Chapter 08. Parting Ways
Kagome and the three canine demons had arrived at the Demon Slayer village. Unfortunately, their two human companions were both extremely upset. Sango was a strong woman and seeing her reduced to tears was heart wrenching indeed.
Kagome moved to comfort her dear friend. Sango rested her head on Kagome's shoulder and soon her shirt was drenched in tears. "Kagome-chan, I think you should go home. You shouldn't be here. I don't want you to have to suffer through this sort of pain."
"No Sango, you are my friend. I cared for your people. I brought that cursed jewel into this time. It is my responsibility to prevent Naraku from using it to wreak more havoc." Kagome told her in a commanding voice that left no room for arguing.
Sango met her eyes and smiled softly. "Thank you, sister."
"Sango is right. This place is too dangerous for a weak human such as you wench." Sesshoumaru interrupted.
"Down!" Sesshoumaru face planted into the soil and blew out a frustrated breath stirring the dirt before him.
"You do need to contact your family though." Sango told her as she regained her composure. Miroku placed his hand upon her shoulder to stop her shaking. He didn't even try anything perverted!
"Perhaps you are right." Kagome looked thoughtful.
Sesshoumaru rose once again and dusted his clothes. "I gave you my word that I would aid you, however, I must check on my lands. I do not have time to waste on another social visit." Sesshoumaru stated in an icy voice. He was fuming internally at the disrespectful condition this necklace placed upon him.
Kouga shifted uncomfortably. "I too need to check on my tribe, actually." He avoided Kagome's eyes.
"I'll go with you." Inuyasha offered her cheerfully. It was a little too cheerfully for the other two youkai who growled threateningly at him.
Kagome ignored them for a moment as she watched the somber faces of Sango and Miroku. Both seemed to be lost in insurmountable sadness. She looked at the waste the village was laid in. Then she turned to the demons of the group.
"Let us lay these souls to rest first." Kagome softly suggested. Silently everyone began the pain-staking task of burial detail. Miroku said a prayer for their souls.
Sesshoumaru looked at the demon slayer with a bit of sympathy, but quickly dismissed the emotion. After all, her village made a living out of destroying youkai simply for existing, was it not justice that they be murdered for the same reason? He shook his head to clear the unwanted ponderings.
"In what time shall you return?" The tai-youkai of the West questioned the miko. He needed time to discover where his father's fang lay within Inuyasha. He was sure it was buried within his body somewhere through magic.
Kagome looked at Kouga. "How much time do you need?"
"I shall be ready in four days." Kouga answered.
"Lord Sesshoumaru, we will be ready in four days." Kagome informed him.
Sesshoumaru simply nodded and then disappeared heading towards the setting sun.
Kouga walked towards Kagome and held her hands within his own looking deeply into her eyes with his blue gaze. Inuyasha growled in annoyance at his friendliness. "I am honored to offer my aid unto you Kagome. Forgive me for my absence, but it is necessary."
"Do not worry, Kouga-kun. I understand, you have a great deal of responsibility." Kouga smiled at her and she returned it with a warm grin of her own. Then he turned towards Sango and bowed slightly in respect for her.
"Sango, I am sorry for your loss. I will help you avenge your people." Then Kouga was gone leaving only a whirlwind of scattered leaves and debris in his wake.
Sango had barely acknowledged the wolf prince. She stared vacantly towards the fresh mounds of dirt. All the villagers had been accounted for with the exception of her young brother Kohaku. Kagome interrupted her trance and offered her a hand to help her stand.
"Come Sango-chan. You and Miroku will be accompanying Inuyasha and myself. We need to figure out the well together."
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"I still think it's a bad idea." The little village miko hounded the group the entire walk towards the well.
"Kaede, Inuyasha is not dangerous." Kagome answered calmly. The seven year old simply could not be convinced.
"Besides you don't even know if this well will work." She continued to argue.
"Leave us alone brat. If it doesn't work, then I'll be dead and you won't have to worry." Inuyasha sneered at the child.
"So what do you think, Miroku?" Kagome asked the most scholarly of the group.
Miroku seemed to contemplate the quandary. "I believe the well's power is linked to you, Kagome. I think we will all need to be connected to you."
Kagome nodded trying to figure a way they could all be linked to her. Suddenly she felt herself being lifted. Then she noticed that Inuyasha was now holding her and smirking.
"I believe I've got my connection." Kagome squirmed in his arms.
"Inuyasha? What are you doing? I think it will work if you all just grab hold of my shoulders or something." Kagome replied continuing to squirm.
"But, Kagome, I'm worried that we may be separated in the journey. This way is more secure, don't you think? I think perhaps you and I should try going through and then return. That way if the well doesn't work, you won't break your neck in the fall." Inuyasha answered innocently as he mischievously smirked at his own cunning.
Kagome stopped struggling and settled into his harms. "I didn't think about that. Perhaps you are right."
Inuyasha and Kagome jumped through the well and an odd light surrounded them. Soon, they hit bottom and the sun no longer greeted them. Instead the roof of the Shrine's well house was their view.
Inuyasha sniffed then leapt over the well still holding Kagome. "Is this where you live?"
Kagome nodded, overjoyed that the well actually worked. Then she silently requested to be released from his grasp. He reluctantly agreed. "I want to make sure this is my time. It could be some parallel universe."
The door to the well house opened at that moment and Souta walked in looking depressed. Suddenly his eyes lit up with a light that had been absent for days, ever since the disappearance of his sister.
"Kagome! Where have you been? Who's this?" He demanded as he crushed his sister into a huge hug. He then used her height to boost himself up so he would have better access to the fuzzy ears of the young man standing nervously behind her.
"What are you doing?" Inuyasha angrily demanded snapping his head out of reach.
"Souta, this is Inuyasha. He doesn't like it when people touch his ears. I'll explain everything to you, mom, and gramps in a little while. Inuyasha and I have to use the well again and bring back a couple of friends.
Souta nodded in confusion as his sister and the strange man with doggy ears jumped back into the well and vanished before his eyes in a strange light.
Perhaps a minute had passed before Souta's anxious eyes when his sister returned with two other companions along with the odd man.
"So what did I miss?" Kagome casually asked her brother as she draped an arm affectionately around his shoulders while leading her group towards the house. The other three time travelers walked closely behind Kagome. Sango and Miroku were in the back and Inuyasha was ridiculously close to Kagome's side.
"Not too much. Just that a Tsunami hit the day after you disappeared and the schools were destroyed." Souta answered in his most bored voice.
"What? You're kidding right?" Kagome demanded in shock.
Souta shook his head as a wide grin spread across his face. "No school for at least two months. The buildings are being rebuilt, so we will have to finish the term during the summer. So if you had to pick a time to disappear, this would have been the perfect time."
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"Kouga, you know the laws of our people. It is the way of our life. There is no exception. As leader, you must take your responsibility seriously." The elder wolf youkai scowled at Kouga.
Kouga was so angry he could rip out those grey unseeing eyes of Ayame's grandfather. How dare he put him in such a corner?!! He was forcing him to mate with his granddaughter.
"There must be another way." Kouga spoke with a calmness he was unaware of possessing at the moment.
"You must lay claim to a mate within the week. I have heard of your plans to run away if you were forced. Think of your tribe. They must come first. Is there really anyone else you feel capable of leading them?"
Kouga snarled at the old wolf. He knew he was right. No one else had the ability to affectively lead the wolves. He did not want to mate unless it was for love however. He most definitely did not love Ayame. He thought about what the wolf told him.
"I must claim a mate within one week?" Kouga carefully asked.
The elder wolf nodded his head. "Correct."
"Only have the intention of mating with the woman? I do not need to mate with her at the present time, correct?"
Once again the elder nodded his head. He was curious about what Kouga was getting at. 'Why couldn't he just choose my granddaughter?'
"Fine, then I will be back in one week with my mate-to-be." Kouga left the sight of the old wolf to seek some much needed solitude. He had much to think about.
As he sat near the waterfall that Kagome had so admired he smiled. 'So I have one week to get Kagome to agree to be my mate.'
###########################
Sesshoumaru had spent the past day in the study of his palace, reading through various ancient scrolls. Surely one of them held the key to his father's secret.
Finally after nearly exhausting his numerous supply of scrolls he found one that sparked an interest. Suddenly, revelation hit him.
"It's in his eye!" The tai-youkai shouted in excitement over his discovery.
The only question now was how would he get it out, with out Kagome DOWNing him?
Kagome and the three canine demons had arrived at the Demon Slayer village. Unfortunately, their two human companions were both extremely upset. Sango was a strong woman and seeing her reduced to tears was heart wrenching indeed.
Kagome moved to comfort her dear friend. Sango rested her head on Kagome's shoulder and soon her shirt was drenched in tears. "Kagome-chan, I think you should go home. You shouldn't be here. I don't want you to have to suffer through this sort of pain."
"No Sango, you are my friend. I cared for your people. I brought that cursed jewel into this time. It is my responsibility to prevent Naraku from using it to wreak more havoc." Kagome told her in a commanding voice that left no room for arguing.
Sango met her eyes and smiled softly. "Thank you, sister."
"Sango is right. This place is too dangerous for a weak human such as you wench." Sesshoumaru interrupted.
"Down!" Sesshoumaru face planted into the soil and blew out a frustrated breath stirring the dirt before him.
"You do need to contact your family though." Sango told her as she regained her composure. Miroku placed his hand upon her shoulder to stop her shaking. He didn't even try anything perverted!
"Perhaps you are right." Kagome looked thoughtful.
Sesshoumaru rose once again and dusted his clothes. "I gave you my word that I would aid you, however, I must check on my lands. I do not have time to waste on another social visit." Sesshoumaru stated in an icy voice. He was fuming internally at the disrespectful condition this necklace placed upon him.
Kouga shifted uncomfortably. "I too need to check on my tribe, actually." He avoided Kagome's eyes.
"I'll go with you." Inuyasha offered her cheerfully. It was a little too cheerfully for the other two youkai who growled threateningly at him.
Kagome ignored them for a moment as she watched the somber faces of Sango and Miroku. Both seemed to be lost in insurmountable sadness. She looked at the waste the village was laid in. Then she turned to the demons of the group.
"Let us lay these souls to rest first." Kagome softly suggested. Silently everyone began the pain-staking task of burial detail. Miroku said a prayer for their souls.
Sesshoumaru looked at the demon slayer with a bit of sympathy, but quickly dismissed the emotion. After all, her village made a living out of destroying youkai simply for existing, was it not justice that they be murdered for the same reason? He shook his head to clear the unwanted ponderings.
"In what time shall you return?" The tai-youkai of the West questioned the miko. He needed time to discover where his father's fang lay within Inuyasha. He was sure it was buried within his body somewhere through magic.
Kagome looked at Kouga. "How much time do you need?"
"I shall be ready in four days." Kouga answered.
"Lord Sesshoumaru, we will be ready in four days." Kagome informed him.
Sesshoumaru simply nodded and then disappeared heading towards the setting sun.
Kouga walked towards Kagome and held her hands within his own looking deeply into her eyes with his blue gaze. Inuyasha growled in annoyance at his friendliness. "I am honored to offer my aid unto you Kagome. Forgive me for my absence, but it is necessary."
"Do not worry, Kouga-kun. I understand, you have a great deal of responsibility." Kouga smiled at her and she returned it with a warm grin of her own. Then he turned towards Sango and bowed slightly in respect for her.
"Sango, I am sorry for your loss. I will help you avenge your people." Then Kouga was gone leaving only a whirlwind of scattered leaves and debris in his wake.
Sango had barely acknowledged the wolf prince. She stared vacantly towards the fresh mounds of dirt. All the villagers had been accounted for with the exception of her young brother Kohaku. Kagome interrupted her trance and offered her a hand to help her stand.
"Come Sango-chan. You and Miroku will be accompanying Inuyasha and myself. We need to figure out the well together."
#####################
"I still think it's a bad idea." The little village miko hounded the group the entire walk towards the well.
"Kaede, Inuyasha is not dangerous." Kagome answered calmly. The seven year old simply could not be convinced.
"Besides you don't even know if this well will work." She continued to argue.
"Leave us alone brat. If it doesn't work, then I'll be dead and you won't have to worry." Inuyasha sneered at the child.
"So what do you think, Miroku?" Kagome asked the most scholarly of the group.
Miroku seemed to contemplate the quandary. "I believe the well's power is linked to you, Kagome. I think we will all need to be connected to you."
Kagome nodded trying to figure a way they could all be linked to her. Suddenly she felt herself being lifted. Then she noticed that Inuyasha was now holding her and smirking.
"I believe I've got my connection." Kagome squirmed in his arms.
"Inuyasha? What are you doing? I think it will work if you all just grab hold of my shoulders or something." Kagome replied continuing to squirm.
"But, Kagome, I'm worried that we may be separated in the journey. This way is more secure, don't you think? I think perhaps you and I should try going through and then return. That way if the well doesn't work, you won't break your neck in the fall." Inuyasha answered innocently as he mischievously smirked at his own cunning.
Kagome stopped struggling and settled into his harms. "I didn't think about that. Perhaps you are right."
Inuyasha and Kagome jumped through the well and an odd light surrounded them. Soon, they hit bottom and the sun no longer greeted them. Instead the roof of the Shrine's well house was their view.
Inuyasha sniffed then leapt over the well still holding Kagome. "Is this where you live?"
Kagome nodded, overjoyed that the well actually worked. Then she silently requested to be released from his grasp. He reluctantly agreed. "I want to make sure this is my time. It could be some parallel universe."
The door to the well house opened at that moment and Souta walked in looking depressed. Suddenly his eyes lit up with a light that had been absent for days, ever since the disappearance of his sister.
"Kagome! Where have you been? Who's this?" He demanded as he crushed his sister into a huge hug. He then used her height to boost himself up so he would have better access to the fuzzy ears of the young man standing nervously behind her.
"What are you doing?" Inuyasha angrily demanded snapping his head out of reach.
"Souta, this is Inuyasha. He doesn't like it when people touch his ears. I'll explain everything to you, mom, and gramps in a little while. Inuyasha and I have to use the well again and bring back a couple of friends.
Souta nodded in confusion as his sister and the strange man with doggy ears jumped back into the well and vanished before his eyes in a strange light.
Perhaps a minute had passed before Souta's anxious eyes when his sister returned with two other companions along with the odd man.
"So what did I miss?" Kagome casually asked her brother as she draped an arm affectionately around his shoulders while leading her group towards the house. The other three time travelers walked closely behind Kagome. Sango and Miroku were in the back and Inuyasha was ridiculously close to Kagome's side.
"Not too much. Just that a Tsunami hit the day after you disappeared and the schools were destroyed." Souta answered in his most bored voice.
"What? You're kidding right?" Kagome demanded in shock.
Souta shook his head as a wide grin spread across his face. "No school for at least two months. The buildings are being rebuilt, so we will have to finish the term during the summer. So if you had to pick a time to disappear, this would have been the perfect time."
########################
"Kouga, you know the laws of our people. It is the way of our life. There is no exception. As leader, you must take your responsibility seriously." The elder wolf youkai scowled at Kouga.
Kouga was so angry he could rip out those grey unseeing eyes of Ayame's grandfather. How dare he put him in such a corner?!! He was forcing him to mate with his granddaughter.
"There must be another way." Kouga spoke with a calmness he was unaware of possessing at the moment.
"You must lay claim to a mate within the week. I have heard of your plans to run away if you were forced. Think of your tribe. They must come first. Is there really anyone else you feel capable of leading them?"
Kouga snarled at the old wolf. He knew he was right. No one else had the ability to affectively lead the wolves. He did not want to mate unless it was for love however. He most definitely did not love Ayame. He thought about what the wolf told him.
"I must claim a mate within one week?" Kouga carefully asked.
The elder wolf nodded his head. "Correct."
"Only have the intention of mating with the woman? I do not need to mate with her at the present time, correct?"
Once again the elder nodded his head. He was curious about what Kouga was getting at. 'Why couldn't he just choose my granddaughter?'
"Fine, then I will be back in one week with my mate-to-be." Kouga left the sight of the old wolf to seek some much needed solitude. He had much to think about.
As he sat near the waterfall that Kagome had so admired he smiled. 'So I have one week to get Kagome to agree to be my mate.'
###########################
Sesshoumaru had spent the past day in the study of his palace, reading through various ancient scrolls. Surely one of them held the key to his father's secret.
Finally after nearly exhausting his numerous supply of scrolls he found one that sparked an interest. Suddenly, revelation hit him.
"It's in his eye!" The tai-youkai shouted in excitement over his discovery.
The only question now was how would he get it out, with out Kagome DOWNing him?