All right, Chapter 29 is here, and I promise it'll be longer than 28. So, read & review, criticize and comment without flaming!
-Jack Knights
Several weeks later…
The alarm went off, blaring through Kagome's mind until she had no choice but to wake up and face another day. Oh yeah… school starts today. She sighed and rubbed her face, feeling groggy and depressed. I have to get going… If I stay off school any longer, I'll never get back to a normal life. She stood and stretched, grabbed a towel from her closet and went to the bathroom. Kagome passed Sesshomaru's room, the demon lord standing with his back to her, looking in a mirror.
He was frowning at his reflection, a strand of his hair in between his fingers. Wearing only a pair of brown pants, he looked like he had just woken up, or had just gotten in from a late night. She cocked her head to one side and he noticed her, his face going impassive as he turned to face her. It was then that she noticed his demon stripes also went down his sides, tapering off just above his waistline.
"What's wrong?" she asked, trying to distract herself from her heavy depression.
"Nothing really; it just becomes bothersome dying my hair to fit into your human society," he said, blowing a strand of now greying hair out of his eyes. He crossed his arms and looked back at his image, not liking what he saw.
"How come you have to dye your hair so often?" she said, deciding to continue the conversation.
"It won't retain the chemicals from the dye. And I never learnt to change this form," he said, motioning with his hands at his human-like body, "into anything other than a dog demon."
"Wait, you can change what you look like at will?" she said, surprised.
"Some of us can; but I had no use of such skills, so they remained undeveloped."
"Well then, don't dye your hair if it's such a nuisance. You look better with silver hair anyway," she said, looking at the digital alarm clock by his bed. "Ugh… I'm going to be late at this rate."
She slumped out of his room room and Sesshomaru heard the bathroom door slam shut behind her. He looked back at himself in the mirror, feeling slightly better than he had earlier.
"How was your break, Kagome?" Eri asked at lunch later that day.
"I heard your grandfather was sick," Ayumi added, looking at Kagome with concern.
"It was… hard," she began, chewing over her words. "He just, I don't know, he just fell asleep."
"I'm sorry. I know what you're going through," Eri said. She herself had lost her mother at a young age, and although she never acted like it, she still felt the pain of loneliness every so often.
"Thanks," she answered, wishing they would stop pitying her.
Kagome went quiet, staring off into space. Eri and Ayumi exchanged worrisome glances at her silence. They stood and loomed over her, hands on hips. Kagome looked up, surprised.
"That's it, you need some girl time," Eri said. "Come on, we're going out for some shopping."
"What about classes?" Kagome said as Ayumi grabbed her hand, yanking her to her feet.
"We've both got free periods, and you're classes are canceled, until you feel up to it."
"Yeah, but…" Kagome trailed off, thinking of how Sesshomaru was going to react once he found out she'd left the school grounds.
"Come on, let's go!" Eri said, pulling Kagome and Ayumi belong behind her. Ah well, it's just for a while, what's the worst that could happen?
Ayumi and Eri proved to be great company, that is, when you were feeling guilty and wanted to be alone. Which was exactly the way Kagome was feeling right then. She'd left the school grounds without telling him. Not that I really could. It's not like he has a cell phone or anything, she reasoned, but she knew her excuse was flimsy. Deciding that two hours of following Ayumi and Eri around was enough, she drew in a breath and tried to interrupt them.
"Hey guys," she started, but they didn't hear her. She sighed and grabbed Ayumi by the shoulder. "Hey, we've—"
"Whoa, just who the hell do you think you are?" she answered, turning around to face her.
"Ayumi, what is it?" Eri asked, looking over her shoulder. "Is this chick bothering you?"
"Ayumi, Eri, it's me, Kagome," she said, confused. "You're acting like you don't know me anymore."
"Um, sorry, but we've never met before," Eri said matter-of-factly. "Come on, Ayumi."
"Ayumi, you do know me, don't you?" Kagome asked, panicking.
"I… sorry, I don't know who you are," she said, scared. Ayumi turned heel and ran after Eri, leaving Kagome stunned and confused in the middle of the sidewalk.
How could they not know me? What would make them suddenly forget? Kagome walked quickly, her mind reeling. Could this be the work of Kikyo? But what does this accomplish, making them forget me? She arrived at the bottom of the shrine and began climbing.
Something doesn't feel right, she thought as she neared the top. Black smoke rose from above her and she felt a chill rise through her. She ran for the top, adrenaline urging her on. Kagome reached the top and was shocked by what she saw. The black smoke was coming from her house, now consumed by deadly flames.
"Mom!" she screamed as she ran for the ruins. Someone grabbed her around the waist and she nearly fell forward. "Let me go, my mother's in there!"
"Stop! You can't go in, you'll burn to death!" Souta said, his grip on her tightening. She stopped and turned around to look at him. Overjoyed, she hugged him fiercely, swallowing back tears.
"Did your mother come to visit the shrine today? If so, she'd have already left," he said, awkwardly releasing himself from her grip. "I can guarantee you, miss, no one was in there when the fire started."
Miss? What the hell… "Souta, it's me Kagome. Don't you remember me?"
"I'm sorry, lady, but I have to go help my mom," he said, leaving her alone by the stairs. Again, Kagome was in utter disbelief. Souta… not you too. She went over to where her mother was standing and tapped her on the shoulder. Her mother turned around and she looked at Kagome inquiringly.
"Is there something I can help you with, ma'am?" she said, sounding out of breath.
"Was there anyone caught in the fire?" she asked, feeling sick.
"No, luckily everyone got out in time," her mother answered, looking at the smouldering flames. "I keep telling myself it's just a house, but…"
"It was your home, and it held memories," Kagome finished for her. Her distraught mother looked up at her, blinking back tears, and nodded.
"Yes, that's exactly right," she said with a weak smile. Kagome felt tears of relief run down her face. "Don't take this the wrong way, but why are you here? Was there something you wanted of this temple?"
"No, not anymore," Kagome answered, shaking her head. "I'm just glad that your family is alright."
"Thank you for your concern," her former mother said, patting her hand. "Feel free to visit any time. Well, at least once we've rebuilt the temple."
"Thanks, Mom," Kagome mumbled, wishing she could make her family remember her. She walked down the away from the home she once knew and down the stairs, into a city that didn't know she existed.
"Sir, we've arrived at the Higurashi Shrine," the driver said through the intercom system.
"Thank you," Sesshomaru said without looking up. "I'll be a few minutes late, but if you can go on ahead and announce my arrival, I'd appreciate it."
"As you wish, sir."
The driver got out of the Bentley Arnage, leaving Sesshomaru in the back of the elegant black car. He turned the page of the news paper he was reading and sighed. Such a boring life I lead here… But, the days of being a demon lord are far gone now. I am still as rich and as powerful as I ever was, and yet… I feel as though something is missing.
Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as the driver returned. Curious, he rolled down the window and raised an eyebrow from behind his sunglasses.
"I'm sorry, sir, but it appears that the Higurashi Shrine suffered an incident recently."
"What sort of incident?" he asked, feeling his impatience rising.
"There's been a fire," the driver related. "Most of the shrine and the small house near it have been burnt to the ground."
"What?!" Sesshomaru exclaimed. The one day I feel like reminiscing, and the bloody place is destroyed. He sighed and took off his designer sunglasses, looking up at the shrine. Indeed, there was smoke spiralling from above, the smell of burnt wood drifting towards them. Sesshomaru wrinkled his nose in disgust against the smell.
"Very well then, let's go. Send them a gift of some sort to help them along, won't you?" he said, going back to his newspaper. He rolled up the window, but not before a strangely familiar scent permeated the car. What is that? It's so… familiar. He looked over his shoulder as the car started up, catching the sight of a dark haired woman, looking distraught and lonely as she came down the stairs.
Who is that woman? Something about her… he thought as she reached the bottom of the stairs. The woman looked at the car, her gaze travelling up towards him. He turned in his seat, their stares meeting briefly. Her mouth opened in surprise and he wondered what she found so shocking. I am properly disguised, am I not? She couldn't possibly see any trace of my true visage.
But, as the car pulled away, her hand went out to him, her lips moving. She said something, and even if he had the hearing of a human, he would've still been able to read her lips: Sesshomaru… She does know me, but from where? The car turned the corner and he sat back into his seat, uncomfortable with the strange encounter with the dark haired woman.
The upscale Bentley zoomed quickly and smoothly along the roads leading to the outskirts of Tokyo, it's passenger a demon lord in the modern world of humans. Sesshomaru felt agitated, unable to place where he might have met the forlorn woman from the Higurashi Shrine. His newspaper and laptop lay beside him, forgotten, as he looked out at the darkening sky, the moon already visible.
He self-consciously felt his hand reach up to his forehead, tracing the crescent moon tattoo only he knew was there. She seemed to truly know who I was… but that's not possible.
"Sesshomaru, we've arrived home," his driver, one of the few civilised bat demons in Japan, announced. "Sir, is there something troubling you?"
"No, I'm fine. The destruction of the Higurashi Shrine is… unacceptable," he said, lying flawlessly.
"Very well then, sir," the bat answered. The good thing about his employees was that none of them inquired a trait that Sesshomaru felt to be of utmost importance. He took his gaze away from the full moon and looked ahead, seeing the lights of his considerable mansion rising in front of the car.
They stopped outside an electrical gate, which very few people knew to hold a curse for whatever demon that might try to break into his home. The guards, one a dragon the other a fox, let them in after identifying them and the car smoothly advanced forward, going up the drive toward the house.
My home… the only place in Japan I can reveal my true self without risking exposing my kind, Sesshomaru thought, letting a small smile cross his face. And yet, I've no one to share it with. His mood instantly soured and he felt himself grow depressed, something he hadn't felt in a long time. His door suddenly opened and he realized that he been in the car for longer than he thought. He got out, nodding to the driver, who had already started changing back to his original form, pointy ears and wide nose growing beneath his shortening hair.
The demon lord walked up to the entrance of his sprawling house and the doors opened on cue, several maids coming forth to tend to whatever need he might have. These, unlike the rest of his staff, were humans, young woman sworn to secrecy and obedience for the remainder of their lives. He handed his things to one of them, gave his dinner order to another and waved the rest of them away.
He took the stairs to his left, instead of the elevator at the end of the hall, up to the second floor and went directly to his study. He opened the mahogany doors and left the smell of wood polish and potted gardenias waft over him, lulling him into relaxation. He shook himself of his stupor and settle into his high-backed leather chair, swivelling around to face the flat monitor of his Apple computer. He turned it on and opened several files, looking over his stock portfolio and other business arrangements.
After nearly two hours, he found he couldn't concentrate. That girl… her face won't leave me alone. Why? Why is she forever distracting me from whatever I'm doing? He stood, going to the double French doors and went out onto the balcony. He felt the moonlight wash over him and he felt suddenly ill at ease. Transforming into his true form, he became a giant white dog and took off into the woods backing his home.
I need to clear my mind of that woman, he thought as he raced through the trees. And something primal is exactly what I need.
It was past midnight when Sesshomaru returned to his home, feeling relaxed and ready for a shower. He flew up to his bedroom, the windows unlocked as per his orders, should he decide to go for a run. Finding his dinner on the table in the sitting area of his room might have instilled some anger over the poor maid's attempt to please him, but he felt nothing but pity for the woman.
Whoever it was that left this here will never know love or a family, unless the poor woman marries one of my staff. The notion was highly unlikely, and he sighed over the regret he felt at having hired humans. Sesshomaru stared at the plate of food and the wine bottle left in a bucket of ice and, after a second thought, decided to eat anyway.
Afterwards, he took off his clothing and started the shower. He let the water run, standing naked in front of the mirror. Something flickered through his mind, a distant memory or a vision of the future, he couldn't tell. Surprised at what had just happened, he put the thought in the back of his mind and went to the shower. He pulled back the curtain and again, something flickered through his thoughts.
He looked up at the curtain rod and suddenly felt as though he'd fall through it and end up destroying the bathroom. Why would I do that? I've never before, so why would I suddenly become awkward? He shook himself of the instinct and stepped under the hot water. He showered quickly, wanting nothing more than to rest his tired mind. He dried himself off with a fluffy towel and wound his up in a tail.
Changing into his silk pyjamas, he turned down the sheets of his bed and sat on the edge, willing himself to sleep. He found it elusive, but got into bed anyway. He lay there for several hours, feeling like something was oddly out of place. Eventually, sleep found his troubled mind and he let the dreams he knew would come take him over.
"Sesshomaru, don't act so stupid. Of course you're gonna stay with us!"
"I wouldn't want to intrude," he answered impatiently. "I'll stay outside, I don't mind—"
"Well, too bad, because you're taking Grandpa's room," she interrupted. He sighed and walked behind her, following her into the room.
"We'll move his stuff out for you and change the sheets, obviously," she went on, but he couldn't help but feel like a burden.
"It's alright, he can leave his things in his room, I don't have much that could take up space anyway," he said.
"Well… alright, if that's the way you want it," she said, shrugging. She walked past him and he grabbed her arm before she left. She turned back to him, surprised and slightly frightened. "What is it?"
"I just wanted to say thank you," Sesshomaru said, feeling awkward. She blinked at him, shocked. But then her shock turned to delight as she smiled at him and tilted her head to the side.
"It's no problem, honestly. I'm sure you would do the same for me."
"Thank you, Kagome, for taking me in," he mumbled as she walked away, through the door and out of his dreams.
"Kagome!" Sesshomaru shouted as he woke up, fighting his dream like a madman. His body was drenched with sweat and his pyjamas stuck to him. He shook, suddenly afraid. I remember! I know who you are now!
He jumped out of bed and ran to his closet, taking out his kimono and demon armour. He donned it quickly and grabbed his swords, Tetsusaiga and Tensaiga. He felt a twinge of sadness when he realized he no longer had Kagome's sword. I don't know who made me forget, or why, but I will find you and I will protect you! He took off out the open window, urging the wind to take him to Kagome.
In case you're wonderung why Sesshomaru is suddenly rich and more demons have appeared, I'll give you a hint; Kikyo. That's enough, because I'm going to explain it in either the last chapter or the epilogue, (depends how I feel XD)
Wow… I rewrote this chapter several times, including a version that involved Kagome going to work, another with her and Hojo going out on a date, and so many others that I'd prefer not mention them. All in all, the ones I had written were my sad, sad attempt at keeping the story going longer than I want it to. But now I come to the realization that every story has its end, and this one's is nigh.
Once again, I thank you whole-heartedly for reading and for keeping up with the story, especially to those who have read right from the beginning. I'll miss you all, until the next fanfiction that is ;)
-Jack Knights
