A/n- Yeah! I'm back in action! Hopefully I'll be able to continue updating this fast. I only asked for two reviews and I got three! So...
Special thanks to:
Psyraptor- Thanks again for the advice. You're a pervert but your profile made me laugh.^_^
Heelyaz- You're the awesome one! Your review made me smile a smile that I needed to smile...a writers smile. Thank you SO much!
Talia-Naeva- I would never discontinue this story! Thanks for the review and you'll get the answer to one of your questions in this story.
This chapter is dedicated to you three. ( Whoop! My first dedication!)
Humph, maybe if I was more patient I'd have more people to thank. Hopefully the inspiration for my other fic will be coming soon and I can update that one:::hint:::wink:::
BlahBlahBlah- Kagome speaking in dream
Blah Blah Blah- Speaking to Kagome in dream
Kagome...Kagome...wake up.I was in that floating place again. Once again something was reaching out for me to follow them. This time was different though. I sensed a pure presence so I latched onto it and followed it. The impression of what felt like a warm hand reasted on my back and I let it guide me.
Who are you? Where am I? I heard a warm chuckle. This presence wasn't in the least threatening but I still wanted to know where I was and who I was talking to!
You should know child. You were me after all.My eyes widened in realization. The thing that I'd forgotten...(A/n-It was mentioned in the last chapter. She felt that she was forgetting something important.)
Midoriko...? You had been talking to me but I couldn't recall what you'd said.
Yes, I came to you in your unconscious state after you released that load of energy. However because of the amount of energy you exerted I was nable to fully deliver my message. So now I have come to talk to you. I must tell you of things to come.
What are you-
Hush child and listen. The Kamis have been thrown into an upset. The balance of the cycle has been thrown off. When you killed the demon that was imprisoned inside the jewel you destroyed one of this earths major evils, therefore upsetting fates balance. Now that one of the great evils has been destroyed a pure sacrifice must be made to settle it. The Kamis have chosen you Kagome, to be the pure sacrifice. You must repair the damage that you have done and sacrifice yourself. You have three days left in this world.
Sacrifice? Pure? Evil? Balance? My head was spinning.
Why me?
Child, you are the shikon miko, designed by the Kamis themselves to bring peace in some form to the earth. You are the very essence of purity. Now that one great evil was destroyed so must an object of purity. You may think that it is best to leave it as it is with purity at an advantage but with nothing to be pure to in comparison, the purity dissipates into , you have upset the cycle. Now, you have been called upon to repair the damage. It is fates choice that it be you.
I see. I could think of nothing to say. It seemed fitting though. Why should I have a happily ever after? Why should I be able to grow old aside my true love with growing children at my feet? Why should I end up happy? I am ready to wake now. I understand, thank you for telling me Lady Midoriko. I will sacrifice myself on the sunset of the third day. I bowed low and felt a warm hand on my head.
Rise child. If anyone deserves to be bowed to it is you for your deeds are far greater than mine. After all you were sent to repair the damage that I caused. Be strong child. I know that all seems lost but remember that love is as determined and persistent and the fates are cruel and mysterious. Have faith in your love child, for your love will guide you to your true destiny. Have faith...Lady Kagome.
With those words that slithered into my soul and crawled into my bones, she vanished.
I watched her as she slept. Earlier I had been able to smell her fatigue and I had slowed down on my cloud. She had eventually drifted off to sleep soon followed by Rin. Now they slept curled together. The expressions on Kagome's face as she slept intrigued me. They changed so often. I had to wonder what she was dreaming about.
" Why me?" I was almost startled by her voice. It had only been a whisper on the wind but with my demonic senses I had heard it. I listened even more closely but she made no more sounds. There was only her soft breathing.
I glanced at the lips which were releasing these soft breaths. All too often I had thought of touching the soft pink temptations. Losing way to reason I reached over and traced her bottom lip with the pad of my thumb. They were like the petals of a blooming rose. They were indeed soft.
I wondered what they would feel like against mine? I had the sudden urge again. I was sure that at this exact moment whatever shred of sanity I had left snapped. As quietly and as unnoticeable as I could I lowered my head. Sure I had felt the raw surge of lust for a woman but never had I felt the desire for simple tender touches through a cold night. Or a soft and brief kiss. I just wanted to have some sort of contact with her. So these new urges are what drew me to bring my lips down on hers with no intention of waking her.
" Hmm." She moaned softly. She began to respond. I was about to pull away before she woke but her eyes snapped open.
" Sesshomaru?" Somehow she had this effect on me. My tongue more than tripled in size with in my mouth, I was sure of it for I could not speak a word. Would she be mad. I had in a way violated her space as she slept.
" Were you kissing me as I slept?" I meantally sursed myself as I could only nod. She smiled but somehow it didn't reach her eyes.
" I would prefer it if you would do it while I am awake next time. It would be much more enjoyable for the both of us." Her easy going attitude brought my ability to speak back.
" Hn." Well, no one said I had to make a speech.
I didn't want him to have to know I was suffering. He deserved to have his peace. I was the one that had to fix this mess so I was going to try and keep him out of this. I had a lot to figure out. Like the jewel and Naraku. Obviously I wouldn't be able to finish either of them. I would have to pass the responsibility on to someone I could trust because another shikon miko was far off and I'll be damned it I hand it off to Kikyo. I knew what she would do with it...
I looked down at the land below and decided to think on it once we were at his castle. But what I saw made my breath stop. Below was the forest of Inuyasha.
" Sesshomaru, stop please. I have to do something." He looked at me strangely. I knew he could tell something wasn't right with me but I wasn't going to tell him, not yet.
" Why do you wish to stop here?" I could hear the panic in his voice lying just underneath the indifference.
" I want to see my friends and say goodbye. I have to get my kit also." He nodded and his posture untensed. His cloud lowered. I ran through the forest and eventually found my way through. I came to Kaede's hut panting.
" One more time monk. If that hand is so cursed then I would be happy to remove it for you." I smiled. That was the way I found them. Miroku was sweating nervously and Sango's face was red and a vein was about to rupture in her forehead. Shippo was in a corner half scared and half amused. Keade was stirring something in a pot and shaking her head while smiling. Nothing had changed.
" Hey guys! " Four heads turned to me with shocked expressions.
" Kagome!" From Kagome.
" Lady Kagome!" From Miroku.
" Okaa-san!" From my dear Shippo.
" Hello child. So ye have returned. Do ye intend to stay?" I could feel Sesshomaru's aura darken slightly just outside the hut.
" No, I really do miss and love all of you but I'm afraid I must decline. Sesshomaru and I have developed a bond and I do not intend to break it. I have only stopped in for a quick visit." Their faces dropped but I knew that they understood. Sango's eye brow then rose as if to say ' really'. I smiled at her and mouthed, ' later'. She smiled.
" I'll come back later to talk but as of right now I am in desperate need of a bath. Shippo? Sango?" They rose without answering and together we walked out of the hut. Before I got all the way out I glared at Miroku.
" I've been working on my powers. I suggest you stay here." His eyes widened, not quite used to Sango like threats from me.
" Come on Kagome! I've been saving that cream stuff just for when you came back and I want to use some!" I laughed as I followed her.
" Hold on just a minute. I'll be right back." I ran to the edge of the woods where I knew I would find Sesshomaru. I found him leaning against a tree.
" You can go meet the monk Miroku if you wish. I wanted to know if I could borrow Rin. I think she might enjoy a bath." His eye brows furrowed into concern.
" I do not know the demon slayer or the fox kit. What if-" I waved it away.
" While your concerns are valid I will be there and I can asure you that neither are any danger to the child. You can sit close enough to sense if something goes wrong but I would appreciate it if you would stay out of hearing distance. I need to talk about personal things with my slayer friend Sango. So, can she come...please." I worked with my best puppy eyes and I could tell it was working.
" That expression is dangerous. She can go with you but if she is harmed neither one of your companions will be leaving this forest." I stuck my tongue out at him.
" They wouldn't dare hurt her. I'll wake her." I pushed Rin's shoulder gently.
" Rin? Would you like to go to the springs with me?" Rin's eyes opened slowly but she was soon jumping.
" Oh yes Rin wishes to go but Rin doesn't know if Sesshomaru-sama will allow Rin to go." I smiled and patted her head.
" He will. I already asked. Come on, I have a surprise for you." She bounced as she followed me.
" Goodbye Sesshomaru-sama!" She didn't even ask me if Kagome was telling the truth...
" Bye Fluffy!" He stiffened at the name and I smiled.
" Hold on Rin! Wait for me!" I waved as I left him alone in the forest. I felt a bit of guilt but I deserved to enjoy this time with my friends. My time was limited after all. I ran after Rin until we were at thehot springs. Sango and Shippo were already soaking. I stripped and then helped Rin take off her kimono. Together we stepped into the warm water.
" Dunk under the water Rin." She dunked and came back up quickly.
" Now come here and tilt your head back." She came over and tilted her head over into my lap. I fanned her hair out over my legs and grabbed a bottle. I gathered her hair and squirted some shampoo into my hand. I scrubbed her scalp and ran my fingers through her hair. Her eyes closed in relaxation. I wondered if Sesshomaru would let me wash his hair...bad thoughts. Well good thoughts but...BAD thoughts! ACK!
" Ok, Rin tilt your head back into the water but don't go under. I'll hold you up." She did as told and I held her above water but helped rinse the shampoo out of her hair. She rose again out of the water and I repeated the process with conditioner. After she had rinsed it out she rose out of the water and grabbed a towel. Sure she had enjoyed it but she was a restless child. Shippo soon followed her and they ran about playing.
" You guys stay where I can see you!" They nodded and Shippo took the oppertunity to tag Rin. I smiled at the two but Sango ruined it by clearing her throat.
" So...you and Sesshomaru have developed a bond?" I smiled. I was ready for this. She wouldn't have to coax it out of me. I would be blunt and I would tell her why I couldn't pursue a relationship.
" I love him Sango but you see, while I was gone something happened. I won't go into the complicated details but I ended up destroying the demon in the jewel. As a sort of punishment I will have to sacrifice myself to even the balance. I just wanted to say good bye." Her eyes widened more and more as I spoke.
" What?! No Kagome! You can't do that! Just destroy the other side of the jewel." I shook my head.
" It doesn't work like that. I have three days left. I'll take Shippo with me but I'm going to go to Sesshomaru's castle. I'll figure it out from there." Tears came to her eyes.
" But Kagome..." I smiled and stepped out of the water.
" I'm not going to go back to camp. If you see Inuyasha tell him that I forgive him. Thank Kaede for me. Tell her that without her nothing would have been possible. Tell Miroku that he was a great friend and I'll miss him. Thank you Sango for always being there. You were a sister to me. You get over yourself and marry Miroku, he really does care for you. Good bye Sango." I dressed quickly and started out of the clearing.
" I'm really sorry Sango. Come on Shippo, Rin, it's time to go back to Sesshomaru." They turned from their playing. I forced a smile on my face. Sango hugged me fiercely with tears streaming from her eyes.
" I'll miss you so much Kagome! I'll tell the others what you said. I'll tell Miroku to pray for you. I'll tell everyone that the great and kind miko will be passing! You will be remembered Kagome!" I smiled at her. I knew she would do just that. The entire country of Japan would be aware of this.
" Alright, I won't try to stop you because I know it will get me no where. Goodbye Sango." I walked out of the clearing with tears brimming my eyes. I wanted these tears to fall but I couldn't seem to bring myself to cry. Two clueless children followed me.
I found Sesshomaru again. I didn't speak, I only walked up to him wrapped my arms around his waist, and held onto him wishing I could cry.
I could see the darkness in her aura. There was sadness just swirling in her doe eyes. When she clung to me I found that I couldn't ask her what was the matter. Instead I brought my arms up around her and allowed her to let her worries go. She didn't cry which showed me that this was serious.
She would cry if there was any beauty at all in the situation. She was a see-the-bright-side-of-a-black-hole kind of person so when she cried like this...it was bad. I held her tighter and offered no explanation to the bewildered children. They eventually sat and began to talk.
" Are you alright Kagome?" She fisted her hands in my clothing and buried her face into my chest.
" You know you smell like a thunderstorm? I'm a human and I can smell it." I smiled slightly at her attempt to change the subject.
" I am aware. Did you know that you changed my scent? The smell of a renewing and cleansing rain didn't show up until you did. It shows that I have changed my main perspectives and opinions." She nodded into my chest.
" I'll tell you what happened when we get to the castle. I brought my kit with me as you can see." I nodded and allowed her to leave it at that.
" Let us be on our way." We all climbed onto my cloud and I set off into the sky. Luckily we weren't that far from my castle.
I started to think about my problems. I still had most of the jewel minus a few pieces. I would have to pass it onto someone that didn't desire to have the jewels power for their self. They would have to be physically and strong-willed. Suddenly it clicked into place. I could have Sesshomaru take the jewel for me and complete it. Then he could kill Naraku. Would he do that for me though? My heart ached at what I would ask him to do. It made me want to cry but once again...no tears would fall.
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A/n- I know this one is short but I needed to end it there. Besides this is a pretty fast update don't you think? I'll be working on the next chapter. Some of you are probably kind of shocked at the sacrifice deal. The prologue will most likely come into play in the next chapter. There might be a lemon. I will warn you now that the next chapter will take longer because I really have to think on this one. I don't have a beta for this story so...yeah. Jaken will come up in the next chapter. I was going to make Koga pop up but I'm not sure if it's such a good time...what do you think. Well then go tell me. It won't kill you to leave a few words! Three reviews for the author this time. Three reviews people! Now get on it! REVIEW PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh and if you have any questions just ask. I might tell you something that the non-reviewers don't know...so HA!