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.

This is the second update of the week! It's a little early than the planned schedule but I'm going to be busy tomorrow and since I had this chapter translated, I thought I'll post it early than late. Please consider this a special treat from me to all you wonderful fans of this tale. And if I'm not mistaken, I do believe that this chapter will be a very sweet treat. ;)

And naturally, I would like to say a thank you to yami2703, fabelliot, 8579, and naruto for leaving a review.

yami2703: Nope, Shippo is definitely not strong so he's not much use in a fight. If anything, the most help that he has offered in the entire series is being Kagome's ride when Inuyasha is preoccupied with the enemy. And thank you for your unfailing support.

fabelliot: Yeah, Inuyasha seems to think that his threats will work. Lol, Sesshomaru hardly spared him a single glance, let alone acknowledged his words. So Inuyasha is just wasting his time. Also, exactly. I agree. Once Sesshomaru puts in his mind and effort into doing something, he will not stop no matter the consequences. And in what she thought were her last moments, Kikyo managed to discover the anchor that tied her to the world of living when everyone else denied her unnatural existence. Only Sesshomaru didn't care about that and his action highlighted that as well as his own desire for her to stay.

8579: Thanks for the review. Well, knowing Naraku, you can bet that he has his eyes set on the final shard of the jewel.

naruto: Agree. Sesshomaru won't let anything stop him from doing what he wants so even with Tessaiga rejecting him, he's still determined to accomplish whatever he decides to do. The scene actually kinda reminded me of when he saved Rin from the Band of Seven on Mt. Hakurei. Inuyasha could really learn from his half-brother's decisive nature and the ability to take instant action rather than talk. After all, action speaks louder than words. As for Kikyo, she's the type who puts interest of the overall situation above everything else, which includes her own life. This is why she thought she was fine with dying, though in the face of death (again), she was forced to acknowledge the tie she formed with Sesshomaru.

…

…

…

Chapter 25-Mutual Attachment

For her, time was a stilled river without any flowing water. Yet, the presence of whirlpools sent her on an endless spiral. Amongst the spinning chaos that was her mind, a white outline became predominant amidst the haze.

It took the shape of a breathtaking figure with an overflowing silver mane. He stood with a sense of regality that gathered immediate attention. The crescent moon that adorned his forehead peeked through his bangs and while it was a marking, it seemed to shimmer with a luster that rivaled the actual moonlight. There were no proper adjectives to describe the celestial grace he possessed, nor was there a comparison for the elegant pride he displayed.

She was left to wonder if there was any sight in the world that could coincide with his magnificence.

Pain shot through her entire body, taking its time to feed her suffering. It was getting harder to think, though that did not stop her mind from drifting towards the one who managed to captivate her.

—Sesshomaru.

She remembered his indifference and the nobility he demonstrated.

She remembered his arrogance that could take on the entire world.

She remembered the warmth he kept concealed behind his stone cold visage.

They were all so nostalgic.

Perhaps the sentimental mood was getting to her, for memories of their time began to overtake her thoughts.

Standing on the top of the cliff, she first locked sight with him. It had been a glimpse of a glimpse.

From within the cave, they sat alone. When she questioned about the concept of equivalent exchange, he made the proclamation that was filled with confidence and the intent to surmount all. "I, Sesshomaru, am more than capable of managing any expense."

When it was time for them to part, he casually tossed her a kikyo flower. "It complements you," was what he said.

After Hakudoshi fled, she found a place to rest in the shades. It was he who came to check on her condition while the villagers she saved scampered away. A strand of her hair had miraculously coiled itself around his fingers and he allowed it to stay in an affirmation of their mutual acknowledgment.

With the waterfall screening them, they still managed to find each other's gaze. He granted her a peek at the soft light from within his eyes.

The first thing she saw upon waking up in the cave that was Naraku's trap was the equanimity on his striking features. There, they thwarted the villain's plan with their joint effort, synchronizing their movements in a display of mutual trust.

The pain that tormented her began to ebb away. Bits and pieces of memories took over and she recalled their meetings, his subtle actions, and the warmth that she deliberately tried to ignore.

There existed emotions that stood out as hazy and ambiguous… No, that wasn't it. She was well aware of what such feelings were and what they represented. Initially, the seeds they sowed were seemingly insignificant. But that all changed when they sprouted and the saplings grew, burying their roots deep into her heart.

How could she have not noticed the warmth that blossomed? It was just that she tried to avoid mulling over it. By deliberately do so, she could escape from the feelings that would spur her actions. Because she had a faint idea of the direction that it would take her, she never contemplated the consequences. She didn't want to think about it at all.

She was instinctively aware that she would eventually be made to succumb to the pleasant warmth. In spite of that, she permitted its stay, for a reason that she couldn't define with her logic. It was all too anomalous. Then again, since when was either of them confined by the realm of normalcy?

There was the sudden need to utter his name—

…

She let out a hoarse moan, as if struggling to articulate something. The sound prompted Sesshomaru to direct his line of sight to the unconscious woman resting against the smooth bark of a tree.

Her face was sickly pale and her eyelids were shut tight, hiding away the mahogany orbs that he had grown accustomed to gazing at. Droplets of sweat pooled on her forehead, reminding him of someone in a fever.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, displeased. There was a faint impression that the woman wished to remain in such unresponsive state.

If he didn't know any better, it would seem that she was caught in a deep slumber that housed alluring dreams. She appeared to be submerged in absolute tranquility. Contrary to what it looked, such sight was not a good omen. The woman was slipping away in her sleep, being pulled closer to the embrace of death.

In addition to her already deteriorating body, exhausting herself of her spiritual powers had weakened her broken soul. It provided the opportunity for death to wrap its fingers around her whilst unconscious.

His eyebrows lifted as golden eyes glistened with blatant vexation. This would be the last time he would pardon her reckless behavior that landed her in perilous situations. On a whim, he reached for her hand and seized it, as if attempting to transfer some of his body heat into her deadly cold skin.

"Kikyo, come to me," he demanded in a voice that was overflowing with authority, forbidding all other outcomes that were undesirable.

…

There was nothing left but his warmth. Everything was quiet and peaceful. It was devoid of pain, sorrow, and conflict. It was so ideal that she hoped her mind would continue to drift in the sea of lukewarm nothingness.

"Kikyo, come to me."

A disembodied voice shattered the status quo like a clasp of thunder on a sunny day. It sounded like it was whispered right into her ear, with an emphasis that could not be lost. It was gentle yet stern, snapping her out of her languorous state.

A shiver went down her spine, traveling deep until her consciousness was alerted. Her eyes flew open and the sunlight that filtered through the swaying leaves above left her blinded, compelling her to squeeze her eyelids together.

While the sun's glare was too bright for her liking, there was no denying that it was the cause for her brain to reboot itself.

When she finally felt prepared to confront the daylight that she thought she would never be able to see again, she revealed her mahogany orbs. Out of habit, her pupils surveyed her surroundings until she found herself looking at a set of golden pools.

His presence didn't surprise her all that much. What caught her off guard was that his hand was clasped around hers. The realization successfully jammed the clockworks inside her brain. She must still be dreaming, she thought. Maybe she ought to close her eyes again and—

—Only there wasn't an 'and'. She found herself unable to blink as her gaze was bound by the intensity that his hardened orbs pitted at her. Even if she was still somewhat dazed, there was no mistaking the growing ire that overtook his typical impassiveness.

"Sesshomaru…" she murmured but couldn't gather her words before he applied pressure on her hand, seizing it in a vice-like grip. For the first time in what seemed like forever, she was made self-conscious as bewilderment flashed in her eyes. She was certain that he could sense her surprise so she opted to place that emotion on full display to conceal a slight wince.

Sesshomaru bore into her without any expression. However, he must've noticed what she was trying to hide since he loosened his hold slightly. All the same, the anger that stirred in his eyes didn't diminish.

"You…" Her wits seemed to have been misplaced for she could barely get a word across. At any other time, it would've amused her that she was behaving like how Inuyasha would act around her. Perhaps his behavior was contagious.

"I told you not to get involved. I shall be the one who destroys Naraku," he uttered, cutting through whatever she was trying to formulate in his typical cold voice.

Not expecting that to be the topic of their conversation, she was rendered speechless.

Keeping his measured eyes on her, his traitorous eyebrows furrowed a little. How unusual. She wasn't generally slow at discerning the meaning he wanted to convey. Reminding himself that she was still disorientated, he decided to indulge her by elaborating. As he spoke, his features reflected a layer of his stoicism but he did shift to a gentler tone that was unheard of before. "Nothing is worth the cost of your life. Don't think about forsaking it for I forbid such idiocy."

It was said in his customary monotone, though it was flashy than a lightning bolt in Kikyo's opinion. Naraku suddenly appearing before her would've had a lesser impact on her. She froze, her mouth slightly opened. Emotions came crashing in like tidal waves, drowning her with the need to express something. It was amazing how the mind worked sometimes, for the first thought that entered was how priceless her face must seem to anyone that was not Sesshomaru.

Unable to withstand his searing gaze that set her heart ablaze any longer, she managed to lower her head to avert his glare. In that instant, the wind arrived to cool the tension that had been left stagnant. From her peripheral vision, she noticed that their tresses were picked up by the playful breeze and entangled together.

The strands of black and silver crisscrossed and danced together, as if symbolizing the formation of an inseparable bond that would last throughout all eternity. She briefly entertained the notion of whether or not it would be considered naïve to think of their bond as a mutual attachment.

—Mutual attachment?

No.

There must have been a mistake.

There had to be one.

She knew it all too well. There was no way they should've met each other. He should understand too, that her body was artificial. It didn't possess a heart, flesh or blood. Worse, it was slowly crumbling into dust from the consistent clashes between Naraku's jaki, Sesshomaru's youki and both her and Midoriko's spiritual powers.

The body was forever cold, devoid of breath and heartbeats. There were no signs of vitality within the false vessel that housed her soul. But as ridiculous as it was, it was precisely because of this counterfeit that she was able to cross paths with him.

She had truly believed that she could have vanquished Naraku in exchange for her life. She had thought that she could depart from the world without any remaining regrets. She had hoped that she would finally fulfill her duties as a miko and the guardian of the Shikon Jewel.

All that conviction changed when she stumbled upon him.

'It appears that I have become weak in your presence.'

She couldn't even begin to imagine how preposterous her previous life must have been for her to become entangled in this mess. If she had a predecessor, just what condemnable crime did she commit before she was ultimately reincarnated as the miko called Kikyo?

What kind of causal cycle was fate weaving? How inept at threadwork it must be to have spun such tale of melancholy and sentiments.

'That's right… I don't belong here. Time will no longer advance for the dead. Sesshomaru, you are one bound by time. We are not meant to be, just as Inuyasha and I were destined to part.' The pessimistic idea found a spot inside her heart, along with a contamination of an unknown origin. Unknowingly, her free hand skimmed over the grassy floor, searching for something that was useable. The long thin shape she found was very familiar to her; she didn't need to look to ascertain that it was her bow, placed next to her quiver. By some miracle, a few arrows were still left in the holder, waiting to be used.

Once her fingers were wrapped around her weapon, a mirthless smirk crept onto her lips. With a new goal in mind, she jerked her hand free with a swiftness that even Sesshomaru hadn't expected.

Their eyes searched each other and she noted the genuine bemusement from him. Yet, only Sesshomaru could make confusion seem like a demand. His eyes glistened, insisting for an explanation. She obliged with a sneer and slowly opened her mouth. Each word was articulated with intent, coming off unmistakable as she imitated his mannerism. "I'm under no obligation to obey. Who do you think you are?"

As predicted, the icy layers returned to coat his narrowing eyes. Any semblance of light that had breached past his pupils was forced back into torpor. Feigning ignorance, she picked herself up from the ground along with her bow and quiver before trying to depart in the opposite direction.

A hand dragged her to a halt. It was pressed firmly onto her shoulder as it rotated her body. Being gentle was probably something that never crossed his mind as his fingernails dug deep into her skin. Kikyo was beginning to suspect that such treatment was reserved for her only. Had anyone else dared to demonstrate the same level of insolence as she did, there was no doubt that his hand would've found their neck in a chokehold.

When she was spun around to confront him, he struck her with a look so sharp that it was akin to being stabbed by a knife. She bit the tip of her tongue before letting loose a mocking chuckle. Her lips curved in a manner that was not only ridiculing but was also painful to look at. Stepping back and ensuring that her back hadn't reached the tree, she rapidly loaded her bow and pointed the arrow shaft at Sesshomaru.

"Step back. Don't come any closer." Her voice was stiff, alienating in her opinion. When the words echoed in her ears, they felt so outlandish that they might as well have been said by some stranger.

Sesshomaru studied the woman who had the nerve to point an arrow at his chest. A rare sense of anger, one that he didn't bother masking, set his eyes ablaze. However, he didn't openly allow his fury to manifest, for he was not like his volatile half-brother. Instead, the muscles on his lips twitched and gradually carved a thin smile onto his countenance.

He actually… smiled?! It wasn't any derisive smirk but a genuine mirthless smile. At that, even Kikyo couldn't resist the instinctive urge to shiver. She held her ground though, which would've left an impression on Sesshomaru if not for the fact that he was solely fixed on one thing.

What a recognizable sight. She was actually threatening him with a loaded bow. How gallant of her to think that she would actually confront him with the same attitude as she did with that hanyou weakling. Just who did she think Sesshomaru was?

Tilting his chin in an arrogant angle, he lifted his feet and walked towards her with an aloof look plastered on his face.

"I said don't come any closer!" she reiterated on a frantic note. Her curled fingers tensed and the bowstring creaked under the duress.

Ignoring both her and his instinct to remove the threat before him, he continued to advance with a stance that permeated with utter power, the strength to trample on all obstacles that tried to impede him.

Although it was not so much that it would throw off her aim, he could see the small trembles of her hands.

He sneered. Did she truly believe that he would be deterred by her arrows? Had she forgotten who he was? No Sacred Arrow would intimidate him. He was Sesshomaru, the Lord of the West! He was the Inu daiyoukai of the prestige bloodline descended from the fearsome Inu no Taisho, not some lowly youkai that could be easily exterminated.

"Don't come any closer!" As the distance between them was reduced, her apprehension amplified. She repeated herself once more, though it lacked the intensity that she desperately wanted to convey. Her hand was shaking even more now. Holding onto her weapon was becoming a challenge. 'Please, Sesshomaru. Let me be. My resolve is weakening… I cannot do this. I implore you to go. Don't force me…'

He was almost upon her. The arrowhead was a mere inch away from his chest. Despite being fully aware of it, he kept on taking his even steps without a pause.

'No… Don't come any closer! Can you not see the danger of getting close to me?' As averse as she was to admit it, she was at a total loss of what to do. All that came to mind was that she could not release the arrow no matter what. She couldn't bear the thought of seeing blood blemish the perfection he was.

"No… don't." Left with no other option because of Sesshomaru, she dropped her weapons with a clatter. Yet, disinclined with his approach, her hand dived into her sleeve in search of something that could aid her.

Too late was she to do anything else as Sesshomaru detained her by the wrist. Applying substantial force, he unceremoniously shoved her back against the nearest tree, eliminating any means of escape.

She struggled in vain. "Unhand me."

—Unhand her? How absurd.

Now that he was involved with her, he refused to back out halfway. The more she wrestled for her freedom, the tighter his grip became until she was forced to acknowledge the ascendency he had over her.

"Let me go," she hissed as she ceased her vigorous motions. Even if he was not a daiyoukai, a woman's strength was inferior compared to a man's. Proven to be physically weaker, she could only fight back verbally and with a dignified frontage. The moment her composure slipped into complete panic would be the instant she lost mentally as well. She couldn't let that happen; her pride prohibited it.

He said nothing and glued his eyes to her. His look was chilling cold but also scalding hot at the same time.

Without much of a pause and acting purely on a whim, he offered no warning as he suddenly bent down and slammed his lips onto hers. It simulated a gasp from her, which he exploited by probing deeper. The motion was aggressive yet also somehow cherishing, something that Sesshomaru had never incorporated any care into before.

In the language of humans, crippled by emotions, such deed would surely be called a kiss. So naturally, it was not included in the daiyoukai's vocabulary. There were other things that were omitted as well, such as the meaning behind his behavior. He couldn't comprehend the reason why the woman was so obstinate in pushing him away. All he gathered was that her words opposed her true desires. He didn't know why he was forcing her to stay, though his instincts urged him to prevent her departure. If one must find him an excuse for his current behavior, then perhaps one could interpret it as love. However, Sesshomaru had no need for excuses; he didn't understand the meaning of love, nor would he confess to having human emotions for they were not something he inherited from his great father.

In spite of everything, Sesshomaru was not one who would search for excuses and reasons behind his conduct. As usual, what he ultimately chooses to do was forged by his will and fueled by his desires. If there was something he wanted, then he would obtain it no matter the consequences. His fights with Inuyasha for his father's heirloom were the prime example. Words held no meaning in his world, for everything that needed to be conveyed was carried in his actions. That was the reason why dominated all and why he would allow nothing to get in his way.

"Mmf…" With her tongue imprisoned and her mouth sealed, Kikyo could not utter a single cohesive word. It was in her mind's intention to resist but she found her traitorous hand, the one unrestrained, heeding to her heart and instead wrapped itself around his waist.

Once there was some part of her that yielded, her other defenses quickly followed suit and crumbled away. The last to answer the call was her will, which finally relaxed after much reluctance.

—So tired.

Exhaustion came in a rush like surging tides, catching her off guard and completely submerging her.

To be steadfast was her means of engaging in a war against the cruel fate. To maintain her perseverance was how she operated in a battle. She was the type to advance forward, ignoring all kinds of weariness that pursued her body and mind. Given that, halting her steps to rest would grant fatigue the opportunity to catch up. It would slip into her soul, disintegrating the walls of fortitude she built and devouring her tenacity.

—Tired. It was so tiring.

Now that there was someone to support her, all of the determination she possessed fell apart. What happened fifty years ago was happening once again.

She gave in, averse to letting him go. If she had to reveal her weaknesses, then so be it. Sometimes there were simply things that were meant to be and she should just accept them.

Sesshomaru must've sensed the change in her mood, for he relented in his hold on her wrist and she reciprocated the action by completing the embrace.

Subjected to his overbearing kiss that was graced with indescribable sensations, she relaxed her body and mind at last, exposing everything that she had hidden underneath her mask of coldness.

—Was this their mutual attachment?

Indeed. Perhaps it wouldn't be wrong to classify such blissful sensation as part of that.

Their kiss deepened and they were enveloped by the need to indulge themselves.