Chapter 20 - Searching for Answers

Kagome lay on her bed as the flea came jumping in through the window. She was thinking back on what Rin had said. How long has he been planning on this? What exactly is going on here? Kagome couldn't help but wonder what the meaning of all of this was. "Myoga, glad to see that you made it back in one piece." Kagome looked at the still trebling flea.

"Serving this family is getting to be too scary for an old flea."

"Myoga, what did you talk to Sesshomaru about?" Kagome asked. Myoga thought back on the words of Sesshomaru, his life rested on his silence.

"It doesn't matter, what matters is that you are okay. Master InuYasha was very worried." Myoga walked toward Kagome on the pillow.

"If he was so worried then why didn't he come himself?" Kagome's tone was unforgiving.

"There are many things about the traditions of this family that you don't know. Even though InuYasha is stubborn he still knows of the way of the demons. Sesshomaru is the ruler of the Western Lands, and InuYasha wouldn't be respecting Inu no Taishou. Respecting his father's word and his traditions are important to InuYasha. They are all that InuYasha really has left of the father that he never knew." Myoga said thoughtfully.

"I understand that, but I think the real reason that he didn't come is because of Kikyo." Kagome couldn't help her jealousy. That damn priestess had done enough damage to InuYasha for Kagome to know that she was up to no good.

"It's true that InuYasha has always cared for Kikyo, but he would never of given you up to Sesshomaru if you wouldn't have said that you would go. It's complicated Kagome, there is a lot to explain." Myoga said doing his best to avoid anything near what he and Sesshomaru had spoken about.

"Well then Myoga, start explaining." Kagome was sick to death of people dancing around the truth as if it were some great fire that would burn them alive.

"Well there are laws, Sesshomaru is the Lord of the Western Lands, and he has claimed his place on the throne. Even though there has been no formal announcement made, the word has spread. Had InuYasha challenged him head on, it would be as if he were challenging his place on the throne. You all would have been killed. I don't imagine that Sesshomaru would have taken that kind of challenge lightly, and there was the promise to return you, but…" Myoga trailed off. He had already said enough, there was no need to bring up the clash between the two.

"But what? Tell me! You can't just stop there!" Kagome's frustration rose. Why wouldn't anyone just be straight with her? Why did everything have to be a secret.

"That's all I can say for now. I will tell you more later." Kagome was about to protest when she was distracted by the loudest thunder she had ever heard. The heavens opened up and rain pounded the castle. Lightening lit the room up as if it were day. Kagome ran to close the balcony doors. The wind was tearing across the pond creating waves. Kagome shut the door and the windows.

"What in the world is going on with this barrier? It was clear a second ago and now it looks like the world is ending outside." Kagome wiped the rain from her face as she turned to go back into the room. Rin came crashing in the door, looking petrified. Before Kagome knew it the child was in her arms. "It's alright Rin." Kagome attempted to console the child. "It's just a storm, it's outside and we are inside. It can't hurt you." Kagome held Rin tightly listening to the fury of the wind against the castle. Something was definitely going on, but no one seemed to let her in on what it was. Kagome ushered the girl to the bed and covered her up.

"Where is Lord Sesshomaru?" She asked just barely peaking over the covers.

"I don't know, Rin. I haven't seen him in a while. Myoga where did he go after you two talked?"

"He stayed behind in the garden." The flea replied. Kagome closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on his aura. It was hard to do with all of the commotion going on outside. She caught a faint wisp of it. To weak to locate him exactly, but he was close. Rin hid under the covers struggling to tune out the storm and go to sleep. Kagome and Myoga exchanged worried glances.

"Myoga why would the barrier suddenly erupt into a storm?" Kagome looked at him. She was going to get the answer to one of her questions today if it killed her.

"Well the barrier is tied to the Lord. My guess would be that Sesshomaru is upset." Myoga shivered at the thought of what the Lord of the Western lands could be feeling to cause such a raging storm.

"Are you telling me that the barrier is based on his emotions?" Kagome's jaw dropped. She remembered that look on Sesshomaru's face, it was then that it had started to rain.

"Well yes. The barrier isn't weakened by any means, but its being is tied to the desires and emotions of Sesshomaru. I haven't seen anything like this since his father died." Myoga's eyes traveled to the ceiling as though he were afraid it would come down.

So he does have feelings. I wonder what could make him so sad. Kagome thought to herself. The three fell into silence, listening to the storm. The thunder ceased and the lightening subsided after a while. Rin had fallen asleep to the sound of rain tapping on the roof. Kagome was staring at her journal, unable to put her thoughts into words.

The door to the room slid open. A wet, but composed Sesshomaru stood in the door way. "Myoga, come." The command was short, but authorities. The flea swallowed hard and flew off toward the doorway. Kagome and Sesshomaru caught each other's eyes for a moment, but said nothing.

"What is it Lord Sesshomaru?" The flea said as he followed Sesshomaru into his room. The taiyoukai slid behind the ornate changing screen and disrobed. He pulled fresh clothing from a chest behind him.

"I need to know something, it is very important that you tell me everything that you know." Sesshomaru's voice was deadly serious. Myoga sucked in a deep breath praying that he held the answer to the great demon's question. "Is there a way to stop the miko from aging?" The question was like a anvil falling from the sky. The flea was too stunned to speak.

What an odd question. Myoga thought to himself.

"Answer me! I have no desire to repeat myself." Sesshomaru snapped.

"Well… um Master, there is no way that I know of. The human body ages quickly by demon standards, and I don't know of any way to stop it. It is a dilemma that I haven't come across in all my years."

"My father surely wanted his human to live longer." Sesshomaru's statement was more of a question.

"Well yes I am sure that he did, but if he knew a way, he never told me. Lady Izayoi never aged, but she wasn't with your father long enough to know if she had found a way to hold onto her youth. She died very young, so she wouldn't have looked old to begin with." Myoga replied.

"Eh." Sesshomaru grunted in disapproval. "There must be some way. My father would have never mated had there not been." Sesshomaru's logic was sound. He knew in his heart that Inu no Taisho would have seen past the present into the future. The circumstances had been an unfortunate twist. There had to be something, but he could think of nothing. His soul seemed to be in turmoil. He couldn't bear to have to look at her. Perhaps the girl knew of a way. "Myoga go, and send the girl to me."

Myoga looked up worried. What would the taiyoukai do with the girl now that he realized she would no longer be a suitable mate? He feared for Kagome, but his choices were limited. He departed to the other room.

Kagome had been shocked that Sesshomaru had not come to get her, that he had actually requested her presence in his private chambers. She nervously tapped on the door that divided the rooms. Al though she had seen a glimpse or two she had never actually set foot in the room.

"Enter." Was the only reply that she got. She slowly opened the door and stepped in. "Close the door." She closed the door behind her reluctantly. Kagome looked up to see luxury that she couldn't have imagined in her wildest dreams. The room was done from top to bottom in the most expensive silks, with plush pillows and a bed that could sleep an entire family. There was a private bath that was decorated in ornate patterns. Ancient relics stood on pedestals. There was a table so that Sesshomaru could take meals in his room and beautiful chests lined up. Kagome could only imagine the wardrobe they contained. She looked closer and there in the corner illuminated by the soft candle light stood Sesshomaru. He was beautiful. His long silver, white hair flowing softly over his shoulders. His clothing hung on him as if he were a model. His face strong and smooth. His golden eyes looked at her with a warmth that she didn't know he could possess,

"You wanted to see me?" She questioned softly. She had come in with the intent of questioning Sesshomaru to death until she got some answers, but now all she could do was stand in awe of the man before her. He was truly a sight to behold. Kagome couldn't pull herself together. Her heart began to pound and she suddenly felt the urge to walk across the room and embrace the great demon lord. Luckily her feet felt glued to the floor. Her strong will and courage seeped from her like water through a sieve. She simply couldn't help herself, he was striking, gorgeous, seductive. There was something about that look in his eye that was like gravity. It was as if he was calling her to him, and Kagome was doing everything in her power to maintain her composure while being paralyzed in the presence of greatness.

"Come in, sit." Sesshomaru gestured to the edge of the bed near where he stood. Kagome slowly closed the gap between them. Each step she took was carefully planned to avoid knocking into any of the priceless treasures in the room. She sat in front of the lord of the house and listened quietly, waiting for him to say something.

"What I am going to ask you is very important, you must be honest with me." Kagome nodded her head. "Do you know of a way that a human stops aging?"