Kagome's Song and Inuyasha's Love
Well, I am home, intact, and not dead because of a car accident...although I did almost collide with a semi while it was raining super, super hard and was going about 50 mph...I swear I checked my blind- spot, but it was raining so hard that I didn't see it...and nearly got a semi in my front door...lovely, yeah, I chose not to drive much after that...though my dad kept urging me to do so. That was on day ONE of my trip...
Nicole, you are my 100th reviewer!!! This chapter is dedicated to you! Thank you very much for enjoying my story and telling me so. Please send me your e-mail address in a review or via my personal e-mail so that I can send you a picture of my own creation!!!!! Please send it within one week of the date this chapter was posted or I will be forced to give the "prize" to my 101st reviewer. My e-mail address is
Well, only a couple of you wanted song fics...so this isn't going to be one. This is my Hekele/Sesshoumaru chapter, poor Kachie and Koga only got about three or four votes...and oddly enough, Kachie, my best friend, was one of the people voting for Hekele/Sesshoumaru, so...I guess you guys like that pairing...OK THEN!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but Hekele and my own devious plot.
Crystal, Blood, and a Test of Recognition
Sesshoumaru's POV:
Sesshoumaru stood slowly and glanced at his surroundings. He was outside an oddly designed palace of some sort. It was tall and had many towers, and looked very majestic. It was made of pure, delicate crystal. Groping at his side for his sword he realized that he only felt one. Looking around at the ground uneasily he saw his Tenseiga. It was glowing a dark black color, as the Shikon no Tama had been.
It would not be wise to use this...Naraku has put a curse on it...he has a reason to be sure...but why... He looked up and saw as the front gates opened and guessed that he was meant to enter the palace. He gently tried to lift his sword and was happy that none of whatever the curse's effects were had harmed him. He sniffed the air as he walked towards the gate at a cautious pace.
Why can I not smell anything? He wondered as he glanced once more at his surroundings. He had landed in a field with many different flowers...he should have been able to smell them...
Sesshoumaru passed through the front gates with ease but held the hilt of his sword cautiously nonetheless. Then something Naraku had said before he had been sucked through his portal hit him.
"'They are waiting for you.' Hekele and Rin must be here..." he said aloud yet to himself as he glanced around, wondering where he should begin to look. He froze as a door near him opened. He looked to it and saw that it was a staircase to one of the towers.
"Am I being led to...or away from them?" he wondered. He stared long and hard at the tower, both wanting to go in and at the same time it gave him an uneasy feeling, causing him not to be sure.
"This, if it does lead to them, is no doubt a trap within a trap. Naraku wanted to split us up...why though...what is the purpose?" he said to himself, as though his questions would be answered if they were spoken aloud.
"This is my only clue, I may as well take this route for now..." Taking one more look at his surroundings, Sesshoumaru cautiously proceeded towards the tower.
Hekele's POV:
Hekele moaned as she opened her eyes. She had been knocked out again, twice in one day...how lovely. She stared at the ceiling for a moment, almost wishing for sleep to claim her once more, as it would be refuge from the pain she felt in her head. She sat up slowly and realized then just how cold it was. She wrapped her arms about herself in an attempt to keep warm as she looked around at her surroundings. Hekele was in a room of some sort...in a cell that looked to be made of extremely thick glass; she also noticed that she was chained to the floor on a rather short chain. Hekele idly wondered why she needed to be chained to the ground when it was apparent that she would not be able to get out. She touched the wall of her cell, and found it to be freezing cold. As she took her hand away from the wall she could see just a bit of water trickling down her fingers.
"Ice...but...how?" she said as she looked through her cell out a window. She could see a warm looking sun and a clear blue sky, and she swore she could see a meadow below.
"I must be somewhere high...but where?" It was then that she recalled what Kanna had said about Naraku having most of the Shikon no Tama and using it to create four new dimensions. Hekele sighed and, despite the cold, leaned back against the 'wall' of her cell. Sesshoumaru would be coming soon, for her and Rin, and Hekele couldn't help but wonder what he would have to overcome to rescue them, a temptation, or a confusion. Then she realized something.
"Rin!" The girl was nowhere to be seen. Hekele searched the room for her frantically, but couldn't find her.
"Don't worry, she's nearby, just out of the light, that's all..." came a sadistic voice; it belonged to a woman. Hekele looked around again but saw nothing. Was the voice in her head?
"Very good human, I am telepathic...I am speaking to you through your mind...do not worry about the child, she is fine for now..." said the voice. Hekele cringed and looked around.
"Where is she!" she yelled, suddenly fearing for the young girl she had come to care for as a sister...or daughter even.
"You really must speak up human, I cannot hear your voice through these walls...nor will the demon lord when he arrives..." the voice taunted her. The shadows in the room receded slightly and Hekele could see a cell identical to her own on the other side of the room. But it was what was in the cell that frightened her. The women smiled evilly and her eyes shone red before turning to an icy blue. They both turned their heads as they heard footsteps coming towards the door.
"He comes..." the voice said before the entire room was cast in shadows.
Hekele's eyes shone slightly with tears she tried to not allow fall, "Please Sesshoumaru...know me..."
Sesshoumaru's POV:
Sesshoumaru quickened his pace as he went up the stairs. He knew he was drawing nearer to the top...and he was becoming increasingly positive that at least one of the females he cared for would be awaiting him there. Worry was setting in, not only for Rin but for Hekele as well. Something told him that things were not quite as easy as they seemed...
Sesshoumaru saw the door at the top of the stairs and rushed to it, sword drawn. When he got to the door he sliced it in half, leaving a large opening through which he entered the room. Red flickered dangerously in his eyes and his demon markings were as threatening as they could be as he scanned the black room for either of his loved ones.
"Ahh, so the demon lord took the bait and came looking for his weak humans..." came a voice much like Naraku's from the shadows. Sesshoumaru turned and saw, appearing out of a cloud of black, one of Naraku's puppets.
"Where are they puppet? I know they are near here!" he almost shouted, enraged. The puppet snapped his fingers and light shone on two cells opposite each other and Sesshoumaru's eyes widened. There, in both cells, was Hekele. They looked exactly alike in both dress and physical appearance, both with their right ankle chained to the floor, and both looking at him with pained eyes that almost begged him to recognize them.
"You must choose who is the real girl...and you have no room to fumble...the wrong choice will cause your real love to perish...and seeing as you cannot use your life giving sword..." the puppet trailed off, clearly enjoying the way the demon lord kept looking at both of the girls in a somewhat confused and even pained manner.
Sesshoumaru looked at them both for a moment wishing for one of them to do something out of character so that he would be able to choose the correct Hekele. He studied one of them for a long moment and took a step towards her.
Hekele's POV:
Hekele's heart skipped a beat when she saw Sesshoumaru take a step towards her cell. He knew her! He didn't need to hear her speak, he didn't need to hear the context of her thoughts, and he didn't really even need to think about it...he just knew her!
"Don't be so certain human..." came that voice again. The puppet began to speak.
"Are you certain she is your love? Remember...the wrong choice will send her to the world of the dead...as will it this one..." Hekele saw Sesshoumaru turn in time to see the shadows disappear completely and reveal Rin, lying motionless, on a pedestal. She watched in fear for the child as Sesshoumaru rushed to her side and, when he tried to touch her, was repelled by a shield.
Sesshoumaru's POV:
"What are you saying puppet?!" He shouted at the fake Naraku, enraged once more.
The puppet smiled, "If you choose incorrectly, both your love, and your young child, will die...and the child shall not awaken until you choose..." Sesshoumaru's eyes turned completely blood red as he growled at the puppet, hate and anger laced throughout it.
"You will die if you do not release them both..." he said in an icy calm. The puppet merely shrugged.
"Do I care? I was made to die at your hands demon lord..." Sesshoumaru growled and turned his line of vision at the Hekele he had be convinced was the real one...now he suddenly wasn't so sure. The fake Hekele was obviously able to see into the mind of the real Hekele, or else she would not be able to mimic her every body movement to perfection. Every movement one girl made, the other made at the exact same second, perfectly. There was no physical way to distinguish between them...but he had a gut feeling he knew who was real...the question was, was it worth trusting? There were two lives on the line, and both lives happened to mean a great deal to him...who was he to choose?
"Oh, and demon lord? You don't have all day..." with that, the puppet snapped his fingers and Sesshoumaru instinctively turned back to the two girls, afraid of what may happen to them. At first he saw nothing.
Hekele's POV:
Hekele felt something begin to pour onto her head a moment or so after Naraku's puppet had snapped his fingers. She looked up, and screamed. Blood. Blood was pouring out of an opening above her head on the ceiling in large amounts. Hekele tried to go to another part of the cell so that she could get away from it pouring on her but found her chain so short that she couldn't move. Suddenly she realized what the reason for the chain was...she wasn't supposed to move. The blood would fill the cell and once it was over her head...she would drown in it. There was no buying time by floating above the thick red liquid...
Hekele could reach the wall of her cell from where she stood and she pounded on it and yelled for help. She was truly afraid now, for both herself and Rin, but the fear she held for herself had become apparent when the blood had begun to flow into the room. God there was so much of it...and it was as cold as the walls...
She was freezing and drowning; fear gripped at her heart more than it ever had in her entire life. More than when her mother died, more than when she was almost killed that same night, more than when she knew she was dying as the tiger demon pressed his clawed foot into her burnt back...yes, this was much worse...
She continued to beat at the walls and call for Sesshoumaru, though her fists were beginning to hurt. Tears were now falling from her eyes but it was hard to tell with all of the blood pouring on her. She glanced at the creature who was pretending to be her and saw that every move she made was being mimicked. Frustrated, she called to Sesshoumaru once again.
"He can't hear you human, nor can he smell you...just take death with grace!" the voice said to her in an annoyed tone, though when Hekele looked at her face she saw the same terror as what she was sure was on her own.
She's mimicking me...she's seeing what I am going to do in my mind and she does it at the same time...
"Ooh, you are bright aren't you? Too bad he can't see through it hmm?" the voice mocked her. Hekele looked at the pool of frigid blood, knowing it may very well be her grave. She didn't notice when Sesshoumaru destroyed the puppet out of anger, she didn't notice when he stood before them, confused and angry, and she didn't notice as he laid his hand on his Tokijin, ready to draw it when he made his decision. All Hekele could focus her attention on now was the rising blood. It was already to her chest.
Sesshoumaru's POV:
Sesshoumaru's face contorted into one of anguish as he realized how high the blood was. He swore he could feel his heart wretch in his chest as he saw them calling to him, yelling for help. He could not hear them, but he certainly knew what they were saying. He had destroyed the puppet before it could do any more damage but he was still left with the decision. Should he choose wrong...
He felt helpless, and that was not something he had felt often. Yes, when Rin had been kidnapped by Naraku before, and yes when he had discovered both her and Hekele gone in the future, but not at any other time had he felt this helpless. He didn't like the feeling, not a bit. The blood was to the girls' lips now, and he knew that he had to make his decision fast.
How am I to choose?! He yelled in his mind, wishing for someone to send him an answer. Kami how afraid they both looked! He knew only one truly felt fear but seeing both of them in such a state pained him. He became aware of how much he wanted to hold and comfort Hekele, to let her know that he was there. How absurd the feelings felt didn't matter at the moment, he only wanted to comply with them. And Rin...Rin was also most precious to him, she was like his daughter...if he chose wrong...she would die as well...He could not bear to lose them.
Hekele's POV:
The blood was just below her eyes now...gods how cold it was! If she tilted her head up she could still breathe, and she would hold onto that luck for as long as she could. She could see Sesshoumaru glancing between her and her copy, though with the flow of blood as close to her eyes as it was seeing out of her cell was quite difficult now.
The fear of dying was at an all time high, but another fear had begun to accompany it as well: Fear of not being cared for. She had never told Sesshoumaru of her growing feelings for him, (or any of her not so annoyed feelings towards him,) nor had he hinted that he cared for her as well, other than that small embrace when she had gone to the future with Rin, Kagome, Kachie, and Sango. Why should he save her? She would be considered a fool to think that he loved her...they only just met, and she had purposely made herself quite an annoyance to him at first...
Rin. That was why he was trying so hard to save her. If she died, Rin would die as well. Rin was practically his own child, he would die to keep her safe...just as Hekele would. The blood began to pour faster, and Hekele didn't have time to take a deep breath before it was above her head and too late. Her last, frozen, conscious thought was laced with doubt.
He doesn't know me...I'm alone...
Sesshoumaru's POV:
He panicked when he saw the blood flow quicken and rise above their heads. It was now or never. He had to choose.
Sesshoumaru gave an apologetic look towards one of the cells, (in case he was wrong,) and ran towards the other as fast as he could. He unsheathed his Tokijin in a swift and fluid manner and shattered the cell, discovering that it was made of ice.
Sesshoumaru could feel the icy cold as the blood rushed out at him, coating him completely. The Hekele in the cell fell out and landed in his arms. He held her tightly. When the flow of blood stopped he kneeled down and flicked the chain around her ankle with his sharp claws and broke it as well.
After a few heart stopping seconds the Hekele in his arms began to cough up the blood she had nearly drown in. Sesshoumaru held her as to make it easier but just as tightly. He glanced at Rin and could see the shield around her glow black and then recede. He had chosen correctly. Sesshoumaru glanced once more at Hekele and noticed how blue her lips were. He unwrapped his blood-covered tail and curled it about her tightly, to keep her warm. He gently wiped the blood from her face and eyes as she began to come to.
Regular POV:
Hekele opened her eyes and for the second time in her life she woke up to Sesshoumaru holding her up with a gentle look about his face. Seeing the blood covering him completely, Hekele's face turned to one of worry before Sesshoumaru gave her one of his amused smiles. Understanding that he had not been hurt and that none of the blood was his, Hekele returned the smile.
"How many times must I save you from certain death?" he asked, his tone confirming his amusement. Hekele rolled her eyes.
"Hey, I don't remember asking you to fall through Naraku's dimensional rip and to find and rescue Rin and I...you did that on your own."
Sesshoumaru actually chuckled, "True..." His smiled turned gentle once more and he pulled her to his chest and held her there, lightly stroking her arm with his thumb. Hekele smiled again and wrapped her arms around his middle in a tight embrace of her own. It was a meaningful embrace, from both of them.
Hekele smiled as the happy fact that she had been wrong flowed through her and seemed to warm her from the inside. He cared, and even she could tell that it was for more than an annoying friendship. She could feel his tail wrapped around her and she snuggled into it a bit.
"...How's Rin?" she asked, knowing the little girl had been in as much danger as she. Sesshoumaru, for an answer, gently helped her up off the ground and guided her over to where Rin lay.
Rin was still asleep, but Sesshoumaru had heard her breathing change; he knew she would wake up soon. Hekele gently stroked the girl's hair, knowing that Sesshoumaru would not have been so calm if Rin was anything but fine. She smiled as Rin slowly woke up and rubbed her eyes. Sesshoumaru's tail was still loosely wrapped around her and Hekele smiled as he flicked Rin's cheek with the tip of it. Rin giggled and opened her eyes the rest of the way. Her face turned to one of panic when she saw all of the blood they were covered in.
"What happened to Hekele-chan and Sesshoumaru-sama?! Are Hekele-chan and Sesshoumaru-sama all right?" she asked worriedly. Hekele smiled and lifted the girl into a huge hug.
"Yes, Hekele-chan and Sesshoumaru-sama are all right...I was a bit worried about you though..." she said in a slightly motherly tone. Rin smiled and hugged her back.
"Rin is ok...Rin just wants to go home..." the girl confided calmly. Hekele smiled again and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
"We'll get home soon Rin...I promise..." she said soothingly. Rin snuggled into her hug and nodded. When she was finally released, she jumped into Sesshoumaru's arms for an embrace from him as well.
"Sesshoumaru-sama saved us...Rin told Hekele-chan that everything would be ok!" she said as she squeezed him tightly. Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at Hekele, who blushed in embarrassment that she had not had more faith. Sesshoumaru smiled slightly and pulled her into the embrace with his tail, which he also wrapped around Rin. Hekele smiled as well and wrapped her arms around the two. She felt happy and safe in the embrace, like nothing bad could happen. It was a good feeling.
Suddenly a noise was heard and the three turned to find a portal, a light colored one. Their way home. Sesshoumaru looked at the two girls in his arms and sighed. Hell would be waiting on the other side, if not right away then soon. He wished he could protect them both...but he knew that Hekele would want to fight, and he knew that it was not his place to try and stop her, so he wouldn't try. Rin would be safe and sound with Kirara and Jakken; he had all the faith in the world that she would be brought safely to the village of Lady Kaede, where she would be cared for until he and everyone else returned...if they returned.
Sesshoumaru led Hekele and Rin to the portal and the three stood before it with uncertainty. It could easily be another trap. Hekele stepped forward and turned to the other two.
"Well, here's to hoping we end up in the palace!" she said, before jumping backwards into the portal. Sesshoumaru's face turned into one of panic as he tightened his grip on Rin and sped through the portal as well.
On the other side:
Hekele stood in Naraku's empty throne room with mild satisfaction as she saw Sesshoumaru run through the portal after her carrying Rin in his arms. When he saw her standing there unharmed he graced her with a glare.
"Do not be so reckless. You could have ended up in another world."
Hekele merely smiled at him, "But I didn't and we're still together, so everything's fine!" Sesshoumaru gave her an apathetic look and turned to the door. He was relieved to find that his sense of smell had returned. It must have been blocked out while in Naraku's dimension. After sniffing the air for a moment he found that they were, in fact, alone in that part of the palace except for Kirara and Jakken. They had heard the return of their three companions and had entered the room cautiously.
"M'lord Sesshoumaru-sama! You have returned! What good fortune-"
"Has anyone else returned yet?" Sesshoumaru cut off his servant's praises. Jakken shook his head.
"No, m'lord, you are the first." This made Sesshoumaru worry a bit, but he tried not to let it show.
"Very well, you and Kirara take Rin to safety, at the Lady Kaede's village. You will await our return there, do you understand?!" he ordered. Jakken nodded and, with much resistance and difficulty, hopped onto the giant fire-cat.
"Rin doesn't want to leave Rin's Sesshoumaru-sama or Hekele-chan! Rin just got Sesshoumaru-sama back again!" the girl cried as Sesshoumaru set her on Kirara in front of Jakken.
"Rin...we will return soon, this I promise..." Sesshoumaru said softly to her as he gently hugged her. Rin took a little comfort from this and Hekele gave her a hug as well.
"But don't stay up waiting for us...we might be a little late..." she added, only half joking. Rin smiled though and nodded.
"Rin will be good...and go to bed when Lady Kaede tells Rin to..."
"Good girl...now, we promise to see you later...ok?" Hekele said sweetly, hugging her one last time. Rin nodded and Kirara sped off. Rin looked to the two standing there as she got further and further from them, knowing very well that she might be doing so for the last time. But they had promised...
"Come back safe or Rin won't forgive Sesshoumaru-sama or Hekele- chan!!! Sesshoumaru-sama and Hekele-chan promised!!!" she called after them as she disappeared safely into the distance.
Sesshoumaru and Hekele looked at each other for a moment and Sesshoumaru drew her nearer to him. He held her in the small embrace for a moment and looked down at his Tenseiga; it was still glowing with Naraku's curse. If anyone died in the fight...he would not be able to bring them back...
"Are you ready to fight?" he asked, glancing down at Hekele. She smirked.
"Are you?"
Meanwhile:
"Houshi-sama!!! Houshi-sama!!! Are you here?!?!" Sango shouted. She was in a forest of some sort; the trees towered high above her head and were very thick, making it difficult to get through with no visible path. Sango knew that Miroku would be faced with a temptation, and she was determined to get to him first. No one was going to take him away from her. Not a fake controlled by Naraku anyway...
Me- So...what do y'all think???
Sango- Well, I was in it a little bit...
Miroku- Hey! I wasn't!!!
Me- Ignores their ranting Hey, no one picked up on my hint in the last chapter!!!
The one about my plot!!!!!
Sesshoumaru- This annoyed her and I had to listen to her complaining on her
vacation...so here's a clue...
Me- The clue is what Kikyo said to Naraku. She requested that Kohaku make
an appearance, (which he will,) to those who passed the tests...
Sesshoumaru- And another hint, (so I don't have to hear her get upset again...I
hate it when she's upset...) is that the Shikon no Tama is WHOLE
in the last chapter...but what, I wonder, animates Kohaku so that
he is living and resides embedded in his back?
Me- nods Yep...now...if ANYONE has ANY idea of what these things mean,
AND / OR they can figure out a possible plot twist that has to do with it, they
should send it to me in a review...the person who gets it first, or is the closest
to my divine plan, will get a reward, (another pic, please Nicole, e-mail me
your address so I can get you yours...) and special honors like our friend
Nicole did in this chappie!!! So send me your thoughts!!! R&R!!!!!!!!!
Well, I am home, intact, and not dead because of a car accident...although I did almost collide with a semi while it was raining super, super hard and was going about 50 mph...I swear I checked my blind- spot, but it was raining so hard that I didn't see it...and nearly got a semi in my front door...lovely, yeah, I chose not to drive much after that...though my dad kept urging me to do so. That was on day ONE of my trip...
Nicole, you are my 100th reviewer!!! This chapter is dedicated to you! Thank you very much for enjoying my story and telling me so. Please send me your e-mail address in a review or via my personal e-mail so that I can send you a picture of my own creation!!!!! Please send it within one week of the date this chapter was posted or I will be forced to give the "prize" to my 101st reviewer. My e-mail address is
Well, only a couple of you wanted song fics...so this isn't going to be one. This is my Hekele/Sesshoumaru chapter, poor Kachie and Koga only got about three or four votes...and oddly enough, Kachie, my best friend, was one of the people voting for Hekele/Sesshoumaru, so...I guess you guys like that pairing...OK THEN!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but Hekele and my own devious plot.
Crystal, Blood, and a Test of Recognition
Sesshoumaru's POV:
Sesshoumaru stood slowly and glanced at his surroundings. He was outside an oddly designed palace of some sort. It was tall and had many towers, and looked very majestic. It was made of pure, delicate crystal. Groping at his side for his sword he realized that he only felt one. Looking around at the ground uneasily he saw his Tenseiga. It was glowing a dark black color, as the Shikon no Tama had been.
It would not be wise to use this...Naraku has put a curse on it...he has a reason to be sure...but why... He looked up and saw as the front gates opened and guessed that he was meant to enter the palace. He gently tried to lift his sword and was happy that none of whatever the curse's effects were had harmed him. He sniffed the air as he walked towards the gate at a cautious pace.
Why can I not smell anything? He wondered as he glanced once more at his surroundings. He had landed in a field with many different flowers...he should have been able to smell them...
Sesshoumaru passed through the front gates with ease but held the hilt of his sword cautiously nonetheless. Then something Naraku had said before he had been sucked through his portal hit him.
"'They are waiting for you.' Hekele and Rin must be here..." he said aloud yet to himself as he glanced around, wondering where he should begin to look. He froze as a door near him opened. He looked to it and saw that it was a staircase to one of the towers.
"Am I being led to...or away from them?" he wondered. He stared long and hard at the tower, both wanting to go in and at the same time it gave him an uneasy feeling, causing him not to be sure.
"This, if it does lead to them, is no doubt a trap within a trap. Naraku wanted to split us up...why though...what is the purpose?" he said to himself, as though his questions would be answered if they were spoken aloud.
"This is my only clue, I may as well take this route for now..." Taking one more look at his surroundings, Sesshoumaru cautiously proceeded towards the tower.
Hekele's POV:
Hekele moaned as she opened her eyes. She had been knocked out again, twice in one day...how lovely. She stared at the ceiling for a moment, almost wishing for sleep to claim her once more, as it would be refuge from the pain she felt in her head. She sat up slowly and realized then just how cold it was. She wrapped her arms about herself in an attempt to keep warm as she looked around at her surroundings. Hekele was in a room of some sort...in a cell that looked to be made of extremely thick glass; she also noticed that she was chained to the floor on a rather short chain. Hekele idly wondered why she needed to be chained to the ground when it was apparent that she would not be able to get out. She touched the wall of her cell, and found it to be freezing cold. As she took her hand away from the wall she could see just a bit of water trickling down her fingers.
"Ice...but...how?" she said as she looked through her cell out a window. She could see a warm looking sun and a clear blue sky, and she swore she could see a meadow below.
"I must be somewhere high...but where?" It was then that she recalled what Kanna had said about Naraku having most of the Shikon no Tama and using it to create four new dimensions. Hekele sighed and, despite the cold, leaned back against the 'wall' of her cell. Sesshoumaru would be coming soon, for her and Rin, and Hekele couldn't help but wonder what he would have to overcome to rescue them, a temptation, or a confusion. Then she realized something.
"Rin!" The girl was nowhere to be seen. Hekele searched the room for her frantically, but couldn't find her.
"Don't worry, she's nearby, just out of the light, that's all..." came a sadistic voice; it belonged to a woman. Hekele looked around again but saw nothing. Was the voice in her head?
"Very good human, I am telepathic...I am speaking to you through your mind...do not worry about the child, she is fine for now..." said the voice. Hekele cringed and looked around.
"Where is she!" she yelled, suddenly fearing for the young girl she had come to care for as a sister...or daughter even.
"You really must speak up human, I cannot hear your voice through these walls...nor will the demon lord when he arrives..." the voice taunted her. The shadows in the room receded slightly and Hekele could see a cell identical to her own on the other side of the room. But it was what was in the cell that frightened her. The women smiled evilly and her eyes shone red before turning to an icy blue. They both turned their heads as they heard footsteps coming towards the door.
"He comes..." the voice said before the entire room was cast in shadows.
Hekele's eyes shone slightly with tears she tried to not allow fall, "Please Sesshoumaru...know me..."
Sesshoumaru's POV:
Sesshoumaru quickened his pace as he went up the stairs. He knew he was drawing nearer to the top...and he was becoming increasingly positive that at least one of the females he cared for would be awaiting him there. Worry was setting in, not only for Rin but for Hekele as well. Something told him that things were not quite as easy as they seemed...
Sesshoumaru saw the door at the top of the stairs and rushed to it, sword drawn. When he got to the door he sliced it in half, leaving a large opening through which he entered the room. Red flickered dangerously in his eyes and his demon markings were as threatening as they could be as he scanned the black room for either of his loved ones.
"Ahh, so the demon lord took the bait and came looking for his weak humans..." came a voice much like Naraku's from the shadows. Sesshoumaru turned and saw, appearing out of a cloud of black, one of Naraku's puppets.
"Where are they puppet? I know they are near here!" he almost shouted, enraged. The puppet snapped his fingers and light shone on two cells opposite each other and Sesshoumaru's eyes widened. There, in both cells, was Hekele. They looked exactly alike in both dress and physical appearance, both with their right ankle chained to the floor, and both looking at him with pained eyes that almost begged him to recognize them.
"You must choose who is the real girl...and you have no room to fumble...the wrong choice will cause your real love to perish...and seeing as you cannot use your life giving sword..." the puppet trailed off, clearly enjoying the way the demon lord kept looking at both of the girls in a somewhat confused and even pained manner.
Sesshoumaru looked at them both for a moment wishing for one of them to do something out of character so that he would be able to choose the correct Hekele. He studied one of them for a long moment and took a step towards her.
Hekele's POV:
Hekele's heart skipped a beat when she saw Sesshoumaru take a step towards her cell. He knew her! He didn't need to hear her speak, he didn't need to hear the context of her thoughts, and he didn't really even need to think about it...he just knew her!
"Don't be so certain human..." came that voice again. The puppet began to speak.
"Are you certain she is your love? Remember...the wrong choice will send her to the world of the dead...as will it this one..." Hekele saw Sesshoumaru turn in time to see the shadows disappear completely and reveal Rin, lying motionless, on a pedestal. She watched in fear for the child as Sesshoumaru rushed to her side and, when he tried to touch her, was repelled by a shield.
Sesshoumaru's POV:
"What are you saying puppet?!" He shouted at the fake Naraku, enraged once more.
The puppet smiled, "If you choose incorrectly, both your love, and your young child, will die...and the child shall not awaken until you choose..." Sesshoumaru's eyes turned completely blood red as he growled at the puppet, hate and anger laced throughout it.
"You will die if you do not release them both..." he said in an icy calm. The puppet merely shrugged.
"Do I care? I was made to die at your hands demon lord..." Sesshoumaru growled and turned his line of vision at the Hekele he had be convinced was the real one...now he suddenly wasn't so sure. The fake Hekele was obviously able to see into the mind of the real Hekele, or else she would not be able to mimic her every body movement to perfection. Every movement one girl made, the other made at the exact same second, perfectly. There was no physical way to distinguish between them...but he had a gut feeling he knew who was real...the question was, was it worth trusting? There were two lives on the line, and both lives happened to mean a great deal to him...who was he to choose?
"Oh, and demon lord? You don't have all day..." with that, the puppet snapped his fingers and Sesshoumaru instinctively turned back to the two girls, afraid of what may happen to them. At first he saw nothing.
Hekele's POV:
Hekele felt something begin to pour onto her head a moment or so after Naraku's puppet had snapped his fingers. She looked up, and screamed. Blood. Blood was pouring out of an opening above her head on the ceiling in large amounts. Hekele tried to go to another part of the cell so that she could get away from it pouring on her but found her chain so short that she couldn't move. Suddenly she realized what the reason for the chain was...she wasn't supposed to move. The blood would fill the cell and once it was over her head...she would drown in it. There was no buying time by floating above the thick red liquid...
Hekele could reach the wall of her cell from where she stood and she pounded on it and yelled for help. She was truly afraid now, for both herself and Rin, but the fear she held for herself had become apparent when the blood had begun to flow into the room. God there was so much of it...and it was as cold as the walls...
She was freezing and drowning; fear gripped at her heart more than it ever had in her entire life. More than when her mother died, more than when she was almost killed that same night, more than when she knew she was dying as the tiger demon pressed his clawed foot into her burnt back...yes, this was much worse...
She continued to beat at the walls and call for Sesshoumaru, though her fists were beginning to hurt. Tears were now falling from her eyes but it was hard to tell with all of the blood pouring on her. She glanced at the creature who was pretending to be her and saw that every move she made was being mimicked. Frustrated, she called to Sesshoumaru once again.
"He can't hear you human, nor can he smell you...just take death with grace!" the voice said to her in an annoyed tone, though when Hekele looked at her face she saw the same terror as what she was sure was on her own.
She's mimicking me...she's seeing what I am going to do in my mind and she does it at the same time...
"Ooh, you are bright aren't you? Too bad he can't see through it hmm?" the voice mocked her. Hekele looked at the pool of frigid blood, knowing it may very well be her grave. She didn't notice when Sesshoumaru destroyed the puppet out of anger, she didn't notice when he stood before them, confused and angry, and she didn't notice as he laid his hand on his Tokijin, ready to draw it when he made his decision. All Hekele could focus her attention on now was the rising blood. It was already to her chest.
Sesshoumaru's POV:
Sesshoumaru's face contorted into one of anguish as he realized how high the blood was. He swore he could feel his heart wretch in his chest as he saw them calling to him, yelling for help. He could not hear them, but he certainly knew what they were saying. He had destroyed the puppet before it could do any more damage but he was still left with the decision. Should he choose wrong...
He felt helpless, and that was not something he had felt often. Yes, when Rin had been kidnapped by Naraku before, and yes when he had discovered both her and Hekele gone in the future, but not at any other time had he felt this helpless. He didn't like the feeling, not a bit. The blood was to the girls' lips now, and he knew that he had to make his decision fast.
How am I to choose?! He yelled in his mind, wishing for someone to send him an answer. Kami how afraid they both looked! He knew only one truly felt fear but seeing both of them in such a state pained him. He became aware of how much he wanted to hold and comfort Hekele, to let her know that he was there. How absurd the feelings felt didn't matter at the moment, he only wanted to comply with them. And Rin...Rin was also most precious to him, she was like his daughter...if he chose wrong...she would die as well...He could not bear to lose them.
Hekele's POV:
The blood was just below her eyes now...gods how cold it was! If she tilted her head up she could still breathe, and she would hold onto that luck for as long as she could. She could see Sesshoumaru glancing between her and her copy, though with the flow of blood as close to her eyes as it was seeing out of her cell was quite difficult now.
The fear of dying was at an all time high, but another fear had begun to accompany it as well: Fear of not being cared for. She had never told Sesshoumaru of her growing feelings for him, (or any of her not so annoyed feelings towards him,) nor had he hinted that he cared for her as well, other than that small embrace when she had gone to the future with Rin, Kagome, Kachie, and Sango. Why should he save her? She would be considered a fool to think that he loved her...they only just met, and she had purposely made herself quite an annoyance to him at first...
Rin. That was why he was trying so hard to save her. If she died, Rin would die as well. Rin was practically his own child, he would die to keep her safe...just as Hekele would. The blood began to pour faster, and Hekele didn't have time to take a deep breath before it was above her head and too late. Her last, frozen, conscious thought was laced with doubt.
He doesn't know me...I'm alone...
Sesshoumaru's POV:
He panicked when he saw the blood flow quicken and rise above their heads. It was now or never. He had to choose.
Sesshoumaru gave an apologetic look towards one of the cells, (in case he was wrong,) and ran towards the other as fast as he could. He unsheathed his Tokijin in a swift and fluid manner and shattered the cell, discovering that it was made of ice.
Sesshoumaru could feel the icy cold as the blood rushed out at him, coating him completely. The Hekele in the cell fell out and landed in his arms. He held her tightly. When the flow of blood stopped he kneeled down and flicked the chain around her ankle with his sharp claws and broke it as well.
After a few heart stopping seconds the Hekele in his arms began to cough up the blood she had nearly drown in. Sesshoumaru held her as to make it easier but just as tightly. He glanced at Rin and could see the shield around her glow black and then recede. He had chosen correctly. Sesshoumaru glanced once more at Hekele and noticed how blue her lips were. He unwrapped his blood-covered tail and curled it about her tightly, to keep her warm. He gently wiped the blood from her face and eyes as she began to come to.
Regular POV:
Hekele opened her eyes and for the second time in her life she woke up to Sesshoumaru holding her up with a gentle look about his face. Seeing the blood covering him completely, Hekele's face turned to one of worry before Sesshoumaru gave her one of his amused smiles. Understanding that he had not been hurt and that none of the blood was his, Hekele returned the smile.
"How many times must I save you from certain death?" he asked, his tone confirming his amusement. Hekele rolled her eyes.
"Hey, I don't remember asking you to fall through Naraku's dimensional rip and to find and rescue Rin and I...you did that on your own."
Sesshoumaru actually chuckled, "True..." His smiled turned gentle once more and he pulled her to his chest and held her there, lightly stroking her arm with his thumb. Hekele smiled again and wrapped her arms around his middle in a tight embrace of her own. It was a meaningful embrace, from both of them.
Hekele smiled as the happy fact that she had been wrong flowed through her and seemed to warm her from the inside. He cared, and even she could tell that it was for more than an annoying friendship. She could feel his tail wrapped around her and she snuggled into it a bit.
"...How's Rin?" she asked, knowing the little girl had been in as much danger as she. Sesshoumaru, for an answer, gently helped her up off the ground and guided her over to where Rin lay.
Rin was still asleep, but Sesshoumaru had heard her breathing change; he knew she would wake up soon. Hekele gently stroked the girl's hair, knowing that Sesshoumaru would not have been so calm if Rin was anything but fine. She smiled as Rin slowly woke up and rubbed her eyes. Sesshoumaru's tail was still loosely wrapped around her and Hekele smiled as he flicked Rin's cheek with the tip of it. Rin giggled and opened her eyes the rest of the way. Her face turned to one of panic when she saw all of the blood they were covered in.
"What happened to Hekele-chan and Sesshoumaru-sama?! Are Hekele-chan and Sesshoumaru-sama all right?" she asked worriedly. Hekele smiled and lifted the girl into a huge hug.
"Yes, Hekele-chan and Sesshoumaru-sama are all right...I was a bit worried about you though..." she said in a slightly motherly tone. Rin smiled and hugged her back.
"Rin is ok...Rin just wants to go home..." the girl confided calmly. Hekele smiled again and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
"We'll get home soon Rin...I promise..." she said soothingly. Rin snuggled into her hug and nodded. When she was finally released, she jumped into Sesshoumaru's arms for an embrace from him as well.
"Sesshoumaru-sama saved us...Rin told Hekele-chan that everything would be ok!" she said as she squeezed him tightly. Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at Hekele, who blushed in embarrassment that she had not had more faith. Sesshoumaru smiled slightly and pulled her into the embrace with his tail, which he also wrapped around Rin. Hekele smiled as well and wrapped her arms around the two. She felt happy and safe in the embrace, like nothing bad could happen. It was a good feeling.
Suddenly a noise was heard and the three turned to find a portal, a light colored one. Their way home. Sesshoumaru looked at the two girls in his arms and sighed. Hell would be waiting on the other side, if not right away then soon. He wished he could protect them both...but he knew that Hekele would want to fight, and he knew that it was not his place to try and stop her, so he wouldn't try. Rin would be safe and sound with Kirara and Jakken; he had all the faith in the world that she would be brought safely to the village of Lady Kaede, where she would be cared for until he and everyone else returned...if they returned.
Sesshoumaru led Hekele and Rin to the portal and the three stood before it with uncertainty. It could easily be another trap. Hekele stepped forward and turned to the other two.
"Well, here's to hoping we end up in the palace!" she said, before jumping backwards into the portal. Sesshoumaru's face turned into one of panic as he tightened his grip on Rin and sped through the portal as well.
On the other side:
Hekele stood in Naraku's empty throne room with mild satisfaction as she saw Sesshoumaru run through the portal after her carrying Rin in his arms. When he saw her standing there unharmed he graced her with a glare.
"Do not be so reckless. You could have ended up in another world."
Hekele merely smiled at him, "But I didn't and we're still together, so everything's fine!" Sesshoumaru gave her an apathetic look and turned to the door. He was relieved to find that his sense of smell had returned. It must have been blocked out while in Naraku's dimension. After sniffing the air for a moment he found that they were, in fact, alone in that part of the palace except for Kirara and Jakken. They had heard the return of their three companions and had entered the room cautiously.
"M'lord Sesshoumaru-sama! You have returned! What good fortune-"
"Has anyone else returned yet?" Sesshoumaru cut off his servant's praises. Jakken shook his head.
"No, m'lord, you are the first." This made Sesshoumaru worry a bit, but he tried not to let it show.
"Very well, you and Kirara take Rin to safety, at the Lady Kaede's village. You will await our return there, do you understand?!" he ordered. Jakken nodded and, with much resistance and difficulty, hopped onto the giant fire-cat.
"Rin doesn't want to leave Rin's Sesshoumaru-sama or Hekele-chan! Rin just got Sesshoumaru-sama back again!" the girl cried as Sesshoumaru set her on Kirara in front of Jakken.
"Rin...we will return soon, this I promise..." Sesshoumaru said softly to her as he gently hugged her. Rin took a little comfort from this and Hekele gave her a hug as well.
"But don't stay up waiting for us...we might be a little late..." she added, only half joking. Rin smiled though and nodded.
"Rin will be good...and go to bed when Lady Kaede tells Rin to..."
"Good girl...now, we promise to see you later...ok?" Hekele said sweetly, hugging her one last time. Rin nodded and Kirara sped off. Rin looked to the two standing there as she got further and further from them, knowing very well that she might be doing so for the last time. But they had promised...
"Come back safe or Rin won't forgive Sesshoumaru-sama or Hekele- chan!!! Sesshoumaru-sama and Hekele-chan promised!!!" she called after them as she disappeared safely into the distance.
Sesshoumaru and Hekele looked at each other for a moment and Sesshoumaru drew her nearer to him. He held her in the small embrace for a moment and looked down at his Tenseiga; it was still glowing with Naraku's curse. If anyone died in the fight...he would not be able to bring them back...
"Are you ready to fight?" he asked, glancing down at Hekele. She smirked.
"Are you?"
Meanwhile:
"Houshi-sama!!! Houshi-sama!!! Are you here?!?!" Sango shouted. She was in a forest of some sort; the trees towered high above her head and were very thick, making it difficult to get through with no visible path. Sango knew that Miroku would be faced with a temptation, and she was determined to get to him first. No one was going to take him away from her. Not a fake controlled by Naraku anyway...
Me- So...what do y'all think???
Sango- Well, I was in it a little bit...
Miroku- Hey! I wasn't!!!
Me- Ignores their ranting Hey, no one picked up on my hint in the last chapter!!!
The one about my plot!!!!!
Sesshoumaru- This annoyed her and I had to listen to her complaining on her
vacation...so here's a clue...
Me- The clue is what Kikyo said to Naraku. She requested that Kohaku make
an appearance, (which he will,) to those who passed the tests...
Sesshoumaru- And another hint, (so I don't have to hear her get upset again...I
hate it when she's upset...) is that the Shikon no Tama is WHOLE
in the last chapter...but what, I wonder, animates Kohaku so that
he is living and resides embedded in his back?
Me- nods Yep...now...if ANYONE has ANY idea of what these things mean,
AND / OR they can figure out a possible plot twist that has to do with it, they
should send it to me in a review...the person who gets it first, or is the closest
to my divine plan, will get a reward, (another pic, please Nicole, e-mail me
your address so I can get you yours...) and special honors like our friend
Nicole did in this chappie!!! So send me your thoughts!!! R&R!!!!!!!!!