Title: A Christmas to Remember
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha and Co.
Summary: "Tell me Higurashi, did you and the mythological Lord have tea together?" Her teacher asked sarcastically. "No professor, The Lord of the Western lands and I never had tea together, although we did spend Christmas together." was her simple reply. S/K
A/N: Almost done with the revising! I am so beyond ready to get back to updating the story.
Sesshoumaru stepped out of his car and quickly closed the door. Looking up at the hospital, he searched for confirmation. Expanding out his youki, he began to search and within mere seconds found what he was looking for. As his youki surround her reiki, it did not do so in a hostile manner—instead, it waited for familiarity.
Instantly, it was there.
That was all the confirmation he had needed. Proceeding in the hospital, he walked past all personnel and instead followed the tug her reiki had on his youki—almost as if calling for him. Before he knew it, he was outside what had to be her hospital room.
How her reiki recognized his after all this time was beyond him—after all, it had been over five hundred years. That vast amount of time was considered long for a youkai, and nearly unheard of for a human.
"Sir, you can't go in there unless you're family." A nurse said suddenly as she rushed to the door to prevent him from entering.
"She is family." He responded coolly. The woman was part of his pack, and pack was family. Technically, he had not lied. The nurse stared at him with hesitation until she finally gave a quick nod and moved out of the way.
"Be careful, both are in need of rest. They were in a car accident." The nurse added in a serious tone. Sesshoumaru raised a brow at the nurse. What was she implying he would do? Opening the door, he let himself in the room.
Walking to the woman whom he had not seen for hundreds of years, he gazed in curiosity.
How was this even possible? How was she alive? He had been suspicious of the woman that Shinji had mentioned—but this? This he could not have imagined. Yet, the moment he had heard her voice…he knew. Pushing away all his questions about her survival, he began to assess the current injuries on the miko.
The woman he had thought to die almost five hundred years ago lay in front of him in a hospital bed. He frowned at all the cuts and bruises on her face. Listening to her her breathing, he was alarmed when he noticed how slow her heart was beating. Her wounds from the car accident reassured him that she was, in fact, human. If she had barely survived a car accident, how had she managed to stay alive for over five hundred years?
"Miko" He said quietly to no one in particular. When the woman did not so much as stir, his worry intensified. He had just talked to her mere hours ago. Surely the legendary Miko that had destroyed Naraku would not die from such an event like a car accident, would she?
"How is it you've survived what most humans don't even think exists, and yet your downfall is a tree?" He asked the Miko with even more curiosity. It seemed that even after five hundred years, she still constantly made him ask more and more questions.
How was she alive, and yet barely aged? Closing his eyes, he recalled her crying over the phone while babbling about Christmas trees and driving. Was she truly having such a hard time adjusting to a life where it appeared that humans ruled the earth? Had she really been that fragile? So fragile that she could barely survive in a time that had favored humans? Glancing once more at the woman, and eyeing her bruises and cuts on her body, he decided that she was, indeed, that fragile.
Letting his youki surround her even more than before, he let it nudge her reiki in hopes of her awakening. Almost immediately, she began to shift in her bed. Slowly opening her eyes, she glanced at him. It took her almost a minute to focus in on him. The moment she did, her reiki seemed to withdraw itself and the woman narrowed her eyes in worry and suspicion. Backing up in her bed, what sounded very similar to a growl escaped the miko's mouth.
"Who are you?" She asked cautiously and for a moment, Sesshoumaru was caught off-guard. Quickly, when he realized what the problem was, he returned his facial expression to an emotionless one. Instead of the appearance she would remember, he no longer had markings, and instead of silver hair, he had short almost blonde-like hair. To her, he appeared to be a very human looking businessman.
Mentally contemplating on how to go about his identity, he decided if the quickest way would be best. When the miko sat there with suspicion in her eyes, he decided that he would allow it—just this once. Without hesitation, he removing the spell that made him appear human. Curiously, he watched and waited for a reaction from the woman. The one that he received was not one he had expected.
Her eyes went wide and within seconds, she flung herself at him. Reacting on instinct, he let her embrace him in a bear like hug. If closeness would ensure her quick recovery, he would allow that as well. Mentally, he decided that the miko required a guardian—or at least someone to ensure her survival. She needed a pack.
First, he needed to get some answers.
"I was under the impression you were dead, Miko." He stated calmly. Raising a brow at the woman, he waited for her answer.
"I was under the impression you were dead!" She whispered in shock. Letting out a sigh, he sat on the hospital bed to glance at the Miko. Why would she think he had died? Surely she was aware of a how long a youkai could live, was she not?
"My impression made much more sense. You are human; you don't have a long lifespan whereas one of a youkai is more than several thousands of years." He stated simply while causing the woman to laugh. Narrowing his eyes at her, he wondered what was so funny.
"You talk." The miko pointed out weakly. Had the miko gone mad? Of course, he talked. As Kagome noted his expression, she let out a small smile.
"I mean, you really talk. Not just three word sentences." She explained and he continued to stare at her.
Thinking back to the winter when the she had visited his castle, he had remembered how needy she was in terms of talking. No matter what she was doing, she had almost never stopped babbling. It seemed that even after five hundred years, some things never changed.
"Words are needed more often in this time." Was the only explanation he could seem to give her. Surely, she should have realized this by now. The Miko began to frown at his words but then sadly nodded.
"I suppose so. Is that the reason for the human appearance?" She asked sadly.
Reminding him that he was now in his true form, he quickly converted back to the human appearance. She must have understood the reason for the spell, and yet her eyes told a completely different story. She had survived five hundred years; surely, she should have known the reason for everything.
"You have hid for five hundred years, why?" He asked curiously. The confusion that appeared in her eyes began to slowly annoy him. Had she truly been that hurt through the car accident that she was having memory issues? Slowly, her facial expressions went from confused, to shock, and then realization.
"Oh, Sesshoumaru—"She began but was interrupted with a knock on the door. As he turned to the door, he mentally growled in anger.
Had he truly been so focused on the Miko that he had let down his guard? Narrowing his eyes at the door, he wondered how news of the Miko had spread so quickly. Whoever had given information about her so easily would surely pay.
"Sesshoumaru?" Kagome whispered with caution in her voice.
"It appears old allies have heard of your survival." He stated coolly with irritation apparent on his face.
"Allies? What? Who? Why?" Kagome asked with shock apparent on both her face and in her voice.
Raising a brow, this time it was the Lord of the Western lands turn to stare at her in confusion. Why? Had she not saved Youkai and humans alike? Had she truly asked why she would have allies? Or was she asking why they would come once they were informed of her sudden appearance?
Another knock was heard, and Kagome nervously bit her lip.
"You will be safe. If you wish for no company, it will stay that way." Sesshoumaru stated in a serious tone.
"No, I suppose I should confront them." The nervousness in her voice made Sesshoumaru ever more curious.
As if hearing her response, the door opened to reveal two men standing at the door.
"Shinji?!" The fact that the miko had addressed one of his only friends first made Sesshoumaru wonder more than a few things. For one, he was suddenly very sure that Shinji had left out some vital information about how he had met the Miko. The woman's voice held familiarity, shock and happiness. He was not sure which he should worry about the most.
"Ahhh, Kagome, I do hope you are not harmed." The Inu Youkai responded with worry laced in his voice. As he headed towards the bed, he examined the woman carefully. His black hair that was hung in a low ponytail fell over his shoulder as he examined Kagome's face with a scowl.
"You should have been more careful!" He insisted with narrowed amber eyes. When Kagome let out a sigh of annoyance, Shinji instantly quieted.
"I am just saying that you should be more careful!"
"Says the mysterious and annoying Inu that seems to resemble Sesshoumaru in more ways than just physical appearances." Kagome grumbled under her breath knowing well that the two could both hear her.
"Why wouldn't they? They are related—not closely but related nonetheless. Besides, the Lord of the West and South have been friends since, well, before Naraku." An annoyed voice added from the doorway.
Kagome gazed to the man with short black hair and piecing blue eyes in confusion.
The instant he had spoken, her eyes widened.
She instantly regoznied the blue eyes. While his hair was shorter, it was the same color as before. If he had a spell hiding his original appearance, she didn't need it lifted.
"Koga?!" When an almost wolfish grin appeared on the man, Kagome gasped in happiness. As she attempted to push herself off the bed to greet her old friend, a hand pushed her back down in a gentle manner.
"You are to rest." The tone that Sesshoumaru had used told her there was no room for arguments. Luckily, Koga was by her side embracing her with happiness.
"Koga, what are you doing here? How? What?—"
"A little bird—well, wolf, told me there was a crazy miko rambling about Naraku." The wolf began with an amused tone.
"I put two and two together and realized that even though you were technically supposed to be dead, it had to be you." He explained. When Kagome narrowed her eyes at him and then gave Sesshoumaru the same stare, everyone went quiet.
"Okay, so someone please explain to me why I'm supposed to be dead." When confusion appeared on all of the men's faces, Kagome continued.
"I'm not dead! I never was dead. I told everyone I was leaving. So why in the world are you all shocked to see me alive?" She asked in an annoyed and angry tone. When she noticed Shinji exchange glances with Sesshoumaru whom then exchanged glances with Koga, she suddenly realized something was not right
"Inu Yasha" Koga all but growled.
"And the jewel." Shinji added in sudden understanding.
Suddenly Kagome's heart fell, and she shuddered. Whatever had happened was indeed bad—if not horrible. The angry looks that the three Youkai had exchanged between each other were more than enough to make Kagome realize that something unspeakable and awful had happened after she left the Feudal Era.
A/N: Yaaay. Hope everyone liked the chapter. Remember, reviews are taken into considerations if anyone has ideas or thoughts!