I do not own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho.
There are FIVE chapters updated this time...gee, my fingers hurt...well, here they are!
And, reviewer responses are at the end of the last updated chapter again!
Thanks for reading this far and sticking with me!
A Demon Lord's Intentions
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As soon as the well lit up, Sesshoumaru was peering into it. Kagome's scent, unlike any other human he ever had the displeasure to smell was oddly nice and wafted up to him. Her purifying energy, however, made his skin itch.
She clambered up the ladder shaped vines and came nose to nose with the dog demon before she knew he was there. She promptly lost her grip, and landed on her rear end on the hard packed ground of modern Tokyo. She glared at the top of the well as if he was there instead of five hundred years in the past.
She climbed to her feet, rubbed her backside, jumped off the second rung of the wooden ladder, and reappeared in the past. She glared up again, and this time, he was there to see it. "Jerk!" she muttered.
He raised one pale eyebrow in response but waited for her to emerge before he spoke. "Miko-"
"Kagome. Ka-Go-Me, remember?"
He sighed and examined the human girl. It was hard to believe that this frail ningen was his best weapon against the troublesome Naraku. He had thought hard about the best ways to defeat the demon hanyou spider, and always, his mind returned to this girl.
She had stood against him enough times to prove her courage and her ability to withstand tense situations. He had tried to kill her himself a few times which he now regretted. Her spirit was unbreakable and her optimism and faith had the power to change the tainted souls of others. In truth, he knew of no other with the powers this human girl possessed. He believed that she was the key to ending this battle for both his beloved western lands and the threat that now stalked him and his people...including Rin.
Naraku had resorted to kidnaping and using children before. Rin had been taken but retrieved before any true harm had befallen her. Had she been injured in any way, Sesshoumaru would not have been able to stop from giving in to his demon rage and killing any in his way mercilessly. Rin had become the most important thing in his life...even above his love for his land and responsibility to them. How the human child had worked her way into the heart he thought he had hidden away was still a mystery to him, but, his love for the girl was as intense as any parent would feel for one of their own flesh and blood kin.
Weeks ago, when he had discovered Inuyasha's miko...no, she belonged to no one but herself. She was too strong to be anyone's possession. The human miko, Kagome, had shown him that Rin was not the only one of her species to impact his life. Every encounter that he had with her in previous battles had started to grow into a deep respect for her and her companions.
Not only had they withstood all the events that they had both knowingly and unwittingly been subjected to, they also grew stronger and learned to make their weaknesses into their strengths.
Sesshoumaru had never experienced the resilience of the human spirit before, and this example of the adaptability and courage of these simple mortals, changed how he saw both the world around him and himself. Though he was himself a demon, he had come to understand why a mortal had the strength inside them to continue on when they knew that everything was against them. Time, decay, weak bodies that heal so slowly, disease, and being subjected to the whims of creatures stronger then themselves, like himself, and they still found reason to fight, to hope and to live to the best of their ability.
Humans were strange creatures. He did not believe that they were stronger then he was, but rather that they held a different kind of strength that had nothing to do with the physical or mental capacities. Kagome had taught him why he felt so strongly for Rin and so enabled him to open himself up and love the child like she deserved to be, and that was a gift he did not think he could ever return.
But, on the heels of love, comes betrayal, sadness, grief, and loss. One day, time would take Rin from him if some other force did not steal her away first. But, when he considered what his life would be like now, he could not imagine what it would be like without her in it. Even if he had to face her eventual death, he had her for now. And, like any creature that understands that fate and mortality is a part of a cycle of life, he knew that every moment he had with this human was one to cherish and one he would remember until the day he himself passed into the next world.
It was in two days that he had seen the woman child interacting and loving his Rin so openly and with such sincerity that he found he wanted that truth between himself and his adoptive daughter.
Just by being who she was, Kagome had influenced him to the extent that he wanted nothing but the best for his child.
And the best was a world free of Naraku's taint. Apart from his vendetta against Naraku for his continued interference in his life, for his insulting display against the dog demon lord, and the blow to his pride from when he tried to trick, trap, and consume him, there was now the future of a little human child that he considered to be of upmost importance. He would do anything with in his power to give her the safest environment to grow and prosper in.
So now, he found himself staring at a frail human woman, wondering how life could take such twists and turns and still make some sort of mad sense. He knew that she had a power that could help make his Rin's world safer.
Sesshoumaru knew that he would never regret this alliance, if she chose to accept him in their midst. It was the Miko's decision. She would be the one in the most danger if Naraku were to strike again.
He stood back to watch the interaction that she had with the other members of her group.
"Where is Inuyasha?" she asked, looking around, oblivious to the deep thoughts plaguing the mind of the demon standing next to her.
"He's looking for Kikyo," Miroku came up behind her. He flung up his arms, waiting for her to start wailing and run to him for comfort.
"Still? It's been three days," she merely sounded surprised.
The monk sighed and lowered his arms.
"Good try." Sango tapped her foot impatiently behind him.
"Ah ha ha ha..." he ducked and moved away.
"Kagome!" Shippo jumped in front of the demon lord and into her arms.
"Hey, Shippo!"
"We missed you!"
"I missed you guys too," she assured him.
"Get back here, you human brat!" a screechy voice yelled. Kagome winced at the sound. Jaken...Oh, yeah! I need to find out what he meant about me losing Sesshoumaru...speaking of which, why is Sesshoumaru here? Inuyasha never told me...Jaken ran past with Rin two steps ahead of him, giggling madly. She was holding the ugly staff of heads above her own head, running, and trying desperately to tuck handfuls of flowers into whatever nooks and crevices could hold them. "Awwk! Stop that!" Still, it was kind of nice to know that some things never change...no matter how many centuries go by...
She decided to voice that thought out loud, thinking that perhaps she could get some answers. "You know, it's kind of gratifying, is some perverse way, to know Jaken will always be this annoying."
"What do you mean, lady Kagome?" Miroku took the bait and opened up the conversation. "Have you seen Jaken in your home?" he asked.
"Something like that. We caught him wandering around a few days ago."
Sesshoumaru tried to puzzle this out. "Jaken has been here, as he was told to be," he watched the miko intently.
She merely nodded and waved off his comment.
He decided to try again. "He could not be in two places at the same time," he insisted in his dead pan voice.
"Precisely." she answered.
"Kagome is from the future," Sango explained.
Sesshoumaru though this over and accepted the hastily made explanation as truth. It explained much about the girl and her odd habits. "How far?"
"About five hundred years..." Kagome answered him. The pale brow rose again. "Sesshoumaru, for what reasons would you ever leave Jaken behind?" she asked carefully. She watched his eyes narrow as he turned the muted gold depths to the toad youkia.
"Disloyalty," he said in a hard voice.
"That wasn't it."
"Maybe you died," Shippo announced. He squeaked and firmly attached himself to Kagome's shoulders when the demon lord looked his way.
"I don't think so, Shippo. Jaken made it sound as if Sesshoumaru chose to leave him."
"There is something else, isn't there?" Miroku watched her face expectantly.
"Yeah..." she twisted her fingers together in that awkward silence that followed. She sighed and decided to spit it out and get it over with. "He said it was my fault."
Sesshoumaru blinked at her but made no reply. Apparently he didn't think such nonsense needed one. If he so chose to leave Jaken behind one day, he was certain that it was his own decision. Though Kagome had given him the opportunity to see things differently, he did not give the credit for his own revelations and decisions to others. He was himself and his mind and powers were strong. He would not be made to do anything against his will...
"Well, anyway," she faced him. "Why are you here?" she asked him bravely. "I really wasn't expecting to see you again. Not so soon anyway."
"Naraku is close," Sango cut in.
"Close?" Kagome closed her eyes, Demon Lord forgotten. She tried locating the evil youki, searching for signs of Miasma, or Shikon Shards. She felt a foreboding, a dark shadow, but no definite signs. Still, he was there. "You're right."
"Sesshoumaru has offered to help us with our battle against Naraku," Shippo nuzzled Kagome's neck.
Kagome looked the Inu Youkai up and down considering what this meant. He merely waited for her to finish her inspection, suffering through this in dignified silence. "We could definitely use your help," she finally announced.
He huffed, shattering that image quickly. He already knew that.
"So what do we do?" Shippo asked her.
"We go shard hunting, silly."
"With out Inuyasha?"
Kagome pulled the cub off of her and held him out so she could look him in the eye. "Shippo, would you rather stay here?"
"No way!"
She smiled and snuggled him close again. He sniffed at her, finding the other fox's scent all over her and a strong mark of his near her mouth. He stretched up and sniffed her mouth just to be sure. She pulled back and stated at him cross-eyed. She gave him a funny look and quirked a brow at him. Shippo just grinned at her, pleased by this new development.
"Where will we look for shards at?" Sango stared at her.
"We won't really be hunting the shards. We'll just be checking up on the ones we don't have."
"So we are going to see that wolf?" Shippo wrinkled his nose. This could be a complication...with Inuyasha gone, the wolf might try to claim Kagome...and Kurama is so far away. Kouga better keep his paws to himself!
"Yeah." Kagome answered.
"Lady Kagome, why won't we be looking for new shards?" Miroku questioned her.
"There aren't any more," she answered simply.
"Oh."
"So you, Naraku, Kouga and my brother have the last ones? I thought that there was one other," Sango pressed.
"There is, but Naraku can't get that one. I'll get that one when I return home. It's in the land of the dead." She fluffed Shippo's fur with her fingers, her tone and actions light and unconcerned.
"How do you presume to travel to such a place?" Sesshoumaru asked her curiously.
"Oh, I'll go with the spirit detective team...with Koenma-sama's approval of course. He's heir to spirit world. He takes care of all the inner world workings and problems." Kagome felt a strange piercing feeling that was hovering over her, thinking it was no more then her reaction to Sesshoumaru's stare. She looked at him carefully.
"My brother returned here with none other then Lady Death." Sesshoumaru waited for her to explain why.
"Yes. Boton works for Koenma. So does the whole Spirit Detective team." She glanced around, peering at every shadow. The malevolent feeling was not coming from Sesshoumaru. "Hey guys, do you feel like we are being watched?"
"Only for a few weeks now," Sango sighed. "Really Kagome, I think he arrived right after you left."
"Has he done anything?"
"Other then annoy the Hell out of us, no."
"I wonder what he is waiting for..."Kagome stretched and glanced vaguely around the clearing.
"For you, this Sesshoumaru is certain." The forgotten demon lord reminded them of his presence.
"Me? Oh, that's right. I have the other shards." Kagome brought her hand up to lightly touch her throat, where her portion of the jewel rested. "Do you-" she swallowed loudly," Do you think he'll come after them soon?"
"Of course."
"I wish Inuyasha was here..." Kagome whispered and considered her options. She missed the faint look of disbelief that flitted across the dog demon's face. Let's see...she thought. I can go home...I can keep going and check on Kouga...I can wait here for Inuyasha...I can-
"Remaining in this place only invites him to make the first move," Miroku said, practically reading her mind.
"Do you suggest we keep moving then?" she asked the monk.
Miroku rubbed his cursed hand thoughtfully. "I would like to keep moving," he decided.
"Sango?"
"Yes. Let's leave here for a time."
"Shippo? What would you like to do?" Kagome asked the fox cub.
"I'll go where ever you go, Kagome!"
She turned to look at the silent Demon Lord. "What of you, Sesshoumaru? What will you do?"
He was surprised that she asked the others what their desires were. As far as he could see, she was pack leader and the others should follow her lead where ever she chose to take them. That she automatically included him in the decision making was both pleasing and annoying. After all, she even included the cub. To her, it seemed as if everyone's feelings on this matter, carried weight.
Sesshoumaru fixed her down with his golden eyed stare and wondered that this human girl had the power to destroy the demon that had been plaguing them for three years now.
"We should search out this wolf," he finally announced.
Kagome nodded her head. "He will, of course, follow. He'll want Kouga's shards too." She tapped her fingers together in thought "I wish Inuyasha was back..." she repeated with a sigh. "Oh well...Come on Shippo! I brought you some things! You can share with Rin."
"Ohhh! What did you bring me?!"
"Let's go see, shall we?"
"Rin! Come on, Kagome has treats!"
Sesshoumaru watched the girl dig through her pack, pulling out items that he had never seen before. She handed Rin and Shippo both half a chocolate bar, saying something about making "Smoors" later. She hefted her bag and returned to Sango's side. "How long till we are ready to move out?"
"Ten minutes? I don't know about them, though," Sango pointed a finger at Jaken, the two headed dragon, and the stoic figure of the Inu Youkai.
"We are ready now, slayer," Sesshoumaru informed them.
"I forgot about the exceptional hearing thing," Kagome giggled. "I guess we'll leave in ten minutes then. Sango, bring extra weapons. I have a feeling we will be needing them. Especially with Inuyasha gone." Kagome couldn't shake the precognitive feeling that fell around her. It was a message of warning and death. Naraku's hidden presence pressed upon her, drowning her in negative thoughts and fears.
They moved out, traveling northeast in the regular loose organization that marked the close comradery between the majority of the members. Inuyasha, come back soon. Kagome watched her companions. We are going to need you...