Sesshoumaru angrily undid his complimentary yellow and purple sashes, and retied them around his waist once again. 'Dammit! Why is this so difficult?' He tried to force his hands to do his bidding, but they continued to shake with his nervousness, and Sesshoumaru regretted his decision to not let Jaken to do it for him. 'No,' he told himself, 'I can do this by myself, and after today, if Kagome is there in Shikon, she will begin dressing me as she once did.' Finally after multiple tries, he succeeded, and began to sheathe his swords by his side. As he slid Tenseiga in, a pang of hatred grew in the back of head aimed at his father.
'Has it really been only 50 years since her death?' To him, it had felt like eternity. It had only been close to 25 years after her death, when his father's will came of date, and Sesshoumaru had received Tenseiga. Of course, like all things he wanted, his father had given Tetsusaiga to Inu Yasha. Not satisfied with that decision, he had Totosai make a sword just as fine as Tetsusaiga, and for that reason he had two swords. He glared at the sword in his hand with hatred. He had hated it when he received it and his father too; for it was taunting him with power he had no need for. He hadn't needed it then, and still didn't, for the one person he wanted to save was already dead.
As the thought processed, he realized something. 'If she is at Shikon, I will never lose her again.' And he smiled, something he had not done in 50 years except in his dreams. He knew he was placing too much hope in something from a dream, but he didn't care; even if there was only a small chance of being with Kagome, he would still go after it.
-- --
Kagome gently scrubbed her wounds with a cloth dampened in hot water. She winced but tried to keep her winces low, and unheard. She knew if Kikyo found out she was complaining, she would once again raise her hand to Kagome. Kagome however did not understand Kikyo's hatred towards her. 'I've never done anything to her.' She thought, as the water stung her.
"Here, child." Kaede told her gently, handing her the dark green healing herbs. "I don't know why you tried to interfere child. You know your sister better than that." And at a last hesitation, she asked, "It isn't too deep, is it?" Kagome shook her head no, and began to ground the herbs in the mortar with her pestle. "I know Lady Kaede, but I couldn't let her kill the child. He's barely 7, and he's innocent, his only crime was being born demon."
-- --
Though the two had grown up together, the two were like night and day. Kikyo was cold and selfish, while Kagome was kind and caring. Even though Kagome had been adopted into the Lord Hiroyuki's family, found on his doorstop at only a few months of age, he had loved her as much as his own daughter, Kikyo. Lord Hiroyuki had been fond of saying, "Kagome, my darling, you were a gift from the heavens," and everyone would smile and laugh at his love for his adopted daughter, but in the back of their heads they had all agreed.
When Kagome had appeared at the manor that fateful day almost 17 years ago, the manor and village had been in a wreck. The Lady Hiroyuki had died but a year ago, leaving behind a 1 year old daughter, Kikyo, and a distraught husband. She had died trying to protect some villagers from a demon, which had been plaguing the villagers for some time. Being the miko of the town, she could not let the people go without help, and disobeyed her husband. Though she had been successful, the demon had promised revenge as his last words. True to his word, after the death of the demon, a horrible drought had wracked the town.
When Kikyo's nursemaid found Kagome at the manor's doorstep, a year after Lady Hiroyuki's death, she had taken her immediately to Lord Hiroyuki, and looking at the young, smiling babe abandoned by her parents, possibly for fear of starvation, he could not help but feel guilty and took her in, telling the child, "I will take care of you now, never fear." When he pondered what to name her, a sign from the gods had appeared, according to him. He had sworn to everyone who ever asked about Kagome's name, that it was at that moment, a shock went through his body, a wind from nowhere appeared, and his wife's soft voice whispered, carried by the mysterious breeze, "Take good care of Kagome. She will bring you luck." And so, she was dubbed Kagome. That night for the first time in a year, the gods sent a flourish of rain upon the village. Lord Hiroyuki could not help but go and give thanks to the gods for sending Kagome, for he knew she was a blessing, and she was. The harvest came soon after, and crops grew in abundance, and the manor and village was able to make many profits, and fix their shattered buildings, and the town continued to prosper. By then everyone knew about Kagome, and they never failed to thank the Lord and his adopted daughter when they came to visit and pay respects to their lord.
There had been a time when Kikyo loved Kagome, as Kagome loved her, but the love had seemed to disintegrate as Kikyo grew older, and noticed how much her father and the villagers doted on Kagome. She remained kind to the young Kagome, but even that left as soon as it was discovered by Kikyo's nursemaid that Kagome also had miko abilities, pure miko blood flowing in her blood, powers possibly even stronger than that of Midoriko, a legendary miko, rumored to be the strongest in the history of mikos.
Lord Hiroyuki was not blind and noticed the way his older daughter callously treated her sister but did naught but talk to her, thinking it was just a phrase. Despite her sister's angry yells, and harsh words, Kagome continued to love her and think of her as her real sister, even if they weren't really.
Whatever compassion Kikyo still had left, soon was taken when she heard of her father's murder by a horde of demons while traveling to a neighboring town. Kikyo's hatred grew for Kagome and even more for demons, and her once cold demeanor became even icier, her harsh words turning into fits, and finally, when Kagome tried to defend anyone who disobeyed Kikyo, Kikyo would hit her, both with her hands and a whip she had made for the occasion.
-- --
"What are you two hens doing here? I do not wish to waste my food supplies on those who do not work." Kikyo's ice-cold voice rang clear through Kaede's hut. "Nursemaid," she continued, "if it hadn't been for your years of devotion to my family and your miko experience, I would not have kept you after I came of age, remember that." And at Kaede's nod, she smiled cruelly and said, "Now, come. Kagome can take care of her self, now can't you my dear sister?" Kagome answered in a shaky voice, "No, I'm fine."
With that answer, Kikyo walked over and picked up the mortar and pestle which Kagome had stopped using, waiting for Kikyo to leave, and tipped it over, pouring the precious herbs over the floor. "I'm sure then that you don't need such wondrous herbs, with your power you could probably heal yourself correct?" and left, not caring of Kagome's answer, with Kaede towing behind, casting an apologetic look at Kagome as she followed.
Kagome stared at the spoilt herbs, and then sat down and concentrated her right hand hovering it over her left hand, as soon as she had willed it, a blue light had formed, covering her hand and began healing her arm. She bit her lip as she felt the tissue repairing itself, and soon her arm was as good as new. She then began moving it down to her other various body wounds. She concentrated especially hard as she hovered it over a deep wound across her cheek on her cheek; and winced once more as her split lip repaired itself. 'I hate using my powers on myself.' She knew the gift she had wore her out, and felt selfish using it on herself, but with no herbs she didn't have any other choice. 'Kikyo will take advantage of the villagers if I am not there to defend them.
She yawned, and rested her head on her arms, serving as a makeshift pillow on the dirt floor of Kaede's hut. 'I'll just take a little rest, I'm a bit worn out.' She thought, and her mind awaited the oncoming dream.
-- --
Sesshoumaru, whom had once been walking at a slow pace, began to walk faster as a familiar scent hit his nose. He was not far from Shikon, but when the wind blew at him, he could identify the smell of sakura blossoms. He stopped and took a deep whiff of the alluring scent, and there was no doubt in his mind of who the owner was. 'Kagome,' he thought, and in a flash, he was in the forest surrounding Shikon village. As he walked toward the direction of the village, he was stopped by an invisible barrier, and flown back by the force of it. His body slammed against a tree from the energy of it. 'Miko spells,' he thought. 'Why didn't I feel it before?' And as he lifted himself from the grown he noticed a blurred vision of a girl in a red and white miko garment carrying the same sakura blossom scent, walking towards him. 'Kagome...?' he thought.
-- --
Kikyo was walking through the village after practicing her archery in the manor's training room when she felt the presence of an extremely powerful demon in the surroundings of the village. She smiled evilly and walked towards the forest, where she had felt the demon walk into unsuccessfully tried to breach the barrier. 'Stupid demons, never learn, do they?'
She left the barrier of the village, and walked towards the staggering demon. Dressed in a white hakama with red sakura blossoms, the demon exuded an overconfident aura. She scoffed, 'The more confident the more easy to deal with.'
-- --
He focused his eyes and realized that the girl did carry a striking resemblance to Kagome but she was not, by any means, his Kagome. Her eyes were far to cold, and her demeanor was icy enough to match his own. What caught him the most was the scent that he had second to last smelled on Kagome before her death. 'Kagome's blood,' he thought as his eyes tinged red, 'she hurt Kagome.' In a blink of an eye, he had raced to the miko and slammed her hard against a tree, his claw tightening around her throat, and lifting her several feet above the ground, as he fought his inner demon to tear her apart.
Kikyo was scared, but she would not let the demon get the upper hand. 'Damn, I overestimated it.' When she looked at the demon, she noticed the blue crescent upon his forehead, and realized it was no ordinary demon she was dealing with, but a lord. Upon noticing his red tinged eyes, she knew if she did not comply she would die. 'I won't die by the hands of such a creature, I am not weak like that.'
"Where is Kagome?" he growled low, and his anger grew as he sniffed at the large amounts of blood she carried upon herself, and he knew she had not developed such a scent from one beating but from years of getting spattered by Kagome's blood, and his blood was sent into overdrive, his claws itching to tear her throat out.
'Kagome?' thought Kikyo. 'Of course, only she would bring such vile creatures near me. Stupid girl, as soon as I leave, I'll make her pay. For now, I'll amuse him.' "Kagome?" she asked, feigning ignorance. "Whom are you talking about, my lord?"
This of course only angered Sesshoumaru more, for he could easily smell the untruth in her words, and his grip tightened. "Don't lie to this Sesshoumaru, you know of whom I am speaking. The one whom you have beaten so often that her blood has incorporated into your skin, and will forever intermingle with your scent." He ground out. "Now, tell me where my mate is."
-- --
Kagome woke from her nap, stretching her arms above her head. As she stood and walked out from the hut, she noticed the position of the sun, and gasped. 'Oh no, how long have I slept?' When she felt the presence of a demon, she raced towards it, for she knew that there was no doubt that Kikyo was there as well.
What she came across her made her gasp aloud, and she cried, "Oneesan!"
-- --
'Mate' was the only thought that registered within Kikyo's head. "I should have known, only disgusting humans would corrupt themselves with disgusting demons," she spat at Sesshoumaru. Any self of control he had left dissipated and his claws began digging into Kikyo's throat, when a gasp stopped him, and he turned at the familiar voice when the voice screamed, "Oneesan!" Immediately his demon blood pulled him to his fate, and he dropped Kikyo, who went unconscious as her head fell against the tree. At that moment he had forgotten all but his mate.
-- --
When the demon turned, she gasped once again only this time it was followed by her whisper of, "Sesshou..." and fell in a dead faint. Just as she was to hit the floor, Sesshoumaru had gotten to her, and gathered her in his arms. He lifted her hair away from her collarbone, and when he saw his mark, he could not explain the amounts of joy he felt. 'She's back. She's with me. She remembers me. That's all that will matter.' He summoned his cloud, and carried her bridal style as they floated home.
-- --
SEVERAL HOURS LATER
Kikyo opened her eyes, and recognized her surroundings. Immediately the servants around her noticed and clamored, telling her they had found her, knocked out, asking if she had been defeated in a battle against a demon, and that Kagome was missing. By then Kikyo's blood was boiling, and she sent them out, brooding about her thoughts. 'Kagome will pay, her and that stupid mate of hers. No one embarrasses me like that. I will get revenge!' she silently vowed.
-- --
(Hey ya'll, wats up? Sorry it always takes me so long, I'm just that kind of person, but I will not forget my stories trust me! Neways, I hope you guys like this chapter, its my longest thus far, 4 whole pages, YES!!! And to my adoring DM: DAC fans, every time I update this story, it will take me about 4 days before I update DM: DAC, so you don't have to wait very long. Oh yeah before I forget, thanx to all you WONDERFUL fans of mine, in ALL my stories, I love ya'll, you guys are TOTALLY my inspiration. So i.e. more reviews, the faster I type and think, wink wink. P Juss playing, I don't want everyone to think, I live for reviews it's just nice to know wat u guys r thinking when u read. Buh-bye!!!!
Love and More,
Aimee