For those of you who read Ch 35 before I updated it I apologize for rushing it. I must admit I have not been as focused on this story as I was in the beginning. I have a story of my own creation I would like to start and I just can't do two at once. I will do my best to finish this story without leaving all of you feeling gypped. Thanks again to all my loyal readers.
Ch 36
The climb had never been so high and the walk never so long every inch forward she went the thought of Sesshoumaru's disappearing aura frightened her. The memory of him standing on that hill with so many arrows protruding from his body haunted her thoughts and her chest tightened.
"Please not again"
Her pace quickened as the possibilities raced through her mind. She continued to run without any hint as to where Sesshoumaru might be his aura had completely disappeared, but luck showed itself in the form of a red clad half demon.
"Kagome!"
Her feet came to an abrupt halt and she turned her head in the direction of the voice.
"Inuyasha?"
"Hey Kagome…we were starting to think you wouldn't come back"
"Inuyasha…where is your brother"
The half-breed's face fell, but he did his best to hide the hurt welling up in his eyes.
"How should I know?"
"Please Inuyasha…I think something is wrong…look!"
Kagome held up the crystal containing Sesshoumaru's aura.
"What's that?"
"This crystal use to hold a piece of my soul… now it holds a piece of Sesshoumaru's and it used to be purple with his aura now it is completely white…I think something has happened to him…Please Inuyasha help me find him"
He was unable to hide the pout pulling at his face.
"Sesshoumaru can take care of himself, I'm sure he's fine"
Kagome's face twisted into a scowl then morphed into a full out pleading pout.
"Please Inuyasha I'm worried about him"
His amber eyes softened and he took Kagome by the shoulders to look deep within her eyes, "You really love him don't you?"
Her eyes widened in surprise and it felt like her heart had been finally set free.
"Yeah, I do"
She brushed light fingers across her full lips as if to capture her words and examine them for her self; the words had left her mouth as if they were a secret she herself was unaware.
She looked away from Inuyasha for a moment then faced him again.
"Are you ok with this Inuyasha?"
At the question Inuyasha stiffened then pushed away turning his back to her, "What…why should I care…do whatever you want… so long as you're happy Kagome"
Anger surfaced quickly on her face, until she heard him through completely then a smile as bright as the sun illuminated her face and she threw her arms around him.
"Thank you Inuyasha"
He managed to pry the girl's from around him, but not before he fully enjoyed her embrace.
"Yeah, yeah…let's go find him before he does anything stupid"
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Rin stood in front of her master holding a sphere as white as snow.
"Sesshoumaru sama, why are you doing this?"
"It is something I have to see for myself Rin"
"Please just hold on to that for now…so long as you hold my aura in your hands it will be pure… I will return and retrieve it later"
Sesshourmaru stood up tossing platinum hair over his shoulder and turned his light brown eyes to the hill top. Two figures mounted the top of the hill and were racing down it toward him. It was Inuyasha and Kagome, the girl was now in the lead running straight for him.
"Sesshoumaru!"
At the bottom of the hill she threw her arms around him and wept burying her face in his kimono.
"Are you alright?"
"I was so worried"
Sesshoumaru placed his hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her away,
"Yes, Kagome"
She looked up into his face for the first time since she ran into his embrace and backed away a bit in shock. His markings were gone and his eyes were more brown than gold. He still looked like Sesshoumaru, but no longer demon.
"What happened to you?"
A slight smile pulled at his lips and he nodded in Rin's direction. Kagome looked over to see the girl holding an orb made from the same crystal as the shard at her throat. "But that's"
"Yes…Rin has purified my demon aura…"
"But why would you have her do that"
He reached out taking her chin in his hand and pulled her face around to look at him, "Because I wanted to see your life for myself…unlike Inuyasha…my demon aura would attracted too many demons out of hiding if I were to walk around in your world"
"My…World?"
"Yes…I want you to show me your world…how you live…you are familiar with my world….it is only fair"
As his words took there affect Kagome's face simply glowed.
"Do you mean… you want to come home with me?"
He gave her a shallow nod and looked toward his brother who was now holding back a number of emotions. He wanted to laugh at his brother's appearance, but he also wanted to hit him for his comment about his aura, and he just wanted to scream in frustration for the sheer fact that Sesshoumaru wanted to go home with Kagome. Sesshoumaru gave his brother a rather smug look and turned his attention back to Kagome.
"Shall we go then?"
Kagome gave a quick apologetic look to Inuyasha and the two strolled off for the well.
"Matta Kagome…do you really think this is a good idea"
Kagome turned to see the half demon ready to throw a tantrum and couldn't stop the smile pulling at her lips.
"It's ok Inuyasha…please look after Rin while we are gone ok…"
Before turning back around to focus on the journey home she formed the words
'Thank you Inuyasha' on her lips then the all too brilliant smile returned.
Inuyasha watched them walk away then turned his attention to the little girl.
"Come on Rin, let's head back to the village we don't want anything happening to you while Sesshoumaru is away" he grumbled the last part and picked the girl up carrying her on his back and headed for the village.
"Do you think Sesshoumaru sama will be ok in Kagome san's world"
Rin peered back down to the crystal in her hands a look of worry much too unbecoming to a small child contorted her otherwise cheerful face.
"Yeah, he'll be fine…if it is one thing I know about Sesshoumaru he can take care of himself"
–Besides it's Kagome I'm worried about-
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Kagome and Sesshoumaru stood at the edge of the well and Kagome was starting to have second thoughts.
–What if he hates it there…he'll probably never want to see me again knowing where I come from…I mean here I'm some great priestess, but there I'm just and ordinary boring school girl…- Her shoulders fell and she release a deep sight
-oh well we've come this far-
"Is something wrong miko?"
"Yeah, stop calling me MIKO it's annoying"
"Yes, you do tend to get angry when I say it…but it is so entertaining"
"You jerk"
A playful smirk pulled at his lips and he began to wonder if this over playfulness was coming from the loss of his demon aura.
"Shall we go now…Kagome?"
"I told you…wait what did you say?"
"Kagome…we are wasting time let us go"
Kagome nodded a little dumbfounded and hopped in followed by Sesshoumaru. When she landed on her side of the well she looked around; the dirt and wooden walls were definitely of her time, but there was no Sesshoumaru.
–hmm, I guess the well won't let him through…maybe- She picked the small crystal fragment, dangling from its chain around her neck, into her hand and nodded, "youshi"
She willed herself back and found Sesshoumaru leaning against the wall inside the well.
"I guess the well won't let you through, but I have an idea"
She pulled the shard from around her neck and coached a small piece of her soul out into it.
"Here…I think if you wear this now you can come to my side of the well"
"This Sesshoumaru does not wear jewelry"
"But eye shadow and long silky hair are ok for a manly demon like your self"
"Do not test me miko…my markings are a sign of my power and class and our hair is a symbol of our wisdom and pride…do not mock me again"
"Ok ok testy look…you can't go through as you are, but if you have a piece of my soul with you I think the well will let you through"
He narrowed his soft caramel eyes at her as she stood smiling at him holding out the small fragment. He snatched the necklace from her hands an attempted to put it on. He struggled with the clasps for a few minutes getting no where until Kagome was done holding in her snickers and decided to help.
"Here let me help"
Sesshoumaru's shoulders dropped and he resided to letting Kagome do it for him.
She stepped behind him taking each end of the necklace in either hand and clasped the two parts together then gathered up his hair to free it from the necklace.
–It's so soft-
She stood there a moment or two more than needed as she let his hair slip slowly through her fingers.
"Miko are you done"
"rrgg yeah I'm done…you know if you keep that up I won't take you"
Another playful smirk tugged at his lips and Kagome melted,
"Ok let's go"
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Naraku floated as a mere head in the depths of an old castle surround by his samiyoushou. Two of his insects buzzed up next to his ear and a malevolent grin pulled at his lips.
"So Sesshoumaru is without his demon aura is he…ku ku ku… and its only guardian is a little girl"
"I may not have the jewel in my possession now but maybe I can have Sesshoumaru bring it to me…ku ku ku"