Disclaimer: Nothing in this story belongs to me. I'm merely acting as the translator of a beautifully written SessKik fanfiction 犹如故人归 by 风落潇湘 as I wish to share it with readers who cannot read or understand Chinese. If there are any issues relating to copyright from the author, then I'll remove this story without hassle at once.

Translator's Notes: Despite my best effort, the story is still not perfectly translated by any means. There will also be occasional rephrasing for added cohesiveness and merged chapters to reinforce length. However, I will try to keep everything as consistent with the original work as possible.

Thank you to Xyche101, naruto, fabelliot, sastra, Anon and sone4nia for reviewing the last chapter. All of your feedback and comments are appreciated.

Xyche101: Thanks for the review and it is great news to me that you're enjoying the story. I understand that you would want a faster update (as I would when I'm reading fanfic), though once per week is what I can currently offer with my schedule.

naruto: Yep, Sesshomaru and Kikyo are building their trust, surely and steadily. I also love how they're managing to cooperate without any words. It really shows that their bond isn't limited to being able to communicate with each other. Besides, it would be super OOC if they started shouting out each other's name passionately like InuKag does. Lol! I really can't imagine that!

fabelliot: SessKik here shows that you can form strong bonds even if you don't spend your time with the other person 24/7. Kagura's death is sad. But you're right, Sesshomaru provided her a peaceful send-off and she can finally be free.

sastra: It's been a while. It's great to see you again! Thanks for your review. Personally, I love translating the story so I'm really happy that you not only enjoy it but also think that it can be measured up with canon material. Chapter 18 is also one of my favorites and judging by the views, it seemed that many others share this opinion. :D Oh, Inuyasha… He's somehow still under the impression that Kikyo and Kagome will wait around for him forever so he's in no hurry to make a choice. Naraku is just more realistic to know that Kikyo is with Sesshomaru now.

Anon: Hello there. While it's nice that you've dropped in a review, I would like to point out a few things and share my thoughts, as you did. I feel that you're undermining several aspects of the characters. Naturally, you do not have to agree but please allow me to have a say. First of all, while Kikyo longs to become an ordinary woman, she cannot abandon her duty, and hence her miko garments. Her responsibilities as a Shikon Jewel guardian as well as the protector of her village forbid her from shedding away her miko identity. It wasn't until Inuyasha's arrival that she was given the choice to renounce her position, but not before completing her duty by eradicating the jewel from the mortal world. Also, while I agree that Inuyasha's indecisiveness has caused agony for both Kagome and Kikyo, I do believe that you're making the former sound too much like a victim. I feel like that is undermining her love, as she is the one who wishes to follow Inuyasha with her whole heart willingly. If you say that she is being put into an abusive relationship (being forced to do things), then her presence in the Feudal Era becomes drastically different. This implies that InuKag do not share a mutual love and respect each other for who they are. If that is the point, then I feel like you're not giving her courage to pursue her loved one the credit it deserves. As for Inuyasha, he is by no means treating Kagome like a punching bag. He has demonstrated numerous times that he cares and will push past his limits to protect her. And if anything, you shouldn't forget that Inuyasha is the one who is getting his face smashed into the ground with the sit command. While there are times when the command is justified, there are also times when it's simply due to Kagome throwing a temper. In short, what I'm trying to say is that you've exaggerated/misunderstood parts, which made Kagome seem like a poor victim, and undermined her efforts to stay and be with Inuyasha.

sone4nia: Yeah, I remember that. Naraku's final moment really solidified/wrapped up his character as well as everything that he did. In this story, Naraku's mentality is also gradually changing as he observes SessKik interactions. From throwing a temper in denial to the gradual acknowledgment of his heart's desire (even if he thinks it's Onigumo's), we come to see how he is regarding his one-sided love for Kikyo. But as for whether or not he will say that line (and in front of Kikyo) I won't disclose that since spoilers are no fun! XD

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Chapter 21-Mutual Trust

Once again, he was sitting alone in the darkness. His only companion was his shadow that stretched further than he could bother to acknowledge under the dim light.

He was all alone.

The darkness had always been the most reliable element that shielded him, deterring the advances of others.

He was all alone in the darkness.

Trust was a non-existent concept for him. Only when he was alone could he be at ease. Perhaps, that was why the darkness continued to prove its compatibility with him.

He briefly contemplated if Kikyo would understand how he felt before beveling his lips somewhat in a mixture of self-ridiculing and astringent.

He doubted it. Not when she had Inuyasha's companionship prior and now Sesshomaru's. There was no way she would feel lonely.

Kagura foolishly betrayed him and died for the sake of her freedom. Hakudoshi was overconfident and tried to usurp his position despite being nothing more than a part of him that he had abandoned. His incarnations were all either leaving him or betraying him.

The whole world seemed to be against him, and he was left alone to fend for himself.

'Ha, if you know my thoughts, you'll probably say that I reap what I sow. Hmph, don't you forget this, Kikyo. You and I are so different that we are like day and night. Yet, you are so assured that you can decipher my every move. Oh, I suppose that's true. The vile bandit who covets you encumbers any murderous intent I have towards you. But aren't you taking far too much liberty of such knowledge, Kikyo? I am more than capable of sending both you and the one you love straight to hell! Don't you forget about the curse that lies dormant within you. Well, your negligence is a welcoming bless. Just wait and see…'

…

"Kohaku."

"Yes, Kikyo-sama?" Hearing his name, Kohaku lifted his head to regard the miko in front of him, who was keeping her even stride without turning around.

"I am certain you understand what you request of me, and that of your fate." A momentary silence overtook the surroundings before Kikyo voiced her thought. The sentence was sparse and soft, giving an impression of rare uncertainty that was concealed behind an inaudible sigh.

Kohaku was taken aback, though understanding soon reached him. He graced the concern with a firm hum, an indication that his decision was obstinate and as unmoving as a mountain.

The woman angled her head to look at him. Their eyes met in a clash of willpower before Kikyo pulled away with a barely noticeable sigh.

Be it cooing or intimidation, nothing was getting through to the child. One quick glance of his eyes and she knew that it was all superfluous. The pair of dark pools was listless and hollow, unimaginable for someone that was supposed to be as young and innocent as him.

A fiber of attachment linked him to this world. Without it, Kikyo suspected that he would've become an empty husk with suicidal attempts. He longed to be connected with his loved ones, yet couldn't bear the thought of facing them. Such contradiction created a never-ending cycle of suffering.

Life was precious and sacred. What amount of torment was inflicted that Kohaku was willing to throw away his life rather than preserve it?

Unwittingly, she was reminded of her past self. Didn't she give up on living precisely because of the insufferable agony of betrayal? The indescribable pain had eradicated her instinct for survival in a mere instant. It was so excruciating that she no longer craved for life. She became so desperate that it didn't matter if she was cast into oblivion. It was a kind of devastation that could shatter a human's innate fear of death.

A human's heart was so fragile, yet it could be so strong at times that it could overturn the perception of the world.

Never once had she imagined that she would have to resolve a mess that involved countless participants when her time had already expired fifty years ago.

Her hand wandered to the wound on her chest. In order to sustain her crippled body, she absorbed miko Midoriko's soul as a means of suppressing the miasma. As an exchange for the additional spiritual powers she could now utilize, she inherited Midoriko's will to purify Naraku and the Shikon Jewel.

A self-derisive smile claimed her lips. Had she known that this would've been the result, then she might have been tempted to prolong her life and remain as the jewel's guardian.

Nevertheless, would the second thought actually abolish her willingness to embrace death? The purpose to live on and the lack of it—they were the two sides of the same coin. Similar to how a drive of apathy could guide her to the afterworld, a sense of perseverance wasn't something that could be easily annihilated.

—To roam aimlessly, to falter in her steps, and to become a bystander.

None of the alternatives was an option for her.

With her hand pressed on her wound, she continued to be pensive for a long time. Noticing her silence, Kohaku mistook her need for reflection as a pained gesture. Sincere concern overtook his features. "Kikyo-sama, are you alright? Does it hurt?"

"No, I am—" She was about to shake her head when the air current above them suddenly changed.

"Kikyo-sama!" Kohaku pounced forward and adopted a protective stance in front of Kikyo. They shuffled backward, narrowing missing the gale that hurled itself at them.

Stabilizing her footing, the miko whirled around with a grave expression. "You are..!"

—Moryomaru.

He and Hakudoshi pulled a stun of betrayal against Naraku. Now, it would appear that Naraku had somehow exploited the situation and pitted him against her.

Her bowstring stretched with a twinge. "Why have you come?"

Moryomaru's face twisted into something grotesque. "I've come for the brat's jewel shard. Hand it over to me."

Kohaku instinctively tightened every muscle in his body in response to the threat. The reaction didn't escape Kikyo's notice. Taking a step forward and shielding Kohaku with her body, she permitted her arrow's flight.

Moryomaru climbed altitude to dodge and extended its tentacles. Kohaku hoisted his weapon in preparation.

Just when a chaotic fight was about to break out, a new arrival interrupted with a crescent line that torn through the sky with its brilliant blue light.

Moryomaru was caught off guard. Too late was he to evade the blast of youki that sliced off his tentacles. He swiveled his head. "You—!"

The familiar demonic signature relieved her of any tension. Her furrowed eyebrows instinctively relaxed and a semblance of a smile arrived to grace her features. She didn't need to lay her eyes on him in order to know that he had arrived.

The pronoun 'he' was discreetly different when used to describe the daiyoukai. Kikyo was aware of such and couldn't deny the soothing effects it had on her. Although it would appear that she was letting it become a habit.

Much to Kohaku's disbelief, Kikyo intentionally repositioned herself so that her back was not only facing in Sesshomaru's direction but also Moryomaru's. Naturally, the latter wouldn't allow the opportunity to pass.

"Kikyo-sama! Look out!" Kohaku shouted, anxious. A stream of blue light covered more distance than he could in the given time, instantly obliterating all of the tentacles that flew towards the miko.

The phenomenon left Kohaku with his jaws hanging, even more so when Kikyo never bothered to acknowledge what was behind her. For some reason, he was lead to believe that the miko was aware of the attack, yet decided to do nothing about it.

As if reciprocating her body language, he saw Sesshomaru placed himself behind Kikyo. Their backs were a mere inch away from touching, though a contact was established when obsidian tresses swirled in harmony with silver.

Kohaku wondered if it was all part of a necessary strategy against their common foe. Or was it… could it be… a tacit promise forged from their mutual trust?