Guard what is most precious to you and protect it, but sometimes you must trust that what is most precious to you may not need guarding.
The next day seemed the same and it passed slowly and tiredly. By night time Sesshomaru was exhausted but hid his fatigue until Kagome went to sleep with Haru in her arms. There was something peaceful and calming about watching her sleep with the demon pup. She wrapped her arms protectively around him like any mother would and slept with her mouth just slightly open. Her lips looked tender in such a way, her features relaxed in sleep. The slight furrowing of her brows or the tensing of her jaw showed her already within the land of dreams.
Me want!
It is not possible.
It is if you make it so.
Perhaps if I make it through this ordeal. I'm very tired.
Is that a promise?
Sesshomaru blocked out the rest of his beast's whining. Its pleas had been getting more incessant over the past few days. Mostly he figured because he was alone with Kagome now. With everyone else around his beast had begrudgingly kept his insistences quiet, but no longer. The other downside was the constant headaches he had begun to experience as he felt the poison work through his system faster. If the headaches weren't enough his beast's growling were. All throughout the day of flying it remarked on his hand placement and how close it was to certain areas, or how her hair smelled when it blew across his face in a change of winds. Then he had to hunt and miss out on his sleep while he took watch. It was expected of him as the alpha to bear the burden of the pack even at his own expense.
They were traveling again. Sesshomaru expanding and retracting his aura as he tried to preserve his energy. Kagome nestled within his haori kept herself and Haru entertained with songs or games that didn't require too much talking. Over the roaring winds it was difficult to hear one another, so Haru began tuning in to the vibrations in her chest when she hummed her little tune.
Around noon, Sesshomaru felt the first burst of a powerful miko aura respond to his aura. It was a warning signal, one he fully intended on disobeying. Turning, he immediately veered in that general direction unaware to Kagome and Haru who were merely accustomed to holding on to dear life.
Within the hour Kagome was picking up on the sizeable aura as well and a decent sized village was coming into view. In the middle a temple shrine was centered off with intense holy powers coming off of it. Even having been around Kagome and her developing priestess powers, Haru knew enough of the impending power source to bury his head into Sesshomaru's chest. While the great lord remained stoic, Kagome watched with concern as they descended until they were just outside the village perimeter. As Sesshomaru stared at the border to the city he waited for Kagome to make a decision. His cloud disappeared from beneath them as they stepped to the ground.
Kagome stumbled at first and Sesshomaru snatched at her arm to steady her receiving a curious glare in his direction. As Kagome stared at Sesshomaru and Haru she turned to the village with determination.
"Well let's go find this priestess." She spoke hurriedly and began to walk noticing very quickly that she was not being followed.
"I cannot follow on such holy land easily, Kagome. If you have need of me, call, otherwise I will make camp outside the village with Haru." Kagome snorted at that.
"This is ridiculous. You are one of the most powerful demons in the land and you are afraid of a priestess?" Sesshomaru's gaze narrowed instantly and he stood up straighter at the slight she had caused him.
"If you wish me to come with you, then you need only voice such things. Do not believe that by insulting my honor you may bend me to your will." He lifted his chin in defiance as he stared at the small woman in front of him. She scowled back knowing she had been caught in her plan. Then, before she had a chance to retaliate, he took a step towards her and gave her a glare that he would follow her if she still wished.
Releasing a tense breath Kagome nodded and picked up Haru placing him on her hip. The pup snuggled his head into her chest trying to hide his fear as she began to walk to the town.
To say they drew stares was an understatement. The people all around them stopped, not just because of Kagome, but because of Sesshomaru. They knew instantly from his markings exactly what kind of ranked demon he was and did not even bother brandishing their pitchforks. Instead the women raced to gather their children and rush them back inside as if their wooden houses could keep out his wrath. Sesshomaru almost smirked amusingly at this but ignored their obvious unease.
Eventually one figure in particular came out to meet them. The figure stood in the middle of the path in bright red and white with an arrow nocked and aimed.
Immediately Kagome wrapped herself around Haru and centered herself before Sesshomaru as if her small body could shield his tall form. As if to show her own power Kagome created a barrier of pink power that flooded over the three beings.
"Fellow priestess, do not dishonor your kind by sheltering those who are evil. Move aside or be considered an enemy and suffer as they do." The priestess who spoke pulled her string back tauter so it was to her cheek as she stared with narrow eyes. Her hair was dark and braided behind her in an unusual fashion and she had dark eyes that belied the bright aura she had as a priestess still pure of heart.
"Are you really going to harm demons who have not harmed anyone? Has your duty to honor and protect the innocent been clouded by species? Have you even stopped to notice one is only a baby?" Kagome hoped rather than believed the priestess would see reason, but she was rewarded by the priestess taking a few steps forward. Behind her a few other priestesses came into view. By their stances and outfits they were only apprentices and still in training. If this were a raid of weaker demons perhaps they would have led the battle, but this was no ordinary situation they faced.
"Age matters not. They are all evil and in need of eradication. Now I ask again, stand aside or I will spare no mercy." Kagome stepped up in one brash movement and gave a determined look as she spread her legs into a wide stance.
"We are here to seek help, not to do battle. Now put down your weapons, we mean no harm!" Kagome called back, nearly raging like a storm along the banks of the beach. That obviously didn't satisfy the priestess and in one swift movement the arrow was flying through the air with all the power of a priestess behind it. Kagome's barrier disintegrated it until the other two apprentices opened fire with their own power and began attacking. However instead of aiming for Sesshomaru as their elder did, they aimed for Haru.
In a blur before her eyes and the wind blowing past her Kagome blinked and nearly missed the speed with which Sesshomaru caught the stray arrow in his hand and let its shaft burn his flesh with its priestess power before clutching it until it shattered into pieces. He then began to move forward slowly as he matched a hard gaze with the elder miko.
"Surround him girls and focus your powers! Finish him off quickly." Together they chanted as they joined hands around him and began to move. Bored Sesshomaru reached out catching the running elder miko in his hand, gripping his claws about her throat. In defense she let her aura flare burning his hand until he released. He gave a low rumbling growl as the priestess smiled and made to nock another arrow gathering all of her power behind it. In response to the two chanting apprentices Sesshomaru brought his poison whip forth and snapped at them making them interrupt their chants and back away.
Just as the elder miko let her arrow fly he swung his whip forward slicing the thin piece of wood in two. He then moved forward and eyed the miko dangerously.
"Do not touch what belongs to this Sesshomaru miko, unless you wish to die." Sesshomaru reached out with his poison claws ready to strike when he heard Kagome calling him.
"Sesshomaru, stop! We need her help." She rushed over with Haru nuzzling close to her whimpering as Sesshomaru let his claws drop but his gaze remained intent on the elder miko as he watched carefully for any sign of treachery.
"Miko, please let us explain. We have traveled a long way to seek out your help to cure our friends. They have been poisoned by a volcano blossom that is only found here and we need the cure to awaken them quickly." Kagome stepped forward as she stared at the miko intently. She wanted to somehow convince the other priestess she meant no harm, but was at a loss as to how to do it.
"In all my years I have never seen a priestess betray her own kind. You have sunk low girl to mate with a demon and give him a child! Such a monstrosity will never be allowed…"
"You are wrong! This pup bears no relation to me except that I found him and have adopted him to be mine to care for. If you know anything about demon existence you will know a pup cannot survive without the aura of a full blooded youkai. I sought Sesshomaru out to help me raise the pup because I believe no one is born evil and I can tell you he is not! Feel their auras and sense that there is no malice in either of them." The priestess took another step forward and reached out her aura to caress Haru's whose shrunk away from her touch. Sesshomaru's aura, on the other hand, retaliated and he released a low growl.
"Speak for yourself and the pup only, Kagome. I do not condone the attack on myself and my pack as that which can be ignored." Sesshomaru's tense voice only worsened the situation. Instantly the miko was on her guard about ready to draw another arrow when Kagome jumped between them.
"Stop! There has been enough bloodshed between our species to last for all time. This needs to stop. Sesshomaru, if you want to help Rin then we need her help." As she turned to Sesshomaru she caught his gaze and held it determinedly for many long moments before he finally nodded and flicked his eyes back to the other miko.
This close up he could tell the woman was nearing middle age by the laugh lines about her mouth and eyes. She still possessed great youth within her vibrant eyes but the age was beginning to show on her skin. Her muscles however were lean and taut like aged meat from years of exterminating demons.
"Then tell us apprentice miko. What is it you want with us so that you may be on your way?" The priestess finally dropped her arrow, although one could tell by her grip that she was still suspicious of them and could shoot at them with only a split second notice.
"Like I said, my friends have been poisoned by the pollen of the volcano flower from this area. We need to get the cure back to them quickly or they will die." Kagome watched as the priestess eyed her for a moment before her gaze slid to the demon lord behind her. Sesshomaru returned the gaze dangerously letting her know not to attack his pack.
"These friends of yours? Be they demon too?" The priestess turned back to Kagome narrowing her eyes even further as she crossed her arms. For a moment Kagome frowned and then she stood up straighter and defiantly. Secretly she had been wishing all priestesses were like Kaede, but this one had had apparently learned a few lessons from Kikyo.
"No, not all of them. Among them are a houshi, a taijiya, and a little girl." The priestess raised a questioning brow at this and unfolded her arms.
"How odd. I sense no lies from you and yet you travel in such backward company. Who might you be, priestess, who tames the hearts of beasts and woes the hearts of slayers? Hmm?" Kagome could tell now the priestess was suspicious and there would be no hiding it. After all the priestess had to have felt the power of the jewel on Kagome just as Kagome could sense shards, but so far had said nothing.
"We are on a quest to find Naraku and complete the Shikon no Tama so we can defeat him." Sesshomaru bristled at Kagome's frankness and nearly growled when he saw the pleased look on the priestess's face. Finally the elder priestess put her bow up on to her back and signaled for them to follow.
"I sense no malice from you young priestess and I cannot keep you from such a noble quest. If you have come to find the cure to your friends' ailments then you have reached the right place. Our villagers are often plagued by the volcano flower's pollen when the winds pick up and so we have developed a cure that keeps us immune to its powers. It is not an easy cure, however, and it takes a week to prepare. Do your friends have such time?" Kagome balked at the amount of time it would take to make the cure and stepped up to cut the miko off from her path.
"What do you mean it takes a week? We don't have a week." The priestess shrugged and moved past her.
"When were your friends infected?" The priestess asked calmly as she kept moving towards the giant temple structure in the middle of the city.
"It was about three days ago." Kagome called as she chased after the priestess. Becoming tired by Haru's weight she set the pup down and ran after the priestess. Feeling abandoned Haru called out to his mother in a light whimper. His dog language had been progressing more as he grew but he still had not yet learned that Kagome was human and could not understand him. Although his instincts told him this, his instincts also told him that if she was his mother, then she had to be like him. With Kagome's human ears she did not pick up the whine Haru released, leaving the pup feeling devastated.
Coming up beside the pup, Sesshomaru heard the plaintive cry directed towards him and turned to regard the pup. Bending down he allowed the pup to climb on to his back and straddle his shoulder. With a gentle grip Sesshomaru stood up and held on to Haru so he wouldn't fall as the pup began to stick his nose into the air.
Curiously he sniffed around moving from the right side of Sesshomaru's shoulders to the left side trying to get in all the smells accosting his nose. He was fascinated. Back at Edo there were only a small amount of people and although the smells were overwhelming they were nothing compared to what he could sense now.
In fascination he ran between Sesshomaru's shoulders crawling over his father's hair until the demon lord let loose an annoyed guttural growl. Instantly the pup looked down and lowered his head as he picked a side and sat there.
Satisfied that the pup had calmed down some, Sesshomaru continued to walk the path of the mikos ahead of him until they came to a large arcing entrance. As Kagome and the other priestess stepped forward the elder woman turned around, her dark eyes nearly ablaze as she stared at the demon.
"Demons are not welcome on this pure land. I cannot let you through." Her words came out in a hiss and had Sesshomaru been a lesser demon he would have taken offense. As it was he merely lifted an eyebrow in amusement before turning to Kagome.
"It is time for the pup's lessons. I will take him outside of the village. If you have need of me, simply call and I will hear you." Kagome nodded as Sesshomaru began to create his cloud and then she looked up to Haru's pitiful features as the pup began to grow anxious.
"Sesshomaru, wait!" Kagome raced off the temple ground as she held her arms out for Haru. Waiting as he did Sesshomaru picked the pup up by his shirt and placed him down in Kagome's arms. The pup curled his hands and toes as he was being carried like any other pup would but jumped into Kagome's waiting arms.
"Goodbye Haru, I'm going to miss you. Mommy won't be gone long and I promise I'll visit. It's only for a short time. Okay?" Kagome moved Haru so she could see his face and wondered if he understood. He was still young developmentally even if he was growing, but as Sesshomaru had explained before his dog mannerisms would come in before his more human-like ones would.
Just to emphasize her point she nuzzled him and he released a soft squeal of pleasure as she touched noses with him. Then she released him holding him up for Sesshomaru who took the pup into his arms and felt the boy claw his way on to his shoulder again.
"Bye Haru!" Kagome called waving as the demon lord ascended on his cloud. From in the air Haru poked his head over Sesshomaru's shoulder and waved down at Kagome until he could no longer see her.
Kagome waved too until she heard a cough behind her. Turning she realized the other priestess was waiting with a look of displeasure on her features.
"You treat that pup as if he were your own and you his demon mother. It is disgraceful behavior for a priestess especially one who carries the Shikon no Tama."
"I treat him as a mother would any child. Does he deserve less because he's a demon and I'm a human? Whether you wish to believe it or not, demons are not evil. Haru is as innocent as any human child." Kagome stood firmly as she glared at the other priestess. Was it really such a bad thing to think other beings as equal to you in rights and privileges?
"The child may be innocent but they do not remain so. Why don't you ask that demon friend of yours how many humans he has killed?" The priestess gave a sly smile but Kagome was unmoved. Lifting her chin in defiance she took a step forward and met the other priestess' glare.
"Sure I'll ask him that after I ask you how many demons you have killed. Either way it is senseless bloodshed. Sesshomaru doesn't commend killing those that are beneath him just for sport. He only kills those who insult him or his pack. So I would be careful to do neither while you are near him." Kagome moved past her as she watched the miko sneer.
"Impertinent girl. You came asking for my help and yet you insult me?" Kagome stopped and turned as the miko placed her hands on her hip.
"Look I came to help my friends, not to lose them. Whether you want to believe that not all demons are evil is your own problem, but frankly I like to look at a being's soul before I judge them as evil." From all the frustration and anger Kagome had been feeling about the way she and her family had been treated she was just about to burst. Her aura showed this and crackled with power ready to break through and the elder miko took a step back as the skin on her arm began to stand and a shiver went through her. The amount of raw power coming from the girl was enormous, but even through all her anger, the miko could make out the resemblance of the girl's soul and it was pure. This was Midoriko's heir and the carrier of the Shikon no Tama and she was anything but weak.
Struggling to regain her footing the elder miko took a step forward and lifted her chin.
"Calm down girl, no one is going to harm your demon." Then the miko hesitated as she stepped forward and waited as Kagome followed. Kagome's aura was calming but it was like a tempest being wrapped in an hour glass.
"But I am curious, girl. How have you come to tame a demon of that caliber? I would be most interested to hear your story." For a moment Kagome stopped in surprise and then hurried to catch up as the miko gave a sly smile. Sensing no malice, Kagome began her story from the beginning. She spoke of her meeting with Inuyasha although she left out the part of her time traveling method. The miko listened attentively as they reached a sturdy and old wooden home covered in vines. With the setting sun the home looked comfortable and as they walked in, Kagome could smell the scent of herbs and incense as the gentle aromas stuck to the very material the home was made of.
They walked into a wide spacious room and turned to another sliding door and moved it aside tenderly. Inside the new room they faced the windows and sat as an apprentice miko came with tea freshly brewed.
All the while Kagome spoke of her adventures leading up to the point where they were now. The miko listened attentively with withdrawn features as she soaked everything in and while Kagome talked the miko explored. She let her aura shimmer and very gently explore Kagome's aura. The miko was surprised at first Kagome didn't ask her to stop and wondered if Kagome even felt the intrusion of her aura. Either way she continued on checking Kagome for power. What she found surprised her. Kagome was very strong, very powerful, at least twice as much as her own power level, but she was poorly trained. How she had made it so far as a miko was overwhelming.
The miko's instincts to train her kicked in. She would not let the girl go otherwise, because this was unacceptable.
"We had been traveling for days until we came upon your city and I felt your aura." Kagome released a long breath feeling tired from such a long story. The miko was still quiet though as she sipped her tea as her revelations of the girl's abilities still swam through her head.
"That is indeed an interesting story. It is very unusual for a demon, especially one as powerful as a daiyoukai to take others into his pack, particularly if they are a pup not of their own blood. A miko too? It is unheard of. I am interested to speak to your demon lord on the subject." Kagome bit her lip as she heard this knowing full well Sesshomaru would not take well to having a barrage of questions launched at him.
"I don't know how he would feel about that. He is naturally aloof and disdainful of others." The elder miko cut her off then setting her cup of tea down with wide eyes.
"But you say he has taken on a human girl as a ward? What motive could he have for doing so? Does he intend to mate with her?" Although the question was serious Kagome could not help but giggle at the incredulity of what the miko was suggesting. Even if it weren't for his loathe of ningen flesh Sesshomaru would probably consider it dishonorable to mate with one he considered his ward.
Kagome settled down then when she realized the miko's frown and found the humor sweeping away from her. In truth she was trying to hide her own insecurities as she had begun to hope Sesshomaru wouldn't be so abject to the thought of ningen flesh. Biting her lip she shook her head knowing it was foolish of her to be hopeful of such a thing and she should be content with the relationship she had now.
"I am sorry if I offended you. I did not mean to be rude, but Sesshomaru hates his brother because he is hanyou. He would never sink to the level to produce a hanyou of his own." She tried to sound neutral but her tone dipped towards the end which she hoped the other miko had not noticed. When she looked up to the miko she saw the woman staring intently at her.
"So you have developed feelings for the demon? Do you wish then to bear his young?" The miko's eyes glared with intensity and Kagome felt like she was being interrogated in a police station.
"No…"
"Don't lie to me girl. I can see the emotions playing on your face like reading a scroll." Sighing to herself at her own lack of control Kagome nodded.
"I won't deny that I appreciate and have some affection for Sesshomaru, but don't worry. He will never look at me as anything more than a filthy ningen." The woman in front of her snorted then as if she wasn't completely satisfied with the answer. However she didn't contest it so Kagome was happy to see the topic drop.
"Well if we are to begin your training and the curing process for your friends we better begin now."
"What shall I call you then?" Kagome suddenly asked after realizing they had made no introductions.
"Mistress Himiko will do. And you are?"
"Kagome." The girl replied quietly wondering just what exactly was in store for her.
"Well Kagome, prepare for a walk. We must ascend to the volcano to gather the herbs for the cure and be sure to wear a mask over your face. We leave in ten minutes." The priestess named Himiko disappeared behind the screen to prepare herself for the trek. All Kagome had was her yellow backpack so she pulled out a change of socks and a bandana.
Within ten minutes she was ready and waiting for Himiko outside of the temple.
Broadening her aura she reached out with her senses to find Haru and Sesshomaru. Had the inuyoukai been masking his aura it would have been difficult but she found it easily to the north like a beacon in the fog. His aura shone brightly even if it wasn't at its full power.
As she reached out her awareness she pressed against his aura. Kagome knew full well that he could sense her reaching out for him and as if he was reassuring her he allowed his aura to throb delicately and used it to caress her own.
Feeling the great lord Sesshomaru's aura around hers was calming, to say the least. It felt like any second he could envelope her with it and secure her in a tight warm embrace. Along with that secure feeling was danger. His aura was massive and if he unleashed it fully it would feel like you were drowning in the middle of an ocean with no hope for resurfacing. He never made Kagome feel that way, she just knew he could.
As if in response to the uneasy emotions she was sending through her aura the daiyoukai's aura receded slightly and soon there was another aura, brilliant and excitedly pulsing next to his. She knew Haru's aura anywhere and because of his youth and inexperience Sesshomaru often had to mask it with his own. Now however he had lifted the protective covering and let Haru embrace his mother in the only way he could from such a distance.
"Well at least you can control your aura." Suddenly startled Kagome retracted her aura quickly feeling the loneliness and chill that such a swift retreat brought. She jumped and turned to see Himiko staring at her, her eyes glazed with knowing.
"I…I was…I was just checking on them." Kagome finally sputtered it out although it sounded like nonsense in her head. The older woman smirked and turned in the direction where the two demons were waiting.
"Yes, checking on them. Well we should get going. We have quite a climb ahead of us." Himiko turned and Kagome followed with one last wayward glance to the north. Somewhere far behind the reach of her other senses she knew Sesshomaru was facing in her direction. The feel of his strong and encompassing aura still lingered on her and she relished in it hoping it would stay.
Himiko led Kagome towards the south end of the village where a volcano reached out before them in the distance. It was not a sharp and tall volcano as she was used to seeing in story books, but instead it was sloping gradually up in what seemed to be a rounded hill. At its top the jagged edges bespoke a bowl of hot bubbling liquid waiting at its core, like a bowl of soup waiting for the gods to blow and cool it. Right now it was inactive, a striking painting in the distance, so surreal and yet with the air of stillness about it.
"So where did you learn to control your aura so well? Few priestesses even manage some semblance of control of their auras even when they are trained. Yet here you are so vastly untrained in every other area of control and yet your aura pulses with strength." Kagome beamed at the small compliment buried within the insult knowing that was as much as she would get from the strict priestess. Himiko however waited with impatience at Kagome's musings.
"I guess I picked it up from Sesshomaru. As a demon he and Haru rely heavily on their auras for communication. As Haru grew bigger and stronger I had to learn to read his aura as well. I guess I sort of listened in to all the lessons Sesshomaru gave to him and Shippo." Kagome shrugged as she continued walking. A part of her was regretting the distance because every step made her forget the warm feel of Sesshomaru's aura enveloping hers. Oddly she had never thought about the distinct communication she shared with demons based on auras. The normal aloof and cold demon lord was always receptive to her touch when she reached out with her aura. Somehow it had never made her wonder why, until now.
Perhaps the demon was developing feelings for her. Of course knowing Sesshomaru the simplest explanation could be something about packs and it being normal and that her stupid miko self wouldn't understand.
Kagome released an audible sigh catching Himiko's attention. The elder priestess was wary of the girl to say the least but using her own intuition she sensed no malice from the girl or trickery. There was something very trustworthy about the girl, in the way she defended her friends and opened up so readily. It was hard to believe there was any ill will in her at all.
Still her gut reaction was to be on her guard. Any human who fell in love with a demon was a disgrace, but a miko? She had never heard of it being done. The traditional, conservative part of the priestess wanted to train Kagome against the demon and teach her to kill him. The more curious and empathetic part of her, however, halted her actions and wanted to watch the relationship from afar. It was true; it had never been done before. There could be...interesting results.
Himiko would have to pray very hard on the matter before she would make her decision. She would also seek out the wisdom of the seer on this as well. She needed answers first before she passed judgment. She would grant Kagome and her friends that curtsey at least.
A/N: The final chapter is almost done! I better get a move on before you guys catch up! Review!