"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."
-John Adams
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Undesirable Truth
He was a stubborn soul and despite all the advice he'd received to that point he wasn't going to simply back down as had been requested of him. Instead, Inuyasha had snuck away from his beloved and her older/younger sister to return to his self-decided post at the well. Irritated that he couldn't manage to pass through to the other side he instead had settled to guarding it so that he could question whoever returned.
A lot of his remaining was selfish in the fact that he was annoyed by his own inability to reach Kagome any longer but there was a measure of honest concern. Sesshomaru in Kagome's time could do such a massive amount of damage that likely there would be little that could stop him if he chose to take things into his hands. As the world often was it wasn't a simple black and white decision, there were multiple factors that had lead him to leave Kikiyo sleeping in the village as he returned to the moonlit clearing to wait for a sign of what was happening.
His vigil paid off around midnight when there was a flash of the blue light and he could smell the irritating chaos demon along with Kagome. He had started forward but was shocked to find that Rimida climbed alone out of the well, the scent of the high schooler all over his dark form was enough to get Inuyasha to frown deeply.
"Where is Kagome? What did you do to her?" He demanded, stepping out without having drawn his sword yet, though a clawed hand rested where he could do so easily.
It was a moment and the suited fellow turned to consider him quietly. "She is still in her home, Sesshomaru has taken over as guard for her. Why are you still here?"
He didn't seem angry, in fact his whole form was his usual neutral attitude, perhaps slightly curious about the half-demons presence but likely not a question he would pursue if it passed unanswered.
"I'm here to make sure Kagome comes back safe…Sesshomaru is dangerous." Inuyasha answered honestly.
"That is a given, but my lord means her no harm so she is safer than she had ever been when she traveled with you." It wasn't insult from the way he spoke, just simple truth. "Your presence here will only cause her further dismay. You should leave and let her pursue her life now that you have chosen not to be a part of it."
"She's still my friend." Inuyasha insisted, growing irritated at how much people told him that lately. "Just because I chose Kikiyo doesn't mean I don't care about her."
"Do you even realize why you care about her?" Rimida asked absently, gaze glancing off toward where he would soon be traveling back to the castle…his own inner thoughts confused as to the girl they spoke of.
"Of course, we traveled together for years to defeat Naraku, even if we will never be lovers we can be friends." he repeated.
"It's because she's the other girls incarnation." the chaos demon explained dully. "You love her because she holds a part of the soul of your lover. That is the only reason she ever chose to love you and now that she is free of you she will find someone else. You are a cruel person, trying not to allow her the happiness you already share with another."
Inuyasha ruffled at those words and started to argue but Rimida put up a hand to pause him, interrupting before he could speak.
"Argue with me all you like, but at least take the time first to reflect on what I've said to you. If she still cared about you the way she once had you would still be able to reach her. You already picked the path you will follow, so you should stop trying to force her from following one of her own."
The half-demon looked down and wanted to react but didn't know how…it was too close to a possible truth that he couldn't manage to reach any words. By the time he'd figured out what he wanted to say the chaos demon had taken leave of the clearing as was barely a speck in the distance, moving fast enough along the sky that it left him to wonder if he'd spent longer trying to find a response than he'd originally planned.
He glanced back to the well, frowning a little and settling a hand on it's edge before nodding a little bit. As much as he didn't like the fellow, and as much as he still wasn't really sure of everything that had been said he knew that everyone else was right. His presence here would just be harmful for Kagome, so he dropped his hand and walked away…if she needed space then he could force himself to give her that.
Kagome smiled at the moon from her room, she was packed and ready to return to the feudal era yet again, more certain than before that the well would let her pass. She had things unfinished that she needed to resolve before it would close off completely. The day had been a slightly nerve-wracking but fun one; she'd mostly managed to keep her grandfather away from Sesshomaru and gift-giving had gone with a little anxiousness with the demon lord sitting nearby but mostly he didn't speak much and seemed patient enough with the mortal exchange.
She hadn't given him the small weapon cleaning kit she'd picked up when she'd bought the sword for Rimida. It felt strange to give him anything, it was unlikely he ever actually cleaned his own weapons after all. It would have felt weirder though to get him a sword as well…yet it seemed like she'd gotten him something less and she shouldn't have. She watched the wrapped package sitting on her desk and then considered the book of fairy tales her grandfather had gotten her last year. It was gathering dust from the lack of Kagome ever really looking at it.
Likely it might have helped her now and again in her feudal travels but she'd never found the time or space to carry it with her or chance reading it. That might be a better gift than the kit on her desk. It wasn't originally something she'd planned on but the fact that she was trying so hard was suppose to be the real meaning behind it.
Guiltily she spent some extra time wrapping the book and settling it in her bag, she would wait to give it to him once they'd returned to his manner…it would be too awkward to give it to him after the day of family exchanges. Her mom would probably be a little cross she didn't warn her about his arrival as she wouldn't have had the chance to do anything for him. Mom's were great about things like that.
Kagome nodded a little, settling the book in the back of her pack and then considered other things to bring…she had some candies from her gifts and then had put in some other foodstuffs in there, she'd managed to catch up on her work so she only needed to take a couple other books to study as opposed to the half dozen she was generally trying to shove inside. Extra clothes, first aid kit, flashlight…seemed like she had all the odds and ends she would need.
She smiled a little bitter sweetly at her room, she loved it in the feudal era but it was always her running for her life or people after her or confusing relationships. She paused a little and blushed at the last mental comment before forcing her thoughts forward. Home would always be just that; home, it was somewhere where she felt safe and was a relaxing vacation from her troubles in the other time.
After a small personal goodbye to her comfy bed and glance to her lovely bathtub she headed downstairs to where Sesshomaru was carrying a bag of things her mother had somehow convinced him to carry. More of her favorite portable foods and candies. Her mother gave her a hug and wished her well before the two of them headed back outside and out to the shack that housed the well.
He didn't say much, of course, he never said too much so that was more common…though it didn't make her as uncomfortable as it used to. Maybe she was getting used to the way he behaved.
"Are you ready to return?" He did ask as she hesitated outside the well.
"Yeah." she nodded. "I already took a lot of time and there is still someone that needs to be stopped back at your mansion so they don't hurt anyone else. I just wasn't sure if the well would still work for me."
"You are welcome to jump through first. It stands to reason while I'm here it will remain accessible." The demon lord said calmly. "Though don't linger too long where you land, I have no intention of leaving you without a guard for more than a moment."
She nodded a little, resisting a blush at how protective that statement seemed and hopping down without further hesitation to help cover the growing embarrassment.
Kagome climbed out of the well to take a deep breath, enjoying the exponentially cleaner air of the feudal era compared to her time. That was one difference she would always partake of gratefully. She saw the well flash a little out of the side of her gaze and felt the immense aura of power that followed the demon lord where he went, his presence more comforting than frightening for the first time.
"Get down." his voice was harsh and demanding as he hopped up next to her, eyes scanning the woods dangerously. "There is the scent of demons everywhere."
End Chapter
Not a long chapter but I liked the continuation, it got through the part in the future faster (which was a large part of why I was so stuck) and will get things back to the plot in Sesshy's manor sooner…yay for drama. Only 5 reviews…I must be sucking.
-Aura
To my reviewers:
Elvenarcher516 - Thank you. I will see this story through yet.
Demonic-Dragon-Eyed-Chick - Trying to get rid of the writer's block, I think I'm slowly chipping my way through.
Zoey Tamagachi - Yeah, I like to be mean to the chars I use to write with.
Sesshy-kaglover29 - Possibly. Haven't decided yet. I do enjoy cliffys yes.
Callie-yue Sesshy's plaything - You find all things out sooner or later. No she didn't buy anything for Rin or Jaken cause I don't really like to write for Rin…it's a author thing for me.
