(Inuyashu and co does not belong to me, I just like to write about them. This is mainly a Sesshoumaru/Kagome fic, C & C welcome. This chapter's rating does go up to R, because of attempted rape, but it's not detailed.)
Kanashimi no Hate ni - End To Sorrow - Three
Discovery
"The Sengoku-Jidal period of Japan is thought to be a time when there was little culture, only the art of war. While this is true, there were still - "
Kagome found it hard to concentrate as Professor Najasaki droned on and on. She was in the University now and although she had been excited when she had saw in the course manuals that there were several classes on the Sengoku-Jidal period - which she needed for her History major - Professor Najasaki had a way of making an exciting period in Japan's history boring.
Today they were in the National History Museum, and thankfully, her instructor would not be speaking too long. Their assignment would be to go to different parts of the museum and pick out something that would stand out as a subject to write upon for a thesis. The thesis would count for more than half the grade, and Kagome was determined to make a good grade in this subject.
She smiled as she thought of what her professor would think if she wrote about youkais, and Shikon no Tama. More than likely she would be accused of writing a fairy tale. Sometimes it was hard to believe that she had even been there, but she had been.
Actually it had ended where it had begun - in Kaede's village, or to be more precise, at the well - the well that she had been drug into by the centipede-woman so long ago. Kikyou had saved them from Naraku , but for a price. Inuyasha had been that price, along with her broken heart. In the end, he had protected Kikyou, and before Kagome could do anything, she was pushed into the well by an arrow - Kikyou's arrow - and she fell, screaming Inuyasha's name. Kikyou had been smiling as Inuyasha stood beside her, his face dazed, just as it always had been around her. He had reached for her as she fell and he mouthed the words, "Kagome.." but it had been too late then. She had plunged to the bottom of her well, back in her time and in her world, with no way to return - no will to return.
"Alright, I'm sure you've had enough of my lecturing. Now go and soak up the history that is within these walls." Professor Najasaki's voice cut through her memories. Kagome was relieved. At least this would be something productive to do - even though it would bring back those hurtful memories anew.
****
Kagome could not find anything that really appealed to her. The weapons and the armor - feh, it was familar and yet -
~Feh!~ Kagome thought with a sad smile. ~Inuyasha always said that.~
She walked along, not noticing that the air grew colder, or that the lighting had dimmed somewhat. Adjusting her small backpack which held the small Palm Pilot (a gift from her mother on her seventeenth birthday) and some other things, she went towards a display case that stood out in the darkness. A light shined upon it, which made Kagome curious. As she stopped in front of it, she stared at it.
~It can't be.~ She thought. ~That looks like Tetsusaiga!~ How she knew that the blade was the original Tetsusaiga she did not know. She stepped up to the glass that had encased the sword and placed her hand on the glass. It seemed to thrum under her fingertips. Kagome jerked her hand away and looked around to see if anyone had noticed, but this part of the museum seemed strangely deserted.
"How could this be? Tetsusaiga had been cut in half...destroyed by Gojinki, that gruesome offspring of Naraku's.
"Would you like to hold the sword?" A voice interrupted her perusal of the sword. She whipped around, startled. She saw an old man, whose robes resembled that of a Buddist monk's but they were old fashioned in cut and style. He seemed familar to Kagome and yet she didn't know why.
"I - oh! Gomen.." Kagome looked flustered. "I was looking for a subject to write on and - I think I had better go."
"No, no, stay please. I have been expecting you these long years.."
"Expecting - me?" Kagome swallowed as she felt this tingle rush over her.
"Yes. You are the miko's incarnate - just as Kaede had told me."
"K - kaede? No, wait, you don't mean - " Kagome felt her heart skip a beat. Surely this could not be happening. That part of her life was over with.
The old man smiled and bowed to her. "Honored miko, I am Hirasu Kaedo. I was taken in by Kaede when my parents were slaughtered by youkai. I was told to bring you back but I did not know it would take so long.."
"This is - I don't understand. How did you get here? And surely - well it's been only two years since I left - " Kagome bit her lip, surprised that she was even saying anything about her travelling back and forth through time.
"Time is ever flowing like a river." Kaedo looked into Kagome's eyes. "I come from the time of Perpetual Chaos, when even the youkai are afraid of the Shadows."
"P - perpetual Chaos?" Kagome asked. "But there is no mention of it here."
"It's effects have not reached it's full peak, miko. That is why I have come to make sure you come back to retrieve the Shikon and to take back the Tetsusaiga to it's master."
"I - Inuyasha..still alive?" Kagome's eyes were wide. She was having a hard time digesting all of this information, and Kaedo's mysteriousness did not help matters.
"The hanyou made his choice when he chose Kikyou." Kaedo lowered his eyes and then raised them once more. "He chose the memory of a love, a shell of a love than what was beside him all along. This was not what he was to learn. "
Kagome winced. That still hurt and she didn't like him mentioning that at all.
"Whatever.." Kagome suddenly snapped. "Look I don't know what game you're playing but I'm leaving."
Kaedo suddenly drew out his hand - a dark shard between his fingers. "Leaving this, miko?"
Kagome saw the shard and she knew that it was the shard of the Shikon no Tama - a corrupted piece to be sure, but it was the Shikon and not a fake, like the one Kouga-kun had embedded in his arm once. Her fingers reached out to it instinctively and Kaedo let it fall, Kagome caught it in her palm and she felt a warm glow in her hand as she held the shard. It turned from the black it had been to the pinkish pure glow that it was supposed to have in moments.
"You still are able to purify the Shikon, miko." Kaedo observed. "Your heartbreak over the hanyou did not darken your soul as had Kikyou's anger hers. She could not let go - even in death."
"Stop mentioning that!" Kagome let her eyes rest on the Shikon and then she said, "How did you get this?"
"Kaede of course." Kaedo said.
"Then why could I not sense it?" Kagome accused.
"Your senses were dulled by your pain, miko. Your thoughts were not on the Tama but upon Inuyasha. But in the pain you grew stronger, though you do not realize your power. You are strong enough to take this Shikon shard to the past and take the Tetsusaiga to it's master."
"So you're telling me that I have to search for Inuyasha." Kagome said flatly. "Suppose I refuse. I do have a life here."
"And a life back there which was not completed. Your path has changed Kagome - whether you realize it or not. You must take the Tetsusaiga back to it's place for the two swords call out for each other. It does not belong here in your world. Naraku's winds sent it here. You must take the sword and the shard back with you. Only then may you complete your quest."
"There is a lot you're not telling me, Kaedo.." Kagome tried to hand the Shikon back to Kaedo.
"You have been too long in your rational world, miko. I do not want the Shikon, lest I be tempted with it once more. Do you really want your world to be of Darkness and Chaos? I swear that even Naraku's evil will be nothing compared to the Chaos that the youkais and hanyous will bring with each Shikon shard, for there is no one to purify them nor protect them. Tetsusaiga too, needs it's protector.."
Mother..Sota..Grandpa..all her friends and loved ones. Was what Kaedo saying true? Kagome had a sinking feeling that it was.
"All right. I will go - but only to save this world. I have the feeling that your words are true, Kaedo."
"Of course you would, miko. You can see the Shikon, you can see things that others could not see.." Kaedo smiled. "That gift will be most handy." He handed her the shard and Kagome put the shard in the pocket of her jeans.
"What do I need to do?" She asked.
"Place your hand upon the glass, miko."
Kagome did and once again she felt the thruming of the sword within.
"Why is it doing that?" Kagome asked.
"Because you are it's caretaker. It will protect you and you will be able to wield it - something you will need at the first."
"I know it will protect me because I'm a human - like Inuyasha's mother was human. As for weilding it, only Inuyasha could do that." Kagome kept her hand upon the glass.
"Then why is it that I detect a trace of youkai blood within you, miko?"
Kagome looked at him, astonished. How could he know that?
Kaedo smiled. "Inuyasha bit you, didn't he? He drew blood - that night when he turned into a full blooded youkai. You too, drew blood upon him - not an easy feat for a human. "
"Yes.." Kagome's face turned scarlet.
"He tried to take you - force you for he was in heat. You could barely hold him at bay, and then - "
"Sesshoumaru came.." Kagome shuddered, remembering the cold, cruel face of Inuyasha's brother.
Flashback -
"Inuyasha! Please!" Kagome was sobbing as she looked into Inuyasha's red eyes. His face was contorted in lust. He didn't even know who she was anymore, only that she was female and that he wanted to mate with her.
A low growl came from his throat as he ripped at her clothing, bloodying her in the process. Blood ran down her shoulder from the bite he had given her. She had bitten his lip in reflex when he had snarled against her lips and she remembered the stinging sensation as she did so, for she had drawn his blood too. Kagome closed her eyes, praying that perhaps he would kill her before raping her - that she could not bear, for Inuyasha was a stranger now. Suddenly he had been yanked off of her, and thrown clear. Kagome opened her eyes and saw Sesshoumaru. She was sure from the way he looked at her he would kill her.
"Sesshoumaru-sama!" A little girl's voice cut into the tension.
"Go back, Rin." Sesshoumaru scowled at the little human girl.
Sesshoumaru - traveling with a little human girl?
"But - oh!" Rin looked down at Kagome. "She's hurt like Rin was hurt. Did wovles get her too?"
"Rin.." Sesshoumaru growled."Jaken!"
Rin bent down to where Kagome lay. "Rin sorry. Sesshoumaru-sama saved Rin. Maybe he save you too?" She looked up with pleading eyes to him.
Sesshoumaru said nothing but unsheathed a sword. Kagome closed her eyes, expecting the blow but none came. She felt some air swish against her, but when she opened her eyes, she felt - normal! Her body did not ache and the bleeding wound on her shoulder was healed! She looked up with Sesshoumaru with wide eyes.
"Arigato.." Kagome managed to say.
Sesshoumaru looked at her with disgust. "I cannot abide another misbegotten whelp like my hanyou brother. Rin, go to Jaken - now."
The little girl - Rin - beaming with happiness quickly ran over to Jaken who had now appeared. It wasn't a moment later when Inuyasha appeared, his face filled with rage at the one who intruded upon his mating. The fight had commenced then, but strangely enough, Sesshoumaru had not tried to kill Inuyasha - in fact once he was able to get Inuyasha back in control of himself, he left the hanyou on the ground and had given him a contemptous look.
"Even with the Shikon no Tama, you'll never be a full youkai.." Sesshoumaru said lowly. "You have no control, you never will." And then he, Rin and Jaken left them.
"He came and prevented Inuyasha from killing you and healed your wounds, although he could not undo the demon's blood flowing within your veins. The exchange of blood you see, is a powerful one between youkai and human - if it occours, and that is rare indeed."
"Oh - I - my hand!" Kagome exclaimed. Her hand went through the glass effortlessly as if it were nothing at all.
"Reach further, miko." Kaedo smiled in encouragement. "Tetsusaiga is waiting."
The sword moved on it's own and as Kagome's hand reached further into the glass case, it rose to meet her, the hilt finally resting firmly in Kagome's palm. She carefully drew it out and when she did, a glow surrounded her, making her feel dizzy.
"Kaedo!" Kagome felt the sword transform into Tetsusaiga, for it grew into the fang that had once been Inuyasha's father.
"I don't remember my fangs being quite that large.." Kaedo raised a brow.
"W - what?" Kagome looked startled and frightened.
"Goodbye miko.." Kaedo replied. "Tetsusaiga shall take you home.."
"No, wait! You said your fangs - aeeeiiii!!" Kagome screamed as a portal opened in front of the tip of Tetsusaiga and as the centipede-creature had done years before, sucked her in. Before the portal could close, Kaedo closed his eyes and dematerialized, his essence following the Tetsusaiga. When they were gone, the illusion that had been that part of the museum faded into the shrubbery that had actually been there.
Kanashimi no Hate ni - End To Sorrow - Three
Discovery
"The Sengoku-Jidal period of Japan is thought to be a time when there was little culture, only the art of war. While this is true, there were still - "
Kagome found it hard to concentrate as Professor Najasaki droned on and on. She was in the University now and although she had been excited when she had saw in the course manuals that there were several classes on the Sengoku-Jidal period - which she needed for her History major - Professor Najasaki had a way of making an exciting period in Japan's history boring.
Today they were in the National History Museum, and thankfully, her instructor would not be speaking too long. Their assignment would be to go to different parts of the museum and pick out something that would stand out as a subject to write upon for a thesis. The thesis would count for more than half the grade, and Kagome was determined to make a good grade in this subject.
She smiled as she thought of what her professor would think if she wrote about youkais, and Shikon no Tama. More than likely she would be accused of writing a fairy tale. Sometimes it was hard to believe that she had even been there, but she had been.
Actually it had ended where it had begun - in Kaede's village, or to be more precise, at the well - the well that she had been drug into by the centipede-woman so long ago. Kikyou had saved them from Naraku , but for a price. Inuyasha had been that price, along with her broken heart. In the end, he had protected Kikyou, and before Kagome could do anything, she was pushed into the well by an arrow - Kikyou's arrow - and she fell, screaming Inuyasha's name. Kikyou had been smiling as Inuyasha stood beside her, his face dazed, just as it always had been around her. He had reached for her as she fell and he mouthed the words, "Kagome.." but it had been too late then. She had plunged to the bottom of her well, back in her time and in her world, with no way to return - no will to return.
"Alright, I'm sure you've had enough of my lecturing. Now go and soak up the history that is within these walls." Professor Najasaki's voice cut through her memories. Kagome was relieved. At least this would be something productive to do - even though it would bring back those hurtful memories anew.
****
Kagome could not find anything that really appealed to her. The weapons and the armor - feh, it was familar and yet -
~Feh!~ Kagome thought with a sad smile. ~Inuyasha always said that.~
She walked along, not noticing that the air grew colder, or that the lighting had dimmed somewhat. Adjusting her small backpack which held the small Palm Pilot (a gift from her mother on her seventeenth birthday) and some other things, she went towards a display case that stood out in the darkness. A light shined upon it, which made Kagome curious. As she stopped in front of it, she stared at it.
~It can't be.~ She thought. ~That looks like Tetsusaiga!~ How she knew that the blade was the original Tetsusaiga she did not know. She stepped up to the glass that had encased the sword and placed her hand on the glass. It seemed to thrum under her fingertips. Kagome jerked her hand away and looked around to see if anyone had noticed, but this part of the museum seemed strangely deserted.
"How could this be? Tetsusaiga had been cut in half...destroyed by Gojinki, that gruesome offspring of Naraku's.
"Would you like to hold the sword?" A voice interrupted her perusal of the sword. She whipped around, startled. She saw an old man, whose robes resembled that of a Buddist monk's but they were old fashioned in cut and style. He seemed familar to Kagome and yet she didn't know why.
"I - oh! Gomen.." Kagome looked flustered. "I was looking for a subject to write on and - I think I had better go."
"No, no, stay please. I have been expecting you these long years.."
"Expecting - me?" Kagome swallowed as she felt this tingle rush over her.
"Yes. You are the miko's incarnate - just as Kaede had told me."
"K - kaede? No, wait, you don't mean - " Kagome felt her heart skip a beat. Surely this could not be happening. That part of her life was over with.
The old man smiled and bowed to her. "Honored miko, I am Hirasu Kaedo. I was taken in by Kaede when my parents were slaughtered by youkai. I was told to bring you back but I did not know it would take so long.."
"This is - I don't understand. How did you get here? And surely - well it's been only two years since I left - " Kagome bit her lip, surprised that she was even saying anything about her travelling back and forth through time.
"Time is ever flowing like a river." Kaedo looked into Kagome's eyes. "I come from the time of Perpetual Chaos, when even the youkai are afraid of the Shadows."
"P - perpetual Chaos?" Kagome asked. "But there is no mention of it here."
"It's effects have not reached it's full peak, miko. That is why I have come to make sure you come back to retrieve the Shikon and to take back the Tetsusaiga to it's master."
"I - Inuyasha..still alive?" Kagome's eyes were wide. She was having a hard time digesting all of this information, and Kaedo's mysteriousness did not help matters.
"The hanyou made his choice when he chose Kikyou." Kaedo lowered his eyes and then raised them once more. "He chose the memory of a love, a shell of a love than what was beside him all along. This was not what he was to learn. "
Kagome winced. That still hurt and she didn't like him mentioning that at all.
"Whatever.." Kagome suddenly snapped. "Look I don't know what game you're playing but I'm leaving."
Kaedo suddenly drew out his hand - a dark shard between his fingers. "Leaving this, miko?"
Kagome saw the shard and she knew that it was the shard of the Shikon no Tama - a corrupted piece to be sure, but it was the Shikon and not a fake, like the one Kouga-kun had embedded in his arm once. Her fingers reached out to it instinctively and Kaedo let it fall, Kagome caught it in her palm and she felt a warm glow in her hand as she held the shard. It turned from the black it had been to the pinkish pure glow that it was supposed to have in moments.
"You still are able to purify the Shikon, miko." Kaedo observed. "Your heartbreak over the hanyou did not darken your soul as had Kikyou's anger hers. She could not let go - even in death."
"Stop mentioning that!" Kagome let her eyes rest on the Shikon and then she said, "How did you get this?"
"Kaede of course." Kaedo said.
"Then why could I not sense it?" Kagome accused.
"Your senses were dulled by your pain, miko. Your thoughts were not on the Tama but upon Inuyasha. But in the pain you grew stronger, though you do not realize your power. You are strong enough to take this Shikon shard to the past and take the Tetsusaiga to it's master."
"So you're telling me that I have to search for Inuyasha." Kagome said flatly. "Suppose I refuse. I do have a life here."
"And a life back there which was not completed. Your path has changed Kagome - whether you realize it or not. You must take the Tetsusaiga back to it's place for the two swords call out for each other. It does not belong here in your world. Naraku's winds sent it here. You must take the sword and the shard back with you. Only then may you complete your quest."
"There is a lot you're not telling me, Kaedo.." Kagome tried to hand the Shikon back to Kaedo.
"You have been too long in your rational world, miko. I do not want the Shikon, lest I be tempted with it once more. Do you really want your world to be of Darkness and Chaos? I swear that even Naraku's evil will be nothing compared to the Chaos that the youkais and hanyous will bring with each Shikon shard, for there is no one to purify them nor protect them. Tetsusaiga too, needs it's protector.."
Mother..Sota..Grandpa..all her friends and loved ones. Was what Kaedo saying true? Kagome had a sinking feeling that it was.
"All right. I will go - but only to save this world. I have the feeling that your words are true, Kaedo."
"Of course you would, miko. You can see the Shikon, you can see things that others could not see.." Kaedo smiled. "That gift will be most handy." He handed her the shard and Kagome put the shard in the pocket of her jeans.
"What do I need to do?" She asked.
"Place your hand upon the glass, miko."
Kagome did and once again she felt the thruming of the sword within.
"Why is it doing that?" Kagome asked.
"Because you are it's caretaker. It will protect you and you will be able to wield it - something you will need at the first."
"I know it will protect me because I'm a human - like Inuyasha's mother was human. As for weilding it, only Inuyasha could do that." Kagome kept her hand upon the glass.
"Then why is it that I detect a trace of youkai blood within you, miko?"
Kagome looked at him, astonished. How could he know that?
Kaedo smiled. "Inuyasha bit you, didn't he? He drew blood - that night when he turned into a full blooded youkai. You too, drew blood upon him - not an easy feat for a human. "
"Yes.." Kagome's face turned scarlet.
"He tried to take you - force you for he was in heat. You could barely hold him at bay, and then - "
"Sesshoumaru came.." Kagome shuddered, remembering the cold, cruel face of Inuyasha's brother.
Flashback -
"Inuyasha! Please!" Kagome was sobbing as she looked into Inuyasha's red eyes. His face was contorted in lust. He didn't even know who she was anymore, only that she was female and that he wanted to mate with her.
A low growl came from his throat as he ripped at her clothing, bloodying her in the process. Blood ran down her shoulder from the bite he had given her. She had bitten his lip in reflex when he had snarled against her lips and she remembered the stinging sensation as she did so, for she had drawn his blood too. Kagome closed her eyes, praying that perhaps he would kill her before raping her - that she could not bear, for Inuyasha was a stranger now. Suddenly he had been yanked off of her, and thrown clear. Kagome opened her eyes and saw Sesshoumaru. She was sure from the way he looked at her he would kill her.
"Sesshoumaru-sama!" A little girl's voice cut into the tension.
"Go back, Rin." Sesshoumaru scowled at the little human girl.
Sesshoumaru - traveling with a little human girl?
"But - oh!" Rin looked down at Kagome. "She's hurt like Rin was hurt. Did wovles get her too?"
"Rin.." Sesshoumaru growled."Jaken!"
Rin bent down to where Kagome lay. "Rin sorry. Sesshoumaru-sama saved Rin. Maybe he save you too?" She looked up with pleading eyes to him.
Sesshoumaru said nothing but unsheathed a sword. Kagome closed her eyes, expecting the blow but none came. She felt some air swish against her, but when she opened her eyes, she felt - normal! Her body did not ache and the bleeding wound on her shoulder was healed! She looked up with Sesshoumaru with wide eyes.
"Arigato.." Kagome managed to say.
Sesshoumaru looked at her with disgust. "I cannot abide another misbegotten whelp like my hanyou brother. Rin, go to Jaken - now."
The little girl - Rin - beaming with happiness quickly ran over to Jaken who had now appeared. It wasn't a moment later when Inuyasha appeared, his face filled with rage at the one who intruded upon his mating. The fight had commenced then, but strangely enough, Sesshoumaru had not tried to kill Inuyasha - in fact once he was able to get Inuyasha back in control of himself, he left the hanyou on the ground and had given him a contemptous look.
"Even with the Shikon no Tama, you'll never be a full youkai.." Sesshoumaru said lowly. "You have no control, you never will." And then he, Rin and Jaken left them.
"He came and prevented Inuyasha from killing you and healed your wounds, although he could not undo the demon's blood flowing within your veins. The exchange of blood you see, is a powerful one between youkai and human - if it occours, and that is rare indeed."
"Oh - I - my hand!" Kagome exclaimed. Her hand went through the glass effortlessly as if it were nothing at all.
"Reach further, miko." Kaedo smiled in encouragement. "Tetsusaiga is waiting."
The sword moved on it's own and as Kagome's hand reached further into the glass case, it rose to meet her, the hilt finally resting firmly in Kagome's palm. She carefully drew it out and when she did, a glow surrounded her, making her feel dizzy.
"Kaedo!" Kagome felt the sword transform into Tetsusaiga, for it grew into the fang that had once been Inuyasha's father.
"I don't remember my fangs being quite that large.." Kaedo raised a brow.
"W - what?" Kagome looked startled and frightened.
"Goodbye miko.." Kaedo replied. "Tetsusaiga shall take you home.."
"No, wait! You said your fangs - aeeeiiii!!" Kagome screamed as a portal opened in front of the tip of Tetsusaiga and as the centipede-creature had done years before, sucked her in. Before the portal could close, Kaedo closed his eyes and dematerialized, his essence following the Tetsusaiga. When they were gone, the illusion that had been that part of the museum faded into the shrubbery that had actually been there.
