Disclaimers: I only own a Sesshy plushie… Literally a small comfort.
It's the New Year and here's the last part of the Tessaiga arc. I'm going to be busy for awhile but it doesn't mean that I'll be neglecting my writing. I would really love to find more inspiration to finish off my Weiss Kreuz fic if just because… But hey, stick around, I'll definitely be back!
Thanks to:
Sunnygurl357 - This side of Sesshoumaru is a little more fun and a little less one-dimensional. I got it from the earlier manga chapters when he first appeared. The guy cracked me up with his sly smiles and sarcasm.
gatogirl1 - Yay! Finally, someone has got the hint that there's no Inuyasha to play out in the overdone love triangle thing! Isn't it cute how protective doggies can get over their objects of affection? I just couldn't resist the obvious Miroku interest in wanting to proposition Kagome.
Fyyrrose - Thanks for your compliments! The easiest thing to do is to check back once a month as I will have definitely updated by then. I, too, wrote in essay-based formats and sucked at dialogue. But unless you keep on trying and read good books, like Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, for inspiration, it will just stay as it is. And yeah, I'm a non-dialogue plot mover by nature. Dialogue only works for me when I feel that it is worthwhile adding in to enhance the scene.
sashlea - Thanks! You must tell me where I can find that Jaken as Prince Charming story! It sounds really good.
Familia-Ficz - Sesshy is not the lord for nothing! And yes, it's according to his whim and fancy. I think I would cry if I had to make him cold, dull and stoic all the time. Ugh! Jaken does get a bad deal most of the time so I've decided to put him in better standing. If you've seen and read the series, he actually functions as a narrator of sorts because Sess rarely speaks unless he feels that it's worth the time.
Amreld - Had a waistline-expanding Christmas, thanks! Jaken's an okay fellow if you take him as he is and not put him down too much. As for adding soundtracks to my battle scenes - I listen to rock music when writing. Current favs are Saiyuki Reload's OP theme by BUZZLIP - Wild Rock and GetBackers 2nd OP theme by Pierrot - Barairo no Sekai. I haven't followed the American music scene since 1997; although I adore 80s' music. I listen to Japanese [Anime themes mainly] and other Asian artists including New Age and European techno [think Initial D].Trust me, they rock just as hard, if not harder!
And thanks to Suki 1, Saria4, myinuyasha04, lydia, haley, TenshiYoukai no Yugure, Anime-mistress585, NIGHTSCREAM, 45, Deka Dieche, depressed-girl001, hotaru-artist-1986, Cattiebrie393 and Sesshie lover for encouraging me with your kind words!
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Chapter 12: The Return Home
Southern territories of the Western Lands,
Three days later
It was as though nothing had happened between the two of them. Kagome had thought that Jaken would have been the one to rail at her over the incident but the little retainer had kept his mouth tightly shut. The only indication he gave of having remembered it was the slight shudder whenever he had to talk to her.
Sesshoumaru, on the other hand, exhibited his usual stoic indifference and bored facade. And Kagome was for want of a better word - confused. But that had only lasted for the first couple of days, now, she was starting to simmer at the youkai lord's cold demeanour. It looked like she would have to be the one to tackle the issue. But how was she to do it without the risk of possible dismemberment? Not to mention the fact that he was punishing her by keeping up such a gruelling pace.
Unknown to Kagome, Sesshoumaru himself was deeply troubled by a slew of thoughts. Aside from the spider youkai's exceptional speed and strength, Jaken's report of a suspicious individual leaving the scene and the renewed threat of Naraku, was that of the girl who was following him. As he always took the lead, Sesshoumaru was thankful that the girl was unable to read his face.
Never had he met anyone who made it so difficult for him to retain his mask of calm. And thinking of her brought back even more unwelcome thoughts of how she had felt against him, her soft lips pressed to his -- 'Stop it!' roared the cold voice within. 'Dwell on it any further and you'll start to regret things and Sesshoumaru never regrets any of his actions whatever they may be.'
But even as he led the small group towards its destination, he could not help but feel if this time he would.
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Naraku's Palace,
Far north on the boundaries of the Western Lands
Naraku glared into Kanna's mirror as he watched the travellers winding their way through the forest. He was still sore from the death of his prized spider youkai and laid curses against the youkai lord and that mystical blade he wielded. But Naraku was not one to allow his defeat to dampen his spirits for long. Before the day was out, he was once more deep in thought about his next step in gaining control over the taiyoukai and his lands.
But that did not stop the sharp prickles of anger whenever he watched the silver-hair youkai within the mirror's depths. However, this time round he observed the ebony-hair girl who was now Sesshoumaru's constant companion. She held the key to his success, but Naraku was still unsure of she would best fit into his plans.
Kagura remained in the room with him but had remained quiet and oddly submissive. Perhaps she realised that her master was in an unforgiving mood and took pains not to attract undue attention. But Kagura was quiet for more than simply self-preservation, she was contemplating what she had witnessed and how it had merely strengthened her resolve to escape from Naraku's clutches.
Lord Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands held the answer in the form of that deadly blade and Kagura was barely keeping her excitement suppressed at thoughts of Naraku's imminent demise at the taiyoukai's hands. But until that day, she would have to bide her time while plotting a means to an end of Naraku's stranglehold on her heart.
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Sango and Miroku continued their journey throughout the land hoping to find further clues as to Naraku's hideout. After their encounter with the youkai lord, they had been relieved that it had ended amicably. Sesshoumaru had granted them leave to roam his lands in order to discover the fiend's hideaway, on condition that he, Sesshoumaru, to be immediately informed once it was discovered. Sango and Miroku were smart enough to realise that Sesshoumaru was intent on bringing down the cursed hanyou and were secretly grateful if feeling slightly cheated.
After taking their leave of the taiyoukai and the mysterious girl in his company, they had discussed their course of action and agreed to continue their exploration together. Barely a minute after Sango's agreement, Miroku was nursing his sore cheek as the exterminator stomped off to the river muttering about perverted priests and their roaming hands. Kirara had merely yawned and curled up into a fluffy ball by the campfire.
Miroku ignored the dull throbbing and returned his thoughts to the girl that gained the protection of the taiyoukai. He knew that Sesshoumaru was only just tolerant of humans but that girl possessed something of great power that made even the youkai lord wary. Whatever that power was, the girl also lacked sufficient control over it and that could be dangerous for all concerned.
This then brought him to the next issue - Naraku. The fact that he was causing problems and seemingly advertising them was worrying. It could mean that either he was now even more powerful than before or that he had a refuge to retreat to that was impregnable. Naraku was basically a coward who manipulated people behind the scenes and rarely engaged in any confrontations personally. That certainly made their job in tracking him that much harder. After all, the only clues he left behind were that of the dead who could tell no tales.
Looking up into the heavens, Miroku pondered upon the fate of things and wondered if he would ever find the salvation he so desperately seeked.
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Musashi Village,
Two days later, late afternoon.
The aged miko Kaede made her way to the Bone-Eater's Well, her thoughts from two weeks back still making their way across her mind. Each day since the sudden burst of raw energy that had rippled through the forest from the well, she had made her way to stand by its edge. The body of the snake youkai had been thrown into the well as ordered and even now, a faint glimmer of the bones could still be seen.
It was odd in the miko's opinion, as the bones of youkai should have disappeared by now. Something strange was happening but for the life of her, Kaede had no idea as to what it could be. The only thing that she could speculate was that this phenomenon was in some way related to that power burst.
As she continued to ponder the problem by the well, her keen miko senses detected the faint aura of a youkai. She drew her bow and notched an arrow in expectation of the approaching threat. But instead of the rampaging beast she was expecting, the tall, regal figure of the youkai lord Sesshoumaru coolly stepped up to the well.
Realising that the taiyoukai was uninterested in her presence, she lowered her weapon and bowed respectfully. Kaede remembered the favour that the youkai lord had done when he had ensured the fulfilment of her late sister Kikyo's wish of burning the Shikon no Tama with her body. Once the rites were carried out, the taiyoukai had left as silently as he had appeared.
Sesshoumaru stood by the well, his thoughts unsettling his usual calm. He could hear Kagome and his retainer approaching but refused to turn around to acknowledge their arrival. Throughout their journey, he could sense the emotional charge from the girl but had consistently avoided the issue, instead pushing her to exhaustion with the hard travelling. That was why they had arrived at the Bone Eater's Well two days ahead of schedule.
Kagome panted softly as she cleared the border of the forest. Jaken had taken to riding the pack beast and she envied his small stature for once. The ox youkai was not a means of human transport as it was for luggage. Jaken, on the other hand, was small enough to perch about its neck and had made the best of the situation. Kagome had pushed herself as she had no desire to repeat the incident of being flung across the youkai lord's shoulder. And judging from his current attitude, he would have probably left her behind. The hot and cold treatment he held towards her was emotionally draining.
Kaede took in the girl's appearance as she stepped out into the late afternoon sunlight and gasped in shock and amazement. Despite the years of living alone, Kaede still remembered every detail of her beloved sister's face. And now after fifty years, her reincarnation was walking in the company of the formidable youkai lord. Kaede was not naïve to believe that it was truly her sister Kikyo but a small part of her still hoped otherwise. Observing that Sesshoumaru continued to pointedly ignore the girl and herself, Kaede decided to attempt an introduction.
"Greetings to Your Lordship and his gentle companions," Kaede began. Sesshoumaru's only acknowledgement was a brief flick of his eyes in her direction but the girl's face brightened considerably. Obviously travelling with the youkai lord and his retainer had been a trial for her. Jaken huffed and Kaede paid him no mind - her attention was riveted to that of the young girl.
"Uh, hi," Kagome began hesitantly. Despite her meeting with Sango and Miroku, she was still a little shy dealing with the humans of this world. "My name's Kagome," she concluded quickly.
"This humble one's name is Kaede," came the aged woman's reply.
Kaede bowed once more in the girl's direction. Kagome herself instinctively bowed in deference to the elderly woman and could not help wondering why she was out alone by the well. Her gaze wandered in the direction of the well and she came to two startling conclusions. Could this mean that Sesshoumaru was keeping his promise in letting her return home? It seemed that way unless he held a nasty surprise for her. But after the time she had spent in his company, she knew that he was a youkai lord who took his code of honour seriously.
The other reason she could think of was that he meant to leave her here if she was unsuccessful in her attempts to return to her world. The old woman dressed in the traditional robes of a miko was perhaps the caretaker he had planned to be assigned to her. As kindly as she looked, Kagome had no intention of remaining behind. And that made her realise how important that stubborn youkai had become to her. The thought of that began to terrify her.
Sesshoumaru had noted that the body of the snake youkai he had destroyed was missing although there was a faint taint of its stench. He then happened to glance down into the well and saw that the miko must have had it dropped into the well to be disposed of. He hoped that Kagome would not be too upset if she had to venture into the well's depths with the bony remains of the snake youkai's carcass. But knowing the girl, she would probably be less than co-operative. As if in response to his concerns, he began to pick up a change in her aura that snapped his attention to the present.
Kaede watched closely as the taiyoukai edged his way towards the girl who was now eyeing him with a mixture of fear and anger. Her miko senses detected the change in the energy levels that surrounded the girl and she realised that the girl was the source of it. However, before she could open her mouth to speak, Sesshoumaru had pounced upon the girl. A sharp look directed at Kaede was the only warning the youkai lord was willing to give her. Her brow furrowed with worry at the fate of the girl struggling within the inu youkai's arms, Kaede had no idea how to resolve the situation.
"Let me go!"
"Silence, wench!"
"Ow! You're hurting me! What are you doing?"
"Preventing all of us from being incinerated by your wild magic," came the stern reply.
"Well, stop frightening me and let me go!" Kagome shouted as she pushed against the iron bands of his arms.
However, Sesshoumaru had managed to wrestle her towards the well's edge. Kagome twisted her head and saw the dangerous position she was in. What made it even more horrible was the glimmer of what looked like the bones of a dead animal – a big dead animal. That only gave her a sudden burst of strength to shove hard against the youkai lord only to realise too late that he had managed to lift her over the edge. Kagome felt the sickly sensation of a fall happening as her eyes locked with the taiyoukai's.
As the magic caught her and whisked her away through its mysterious portal, Kagome carried within her the memory of haunted amber eyes.
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Author's Notes:
It's funny really, how sometimes things don't go according to plan. Here I was thinking of writing about the kiss' aftermath but instead copped out by going in an entirely different direction. I've been doing that a lot with this story I realise. I mean, the cave incident previously and the scroll one prior to that also pretty much wrote themselves out. Also, the fact that I wrote the chapter after this before I completed the latter is another case in point. A good friend of mine once said that a story that writes itself can be a lot more fun than one that is too meticulously planned. Well Ken-Chan, I guess you're right. I really do like the way it's turning out.
I'm quite glad that I have fans who like the way the story is progressing. I know it's slow but you have to admit, sometimes it's better to just enjoy the characters' interactions for what they are – interactions. But since the first part of this story is in essence over, I'll be moving on to the next part. Unlike my other story 'Dark Moon Ascendant' which is deliberately separated into definite parts, I don't plan on doing it for 'Entwined Destinies'. Things will simply proceed on their merry way as and when I feel up to it, so don't give up hope (at least, not yet!).
So do drop a little something in the box below to let me know what you think. Till the next time, ja mata ne!