Chapter 9: There is Something We Need To Tell You
Kagome kept staring up at the sky lost in thought and too exhausted to stand, the sun was finally setting casing an orange glow over the village and surrounding area. Sesshoumaru turned around and noticed the group was making their way to Kagome. He made it to her side instantly, he knelt down in front of her and placed a hand on her shoulder. Kagome finally looked down from the sky to look at him. She didn't say anything, and he tried not to look down at the large bruising that was starting to appear around her neck. "He escaped," she said again in a small voice. Sesshoumaru nodded, "yes but he was gravely injured. It will be awhile before we see him again." Kagome nodded, she looked down at her hands noticing for the first time they were burned. Sesshoumaru followed her gaze and when he saw her hands he frowned. "It must have happened when I was holding up the barrier around myself," Kagome stated in flat voice examining the blisters that were starting to form on her fingers.
"Lady Kagome!" Kagome turned her head at the sound of her name to see Rin and Kohaku jumping off Kirara a few feet away and sprinting to her. Sango and Miroku were running close behind them. "Rin..." Kagome's voice trailed off as her vision blurred a bit, she swayed a bit. Sesshoumaru looked down noticing, "help me up, please?" She asked him, he held onto her arms by her elbows and helped her stand. Rin made it to them as Kagome stood, "Are you okay!?" Rin asked breathlessly from running. Kagome nodded slowly, "I'm fine Rin. No major injures. Are you okay?" Rin nodded as Kohaku, Sango and Miroku reached them. "Kagome, your hands..." Sango said as she noticed the burns. Kagome looked at her palms, "it's not as bad as it looks. I can heal these quickly," she swayed again and Sesshoumaru held onto her arms a bit tighter. "You need to rest Lady Kagome. The village was untouched, thanks to you. You can rest back at your home." Miroku suggested also noticing her being unsteady on her feet.
Suddenly Sesshoumaru picked Kagome up bridal style making her gasp from shock and started walking back toward the village, "I think I can walk by myself..." Kagome said glancing up at his face. Sesshoumaru shook his head no, Kagome sighed and gave up and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I kept your home clean for you Lady Kagome, I will come help get you settled," Rin said following quickly after them. Sango watched Sesshoumaru take Kagome with Rin following beside them. She then leaned over to Miroku and whispered, "was she with him this whole time you think?" Miroku shrugged, "anything is possible, but did you see the extra sword on Sesshoumaru's hip?" Sango nodded, "it looks like Tessaiga," she said back to him as they started there way back to the village.
"Now watch, I just place my hands into the water and..." Kagome placed her hands in the water basin that Rin held in front of her, submerging her hands up to her wrists. The water started to glow with a soft light, the light then wrapped around Kagome's hands. When Kagome pulled her hands out of the water, her burns were gone. "Wow!" Rin proclaimed setting the basin down while staring at her hands she held out, Sango handed Kagome a towel. "That is amazing!" Rin said, and Sango nodded in agreement wide-eyed. Kagome laughed at their expressions, "it only works for small injures at the moment, maybe with more practice I can heal bigger injures." "Did you learn this while you were away?" Rin asked, "or did you have some of this ability before?" Kagome laughed nervously remembering how she learned she could heal with water, she begged Sesshoumaru to use close to his full power to spare with her. She held her own for awhile, but then she let her guard down for a split second; and he burned her whole arm with his poison rope. When she was cleaning the injury is when she found she could heal using water. "I learned this while I was away Rin," Kagome said rubbing the back of her head. Hoping she wouldn't ask exactly how she learned it.
Sango changed the subject a bit, "still, this is an amazing ability you taught yourself. You trained alot while you were away I see," Sango said approvingly. Kagome nodded, "Yes, I feel confident I can protect this village now. But I'm so angry that bastard got away," Kagome said clenching her fists. "He will return, one day that's for sure. You really hurt him though, next time he won't be so lucky," Sango reassured her. "Where is Sesshoumaru?" Kagome asked them realizing she couldn't sense him nearby. "He's outside, on top of us on the roof. I saw him when I went to get more water earlier," Rin said. Kagome nodded relaxing in her bed leaning up against the wall. Sango turned to Rin, "Rin would you like to go back to my home and see if the boys need any help with the kids? I will return shortly to help with supper, I just have something to discuss with Kagome before I go back." Rin pouted, "but I wanted to stay with Lady Kagome a bit longer." Kagome laughed and pulled Rin in for a sideways hug, "awe Rin. I'm sorry I have been gone for so long. Once you two leave I'm just go to rest for the night. We can visit more tomorrow okay? It's getting late." Rin nodded, "okay, I will come back tomorrow then." Rin kissed Kagome's cheek and stood, "Good night Lady Kagome!" She waved as she left.
Sango handed a cup of tea to Kagome, "thank you Sango. You don't have to stay either, you have a family to tend too. I will be fine," Kagome said before sipping her tea. Sango leaned over to Kagome as she drank and whispered, "so, was Sesshoumaru with you this whole time while you were away this year?" Kagome started coughing, slightly choking on her tea. "What-What makes you say that?" Kagome coughed out as her face flushed a bright red, setting her tea down. Sango laughed at her, "well you might not have noticed it but he has a different air around him when he's with you. And maybe it's just my own women's intuition." Kagome cleared her throat, her face was still red. "He may have met up with me a few times this year..." Kagome said quietly looking down. Sango nodded knowingly, "well I will take my leave now. I will come by with Rin tomorrow morning to see how you are doing." She stood and headed for the door, "oh and before I go," Sango smirked at Kagome. "Rin sees Sesshoumaru like a father, I think she would be over joyed to have you as a mother." Sango winked at Kagome and quickly left, Kagome felt her whole body turn red as she stared at her doorway with her mouth open in surprise. "Sango!" Kagome yelled embarrassed burying her face in her hands.
"That demon slayer notices everything it seems." Kagome jumped hearing Sesshoumaru's voice, she looked up from her hands to see him standing in her doorway. Kagome laughed nervously, "yes she is very observant. I guess we will have to tell them sooner then later." Sesshoumaru shrugged and walked over to Kagome, sitting down close to her. Kagome was staring at the fire that was in front of them, "and your still okay with this? I know being with a human can harm your reputation as a full demon." Sesshoumaru looked at Kagome, but she didn't meet his gaze. "I think my reputation will survive. More so because you are not some ordinary human." Kagome finally looked at him, "also I simply don't care about my reputation, anyone who opposes this I can easily dispose of them," he said. Kagome smiled at him, "you are so romantic," she chuckled. Sesshoumaru suddenly realized something, 'this must have been how my father felt when he fell in love with that human.'
Sesshoumaru looked Kagome over inspecting her injures, "you can heal so many injures on yourself. But you can't make these go away?" He said as he ran his fingers across her neck tracing the outline of the now dark bruising there. Kagome shook her head, "maybe one day I can but I'm not skilled enough to completely heal or treat internal injures yet." He nodded brushing her hair out of her face, "does it hurt?" he asked. Kagome shook her head, "no, its tender but doesn't hurt as bad as it looks." Sesshoumaru stood suddenly, walking over to the adjacent wall, and started taking his armor plates off. Kagome raised an questioning eyebrow at him, she watched him place each piece against the wall. Then he pulled out his swords one by one, the Tenseiga, Tokijin, Bakusaiga and the Tessaiga and leaned them on the wall as well next to his armor. When he finished he went back over to Kagome sitting down and draping his mokomoko behind her and himself. Kagome scooted closer to Sesshoumaru as he put his arm around her. "You still haven't be able to wield the Tessaiga, have you?" Kagome asked, Sesshoumaru grunted annoyingly but didn't say anything. "I'm surprised you still want to keep it, is what I mean, I can always put it back in hiding again, you seem to have to many swords on your hip," Kagome said quietly. Sesshoumaru sighed and glanced over at the swords leaning on the wall. "I am not keeping it for sentimental value if that is what you think, one day I will wield it, it just has to accept me as it's master once I prove to it I can wield it. And I can't have to many swords, each one does something different. Again I wanted to say how grateful I am that you decided to let me have it." Sesshoumaru said. Kagome shrugged, "I had Totosai keep it safe for me, I'm actually surprised he agreed to give it to you to be honest." "He only gave it to me because you were there. He thinks a part of that half breed may have been absorbed into the sword, he told me, but I can't tell for sure. I don't smell or sense him in or on the sword. Also, I didn't get a chance to tell you earlier, but I was very impressed with your fighting today."
Kagome scoffed, "ya it wasn't that great, I almost died," Sesshoumaru shook his head, "yes but besides that you did very well. When he comes back he won't get away again, you almost had him." Kagome snuggled closer to him sighing, "we will have to tell Rin about us tomorrow" Kagome said. Sesshoumaru nodded, "when she finds out I lied to her about your whereabouts this last year she may get upset, I think." Kagome sighed again, "she very well might. But she can never hold a grudge for long, even if she tried." Kagome reassured him and then yawned, "this feels odd you know, being in a building for once. I got used to sleeping under the stars with you. If you are more comfortable out there you don't have to keep me company in here." Sesshoumaru smiled, "I seem to be more comfortable when I am with you, regardless of where we are." Kagome blushed as she closed her eyes, "your being every sweet tonight, which is unsual." Sesshoumaru buried his face in her hair on the top of her head, taking a deep breath. "I just watched my woman beat down and nearly destroy a very powerful demon. I am very impressed and attracted to you right now." Kagome chuckled softly, her voice thick with tiredness, "too bad your woman used all her energy today to fight that powerful demon." Sesshoumaru chuckled, "so you will have to save whatever you had planned for tonight, for tomorrow." Sesshoumaru pulled her blanket up over her up to her shoulders, he leaned over and kissed her cheek every close to her ear. "I will save it for tomorrow, rest well," he whispered to her. A few minutes later Kagome was lightly snoring.
Kagome didn't want to wake up yet, she was so warm and cozy in her bed. She snuggled closer into whatever she was sleeping on sighing, she then felt something touch her forehead, 'lips?' she thought. She slowly opened her eyes to be met with bright yellow eyes, Kagome smiled. "Good morning," she said sitting up. "Good morning, the sun hasn't risen yet," Sesshoumaru told her looking outside her window. Kagome nodded at him after she stretched, "good. I need to go mediate and cleanse today after yesterday. After I do that Sango and Rin should be here by then." Sesshoumaru nodded, "I will accompany you then until they arrive, then we will speak to Rin."
Kagome got dressed in just her white under layer kimono, and packed up the rest of her clothes. Once she was ready to go her and Sesshoumaru made their way to the nearby waterfall just outside the village. They reached it just as the sun was about to rise over the horizon. Sesshoumaru sat on a nearby boulder facing the water while Kagome walked into the freezing water, making her way to the base of the waterfall. She sat under the waterfall, crossing her legs and making the root chakra symbol with her hands, closing her eyes and let the water pound on her shoulders and back. Sesshoumaru watched her for a while, an hour passed and she hadn't moved a muscle. Kagome didn't move until the sun fully rose well passed the horizon, then she stood and made her way back through the water to Sesshoumaru. After she dried off and dressed they made their way back to Kagome's home, it wasn't long after that Sango and Rin came by. "Knock, knock," Sango called as they entered her home. Kagome and Sesshoumaru were sitting around the small fire pit. "How are you feeling today Lady Kagome?" Rin asked as she and Sango came and sat down with them. "Well rested, how is everyone this morning?" Kagome asked with a smile. "Everyone is good, I brought some rice cakes to share if you would like some?" Sango said. They sat and chatted for awhile why Sesshoumaru sat silent with them.
As Rin finished a story she was telling, Kagome gave Sesshoumaru a side glance and he met her eyes. She read his silent message and nodded. "Rin, there is something I need to talk to you about." Kagome said then she turned to Sango, "we will come see you at your place in a little bit." Sango nodded, with a knowing smile. "I will see you later then," she got up and left with a small wave. Rin looked at Kagome confused, "what is it Lady Kagome?" Kagome cleared her throat smiling nervously, "well actually, Sesshoumaru and I need to speak with you." Rin turned and looked at Sesshoumaru then back to Kagome. "Firstly, I wanted to apologize for leaving last year without telling you. I know it was hard for you, but I am so proud of you and how you handled the situation while I was away." Rin smiled sadly, "thank you Lady Kagome." Kagome turned to Sesshoumaru, "and Sesshoumaru would like to apologize for lying to you this past year as well," Kagome said while still looking at Sesshoumaru. Rin's eyes went wide as she turned to look at Sesshoumaru as well, "I knew where Kagome was the whole time Rin." He told her, "I was helping her train." Rin's mouth opened in surprise, "what!?" She said loudly, "you knew my Lord?" Sesshoumaru nodded at her, "yes, and there is something else we need to tell you." He turned and looked at Kagome begging her with his eyes to continue for him, she smiled and turned back to Rin as she spoke. "Sesshoumaru and I are courting Rin, and I was wondering if you would like to live with me full time? At least until you get a place of your own if you so choose in the future." Rin just kept staring at Kagome, eyes wide, mouth open. They gave her a couple minutes before Kagome spoke again, "Rin?" Kagome asked worried, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Say something Rin," Kagome laughed nervously, "I know it is a shock but-" "Is it ever!" Rin shrieked loudly jumping up suddenly, "oh my god!" She yelled again. "You and my Lord Sesshoumaru!?" Rin was in complete shock as she processed what was being told to her. "Wait! Does that mean your my mom now?" she asked quickly, causing Kagome to blush, "if you want me to be, yes-" Kagome was cut off by Rin lunging at her and knocking them both to the ground as tears ran down Rin's face. "I always thought of you as my mom, Lady Kagome," Rin sniffled as she hugged Kagome tightly. Kagome hugged her back, as Sesshoumaru turned his face to hide a small smile he was wearing.
The birds were chirping outside, and Kagome could see the small amount of yellow and orange peeking through her window. She turned over and smiled at seeing Rin's sleeping face next to her. It has been a few weeks since Kagome and Sesshouamru had the talk with Rin, and she decided to stay home instead of going with Kohaku with his lastest adventure the other day. She told Kagome she wanted to try living like a family for once, which Kagome was all to welcome to provide. Kagome chuckled to herself because this still wasn't exactly how families lived, at least normally, because Sesshoumaru wouldn't stay with them in Kagome's hut most of the time; more so when Rin was with her. Though he was never to far away these days. It had been a few weeks since Akasani attacked as well, and he hasn't appeared again since. Sesshoumaru goes and surveys the region every couple days, but no trace of him has been found yet. Even with Kagome's Seeing Eye technique they found nothing, but they all know not to let their guard down until he is taken care of. Kagome decided she would go mediate for a bit before Rin woke up, since Rin liked to sleep in. Kagome got up and dressed without waking Rin, she put on her normal priestess attire. She found out the villages are more comfortable with her in her old clothes, which is understandable. But she told Rin, that when she needs to fight again or travel she will wear her new clothes, they let her move for freely. Kagome quietly sneaked out of the hut and headed for Inuyasha's Forest.
Kagome found that mediating under the Tree of Ages has helped her to have a clear mind lately. She made the short walk through the village, greeting early morning villagers as she went. She reached the forest's edge and made her way through, a short time later she reached the huge tree. She sat below it, crossing her legs and making the root charka symbol with her hands. She closed her eyes, and took a few deep breaths, she blocked out all the forests sounds so she could only hear her own heart beat in her mind. She let her mind go blank, but not like the last few times she came, where all she saw was nothingness; suddenly different images flooded her mind.
Images of regions from all over the country flashed in her mind, she saw many faces, some of her old friends and some of people she has never met. She slowed her breathing and tried to concentrate on each image, trying to find out what was being shown to her. A large mountain terrain appeared, with flying demons, holding fire related weapons. The images flashed so fast Kagome wasn't even sure she was seeing them correctly. Suddenly the flashing of images stopped, and Kagome was looking at what looked like the clearing where Inuyasha and Keade's grave sites are. The image froze there, 'are you trying to tell me to go there?' Kagome asked the tree in her mind. Then the image changed, the clearing got dark and the ground started to split. Fire erupted from the cracks in the soil, and a ghostly pale hand with long nails burst through the dirt. Kagome gasped opening her eyes, 'what the hell was that?' she thought sweat beading down her forehead and face. She stood up and turned to face the tree, she looked up its trunk and noticed it was pulsing, like a heart beat. She placed her hand on its bark and closed her eyes again, 'what are you trying to tell me?' her mind spoke to the tree.
She let the images flow into her again, slower this time. She burned each image into her mind, trying to remember any details that stuck out to her. Then the image of the clearing with the graves appeared again. Kagome concentrated hard at this image this time, gasping slightly from the effort, 'please show me more,' Kagome asked the tree. It suddenly felt like Kagome mind was being pulled down, and she fell to her knees in front of the Tree of Ages. The image of the clearing suddenly faded away into darkness, then a figure started to appear in the dark shadows. To Kagome's surprise the figure morphed and became Kikyou. 'Kagome, something horrible is going to happen.' Kikyou said in a ghostly soft voice, 'the new threat will test your mind and powers. You must not falter, you must do what must be done.' 'Why are you helping me now? What do you mean something I must do?' Kagome asked, Kikyou smiled sadly at her. 'I only ever help you, to help Inuyasha, I don't care what happens to you. You will understand when the time comes.' Kikyou started to fade back to the blackness, 'wait! What must I do? I don't understand!' Kagome called after her, just before she vanished from Kagome's sight Kikyou whispered, 'do not falter, send him back to Hell.'
Kagome got mentally pushed back into her body, just as she opened her eyes back in her body the force of being mentally snapped back caused her to fall backwards. Kagome laid there in the grass for a moment, processing what Kikyou just told her and what the Tree of Ages showed her. 'First I see a clear image of the grave site where Inuyasha rests. Then I see what looks like Inuyasha's hand burst through the earth, but his hand looks basically like a zombies. Then Kikyou tells me 'do not falter, send him back to hell?' what the hell is going on...' Kagome's thoughts trailed off as the pieces slowly fit together, Kagome sat up slowly as realization dawned on her face. "How could I have not seen it sooner. He's going to reanimate Inuyasha," Kagome whispered to herself in a hollow tone. She stood up quickly, and ran as fast as she could in the direction of the graves. When she broke through the trees to the clearing she fell to her knees in shock and disbelief.
The earth in the clearing was all ripped up, scorch marks littered all over the grass and some trees. Kagome felt tears swell in her eyes as she looked over the clearing, she shakily stood forcing herself to walk over to the open earth. Inuyasha's grave was empty and burned. She looked over and burst into tears when she saw Keade's urn broken within the dirt and rubble, "oh no," Kagome choked out covering her mouth. She quickly walked around, and got into the hole and started collecting Keade's urn and its pieces. The tears streamed down Kagome's face as she worked, the occasional sob breaking through as she tried not to fall apart there, "some of your ashes fell out..." Kagome whispered to herself as she looked around. She held her hand above the ground where her ashes spilled, and the bits of ash started to glow and float back into the broken urn. "I'm so sorry Keade," Kagome sniffled as the last of the ashes got collected, "this is all my fault." Kagome gathered up the urn and pieces and got out of the hole, in a daze she slowly made her way back to village tears still falling down her face in earnest.
Very far west, over the ocean that divides Japan and China; deep in the mainland in a heavy mountainous region stood a siheyuan residence on top of the tallest mountain in the region. An elegant building looking more like a shine then a mansion, the building was donned with bright colours and ancient craftsmanship. Demon guards of all races and strengths were stationed all around the walls that surrounded the mansion. In the courtyard of the residence was a pacing demon Lord. He was wearing a simple loosely tied kimono that was covered in blue and black flame designs with over sized sleeves and it draped a little on the ground behind him. His hair was bright red and long and was pulled into a high ponytail with wild looking bangs, the ponytail was so long it almost dragged on the ground behind him as he walked barefoot. His dark red eyes were clouded with frustration, as he continued to pace with his arms crossed and a frown on his face. A woman dressed in a simple coloured kimono; that just barley fell off her exposed shoulders; with more layers on then what most wore in spring, appeared behind him from one of the rooms surrounding the courtyard. She had long orange hair, but it was twisted into a big bun on top pf her head with ornaments peeking out around the bun. She had black eyes, that followed the demon Lord as he paced. She leaned up against a pillar that held up the canopy that covered the porch which wrapped around the whole home; she took a long deep drag off the long winding pipe she held. As she pulled the pipe away from her lips, she exhaled a large cloud of grey smoke that wiped and flowed around her. "You will wear a dirt path in my garden if you keep pacing like that my dear husband," she said with no emotion. The demon Lord stopped walking and turned around to face his wife. "Have you heard nothing from Akasani as of late? He has been gone far to long." The woman took another drag off her pipe, "no, as I have said before. I will notify you once I hear anything," she said as she exhaled. The demon Lord grunted annoyingly, pitching the bridge of his nose, "why couldn't he take after you, and not me." The woman chuckled darkly at his statement, "he has been this way for three hundred years, get used to it." She said bluntly looking away from him.
"Fire Lord Huo! Lady Chynna! I have a report!" A demon general came running down the porch from the main entrance, when he reached the Lady and Lord he fell to his knees and bowed his head to the floor. "Rise, what do you have to report," Lord Huo said waving his hand at the general. He lifted his head and spoke in a rush, "we have just received word from Lord Akasani! He sent a fire dove with a message." The general pulled something small out of his pocket and held it up for the Lord and Lady. The small item was a very small fire ball that was spinning slightly, once the general open his hand the little ball floated up and over to Lord Huo. The ball suddenly morphed and turned into a floating head made of fire, it was Akasani's head.
"Father, Mother, forgive me for taking so long to report back. I am far East in the country of the Rising Sun. I have been badly injured and will need time to recover." Lady Chynna laughed loudly, "he's injured!? How is that even possible?" The tiny fire head continued, "I have met that priestess of the stories we heard, the one who destroyed the Shikon Jewel. She has turned out to be more powerful than I had originally thought, also the help she is receiving is making my personal mission a bit of a struggle. It seems the dog demon Lord of the West's son, Lord Sesshoumaru is assisting her. I will return once I have dealt with both of them." The fire message morphed back into a small little fire ball, and Lord Huo grabbed it squishing it in his hand; small little black plumes of smoke escaped through his closed fist. "If that idiot child of mine does not return in six months, I will go get him myself," the ground shook slightly from Lord Huo's booming voice. Lady Chynna chuckled then turned to head back to her room, taking another drag off her pipe, "a priestess and a dog demon Lord? I guess anything is possible these days."
Lord Huo, turned away from the building and looked out into the night sky. 'Heh, just like his father the great dog demon Toga, he has fallen for a human,' he thought amused. Huo heard tiny foot steps approaching him, and he smirked, "now, now, small Lady. You should be resting." The tiny foot steps stopped right behind him. He turned around and looked down at the tiny demon girl. She had short curly red hair that had orange tips, her large red and black eyes staring up at Lord Huo. She was dressed in a dark purple kimono, that had red flame designs around the bottom hem. She looked mad, and Lord Huo had to struggle not to laugh at her expression. "But father! Mother is smoking in our room again." She proclaimed pouting, she crossed her arms, "it smells awful." Lord Huo cracked and laughed with earnest, bending down to pick her up, he held her as he walked back to the house. "I know, how about you go sleep with the others down the hall?" The small demon girl smiled brightly at her father, "with my half siblings!?" Lord Huo nodded as he set her down on the porch. Lord Huo smiled sweetly at her, "try not to hurt them, okay love?" She cheered and ran back inside, as Lord Huo shook his head at his smallest daughter. "If only all my children behaved as she did," he wondered getting lost in thought again, sighing he said "Akasani is testing my patience." He snapped his fingers and a demon solider appeared behind him, "send a scout to my sons location. I want a full report on what he is exactly doing over there." The demon bowed and disappeared, Lord Huo sighed heavily and looked up at the sky, "does that idiot son of mine know he will never win against Lord Sesshoumaru?" He shook his head and started to make his way back inside.