Nothing really to say…
Disclaimer: I still don't own Inuyasha! I own Kiseki and Sutaa, that's it!
Chapter 16: A Mate for Kouga?
Kagome woke up to Kiseki crying beside her. It was still night-time, but Kiseki didn't seem to care. Kagome got up and picked up Kiseki. Then she started to pace while singing a lullaby to the kit. Kiseki quieted and eventually fell back to sleep. Kagome put Kiseki into the cradle that had been provided, then went back to bed.
In the morning, Inuyasha, Shippo and Kaede left the village to follow the trail of Urasue. Shippo rode on Inuyasha's shoulder and Kaede rode the fastest horse in the village. Inuyasha picked up the trail by following the lingering scent of death and dirt that smelled faintly of Kikyo. They headed east.
High in the mountains, Urasue put down the bones of the priestess Kikyo. She had not expected to find the famous priestess' remains so soon, so she did not have everything ready yet. Urasue looked fondly at the bones sitting on her floor. Soon my child, soon you will walk this earth again.
After a night of waking up every couple of hours, Kagome woke up. She glanced at the cradle where Kiseki was sleeping happily. Kagome dropped back on the pallet. I'm so tired... Who knew having a kid was so exhausting?
A few moments later Sutaa walked into the room. "Oh. Sorry Kagome! I didn't realize that you were still sleeping. I'll come back."
Kagome sat up and looked at Sutaa. "No, I'm awake. What's wrong?"
Sutaa looked like she was going to leave anyway, but she stayed. "Nothing is wrong, I was just going to check on Kiseki. I also wanted to ask you some things."
Kagome got up and went to look at the kit. Sutaa came to stand beside her. "She's beautiful, isn't she?"
Sutaa looked at Kagome. "Kagome, since Kiseki is sleeping, why don't we talk?" Sutaa moved further into the room, seating herself on the rug in the corner.
"Okay..." Kagome went over and sat with Sutaa. "What do you want to talk about?"
Sutaa looked a little uncomfortable. "Well... it's about Kiseki."
Kagome got worried at that point. "What? What is it? There's nothing wrong with her, is there?" Kagome glanced at the sleeping kit.
Sutaa quickly reassured her. "No, Kagome, nothing like that. I just wondered about her... parentage..."
Kagome looked confused for a moment. "Her... parentage? Why?"
Sutaa looked at the kit as well. "Well, you are not her birth mother, or else you would not need me to nurse her for you. So, where are her parents?"
Kagome's eyes filled with tears. "Her father was killed a little bit before she was born, and her mother died having her. I adopted her when she was born."
Sutaa looked a little relieved. "So, you have formally adopted her then?"
Kagome nodded. "Yes, I have performed the rite of adoption in accordance with youkai custom."
Sutaa just nodded, a calculating look in her eyes. "So your mate has accepted her as his own?"
Kagome looked startled. "I don't have a mate. Sesshomaru performed the ceremony for us."
Sutaa looked surprised. "You have no mate? I sense great power within you, and you are of the proper age to be mated. Have you had no suitors?"
Kagome's head was spinning. A mate... what is she thinking? Oh no, Sesshomaru said that Kouga needed a powerful mate to keep his place as head of the pack! She can't be thinking that I should be Kouga's mate! "Umm... Sutaa, I don't want a mate right now."
Sutaa looked like Kagome had sprouted a second head. "But, what about your kit? She needs a good father. I am aware that you are powerful in your own right, but you will be vulnerable until Kiseki is grown up. A mate would keep you and your kit safe."
Kagome fidgeted. "I appreciate your concern Sutaa, but I really don't want a mate at the moment."
Sutaa just looked knowingly at her. "Well, just keep what I said in mind. There are many eligible males here that would be a good mate for you and a father for your kit. If you're lucky, you might even catch Kouga's eye."
Kagome tried hard not to show her dismay at Sutaa's words. That is exactly what I don't want to do... "I will keep your words in mind Sutaa, thank you."
Kiseki chose that moment to cry, causing both women to jump up and go to the side of the cradle. Kagome picked up Kiseki, but quickly realized that the kit was hungry and passed her to Sutaa.
Sutaa nursed Kiseki, then gave the kit back to Kagome. Sutaa needed to tend to matters in her own cavern, so she left Kagome with a few parting words about thinking about searching for a mate.
Kagome decided that it would be a good idea to go for a walk to get used to the whole cave system. Kiseki gurgled happily in her arms, pointing and laughing at different things and people as they passed. Kagome smiled at everyone as they walked. Some of the wolves Kagome recognized from her last time here, but there were others that she didn't recognize, probably because they were dead by the time she met Kouga last time.
Some of the wolves would stop to talk to her as she passed, asking questions and greeting her as a companion. Others ignored her presence, but when that happened she just did her best to ignore them too.
When she arrived in the common area of the cave, Kagome noticed that Kouga was sitting with some of the other male wolves looking over what looked to be battle plans. Other wolves were sitting in small groups talking or preparing meals for the rest of the clan.
As she was walking around the cavern, another wolf ran in from outside and went to Kouga's side, whispering in his ear. Kouga looked up, then gestured to the new wolf. The wolf ran back out, returning quickly with another familiar face. Kagome gasped. It's Ayame!
Inuyasha sped towards the Eastern Lands. Kaede rode beside him trying desperately to keep from falling from her horse. "Inuyasha, might we stop for a moment? I am not as young as I once was."
Inuyasha glanced at the miko. "Feh. Fine! If you fall from your horse, it will only slow us down further..."
He stopped and waited for her to dismount. Then he paced impatiently while Kaede sat to meditate. Inuyasha looked at her, thought about disturbing her, then thought better of it. All that would do was get the miko mad. He jumped up into a tree to wait.
Shippo, who had been riding on Inuyasha's shoulder, jumped out of the tree and started running around Kaede in circles. When the miko paid no attention to him, he ran back up the tree and sat beside Inuyasha. Inuyasha rolled his eyes at the kit's antics.
Kaede gave no sign that she had noticed any of this, but continued sitting with her eyes closed. She probably went to sleep. Inuyasha thought. If she doesn't finish up soon, then I'll go down and "help" her to finish. I can barely smell Kikyo's smell or that witch anymore. A few more days and I won't be able to smell them at all!
Inuyasha leaned back against the trunk of the tree and closed his eyes. As long as I'm waiting, I might as well catch a nap…
Kagome stared at Ayame as she walked toward Kouga. Last time, Ayame had come to meet Kouga about a year from now because she needed to unite the wolf demon tribes against a common threat. This time, however, Kagome could see the glint of jewel shards in both of Ayame's arms. With those shards, Ayame and her tribe would have had no need to unite the tribes.
The wolf of Kouga's tribe that had preceded Ayame into the cave bent over and whispered something in Kouga's ear. Kouga got up from where he was sitting and greeted Ayame with a grin on his face. "Welcome sister Ayame of the Northern tribe, what brings you so far south?"
Ayame just looked at Kouga as if he were forgetting something. Kouga clearly had no idea what he was missing. After standing and staring at each other in an uncomfortable silence for a few moments, Ayame sighed and responded formally. "I accept your hospitality brother Kouga, Leader of the Eastern tribe. I am here for the fulfilment of a promise you made to me many years ago."
Kagome watched as Kouga digested this new information, obviously searching for memories of the promise Ayame spoke of. Kagome almost giggled in delight. This time there would be no mix-up about Kouga's feelings for her and Ayame, it would be much simpler for the two wolf demons to get together.
Kouga continued to rack his brain for memories of this beautiful wolf demoness that stood before him, but he just couldn't seem to remember her at all. Ayame decided to help him out a bit. "At the time that you made the promise, I looked younger than I do now, almost like a child."
Kouga struggled for a few more seconds, then his eyes lit in recognition. "You're that girl that I saved from the harpies years ago! But what promise did I make those many years ago that I seem to have forgotten?"
Kagome could barely keep herself from laughing at hearing Kouga speak this way. The whole time she had known him, he had never used this kind of high language; usually he had as bad a mouth as Inuyasha.
Ayame just stared at Kouga for a moment. "You don't remember? You made that promise in the light of the moon's rainbow!"
Kouga stirred uncomfortably as many of the other urufu tried not to stare at their leader. He did take the opportunity to drop the formalities though. "Well…. I'm really sorry, but I don't remember the promise. I'm sure if you remind me of it, then I will remember."
Ayame sighed, then leaned toward him and whispered something in Kouga's ear. His eyes widened and he just stared at Ayame. He didn't say anything, but Kagome knew what the promise had been. She was just glad that this time Kouga wasn't interested in her!
After a few moments, Kouga seemed to get himself together and got up, motioning for Ayame to follow him as he left the common cave. The rest of the urufu immediately started trying to figure out what Ayame had said to Kouga to elicit such a response. Those that had been sitting closest to Kouga seemed to be as stunned as Kouga had been, and they wouldn't say anything about what they had heard.
Kagome walked back into the inner caves, happy in the knowledge that Kouga and Ayame were off to a much better start this time.
It was nearing dark when Inuyasha, Shippo and Kaede stopped again. Inuyasha was agitated, and seemed to want to keep going, but Kaede insisted that they stop for the night. Shippo also said that he was tired, to which Inuyasha said that he hadn't even been walking. This started an argument that only ended with Shippo sealing Inuyasha's hands to the ground with a statue. Kaede removed the scroll from the statue only when Shippo was safely behind her and Inuyasha had agreed to stop for the night.
"Feh. Fine, we'll stop now. By the time we get to that witch's cave though, she'll probably have done whatever it is she wants to do with Kikyo's bones already." Kaede released his hands and Inuyasha jumped up into a tree near where the other two were going to sleep.
Kaede and Shippo spent the last hour before sunset setting up camp, untacking and feeding the horse, and making food for everyone.
"Inuyasha, would you like something to eat?" Kaede called up into the branches that obscured the hanyou from view. There was no answer, so Kaede figured that Inuyasha must have fallen asleep, either that or he was still mad about having to stop.
Neither of these was the case however. As sunset drew near, Inuyasha felt his demon blood ebbing and realized that it must be the night of the new moon. Damn! How did I forget that it was the new moon tonight? I've gotten so caught up in humans and that kit that I've forgotten about my own safety! Inuyasha went far enough away from the camp that Kaede and Shippo wouldn't stumble on him accidentally, but stayed close enough that he could get back quickly in the morning.
Inuyasha felt his demon powers fade entirely as he looked into the now black sky above him. He saw the first star come out, then another, and another, until the whole sky was filled with tiny pinpoints of light.
What's going to happen? Why was I released from that spell? To avenge myself and Kikyo by killing that hanyou Naraku? To gain the Shikon no Tama? Or maybe something else… something to do with that girl Kagome? She looks so much like Kikyo, and she had the Shikon. Could she really be Kikyo reincarnation? She seems to think so… and does that even mean anything? This witch, Urasue, took Kikyo's bones to bring her back. Could I have been released to be with my Kikyo again? I loved her so much once, and even now I love her still. Inuyasha stared at the stars, thinking through the day he had died. I should have known that wasn't her the first time. She was always so sweet and kind. She was never cruel, not even to the demons that she protected the jewel from. She always gave them a quick, clean death. She would never toy with them, not the way Naraku toyed with me. He continued to stare into the night. If you are returning Kikyo, this time we'll get it right. This time I'll protect you. And we'll destroy Naraku together.
Inuyasha sat there all night, thinking through what he would say and do if he ever saw his Kikyo again. He also thought about Kagome and wondered how she fit into all of this. One thing he didn't consider, however, was how one is to animate a body without it's soul.
So, what did you think? Review and let me know, okay? Oh, and I realized that the link I had put in a couple of chapters ago to the site "Got Sesshy" isn't showing up. If you want to visit the site and maybe come and rp with us, just click on my homepage on the bio screen, it'll take you right to the site.
Reviewer Response:
MaraudersReiandSei: you've done to yourself what I did to myself! Fun, ne? I'm glad that you love my story so much! And I am so happy that you're able to write again! (that means you have to get cracking on MMU! lol! Reading is good! (as an english major, I should know!) I don't think I did much to relieve the suspense in this chapter, but you already know a lot that is going to happen since you're on Got Sesshy! See you on the forum!
Inu-fanforever: I'm glad you're still there, I had wondered for a while where you had gone! No problem about the comments though. Enjoy the story!
Ffextreme: Arigato! I'm glad you like it! And I don't intend to stop this story anytime soon…. In fact, I'm not allowed! Hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Cold-night09: I've gotten myself into a very looooooong story! lol But I'm not sure that the series is almost over….. Takahashi-sensei is still writing the manga in Japan, so I think we have a ways to go before the end happens! Hope you enjoyed the chapter, see you on the forum!
Sesshomaru4eva203: No problem about not reviewing schoolwork happens! I know not much happened last chap, it was sort of a filler to get from one place to another… I hope that this chapter had a little more meaning!
Wow! I got quite a few reviews last chapter! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Ja for now!