Eavan trailed behind her demon silently, every so often gazing upon the back of his swaying hair before averting her gaze to the dark tree tops that surrounded them. Behind her Rin lay fast asleep upon Ah-Un, snoring quietly and mumbling softly in her sleep; sitting beside her also quiet was a little boy that was waiting with Rin when she and Sesshomaru returned from the skirmish with Byakuya. Kohaku, Rin had called him and Eavan recognized him as the female slayer's little brother but to Eavan's deep surprise, he could see her!
Upon returning to the clearing while walking at Sesshomaru's side, she was taken aghast when she saw Kohaku staring right at her with raised eyebrows and parted lips. She could feel his gaze in her core and every movement she made, he followed. From the many encounters she had with the boy, he was either possessed by Naraku or a helpless child with no memory and from those encounters, he never once could see her. Why now?
He continued to stare and was soon to turn to Rin with questions but she shimmered away, quickly disappearing when he blinked.
"Rin, who was that with Lo . . ." Before Kohaku could question what it was that he saw, Rin had slapped her hands upon his own and shook her head quickly and it was then he closed his lips and never brought up the situation since he had been amongst their company.
That was maybe three days ago and she was grateful that Kohaku had yet to ask Rin about their arrival. He minded his own and even listened to Sesshomaru when he was asked of something, he even guarded Rin.
Deciding that it was best to leave it alone and not dwell on their new companion, Eavan turned her head from the children and glided up toward Sesshomaru and fell into his pace. He had said so few since the illusion he was trapped in and she could see his lips tremble in anger and his eyes become distant with thought. Whatever it was that he saw, it troubled him greatly to the point he was more icy than normal. A sigh blew past her lips and she flexed her nimble fingers toward his own and watched as they passed through his without disturbing him.
No matter how much she touched him, he still couldn't feel her.
Before she could fully dwell on her sadness of not being able to touch her demon, a searing pull at her back caught her off guard and she let out a hiss as she went rigid while clamping her hands into fists. The pain shot up from her toes all the way to her brow and it was enough to clench her eyes tight and sway with the air as a quiet voice rang loud in her ears.
"Eavan. . ."
Sesshomaru as well felt a disturbance and ceased his walking as he lifted his nose to the air and breathed in deep, a scent hitting his senses and what felt like a pang to his chest caught his attention. His beast howled out his brother's name in almost a mourning fashion as the stars twinkled and sky cleared into a vibrant sapphire.
So it has happened. . .
Eavan breathed through the tightness of her muscles and soon her body relaxed to where she felt lightheaded and held a pant to her lips. She knew that voice, she may have only heard it once but she recognized it.
"Kikyo?" She breathed through parted lips and with a look placed over her shoulder toward her demon who held his gaze to the sky, Eavan picked up her skirt and leapt into the trees to follow the call of her name that rang through her mind.
Sesshomaru felt Tenseiga pulse sharply at his hip, drawing his gaze away from the sky down toward his now silent sword. Raising his hand and grasping the hilt, he felt no other disturbance from the blade but something in his mind was telling to look toward the trees and look he did. With his golden eyes pulling away from the Tenseiga, he stared off into the dark trees that held nothing for him look but his mind was searching for something.
"Lord Sesshomaru?" Kohaku called and upon receiving no answer, he too looked toward the trees before gazing up toward the bright night sky and it was then he felt his jewel shard pulse under his skin, emitting a pure feeling that sent calm through him.
"The scent in the wind has changed." The demon lord spoke slowly as he turned his nose back up toward the glittering sky.
Kohaku hitched his breath and his gaze fell upon the large demon. "Is it Lady Kikyo?"
Sesshomaru closed his eyes and turned his head to stare forward before picking up his pace once more. "It is too late."
Eavan ran through the trees, leaping over logs and panting in the hot air as she navigated through the forest. Holding the ends of her dress tightly in her fingers, she skidded to the left and picked up her sprint when the voice sounded in her mind again.
"Eavan. . ."
"Hold on. . ." She panted and soon she found an opening in the trees and with a soft jump she pushed through the foliage and hopped to a stop to a sight before her. Heaving air into her lungs, her green eyes darted from Sesshomaru's younger brothers group. She knew them all by them name of course from their many encounters over the years, her green eyes darting around and saw that their faces held grief.
Looking from the monk to the slayer then to Kagome who cradled her head to her knees, softly crying as the wolf demons sat beside her quietly. Slowly she glided toward the group and it was then a soft whispering met her ears. Turning from Kagome and out toward the field, her heart skipped at the all too familiar sight.
She gazed at the back of Inuyasha, his silver billowing in the warm breeze with his head bowed sadly. She could see the shaking of his shoulders, no doubt that he was crying over the being he held in his arms. Softly blowing from his right side, dark ebony hair blew and slowly their head leaned back to look upon the half demon. It was then Eavan understood what was going on. It really was Kikyo, the priestess she met some days ago in the forest. All too quickly her memories assaulted her with rapid flashbacks from centuries ago. She felt the arrow pierce her neck, her heart skip in fear and her golden eyed demon yelling for her as she fell toward him.
She could hear his wails and her gurgled breaths.
With her feet betraying her, she glided softly toward the couple who sat together on the hill and was soon standing right beside Inuyasha, looking over him as he cried over the dying priestess. Eavan watched with a hitched breath when she saw one of his dog ears twitch and before she could react the half demon snapped his around to throw a snarl at whatever presence was beside him and his dying love, shocking the red haired woman for only a moment.
"Inuyasha. . . please." Kikyo breathed out softly and instantly he calmed but gripped the woman tighter to body when Eavan kneeled down and grasped Kikyo outstretched palm.
"My purpose took a different turn than I would have like but you . . . you still have a chance." Kikyo sighed as more cracks appeared in her skin but her gaze never left the Celt.
"Please, watch over them . . . for me . . ."
Eavan gripped her cold hand and set her sight on the half demon who freely and quietly continued to shed tears and for once since she first laid her eyes on him, he looked just like his brother.
Nodding her head and releasing Kikyo's hand did Eavan stand before the couple. "While I am still here, I'll watch over them. I promise."
With a breathy and relieved sigh, Kikyo leaned against Inuyasha and Eavan stood off to the side as the two shared their final kiss with one another, something that Eavan felt a pang of jealousy for. She wasn't able to kiss Sesshomaru goodbye or finish saying 'I love you' before she passed. So as she watched Inuyasha and Kikyo give their goodbyes, it opened up a new pain for Eavan that she desperately tried not to think about.
Her one desire was to at least kiss Sesshomaru one final time.
A quiet hitch of breath brought Eavan back and she saw it was Inuyasha, who could only watch as Kikyo dissipated into a faint white light that surrounded them. For the first time in centuries, Eavan felt warmth; the sweet sensation wrapped itself around her body and eased a calm breath to flow past her lips. She felt human even if it were only for a few seconds.
Quietly the silver soul collectors arrived and grasped the white energy, guiding it around the group as if Kikyo was giving her final farewell to the others before the snakes changed their direction upwards, soaring high with Kikyos soul to finally put her to rest.
Then she was gone.
Eavan gazed upward toward the sky and watched at the glittering soul slowly disappeared into the stars and nebulas and soon all that was left was just the colorful night. Averting her eyes from the stars she turned toward the half demon who continuously stared while holding the left behind clothing of the priestess.
"I think I understand you now." He whispered and turned his familiar golden gaze toward her. "You are to Sesshomaru like Kikyo was to me, that was why I could see you every now and then with him."
Eavan wordlessly nodded and turned to leave but soon Inuyasha spoke up again which halted her in her tracks.
"Sesshomaru and I do not have a brotherly bond nor will we ever but I wouldn't wish the pain I feel now upon anyone, not even him but I believe he felt this pain long before I ever did."
Eavan sighed and looked over her shoulder toward Inuyasha as he gazed upon her with tears still flowing from down his cheeks with no end in sight. His words cut deeply into her and it seemed that Inuyasha was slowly starting to understand his elder brother.
"You and your brother are more alike than you would think." She whispered and locked her green eyes with his golds. "This pain, he would never wish upon anyone; not even you."
With a sad smiled and bow of her head toward the mourning half demon, she turned and slowly walked into the trees and disappeared.
