A/N: anyone else rewatching the entire Inuyasha series, the final act, and all 4 movies to prepare their soft little soul for the sequel? Because same. Wash your hands, wear a mask, and don't hit any essential workers. Stay safe ya'll!
Sploosh out!
"You can't keep moping, Kagome." Jiyu nudged the girl, sitting with her legs crossed next to him. Despite the steady chill that persisted in the colder months, the two had chosen to spend as much time outside as they could before the first snowfall. They both wore their traditional clothing, attempting to meditate under an empty cherry blossom tree. "Lord Sesshomaru will come back shortly."
Kagome only sighed in return, frowning to herself. The mark on her neck had faded to a yellow color, and scabs marked where Sesshou had punctured her skin with his teeth.
Three weeks had passed since the gala. Sesshou wouldn't even allow her to return home to speak with her mother or grab personal belongings. She felt so guilty for having sex, she wanted to confess to her mother, but with time, she found she'd rather not tell her at all. The whole idea of being drugged into almost mating seemed a bit much to divulge to her mother. If she kept most life threatening situations a secret from her, then she could add this experience to the list of things better left unsaid.
"If you're not going to properly meditate, then get up." Takeshi approached the pair. He kicked her knee to rattle her, inciting an annoyed glare from the priestess. "Come on, let's go hit things."
"Can I hit you?" Kagome grumbled, rising to her feet in a huff and swiping dead leaves from her pants.
"I don't know," Takeshi smirked, his hands folded behind his head as he led the way to the training room, "Can you?"
She stuck her tongue out at him from behind his back, making the monk snicker from where he sat. Takeshi glanced back, almost catching the girl's insubordinatance. Kagome grinned.
"Alright smart ass, hurry up," The throwback grabbed her elbow and dragged her along the dirt path quicker. "I don't got all day."
"I miss real school." Kagome whined, slipping off her sandals before entering the training room. She padded towards the locker room with heavy feet.
"Lucky for you, you're always 'sick,' so no one even questioned it when you called off two weeks before Christmas break." Takeshi leaned against the wall between the locker room doors. Raising his voice so she could hear him while she changed, he added, "My sister told her school she was engaged her senior year. It got her out of a lot of days, too."
Kagome changed quickly, struggling into her slayer uniform. Just getting the damn leotard on was a workout in itself.
"What happened to her?" She asked, exiting the locker room.
"I don't know," He shrugged, forgoing an honest answer, "One day she was the best shooter, the next, she deserted her post. Criminal of the military now."
"You haven't seen her since?" Kagome asked, realizing there was more to Takeshi than his brash attitude and the many similarities he shared with Inuyasha.
He shook his head no, and Kagome's heart went out to him. Taking his hand in her's, she squeezed. She couldn't reassure him that his sister would ever come back, but she felt for his loss.
"For shits and giggles," Takeshi perked up, "Want to shoot a gun?"
"Quit moping, Sesshomaru." His mother sneered at his emotionless face.
His train of thought had derailed from the paperwork at his desk to Kagome. Plagued by memories of bedding her, he missed her presence. Snapping to attention at his mother's interruption, he glared back at her.
"Still not talking to me?" Inukimi scoffed, exiting his office. She chose a few times a day to bother him, if only to remind him of her place in this castle. Why couldn't he understand that he needed that nudge to take his mate? Why had he resisted it?
Sesshou turned back to the report before him. Shippou had been assigned to Akira in England to make sure the panther demon behaved accordingly, never making any move that appeared suspicious. Toran's family had agreed to the arrangement, and their compliance proved their innocence.
Shortly after Akira had been summoned, the corpse had faded into a wooden doll. While it seemed less likely the Panthers were behind Kagome's attack, he still had them follow his guidelines. Thus, the 24/7 supervision for nearly three weeks now.
Shippou's final report verified what he knew, and he prepared to call off the watch. Opening his laptop, he wrote the family clearance of suspicion and apologized for any inconveniences. Their compliance and loyalty would be remembered. He sent a message to Shippou as well, telling him to return to Japan immediately.
Once the fox kit was back on Japanese soil, he would need to take a trip of his own. Bokuseno's wisdom was required for the origin of this wooden doll, but he refused to leave the grounds of the castle, where many demons stayed on vacation post gala. Leaving the large gaggle was practically asking for one to slip away unnoticed and prey on his priestess.
Absolutely no one was going to touch her. He refused to have even a single hair on her head disrupted, which is why he chose the temple. Their barriers were impenetrable, and the location a mystery. Once again, he sighed, he had caught himself circling back to thoughts of her. He needed to focus; stay vigilant.
"Okay no," Takeshi came behind Kagome, rearranging her stance. "Don't stand like you're firing an arrow. This is a handheld gun." He moved both her hands to cup the handle of the gun, using his foot to kick her legs wider. "Now line up the sight," His voice was low, hands hovering over hers. Together they aimed the gun at a circle target out in the woods. "Fire."
The sound was startling to Kagome at first and she shut her eyes after pulling the trigger. Unlike a bow and arrow, the force of firing had a kickback, and she stumbled into Takeshi's chest.
"Sorry," Kagome jumped forward, pointing the gun down to her side for safety. "I'm not sure this is the weapon for me."
"Nonsense!" Takeshi laughed heartily, "You should have seen my first shot. Fell right on my ass. Figured I'd save you the bruise."
"Thanks," She laughed along with him. The throwback was proving to be a great friend, as well as a mentor. He never looked at her like the Shikon priestess, time traveling legend. He only saw a seventeen year old girl stumbling through life, and funnily enough, she had a feeling he felt similarly. Being a throwback meant nothing to her. He was just Takeshi.
"Alright, do it again." Her mentor stood back, watching her take her stance without guidance. He would correct her if need be, but for now, he watched. He was determined to make her stronger.
Shippou returned two days later, haggard and exhausted. His messy orange hair sat in a ratted bun on top of his head and his sweats were wrinkled from traveling. Being named temporary guardian of the estate was implied upon his arrival to the Western castle. Shrugging at the guard who informed him of the shift of power, he assumed that meant Sesshou was already off in a national park somewhere, searching for the wise magnolia.
He barely had a chance to make it to Sesshou's home office before being bombarded by the lord's mother.
"Shippou," Inukimi approached the disheveled fox, walking with him into the office, "Do tell me, where did my son send Kagome?"
"She's in hiding until this is over," He was already tired of this conversation, "You know that, M'lady."
"I wish to speak with her." The silver haired demoness insisted, but Shippou merely ignored her statement.
"Why don't you let me get settled in, and then we can discuss this further?" Shippou rubbed his eyes raw, trying to wake himself up. "I've barely slept in three weeks, Lady Inukimi."
"Alright." Surprisingly, she agreed. Lady Mother turned to leave, pausing at the doorway, "Would you just tell her, when you can, that my intentions weren't malicious?"
"I will tell her you meant no harm." He agreed, if just to get her out of the office. She nodded when he agreed, and left. Despite being off babysitting duty, he still couldn't sleep until Sesshou returned from the national park. Plopping down into the desk chair, he began reviewing whatever documents were left on the desk. Surely there were clues around here somewhere as to who was behind this madness.
Sesshou hiked through the overgrown forest at a snail's pace. Other humans were out exploring the grounds still, but after dark no visitors were allowed. Once sunset hit, he would be able to fly across the lands in search of the great magnolia. Wearing his human disguise, he was sure his old friend would recognize him by aura alone.
"Let's do some target practice." Takeshi informed his student, handing her a similar, but different handgun than they'd practiced with for the past couple of days.
"Alright." Kagome followed him further into the forest. He had set up targets in high places for her the previous day so she could try moving and shooting, forcing her to aim quicker. Luckily, she was already familiar with rapid fire and shooting in motion thanks to her skills with a bow and arrow.
Which is why he was going to push the limits again.
"Now," Takeshi kicked off his street shoes, exposing bare feet with clawed toes. In a blink, he had transformed, and Kagome's senses alerted to his demonic aura. "I want you to shoot me."
"What?" She stumbled, sure that he misspoke.
"I'm the target now." He grinned in a feral way, his sharp canines gleaming in the setting sunlight. He still insisted on wearing civilian clothing, but his long hair he had taken to wearing loosely, only tying it back for their hand to hand combat practice. Kagome still struggled in that aspect, but he was certain he could change that with a tangible weapon, flexible in its use. "We've been going over your past accomplishments in battle these past few weeks." Kagome still wasn't following, but he explained further, "And so far, unless your life is in immediate danger, you can only harness your reiki with an object in hand."
"Right, but-" Kagome began to protest, but he interrupted her.
"No buts!" Takeshi rolled his shoulders, "You're going to try to shoot me." When she opened her mouth again to argue, he raised his hand to stop her, "Ah ah ah!" He wagged his finger at her pouting, "Just trust me. Try to purify me." Then he grinned, and she vaguely thought of Inuyasha's excitement over knowing he was going to get his way. Whether it was convincing her to cook up some instant noodles or knowing his foe was near defeat, that satisfied smirk was like a trademark, and ever present in such situations. "I'm faster than you think."
Sesshou barely touched the ground as he sped through the forest preserve. His speed was unmatched by any other, and he expressed that skill freely. Purposefully circling the area to alert his old friend of his arrival, he scouted the lands to make sure no other humans were present. Finally sensing the tree's awakening, he slowed himself as he circled back to the aged magnolia.
"Lord Sesshomaru," Bokuseno blinked slowly, his barren branches ruffling in an awkward stretch, "What brings you here to visit?" The lines of his face sat in the grooves of the trunk, and Sesshou noted that he appeared wider, having grown older.
"Bokuseno," Sesshou bowed his greeting respectfully, "I require your assistance."
Kagome stood prepared to fire. She walked in a crouch, attempting to move soundlessly. Takeshi was somewhere in the trees, wearing a target marker.
She tried to hone into her own senses, reading the air around her for his presence. The warmth of her breath in the winter air puffed in a cloud with every slow exhale as she moved forward over frosted forestry.
"Would you be able to identify this item?" Sesshou held up the wooden doll.
In his hands, he displayed the wooden bundle of branches, carved, sanded, and warped together to make a humanoid shape. It was eerie looking and resembled something of witchcraft and voodoo, but Sesshou knew differently. Even Naraku had used puppets before. The bark was a grey charcoal coloring and dry as a bone. Any human could have accidentally crushed it like crumpling paper, but he had been careful all these weeks.
"A puppet it is." Bokuseno's aged eyes never left the doll held in the dog demon's hand, "Not made from magnolia, but another's bark."
"Which is it?" Sesshou asked.
"You cannot smell it, can you?" The tree pondered the idea, familiar with such occurrences. Sesshou was displeased with the implication, and had he been younger, he would have remained silent, too proud to admit a fault he was unable to control.
"It only smells like Kagome." Sesshou was honest. He hadn't yet disclosed the nature of this new relationship to his oldest friend, as he wasn't one to disclose information unless it was necessary, but now it most certainly was.
"Eh?" The coarse bark of his face molded into a surprised expression. "Inuyasha's reincarnated priestess?"
"She is mine." He claimed her as pack, but his tone told another tale. His eyes fell to the doll in his hands once more, bringing the tree's attention back to the matter at hand.
"This kind of practice is aimed towards scent seeking." Bokuseno disclosed, "Her scent is present as she was the target."
"And now?"
"Whomever seeks her wanted you to know." Bokuseno considered the possibilities, "This tree bark is from a coastal region. It does not tell which direction, but know it sits close to water."
Sesshou was reminded of the tension between the West and the Pansa clan. Toran came for his throne over a war between their parents. He considered who might target Kagome, to get to him.
"Your wisdom is appreciated." Sesshou turned on the spot, dismissing the tree from his summon.
"Sesshomaru," Bokuseno called to the young Lord, who paused in his steps at being addressed, "If there is threat of her claim, then you cannot hesitate. She is still a target."
His eyes turned to slits at the implication, but he nodded in acknowledgment. Despite all that had occurred, he knew this was true.
He would protect her at all costs.
Adrenaline was pouring into Takeshi's veins. He had never fought a priestess, and while he had adamantly insisted on training Kagome for the sole reason of being unable to kill upon being subjected to purification, he still worried. It had only been a theory, and one suggested by a ghost of all people, but he had been certain, as he was now. She wouldn't kill him; she couldn't.
The pads of his feet were beyond cold, but the numbness was welcomed. Peering around the trunk of the tree he sat crouched in, Takeshi spotted the priestess. She was scouting the area, her eyes scanning the treetops. Leaning back around the trunk, he aimed to go unnoticed. He would make her work for this shot.
Kagome spun at the sound of leaves rustling. Her heart was in her throat, and she tried to convince herself she could do it. Inuyasha had always just turned human. She could do this to her teacher. She had to learn.
Following the sound, she approached the trees on her left. When she came within a few feet, a blur fluffed the air around her, speeding past. Her hair followed the sudden gust, and she was vaguely reminded of Koga's whirlwind that always disrupted everything in his path. She had just missed where Takeshi had taken off to.
Breathe, she reminded herself.
Closing her eyes, Kagome focused on herself. She could see it in her mind's eye. Standing on the far side of the clearing, she was certain he was on the right. Finding Inuyasha was like second nature to her whenever they were separated in a battle. She could always tell which direction he went.
Her memory was funny, reminding her of all the times she felt Sesshomaru's demonic aura, and never said a word as long as Inuyasha couldn't smell him close by.
Wait a minute, she thought, he was nearby.
A meido. She had felt it open behind her, the abrupt pull inwards lifted her off her feet like a magnet as it ripped her from the feudal era. Her last sight of the world she had come to love so much, was seeing panic on her friends' faces, Inuyasha's terror, and Sesshomaru's shock. He was there when she wasn't able to say goodbye. He had been there until the end.
She had become accustomed to his presence, even then. For Inuyasha, and Shippou too. She had always known them to be close, so she stopped noticing their aura, until they weren't close enough to subconsciously sense.
Kagome had never considered that she had missed his presence too, when she was inside the meido, and the Shikon jewel taunted her loneliness.
So then why did she feel like…
"We say goodbye, for now." She could feel the words in her mind, but the voice was lost.
There.
Kagome spun to her right, firing. It was like a ping of recognition and she refused to hesitate. With a demon as fast as he was, she couldn't let herself second guess her aim.
Her eyes followed her own movements slowly, processing Takeshi's fall at a delayed rate. He hit the ground before she realized she had actually shot him.
"Ngh." Takeshi fell to the forest floor in a heap, catching himself on his forearms and knees before rolling onto his back with the force of his fall.
"Taki!" Kagome panicked, tossing the gun and running to the fallen demon. She dropped down to her knees before him and searched his torso for blood. "Taki I'm so sorry, please be okay!" She scrambled to find the wound, and wake him all at once.
"K-kagome," Takeshi stuttered out, blinking rapidly to reorient himself. He cringed, grasping his sides where the pain throbbed. He was vaguely aware that Kagome was mere seconds from falling apart, horrified at her actions. "Humans don't take falls well, you idiot." He scolded, opening a single stormy grey eye to see her.
"What?" She sat back, observing him further. Grey eyes, no fangs, and filed claws now appeared rounded, and more blunt. "You're human."
"Yeah those rubber bullets really fucking hurt." He cursed, releasing his sides. He would never have asked her to shoot him with a real gun, but she didn't need to know that. "Next time, shoot me when I'm closer to the ground, alright?"
"You ass!" Kagome cursed, taking the throwback by the shoulders and shaking him too harshly. "I thought I had killed you!"
"Woman, am I bleeding right now?" Takeshi yelled back, swatting her hands away. "Jeez it's like you think I'm a weakling or something!"
"I was worried!" Tears pricked her eyes and Kagome sniffled back a sob.
"Are you crying?" Takeshi's irritation snuffed out, "Please don't cry, it was just a test, and you did it! You purified me!"
As the two bickered, eventually collecting their things, all prior thoughts left Kagome's mind.
As if they never happened.