A/N: If this chapter is a little confusing I apologize, I am open for
suggestions to make it more understandable. I don't want to give anything
away but I'm sure you'll know what part I'm talking about when you get to
it. Hopefully I didn't do too badly of a job :S. dragonfly-rising
Always My Soul
By: dragonfly-rising
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters
Miroku stepped away from Ferlias his mind seething. As his eyes met Kagome's all he could think was that he had overstepped his bounds by acting first and a deep shame crept over him causing his cheeks to flame. He did not know exactly what had prompted him to act, it had just happened. He was extremely confused by his own reaction. Why would he be ashamed of acting to save Kagome's life? Why in the world would he be so concerned about it being his "place" to do so?
He looked up as Inuyasha swept in to met Ferlias and felt his hands tightened around his staff in hope. It did not take but a moment for Ferlias to recover from what he had done to the youkai, which irked Miroku. The only reason he had attacked with his weapon was out of apprehension of using his Air Rip so close to the power of the mikos inside of Kagome. He did not want to chance something similar to what Kee had tried to occur again.
~ You have done well...do not over think monk...that has always been your weakness ~ intoned the echoing voice of the original miko.
~ I cannot help myself miko, there is much to consider when involving one's self in a battle that involves hearts such as this one. ~ Answered his soul before he could form a thought.
~ The end is nearing...protect the hanyou monk, he is now your charge ~ SHE said.
Miroku nodded absently and then flinched as Inuyasha met the ground. He ran over to him barely noticing when Hiraikotsu rushed behind him, mere inches from where he had formerly been.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sango flew with Hiraikotsu after she released him, full of the enormity of his soul. Her intended target was unaware of her, thinking only of the hanyou in his twisted, futile anger. It would not matter if he became aware in the next few moments it was too late. When she slammed into the youkai lord her mind echoed with the rapturous bellow of triumph that Hiraikotsu uttered. She flew back to herself, her body reacting automatically to her return. She felt every moment of her halt, how the weight of her caused the human body to skid back in reaction. How her own hand fit perfectly into the leather strip. How her weapon was only an extension of her self and her intentions.
~ Thank you ~ said the miko graciously.
~ This is the end? ~ Sango/Hiraikotsu asked
~ You have played your part...that is all I have ever asked of you ~ the miko agreed.
~ Then we are done and I may sleep...finally ~ Hiraikotsu/Sango sighed wearily.
~ Please...I must ask you one last favor before you do so... ~ the miko began.
~ Have I not given you enough lifetimes creature?! ~ Hiraikotsu/Sango demanded crossly.
~ Not for me...for the girl Kagome~ the miko insisted.
~Ask this favor and let us be done with each other ~ Hiraikotsu ordered responding to the flare of Sango's desire to help her friend.
~ The hanyou...there must be a sacrifice...~
~You CANNOT have the hanyou he is not a choice and I will not harm him, if only for the sake of Inutashio. ~ Hiraikotsu responded furiously.
~ I ask only that you keep him from Kagome until the flame of Ferlias has been extinguished. ~ The miko fired back.
~ This I can do...he will stay with me until such a time ~ Hiraikotsu agreed.
Sango found herself more fully integrated with the youkai that accepted the name Hiraikotsu despite the fact that it was not his true name. The ancient being was resigned to his new duty and it affected her outlook of this entire battle. She/He turned and moved to where Miroku, Inuyasha, and Inutashio stood watching Kagome. She/He did not look to see what was transpiring with the miko, her/his main concern being to stand beside Inutashio who stood slightly in front of the hanyou, blocking an obviously anxious Inuyasha from rushing to Kagome's aid. Only when she/he her/him self took up a position similar to the dead youkai lord's did she/he allow her/him self to realize what was happening.
~ It is good to have you here my friend ~ said a thankful Inutashio.
~ Thank that damn miko Inutashio I would have never interfered if she had not asked. ~ Hiraikotsu replied tersely.
~ Still I would have no other by my side ~ Inutashio replied.
Hiraikotsu sighed ~ Will you never take things as seriously as they should be taken Inutashio? ~
~ It is unfair that you of all youkai should accuse me of taking such things too lightly ~ Inutashio snorted in his mind.
~ That is the past Inutashio ~ Hiraikotsu snapped.
~ Was it not you who attempted to save the last miko to face Ferlias just to see if you could? What was her name again? M something I believe...Ming or was it ...~ Inutashio teased.
~ HER name was Maue if you really want to say it correctly, not that you have ever forgotten any of THEIR names Inutashio ~ Hiraikotsu snarled.
~ Yes I know...it is such a very long list of names. ~ Agreed Inutashio, his voice colored with grief.
~ Perhaps this one...this...Kagome will do what the others could not. ~ Hiraikotsu offered reacting to the sorrow in his friend's voice.
~ And perhaps it will not be at too high of a cost. ~ Inutashio added.
Hiraikotsu empathized with the older youkai, he/she could never have stood by knowing the outcome of every meeting, praying that maybe this time it would be different. He/she already had great respect for Inutashio but he/she found it was growing every time such a meeting would occur. It was unfathomable to him/her for Inutashio to grieve these humans, and yet there was the small part of him/her, when Maue had lived that he/she had yearned to be different then he/she was, when he/she had felt the need to be more then he/she had ever thought possible of him/her self.
~ We all carry our burdens do we not my friend? ~ He asked rhetorically.
~ Yes and sometimes they never leave us. ~ Answered the older youkai sadly.
Hiraikotsu folded his/her arms and watched the unfolding events in front of them. His/Her mind wandering to another time when he/she had dared to love a miko, if only from a distance, causing him/her to take a risk so foolish he/she had lost his life to it. He/she knew the frustration the hanyou felt intimately. He/She did the one thing he had promised him/her self he/she would never do, he/she began to pray in earnest to whatever gods were willing to listen.
Always My Soul
By: dragonfly-rising
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters
Miroku stepped away from Ferlias his mind seething. As his eyes met Kagome's all he could think was that he had overstepped his bounds by acting first and a deep shame crept over him causing his cheeks to flame. He did not know exactly what had prompted him to act, it had just happened. He was extremely confused by his own reaction. Why would he be ashamed of acting to save Kagome's life? Why in the world would he be so concerned about it being his "place" to do so?
He looked up as Inuyasha swept in to met Ferlias and felt his hands tightened around his staff in hope. It did not take but a moment for Ferlias to recover from what he had done to the youkai, which irked Miroku. The only reason he had attacked with his weapon was out of apprehension of using his Air Rip so close to the power of the mikos inside of Kagome. He did not want to chance something similar to what Kee had tried to occur again.
~ You have done well...do not over think monk...that has always been your weakness ~ intoned the echoing voice of the original miko.
~ I cannot help myself miko, there is much to consider when involving one's self in a battle that involves hearts such as this one. ~ Answered his soul before he could form a thought.
~ The end is nearing...protect the hanyou monk, he is now your charge ~ SHE said.
Miroku nodded absently and then flinched as Inuyasha met the ground. He ran over to him barely noticing when Hiraikotsu rushed behind him, mere inches from where he had formerly been.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sango flew with Hiraikotsu after she released him, full of the enormity of his soul. Her intended target was unaware of her, thinking only of the hanyou in his twisted, futile anger. It would not matter if he became aware in the next few moments it was too late. When she slammed into the youkai lord her mind echoed with the rapturous bellow of triumph that Hiraikotsu uttered. She flew back to herself, her body reacting automatically to her return. She felt every moment of her halt, how the weight of her caused the human body to skid back in reaction. How her own hand fit perfectly into the leather strip. How her weapon was only an extension of her self and her intentions.
~ Thank you ~ said the miko graciously.
~ This is the end? ~ Sango/Hiraikotsu asked
~ You have played your part...that is all I have ever asked of you ~ the miko agreed.
~ Then we are done and I may sleep...finally ~ Hiraikotsu/Sango sighed wearily.
~ Please...I must ask you one last favor before you do so... ~ the miko began.
~ Have I not given you enough lifetimes creature?! ~ Hiraikotsu/Sango demanded crossly.
~ Not for me...for the girl Kagome~ the miko insisted.
~Ask this favor and let us be done with each other ~ Hiraikotsu ordered responding to the flare of Sango's desire to help her friend.
~ The hanyou...there must be a sacrifice...~
~You CANNOT have the hanyou he is not a choice and I will not harm him, if only for the sake of Inutashio. ~ Hiraikotsu responded furiously.
~ I ask only that you keep him from Kagome until the flame of Ferlias has been extinguished. ~ The miko fired back.
~ This I can do...he will stay with me until such a time ~ Hiraikotsu agreed.
Sango found herself more fully integrated with the youkai that accepted the name Hiraikotsu despite the fact that it was not his true name. The ancient being was resigned to his new duty and it affected her outlook of this entire battle. She/He turned and moved to where Miroku, Inuyasha, and Inutashio stood watching Kagome. She/He did not look to see what was transpiring with the miko, her/his main concern being to stand beside Inutashio who stood slightly in front of the hanyou, blocking an obviously anxious Inuyasha from rushing to Kagome's aid. Only when she/he her/him self took up a position similar to the dead youkai lord's did she/he allow her/him self to realize what was happening.
~ It is good to have you here my friend ~ said a thankful Inutashio.
~ Thank that damn miko Inutashio I would have never interfered if she had not asked. ~ Hiraikotsu replied tersely.
~ Still I would have no other by my side ~ Inutashio replied.
Hiraikotsu sighed ~ Will you never take things as seriously as they should be taken Inutashio? ~
~ It is unfair that you of all youkai should accuse me of taking such things too lightly ~ Inutashio snorted in his mind.
~ That is the past Inutashio ~ Hiraikotsu snapped.
~ Was it not you who attempted to save the last miko to face Ferlias just to see if you could? What was her name again? M something I believe...Ming or was it ...~ Inutashio teased.
~ HER name was Maue if you really want to say it correctly, not that you have ever forgotten any of THEIR names Inutashio ~ Hiraikotsu snarled.
~ Yes I know...it is such a very long list of names. ~ Agreed Inutashio, his voice colored with grief.
~ Perhaps this one...this...Kagome will do what the others could not. ~ Hiraikotsu offered reacting to the sorrow in his friend's voice.
~ And perhaps it will not be at too high of a cost. ~ Inutashio added.
Hiraikotsu empathized with the older youkai, he/she could never have stood by knowing the outcome of every meeting, praying that maybe this time it would be different. He/she already had great respect for Inutashio but he/she found it was growing every time such a meeting would occur. It was unfathomable to him/her for Inutashio to grieve these humans, and yet there was the small part of him/her, when Maue had lived that he/she had yearned to be different then he/she was, when he/she had felt the need to be more then he/she had ever thought possible of him/her self.
~ We all carry our burdens do we not my friend? ~ He asked rhetorically.
~ Yes and sometimes they never leave us. ~ Answered the older youkai sadly.
Hiraikotsu folded his/her arms and watched the unfolding events in front of them. His/Her mind wandering to another time when he/she had dared to love a miko, if only from a distance, causing him/her to take a risk so foolish he/she had lost his life to it. He/she knew the frustration the hanyou felt intimately. He/She did the one thing he had promised him/her self he/she would never do, he/she began to pray in earnest to whatever gods were willing to listen.