I sat there, curled up in Sesshoumaru's arms as I thought about what I had just realized. "What are we going to do…?" I murmured into his chest.
"We're not going to do anything. We can turn my… brother… away before he even arrives. We don't need to help him, if we don't he'll never know that I'm your husband or that it's you that Naraku wants…"
I lifted my head, brushing my lips just under his chin and across his throat. "We have to…" I murmured.
He gripped my shoulder. "You don't want to do that…" He groaned.
I smirked. "I think I do…"
He shoved me softly down against the moss-covered ground. "I warned you…" He smirked, his deep voice turning husky.
Sesshoumaru was laughing as I picked leaves out of my hair; I stuck my tongue out at him. "If you didn't want to get dirty you shouldn't have teased me."
"I wanted to get…dirty…" I shot him a smug look. "But not like this." I whined as I pulled out another leaf.
He laughed again as he draped my kimono over my shoulders. "Get dressed… I'll get the stuff out of your hair…" He told me as he rubbed my arms lightly.
I smiled at him over my shoulder and carefully slid my small gray wings through the holes that had been added to all of my kimonos and nagajugans.
Once dressed Sesshoumaru spun me around and stared into my eyes. "I'll protect you…" He murmured as gazed into my eyes.
"I know you will…" I answered back.
He placed his hand lightly on my lower stomach and rested his forehead against mine, sighing. "One day…"
I smiled at him, closing my eyes as I enjoyed the feeling of his hand pressed against my stomach. "Tell me why you love me again…" I murmured quietly.
Sesshoumaru slid his arms around me, pulling me close, and nuzzled his face into my hair. "You've completed my life…" He answered, slightly muffled by my hair. "When I met you it was like every cell in my body was finally awake and they yearned to touch you… When you were dying it was like every part of me protested losing you even though I didn't even know you… That first kiss…" He sighed, chuckling lightly. "It was amazing… I felt like electricity ran through my body when we touched… I couldn't get enough of it… Marrying you was the best thing that has ever happened to me…" He lifted his head away from my hair and pulled my chin up so that I was staring up into his eyes. "I am very happy with you Kaori… I couldn't ask for more…"
I blushed, a dark red as I slid his hand back to my stomach. "And would this make you happier…?"
He smiled at me then kissed my lips softly. "It would just make everything happier, but I am perfectly happy with how things are now."
I leaned against his chest, nestling closer to his warmth and comfort. He held me like that, just letting me relax into his warming comfort. Finally I moved back.
"We have to meet with your brother Sesshoumaru… At least… I have to meet with your brother… If you think that it would be safer if you were not there you don't have to meet with him… But I have to… I have to tell them everything I find out about Naraku…" I felt his hands grip my arms as he stiffened.
"I don't want you to meet with him…" He growled.
"I have no choice…" I answered gently. "I can find out things others cannot; at least while I'm here…"
Sesshoumaru gazed at me with one eyebrow raised.
I blushed again. "My mother left me her mirror… she use to use it to see things that would happen…" I mumbled
"You've never used it before have you…?"
I shook my head.
He sighed and laid his forehead against mine again. "Okay…"
"Okay…?" I questioned as I looked into his eyes.
"We'll meet with… my brother…" He struggled to say the words.
I smiled at him and kissed him. "Thank you…" With that we headed back into the village.
"Kaori-chan?" Suzuki questioned as we walked into the village.
"Hello Suzuki-san." I answered smiling.
"Are you going back up to the palace…?"
I blinked. "I am…" I said slowly.
"Take Rin with you this time. She gets lonely down here without you two."
"Sure." I smiled again.
"Rin-chan!" Suzuki called as she turned back into her house.
Rin came out holding Shizuko, smiling. "Yes Suzuki-san…?" She asked as she looked up at my sister.
"Did you want to go with Kaori-san and Sesshoumaru-san? They are going back up to the palace."
Rin turned her eyes on us and I knew instantly even if I wanted to tell her no I wouldn't be able to. "Can I?"
I smiled. "Of course…"
Rin smiled happily and carefully handed Shizuko back to Suzuki before she ran over to us. "Okay!" Jaken came out then.
"What's going on, my lord?" He only ever addressed Sesshoumaru.
Sesshoumaru cocked an eyebrow as he stared down at the little toad; I had given up on Jaken but Sesshoumaru hadn't. "Kaori and I are going back up to the palace; Rin is coming with us."
Of course that meant that Jaken was coming as well, with or without my consenting to it. So when we headed to the stairs that lead to our other home Jaken obediently followed right behind Sesshoumaru.
"Welcome back, Lady Kaori, Lord Sesshoumaru…" Seiji greeted us as we walked in.
"Thank you Seiji-san…" I answered as I walked passed him. "Please send Mai-san to my room."
He nodded and walked off to find her.
I turned to Rin and smiled. "Go ahead and look around. If you get lost ask anyone where my room is and they will take you right to it." I smiled at her as she ran off; Jaken followed after her grumbling. "One of these days I'm going to kick him…" I muttered; Sesshoumaru laughed.
Mai was waiting at my bedroom door as I approached with Sesshoumaru.
"Lady Kaori, Lord Sesshoumaru…" She bowed to us and I sighed exasperated.
"Please Mai-san you do not need to treat me like that."
She smiled at me. "I know. Was there a special reason you asked for me?"
I nodded. "I needed to know where my mother's viewing room is…"
Mai's eyes widened considerably. "I'm not supposed to let you in there until it is necessary…"
I smiled ruefully. "It is Mai… There is a man that's been looking for me and I wish to find him before he finds me…"
Mai bit her lip then turned and walked down the left hallway. We walked in silence as we headed down the hall that was never used. Mai stopped in front of door that looked like it hadn't ever opened.
"This is your mother's viewing room… This hallway was always off limits since it was very dangerous to interrupt her while she was in her trances…" She slid the door open to reveal a large fire pit in the center of the room with ceremonial and sacred items scattered around the room. There was a blank spot in one corner of the room and I knew that was where the mirror was to go.
"I have to bring the mirror in now…" I murmured.
Sesshoumaru disappeared from my side faster then I remembered him moving before and was quickly back by my side caring the delicate mirror. When he went to put it in the room Mai stopped him.
"We're not allowed in there…" She whispered as if the room itself was alive. "Only Kaori-san can place the mirror back where it belongs…"
Sesshoumaru glowered but gently handed me the mirror so I could carry it into the room. I set it down gently; turning it just right so that the fire pit could be seen through it; when I turned back to the door Mai and Sesshoumaru had left.
Mai started dragging Sesshoumaru away from the room the moment Kaori entered the room.
"What are you doing?" Sesshoumaru questioned gruffly.
"Shh…" Mai muttered. "That room has had Brielle's presence in it for a very long time… I'm positive Brielle is going to try and communicate with Kaori as soon as the mirror is in place." With that she shoved Sesshoumaru away from the door and down the hallway.
"Kaori…" a voice behind me murmured.
"Who's there?!" I spun around and gasped at the reflection in the mirror. She was tall and pale. Her teal colored hair didn't hide her lovely charcoal wings and her beautiful brown eyes were shining with happiness. She had a halo. "Brielle…?"
The woman in the mirror smiled at me.
"Mother…?" I questioned as I stepped closer; she nodded. "Mother!!" I cried as I ran up to the mirror only to realize that it was in fact a mirror and that she really wasn't there.
"Hello my darling Kaori…" She murmured as she placed her hand against the cold glass.
"Mother…" I whispered as I placed my hand against hers hoping I'd feel her warmth.
"You have grown…" She smiled at me. "But you're still my beautiful little girl…"
"I miss you…" My voice cracked as I stared at her, trying to soak up as much of her as I could. "I'm so scared… I don't know anything about this new body…"
"I miss you too my little bird… I know you're scared and I wish I was there with you, but you've done an amazing job to learn as much as you have about your new talents…"
My eyes widened as she called me a bird. "You're the voice that's been helping me…"
She just smiled.
"What am I supposed to do now…? Father is gone and Seiko has disappeared… I'm all alone…"
"You're not alone. You have your husband, Makoto, Suzuki, and Rin... and I will always be there to help you… You've never been alone." She started to fade out.
My eyes widened as I banged against the glass. "No. No, no don't go!" I whispered as I tried to reach through the glass.
"My time is up here darling… but never forget that I am always with you… always…"
"Don't go!!" I cried as she finally disappeared from the reflective glass. "Mother…" I whispered sliding down the front of the glass, crumpling on the floor; tears fell freely from my eyes.
