. It seemed now the only instructions provided to him was to remain at that impertinent girl's side. Since when did he become reduced to a full-time babysitter?!
The imp couldn't help but glower at Rin who was cleary indifferent to his woes. Pestilential woman! he thought to himself as she began to hum tunelessly.
But her humming came to a halt when Jaken's outburst of glee errupted through the dwelling.
"Lord Sesshomaru! You've returned!" he cried out gleefully.
Though his glee was swiftly interrupted when his said lord entered with a woman in his arms. A human woman, no less.
Rin gasped and quickly rose to her feet as Jaken gaped wordlessly at the most incomprehensible sight.
"Lady Kagome!" Rin exclaimed in concern, moving from her makeshift futon as the Taiyoukai placed the woman gingerly upon the blankets. Despite the fire being in full flame, the unconscious woman began to shiver. She was damp from the drizzle outside and once Rin placed a hand to her forehead, she felt Kagome was chilled to the bone. Sweeping black tresses from the woman's face, Rin tucked the blankets around her shivering form.
She then faced the demon lord kneeling beside the woman. Taking note of her trembling, he reached and began to unravel his mokomoko. That was when another outburst errupted from the imp once more.
"My lord! Your arm! It's back!" And that was all Jaken could manage to squawk out before returning to wordlessly gaping again. Rin snapped her head up to see if this announcement was true. To her utmost surprise, the demon lord's left arm was there, handling the massive white pelt with both hands and wrapping it around the miko.
Her sight returned to Kagome and she watched how her body curled into the warmth of the fur, unconsciously snuggling deeper into its warm depths. She took that as a good sign. The woman was responsive.
Rin watched her lord closely, his visage focused on the now slumbering woman. She mused if she had ever seen the demon lord carry such an expression. Although it held the underlying stoic features, she saw how a slight crease in his brow formed as he looked upon the miko. The young girl sat silently as she observed the situation, glancing between her lord and Kagome. She watched how Sesshomaru's newly restored hand reached out and lightly touched the side of the miko's face. The woman expelled a long breath, sighing in response to the featherlight touch. The Taiyoukai's face softened briefly and Rin wondered if it was the trick of flamelight that explained what she just witnessed.
Through that quiet interaction, Rin suddenly understood. It had to be the only explaination. Kagome had restored Lord Sesshomaru's left arm.
A plethora of emotion consumed the young girl as she realized this. A deep admiration for Kagome thrummed within her, as well as jubilation and tearful happiness for her lord. If she hadn't been entirely respectable of the situation, she would have bombarded the demon lord with endless questions. But as usual, she regarded his strong silence with deference.
"Rin." The deep baritone of her demon lord immediately caught her attention.
"Watch over the miko. I'll be back momentarily," Sesshomaru said. Rin nodded mutely as she watched her lord take his leave. Jaken made a sound of protest but was left on deaf ears as the inuyoukai receded into the night. The imp sighed forlornly and resumed his melancholic post. Rin turned her attention to the sleeping miko, swearing to uphold her newly assigned responsibility without failure.
The young girl was all too aware of the strange relationship that transpired between the inuyoukai and the miko. Yet with this new development, she wondered what would happen now. It had been months since Lord Sesshomaru had seen Kagome. They obviously must have gotten into an unpleasant disagreement. And it seemed the Taiyoukai was adamant of having no contact with the woman. But here she was, slumbering in the wrapped mokomoko. Hope swelled in the young girl's chest, silently wishing that Kagome's work of restoration would sew up the gap.
Monochromatic gray rays of light filtered through her shut eyes and they slightly tightened at the intrusion. Following the light came a piercing stab to the head as consciousness surfaced. The woman let out a discomforting moan as her body registered the beginnings of physical displeasure. Her head ached as well as her limbs and every muscle in her body. This was to be expected from the previous night of partying, and judging by the soreness of her abdomen and esophagus, the night hadn't ended well. And like every morning she was plagued by a horrendous hangover.
But this hangover differed from the rest. Yes her entire body hurt, but the immense fatigue of her spirit was unlike anything she had experienced. She couldn't answer what concotion of substances she consumed that night which could have caused this. The only way she'd get answers was by opening her eyes and facing the regretful day-after recollection of events.
Kagome slowly opened her eyes, adjusting to the dull gray. She was confused to be staring at a cobwebbed wooden ceiling. The beating of her heart rose when she couldn't recognize where she was. Although this was a common occurrence, this particular setting caused her more unease than usual. The smell of post rainfall accompanied with damp wood infiltrated her senses. She shifted in her blankets, only to realize that instead of blankets, she was wrapped in something soft and furry. Instinctively she nuzzled the fur as another piercing throb wracked her head. A particular scent she never dreamed of revisting flooded her nasal cavity and made her heart flutter. Cedar and musk; controlling yet animalistic.
Sesshomaru...?
Kagome's eyes flew open as she bolted upright. Panicked eyes surveyed her surroundings and she jumped at the sound of a small voice behind her. Whipping her head in that direction, she faced a young girl bearing a worrisome expression. The dark brown hair and the orange kimono was unmistakable.
"Rin?" Kagome uttered.
Relief flitted across the girl's features at the sound of her name. "Lady Kagome, you're finally awake," she said as she approached her. Kneeling beside the woman, she pushed a wooden bowl into her hands. The bowl was warm, the heat causing her palms to sweat, as the smell of vegetable broth wafted to her nose. "Eat," Rin provided suggestively when all Kagome did was stare. The emptiness in her stomach was a sensation Kagome had familiarized herself with. And the idea of eating was unpleasant. Yet the beseeching look in the girl's eyes made it hard for Kagome to refuse. She brought the rim of the bowl to her lips and took a small sip.
When the look hadn't subsided Kagome inwardly sighed and forced the rest of the broth down, avoiding the steamed vegetables. At the moment she didn't think she could stomach any solids, not in her current condition.
Rin gave a satisfied smile as she took the bowl from her. She retreated to a rustic cooking pot hanging over a fire and ladled another bowlful of the broth. Kagome faked a smile when the girl happily gave her the bowl once more. She feigned a sip then placed the bowl to her side.
"Thank you, Rin," Kagome said. The girl regarded her thanks with a silent nod and a warm smile.
Turning away from the girl, Kagome took in her surroundings more thoroughly. She had no idea where she was or how she came to this place. The last thing she could remember was...but recalling last night's events caused the ache in her head to worsen.
"Rin, what happened?" she asked.
"Lord Sesshomaru saved you!" the girl stated proudly.
Kagome stiffened at the name. Suddenly, everything became clear: her sudden reapperance in the feudal era, her mission, the grave sight, the cave...
She suddenly felt queasy and quickly rose to her feet. Sliding open the door, damp chilled air hit her body as she leaned over the veranda, clutching a beam for support. Kagome heaved as the acidic reduction of the vegetable broth spewed from her. She dry heaved after emptying her stomach, waiting for the waves of nausea to subside that roiled against her stomach. Coughing, she wiped her mouth as she gathered herself.
Looking over her shoulder, she spotted Rin staring concernedly from inside. "Rin," Kagome began, clearing her rasping throat. "Could you be a darling and fetch me my yellow pack?" The girl nodded vehemently and quickly retreated inside. Feeling more exhausted than before, Kagome sat at the edge of the veranda. Rin returned with her yellow pack. Uttering thanks, Kagome sifted through the pack and sighed in relief once she pulled out her carton of cigarettes and lighter.
Rin watched the older woman bring the foreign cylindrical object to her lips. Smoke streamed from her nostrils, her rigid form relaxing after the exhale. The girl couldn't help but worry. Kagome was not her customary cheerful demeanor. She noted how the woman's gaze took in the early morning fog and though it pierced through it, it was distant and faraway. Wishing she could do more than hover at the threshold, she merely remained.
She startled at the feel of a palm smoothing down her crown. The girl craned her neck to look upon the demon lord that appeared at her side. The silent message that transpired within his orange-gold gaze was all Rin needed to understand. Nodding reverently, she retreated inside to allow her lord time alone with his miko, hiding a small smile.
Sesshomaru's eyes fell on the futuristic priestess perched at the edge of the veranda. By the sudden change of her posture, he deduced she sensed him. He saw how the muscles in her back tensed, shoulder blades contorting as she became rigid. The smallest of frowns appeared as he took in the miko's back. She had always been small, yet she appeared more frailer than before. The tight material of her attire stretched over her skin, etching out every sharp feature of her back. The sharpness of her shoulder blades protruded far too much for his liking. Her spine was too prominent, her waist thinner than he remembered. This girl seemed like the whisper of the woman he had seen months ago. Even her hair, pulled up in a tie, that once shined a lustrous black, seemed dull and lank. Perhaps it was the exertion of energy she endured?
He made to take a step forward, but her voice stopped him.
"Wait."
Her voice, it was weary with fatigue and something else he could not quite identify. The woman gave out a smoky exhale and continued, "Before you say anything, just listen."
Her request was simple. She took his silence as compliance.
Heaving a sigh, she carried on.
"When I first came here, I made an oath. The shattering of the jewel, that was my doing, so I took it upon myself to gather the pieces and make it whole once more. It was a scary thought, taking on this enormous responsibility. But I wasn't alone. With Inuyasha's efforts, we gathered pieces, more than I imagined. And along the way I made another oath: to stay by Inuyasha's side."
Kagome paused, hoping the inuyoukai behind her heard her words. His prominent aura was the only indication that he was still there.
She continued.
"I vowed to be with him so long the jewel shards remained to be collected. That was six years ago, and to this very day I keep to my word, I stand by my oath. Although things have changed, silly infatuation falling away to companionable affection, Inuyasha to this day remains my friend. With that being said, he'll always have a place in my heart."
I came to that acceptance when it was clear that your brother would not choose me. It was painful at first, but as time went by, I was grateful for keeping by my word and staying with him. We would carry on our quest, our friendship and nothing would change."
He watched the woman bring the cigarette to her lips to take in one final inhale.
"But then you came along, and as quickly as you came, you went."
Kagome's shoulders quivered, from the cold he did not know. She gave a tremulous sigh.
"I tried. I really did. I tried to move on, how you have so easily. But I couldn't get you off my mind. No matter what I did, you were always in my head. It was maddening. Eventually, I found a way to temporarily block you out and became lost in it."
She briefly recalled her nights in the future. If she wasn't immersed in her euphoric-induced state, she was caught in a constant haze as she struggled to forget the Daiyoukai.
Her skin crawled at the recollection and instantly felt stupid.
"God damnit," she voiced her emotions. "I was a fucking mess without you. I didn't want things to end how it did. And I'm so sorry that they did."
Sesshomaru heard her once weary voice bolster with fierce emotion.
"But I did what I did to protect you."
With that she rose. Once she faced him, he could see his miko returning, her voice reinforcing the feeble, willowy frame. Bright eyes pierced through his being and he regarded it by instinctively flaring his domineering aura. Her eyes burned a bright cinnamon as she responded to his youki with a warning spark of her reiki. Sesshomaru resisted the urge to smile at the resolute miko. Despite her fatigue she still reserved enough energy. It was foolish of the woman, for the Daiyoukai could overtake her in a matter of seconds. Yet he couldn't deny the fondness he felt for the insistence he had learned she carried.
"I was protecting you!" she then exclaimed, a sudden hitch in her voice. "I did this for you!"
She gestured at his left arm and her eyes sparkled with moisture when her gaze observed it for the first time. So it had worked after all. Her efforts were not in vain.
"I did those things because you're my friend!"
The word friend struck an unfamiliar chord within him.
Her sudden outburst commenced a cough to rip through her chest. She slumped to the floor as she violently coughed. This sudden fit left her feeling more fatigued than before, the fire that flamed moments before immediately extinguished.
Kagome recovered, swiping the back of her hand against her sweating brow. Collecting cold air, she breathed heavily. Her laborious inspiration came to a halt when boot clad feet came into her vision.
Standing over the woman, Sesshomaru offered an upturned palm. Kagome sucked in breath at the sight of the appendage. The inuyoukai caught a feeble whiff of saline and knew the miko fought back tears.
"It really worked." She slid a delicate hand into his large one, struggling with tears as she watched the long digits curl around her thin wrist. Hers slipped under the billowing sleeve of his haori, mapping his powerful forearm and the large bulging muscle of his bicep. Another hand joined the inspection, caressing up the length of his arm. Kagome swallowed thickly as she held his hand in hers. Without thinking she brought the back of his fingers to her lips, caressing the digits with a soft kiss.
Kagome was suddenly yanked to her feet and toppled into the demon lord's chest. She gasped at the feeling of powerful arms encircling her as he caged her in. His hold on her tightened and Kagome replied with the same fervor, wrapping arms around his large frame in desperation. His palm cradled the nape of her neck as she felt him nuzzle her hair. She attempted the same, nosing the length of his neck all the while drowning in the smell of him. To think that she would never smell him again, it was a ridiculous thought, but it harbored her mind as she bathed in his scent. The heady fragrance of him made her knees weak and she was grateful for the strong arms that held her.
"Foolish woman," his voice was deep and low, vibrating powerfully as she nuzzled his throat.
The miko sniffed a laugh, smiling against his neck and replied, "It was the only way I could get you back."
He stilled at her words, not sure what she meant. "Explain," was his next utterance and Kagome sighed.
"How else would you have forgiven me?" she provided. She felt the Daiyoukai shake his head.
"Risking your life to restore this one's arm was fool-hearty," Sesshomaru said in a disapproving tone.
"It was worth the risk to me," Kagome replied, reclining from the embrace to look him fully in the face.
Sesshomaru frowned. "Why did you not return?" he asked.
He watched the miko's serene face darken to a scowl. "Because you're a jerk."
"And you insulted me. I was angry at you for that," she added. The demon lord could feel the miko's ire starting to rise again as they both recalled their quarrel months ago.
"He would have killed you," Sesshomaru cut through, eyes narrowing as he remembered why he was so angry.
This time the miko shook her head. "You would have killed each other if I hadn't 'sat' Inuyasha," she replied with a grimace.
A silvery brow arched as he took in the woman's words. "So you were protecting the hanyou."
Kagome's face fell, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.
Sighing, she said, "Sesshomaru, shut up," and returned to nuzzling his neck. Her arms around him tightened once more.
In usual circumstances, if anyone one in their right mind had ordered the demon lord his silence, they wouldn't have lived to tell the tale. Now, with the little miko in his arms, Sesshomaru fought a smile. Of course it was the miko who would say such. Due to that reason, he didn't mind. All he could focus his attention on was holding her in his arms and basking in their reunion.
"Fuck. I missed you," she whispered as her fingers pressed into his back. Sesshomaru couldn't help but let his eyes fall closed as he took in the feel of this small woman against his chest; so feeble yet her hold unyielding. "I, too, have missed you," Sesshomaru replied into her hair. A plethora of scents clung to the woman, causing him to wonder what had transpired in her time. It was apparent she had not taken good care of herself. Her tiny frame explained that much. The lingering scents provided more probable postulations, but none of that mattered when he breathed in the base of her soft warm fragrance of sandalwood. All that mattered now was she was here with him.
"Your absence worried me," Sesshomaru said.
"I'm here now," she said softly, lips brushing against his neck. Sesshomaru welcomed the small gesture, an emotion that he did not belief he was capable of expressing flooding through him. "I'm here with you," she concluded, and the emotion swelled within him as his embrace on the miko tightened. "My little miko," he whispered against her hair. He felt her lips widen into a smile. "My friend," he added.
He felt the woman tremble in his arms. Before he could voice his concern, a small sob left her. She began to cry, clutching on to a bewildered yet slightly flattered Sesshomaru. He restrained a sigh, wondering if he had ever found himself in the duty of consoling an emotional woman. Damn it all though, it was this woman that he would console, time and time again. He made that silent vow as a laugh made found its way from his voice.
"Why do you cry, Kagome?" he asked in amusement. Her silent cries tapered off until she was sniffling against his chest. "I'm happy," she said thickly through her tears. Sesshomaru hummed in response, a placating hand smoothing down her darkened crown.
It seemed the miko had labeled the emotion that swirled in the cavity of his chest. Happiness. And he felt just that as he held his miko companion in his arms.