Oh my, I'm certainly spoiled to have such lovely reviewers. You're all positively angels. I intend to respond to each and every one of your comments faithfully. Hey, even my friends were nice about it! That's certainly something I never expected from, *ahem* those people. Ah well, it is a crazy world. I'm also terribly sorry about the long wait. My computer has been asking for some baseball bat therapy, again. So was fanfiction.net, to my surprise. There were difficulties in downloading, but they have been attended to. And now, back by popular demand, I give you Reflection, Chapter 2. Have fun kids! And remember, drink milk and stay and school and you'll be a happy camper.
Hey, nobody noticed. Neither did I till just seconds after I had put it out for that matter, but I forgot to put a disclaimer on my first chapter. Sorry... I'm such a failure. I'm a menace to society! That said, without further ado,
Disclaimer: Inu-Yasha belongs entirely to Rumiko Takahashi, not to me.
(At least, not yet...-_~)
Reflection
Chapter 2-Confused
Keade studied the young girl carefully. Her long raven tresses were cast over her shoulders gracefully, her eyes were narrow and observant, like a cornered animal. She sat respectfully, dignified and straight upon her legs, features set aglow by the firelight in the small hut. On her lap her hands were balled up into tight fists clenched around her dark green uniform, grasping them like a lifeline.
The silence was rigid and increased the tension of the awkward situation.
"Go on," Keade announced solemnly; trying her best to gently persuade the shaken Kagome into continuing her tale.
"When he told me that I had been screaming his name, that's, how he said he found me, I panicked. That name, 'Sesshomaru,' it was like some sort of trigger. I just about fainted, for no reason at all," Kagome stared at her hands painfully, as if ashamed. "Maybe I was just a little nervous about the dream or something, but, I suddenly felt so... I can't even describe it." She raised her eyes a bit to look at Keade. "I'm sorry Keade-obaachan."
"Nay child," Keade started, placing a withered hand on Kagome's pale one. "Yee have nothing to apologize for."
The delicate female nodded shortly and said no more. Once again a heavy quite pierced the setting. Eventually, Keade became compelled to brake it, and prodded Kagome with a light question. "And, certainly Inu-Yasha has been worried by this predicament?"
To her surprise, the girl smiled slightly at the words. "I, actually told him it was just a nightmare, because I didn't feel like he needed to be involved. He said he wasn't surprised, and, he knew how I felt. He seemed a little bit nervous, especially that I was sleeping alone in a forest, at night, but I shooed him away."
Keade forced a decent laugh to comfort the child, watching as she responded with a quiet chuckle herself. "Well," she rasped between snickers, "that sounds like Inu-Yasha! Always sulking when there's need and than worrying when there isn't!"
"Worrying when there isn't? Wait a minute! I think this is serious!"
Keade smiled at her sweetly, this time deciding to play the little old innocent grandma, "As hard as it is to believe child, Inu-Yasha has managed to get something right this time! It was only a passing nightmare, Yee have nothing to be concerned about."
At first, the girl seemed not to be unconvinced. Her mouth hung open in surprise and she stared dismally at Keade. "But, I can remember every detail of it! That's not normal!"
"That often happens with nightmares child. Humans usually respond to fear more than any other emotion. That is why nightmares seem so clear." Kagome stared at her blankly.
"I, suppose that would make sense..." She mumbled hesitantly. "I was just so sure it was something different." Keade could feel her uncertainty and immediately made a move to reassure her.
"It was not." She said a bit more firmly than was necessary. Her hand had moved to grip Kagome's shoulder tightly.
A heartbeat fluttered by, and in that moment Kagome considered a falsehood, but her close friendship with the priestess willed her heart otherwise. "If you say so Keade-baachan." Keade's hand went limp in relief, and she settled back on her legs slowly.
The girl smiled and cocked her head to the elderly woman sweetly. "Thank you very much, I knew when I had that silly nightmare that it'd be the right idea to explain it to you. You always know what to do." She moved towards the exit with a polite bow. "Good-bye now! I'll be with Sango if you need to find me or anything." Without another word, Kagome dashed out of the hut quickly and left the door fluttering in the night breeze, along with Keade, who had inner struggles working against one another as she had told the girl the lie.
"It was for her own sake," she said hoarsely as soon as Kagome was out of earshot, trying to convince herself that what she had done was for the best.
Silently, she recounted the nights events. Kagome had wandered into her hut looking confused and troubled. She had recounted her frightening walk through the forest, her discovery of Kikyo's newly rebuilt grave, her self doubt, and her dream.
Her dream, it was obviously a vision. No doubt Inu-Yasha had probably found her with open eyes, and shaken her from a trance. It was a surprise that he went for the bait and let her be so easily, but then, they had been fighting. Visions were not to be taken lightly, and even more disturbing, that she had been screaming for Sesshomaru.
At any rate, it was best to let the poor girl be. It would play itself out, and perhaps truly be a passing thing, but in the end, it would only rupture the situation if Kagome were to make a fuss over it. She already had enough to deal with, she didn't need to be aggravated over this.
In the end, Keade had come to the conclusion that Kagome's spiritual abilities were only growing, and that she had experienced this as a warning, perhaps to an upcoming confrontation with Sesshomaru himself.
Such a thing had happened to Keade as a child often. For even in her very earliest days she had suffered visions prior and after serious occasions. After Kikyo had died, she fell into multiple trances in which she had witnessed her sister's entire death, from start to finish, and had therefore known of possible betrayal long before it was confirmed by Inu-Yasha and Kagome. Perhaps then this would be good for Kagome, and such a talent might then be useful in the midst of future trauma.
Even as Keade left the subject to consider other issues, an uncertainty still lingered in her heart, and as she walked silently to the hut she shared with Sango, in Kagome's as well. It spoke that things were otherwise, that this was of terrible importance, and that it had only yet begun.
"Sango-chan!" Kagome exclaimed delightedly as she found her friend sitting pleasantly by the fire with Kirara as she had left her.
Sango smiled happily at her friend's return and motioned for her to join her. "I'm glad you're back Kagome-chan," she said gently. "Though that was a long walk. You were gone for an hour, where did you go?"
Kagome tucked her skirt beneath her as she knelt down beside the exterminator, "Oh, I just ducked in to say hi to Keade, no reason, just passing by."
Sango noticed the delicate girl's jittery manner immediately. "Are you sure?" She met Kagome with an icy stare.
"Y, yes." Her hair dropped down like a drape across her face, giving Kagome a type of comfort as it acted like a shield from Sango's accusation. Betraying her trust was terrible for Kagome to bear, but after spilling to Keade, the very thought of discussing the "nightmare" again brought forth a tremendous headache. Silently, she prayed that Sango wouldn't suspect the fraud.
After a few frigid seconds, Kagome watched from behind her hair in relief as Sango shrugged in dismissal and turned away. A quiet sigh escaped her, and she relaxed momentarily as she eyed Shippou in the corner, curled up in her sleeping bag, already out of it and looking quite content.
"Here," a steaming bowl was extended to her, filled with stew again. Sango was firmly holding it just beneath her nose.
"Oh but Sango," Kagome began, "You know I just ate before I left, I'm really not hungry." She held up her hands in protest and tried to push the bowl away.
"Kagome-chan, you don't look well, you're paler than usual, please eat something and get some rest."
"Really Sango I'm fine, it's just the night air or something. But I will be retiring now if you don't mind," and she rose to walk towards the small kitsune and the large red bag. Sango followed her with troubled eyes. "I am tired."
Carefully, Kagome pulled back the top and shuffled the kit out of the way as she climbed in. "Goodnight Sango-chan, and you please be off to bed soon too, we both haven't gotten much sleep lately, you know?"
Sango set the bowl down and brushed it's contents into a pot settled onto the fire. "Alright Kagome-chan, goodnight to you too." The girl nodded shortly and settled into the plush covers while she cuddled Shippou to her.
Outside, the full moon hung in the sky darkly, this time it seemed to stand as a warning rather than a symbol of wonder and beauty. That night, Kagome continued to dream.
The dim light of early morning dawned on the small village. The sun had not yet risen, and the sky was a faded blue. A dense fog hung in the air, and drifted about hauntingly.
Kagome curled tighter into the sleeping bag, and tried vainly to ignore the hanyou's screeching outside the hut. "Not now Inu-Yasha..." she mumbled as she pawed blindly about for her watch. "It must be six o'clock in the morning." Her hand landed on the small wristband, and she wearily dragged it into her line of vision. "Oh never mind, it's five thirty. What the hell do you expect us to be doing right now? It's too early."
At that moment the said dog-demon came bursting into the small room. He stomped around a bit and swore at their laziness before making a move at Kagome's covers. "Get up Kagome, we have to leave now! And you too Sango!" He shouted as he began to wrench the red material off of her. Kagome only groaned a bit.
"What's the rush Inu-Yasha?" came the tired voice of Sango, "We just got here, let us rest. She rolled into her sheets and hugged her pillow defensively.
"You guys have had plenty of time to rest now get up!" With a massive tug he revealed Kagome, half-asleep and obviously miffed.
"Osuwari." She muttered, and Inu-Yasha immediately hit the ground. "You almost tore my sleeping bag. Now let us sleep or I'll do it again." Kagome flopped back down into her blankets and turned away from the half-demon, knowing full well that it wouldn't end there.
"Oh no you don't! We're almost a few steps away from Naraku and I'm not losing him again!" He leapt at the girl, claws extended and poised to tear the bag to shreds. Kagome, meanwhile moved her lips over the all powerful word once again.
______________________________________________________________________________
"Inu-Yasha," Miroku placed a hand on the hanyou's shoulder. "Perhaps it was not so wise to wake the ladies this early."
Behind the two men trailed Kagome and Sango; stumbling about in the half-light and glaring daggers at the pair in a way that froze the blood. Their hair was slightly askew, and they each bore dark circles beneath their sleep deprived eyes.
Inu-Yasha struggled to overcome a shiver at the sight. "See what I mean?" Miroku commented dryly. "I suppose it would be best to let them be for a few hours."
"Feh."
"You did get 'sat' four times. What is the purpose of this early leave? We've been traveling for weeks, and it is due time for perhaps a longer rest than was spared." At first, Inu-Yasha yielded no answer, but after a moment's pause, pulled Miroku off the road.
"I can't believe nobody's felt it but me, but there's a great gathering of demonic energy in that mountain range to the Southwest." He pointed a clawed finger in the general direction, and continued. "I can almost feel Naraku taunting me, and I can smell my brother."
"Sesshomaru?" Miroku gripped his staff more tightly and glanced about nervously. "Could he be in league with Naraku?"
"I doubt it, he seems to hate Naraku for various reasons. I don't know what he's after quite yet, but I think we can safely assume that he doesn't give a damn one way or another about what happens to us." A light breeze ruffled the surrounding trees, and an unsettling quiet descended. "And yet," Inu-Yasha's voice was the single sound, and had the impact of a gong in its solitude. "We still can't be sure. Keep your guard up monk." He pat Miroku's shoulder formally and resumed walking ahead into the mist, leaving a tense Miroku to stand alone in the road.
"And to answer your question," Inu-Yasha called, "I will not let Naraku slip through my fingers again; and besides, what good would it be to lure such destruction to the village?" The monk nodded and began to follow the half-demon cautiously.
Meanwhile, Kagome and Sango wondered at the interaction they had just witnessed. "What to do you think that was about?" Sango muttered.
Kagome stared at them fiercely. "They were probably conspiring against us." With a moment of surprised realization, Sango lowered her head with Kagome and joined her gaze.
"Or complaining of how 'weak' we are."
"Let's kill the bastards."
"Agreed."
Shippou and Kirara could only glance back and forth between their companions, very confused at their murderous intent.
"Hurry up or we'll lose the trail!" Inu-Yasha whined.
"Will you shut, up?! We-need-to-rest." Kagome barked shortly as she picked at her food angrily.
"It's to early to quit now! Naraku's getting away!"
"Naraku's not going anywhere! For all we know this is probably a trap! Besides, do you really want to be 'sat' again? Because that can certainly be arranged." There were no more complaints from the dog-demon, who sat back in his tree quickly at the mention of "the word."
Darkness had settled long ago, and the group had stopped to light a fire and eat something at sunset, though the sun itself had been masked by the ever present fog since the earliest hours of the day. It lingered like everyone's bad mood.
Sango examined Kagome quietly, looking her up and down and noticing her lack of attention. "Kagome-chan, I think you got even less sleep than the rest of us, are you all right?" The girl's food had barely been touched, and she was as white as a sheet.
"I've just, lost my appetite." She muttered and set her dish down. "May I, pardon me, but may I just be alone for awhile please?" The fire cracked and popped merrily, but it shed warmth to an ice queen. Slowly Kagome rose and wandered off into the surrounding woods. Sango said nothing, but it wasn't like Inu-Yasha to let this go.
"You should quit doing that Kagome. Someday you're going to devoured or something, and I won't be there to protect you."
"I'll only be a few feet away, and I don't need your protection 24/7." There wasn't a hint of sarcasm in her voice as she swung her quiver over her shoulder and gripped her bow. "Just call if you need me." She strode past her startled fellows without a single backwards glance, and left them in the firelight without a care.
Around her, the trees opened like a dark curtain and seemed to beckon her into their black depths comfortingly. In moments, Kagome found herself crashing through them like a terrified animal, as she had done just the night before. Her breath soon came in rugged pants, and she reached forward as if trying to grasp something just out of her reach. Suddenly, without warning, she came stumbling into a wide clearing, fog streaming into it in a ghostlike manner.
Without a single second spared to catching her breath, Kagome burst into song. She began fading into and out of a hum, keeping it low, wary of Inu-Yasha's sharp ears, and always repeating the same delicate tune. Gradually, she slowly curled into a tight ball and hugged her legs tightly, head buried into her arms, black hair fanning out about her shoulders like a shawl. Small tears rained down from her eyes, which she kept firmly closed. Yet still, the song poured from her. It was the song of her dream. Her nightmare, wether it was a lie or not, her horrible nightmare.
"What's happening to me?" She sobbed between catches of the music. "All day long that song's been eating me up! All day long I've been fighting the urge to sing it to the heavens!" She put her face in her hands and cried out notes painfully, pausing only to wipe her tears. Truly, the mysterious song had plagued her dreams, which continued as scenes of that same woman standing before her, and the moon in the back round, crumbling into dust.
The graceful tune had tortured her all through the night, causing her often to rise in a cold sweat, trembling uncontrollably. After numerous and brief bouts of fitful sleep, Kagome had given up on a good rest, and lain awake for many hours with blood-shot eyes, gazing out at nothing in an eerie daze. Only as the first rays of light began to wash over the land had she finally been released to sleep, woken shortly after by Inu-Yasha.
The song had stayed with her, and every second she had to fight to keep it chained inside, lest she start screaming it to her companions.
But something else had stayed with her as well, and it was Sesshomaru's name.
The next day, Kagome and her fellow travelers woke up once again to the same dense mist. Now questionable, and unusual. However, despite the intimidating weather the company continued with their journey, trying not to spare it too much thought.
Inu-Yasha was his usual self, moody and frustrated. The others were uncharacteristically much of the same, and each entertained a single thought: 'I hope Inu-Yasha knows where he's going in this mess.'
Every step they took was dragging and weary. The seconds passed with tension and exhaustion, and yet they all felt the grinding need to push forward. Of course, the long hours were not without conversation. Kagome could do nothing but busy herself with small talk to be rid of the music. Ironically, she decided to make the music her topic of discussion.
"Sango-chan," She followed her own footsteps with a heavy stare. "Have you ever heard this song before?" And she proceeded to hum it gently for her friend to hear, and found herself, not surprisingly, finding it difficult to stop.
Sango watched her feet as well, not bothering to look up, or blink much for that matter. "That song? No I'm sorry Kagome-chan but I've never heard it."
"Neither have I." Shippou mumbled next to Kagome's ear.
"Oh, well never mind." Kagome then began to kick a rock back and forth between her ever-moving feet. Nobody noticed how each hit was keeping with a certain rhythm.
Outwardly, she looked tired, and bored, but inside, her blood was boiling. Teasing ideas popped into her mind spontaneously. 'Something's going to happen.' 'Do you feel it?' 'That presence, someone's close...' All the while Kagome could only shake them out of her head for moments at a time before another would rise to haunt her. By then she was beginning to fear for her mental health. Never before had she been so expectant, and she didn't even know what she was expecting.
______________________________________________________________________________
The light began to fade slowly, drawing itself out. Thunder could be heard faintly in the distance, and every so often lightening would rip across the sky suddenly.
At a word of advice from Inu-Yasha, they swerved off the path to cut through a tall woods in order to save time. Gradually, however, almost unnoticeably, as they walked through the trees, the sounds of the evening, of the creatures that dwelt in the branches and on the ground faded away, and some stopped abruptly. The travelers understood immediately that this was not their doing.
Inu-Yasha became visibly nervous, and frequently began pulling Miroku off to the side for frantic, inaudible conversation. The half-demon's nose twitched about, and he muttered curses beneath his breath. Every muscle was pulled tight, for he had prepared his body for attack.
After several agonizing minutes following his behavioral change Inu-Yasha released a sigh, and stopped in his tracks. The others did likewise, ready for inevitable bad news. Without turning to face his friends, Inu-Yasha's voice came echoing to them from out of the dark mist. "Everyone," he announced solemnly, "Sesshomaru has been circling us ever since we entered the forest. I don't know if he's playing with us or not, but you can bet he'll attack if he has continued like this for so long. Stay close, we're stopping for the night." The dog demon then drew his sword carefully and held it out as if he already saw his enemy.
"Inu-Yasha," Miroku whispered. "Should we start a fire?" Darkness suddenly drowned what little light remained, and thunder crashed directly overhead.
"No use." He spat, "Rain's coming."
As if hailed by his word, a sheet of heavy rain began pouring from the sky harshly. It soaked each of them through in a heartbeat, and left them nearly blind with fog, lack of light, and a massive downpour combined.
Miroku held fast to his staff, bitterly reminding himself not to use the hellhole unless Naraku himself were to appear before him.
Sango placed a shaky hand on the large weapon strapped securely to her back, and made a check that Kirara was at her side, ready at any time to transform into her more ferocious form.
Kagome was immobilized, only able to think of one thing, and one thing only. 'He's here.'
A shadow grew out of the darkness before them, a figure began moving towards the group. Inu-Yasha froze as a low growl grew in the depths of his throat. Lightening tore across the heavens in an instant, every heart skipped a beat, for illuminated in that brief space of time, was the source of all the tension that had been raging in each of their souls.
Still half in darkness, standing before them, was Sesshomaru.
Well that's that. Personally, I think that chapter dragged a bit. But you're supposed to be your own worst critic so what the hell do I know? Time to reply to reviews! And I apologize sincerely for the cliffhanger.
Kenshin N' Sano lover: I'm not telling you a damn thing girl! You'd better keep your mouth shut too if you know what's good for you. You have an advantage in this department. But even so, I think I'll trick you guys up just for the fun of it. Perhaps I shall write a different story. How do ya like dem apples? It would be boring if you knew everything already. Humor is a difficult thing to write Mooget; and I can't very well find a place to put it until Kagome starts to take life as it is instead being so "surprised" every time another monster shows up. She has to start not caring, not about life in general, but the surly teenager sort of way.
Myouga Jiji: Well I'm glad you bit your tongue Myouga. I can write at a much faster pace, and this was done a few days ago, but things like technical difficulties and watching a ghost story with my sister that scared me to the point where I had to go upstairs rather than stay down here and put this chapter out created delays. And you would be afraid of mean people too if you ever decided to write anything.
Kagura-chan: Oh, spectacular, mine is a "very will typed piece of work." Mind your grammar K-T. Because I know you I'll pick at your reviews if I want to. Hey, you know Myouga and Inu-Yasha signed up on FF.net? They say that you don't have to pay for it if you don't write anything, so maybe you should consider it and put me on your favorite authors and stories lists. I'll continue, don't worry, I've just been having some troubles with the computer. Oh, and the following two people I responded to above you are you-know-who and you-know-who. Just to let you know. Mooget wants me to disclose important story information in coming chapters too. That sneaky little devil, can you believe that?
devilsangel: Yes I'll continue. Provided technology allows.
Moon Fairy: I caught somebody's attention! In a good way! Well that's wonderful to hear and I'll try to update faster. I can you know, but things seem to conspire against me often. It's not my fault! Really!
trihn: I'm glad you like it! Yes, yes I'll update as quick as I can.
IceColdJade: You know, among myself and my very close friends we have created an internet language abbreviation called LLD. It stands for Laugh Like Dilly, and if you haven't seen Escaflowne you won't understand that joke, but the point is, you have pulled an LLD, and we like that. So continue laughing maniacally and I'm happy you have enjoyed my story thus far.
Emme: Begging is not something I expected so soon, but if you insist. I'll add more, I'll add more, I promise. Things are just a little slow around here.
Matakishi Hirata-san: Whoa, what a mouthful. Does your name mean anything or did you just make it up? I actually shouldn't be talking, I was about to make my name, "Akashira Takashe." Now that's going to be the name of a future story. Anyhow, I will update and e-mail as often as I can. Happy your enjoying the story!
LyCheE: I will most certainly try to keep it up! Thank you for your support. Hee hee, that's what my journalism teacher used to say.
Katzztar: Well your wait is over! And I'll be updating as often as possible so you won't have to again.
jubilation15: Ha! Aren't you the clever one! That's all true, and that will be happening, hopefully in chapter 4 (I don't want to rush things and put it in chapter 3). But you read my mind! So far nobody's actually bothered to make such a dead on prediction about the future parts of the story.
Thank you, thank you, your reviews have touched my heart. Chapter 3 should be on in the next two days.
Hey, nobody noticed. Neither did I till just seconds after I had put it out for that matter, but I forgot to put a disclaimer on my first chapter. Sorry... I'm such a failure. I'm a menace to society! That said, without further ado,
Disclaimer: Inu-Yasha belongs entirely to Rumiko Takahashi, not to me.
(At least, not yet...-_~)
Reflection
Chapter 2-Confused
Keade studied the young girl carefully. Her long raven tresses were cast over her shoulders gracefully, her eyes were narrow and observant, like a cornered animal. She sat respectfully, dignified and straight upon her legs, features set aglow by the firelight in the small hut. On her lap her hands were balled up into tight fists clenched around her dark green uniform, grasping them like a lifeline.
The silence was rigid and increased the tension of the awkward situation.
"Go on," Keade announced solemnly; trying her best to gently persuade the shaken Kagome into continuing her tale.
"When he told me that I had been screaming his name, that's, how he said he found me, I panicked. That name, 'Sesshomaru,' it was like some sort of trigger. I just about fainted, for no reason at all," Kagome stared at her hands painfully, as if ashamed. "Maybe I was just a little nervous about the dream or something, but, I suddenly felt so... I can't even describe it." She raised her eyes a bit to look at Keade. "I'm sorry Keade-obaachan."
"Nay child," Keade started, placing a withered hand on Kagome's pale one. "Yee have nothing to apologize for."
The delicate female nodded shortly and said no more. Once again a heavy quite pierced the setting. Eventually, Keade became compelled to brake it, and prodded Kagome with a light question. "And, certainly Inu-Yasha has been worried by this predicament?"
To her surprise, the girl smiled slightly at the words. "I, actually told him it was just a nightmare, because I didn't feel like he needed to be involved. He said he wasn't surprised, and, he knew how I felt. He seemed a little bit nervous, especially that I was sleeping alone in a forest, at night, but I shooed him away."
Keade forced a decent laugh to comfort the child, watching as she responded with a quiet chuckle herself. "Well," she rasped between snickers, "that sounds like Inu-Yasha! Always sulking when there's need and than worrying when there isn't!"
"Worrying when there isn't? Wait a minute! I think this is serious!"
Keade smiled at her sweetly, this time deciding to play the little old innocent grandma, "As hard as it is to believe child, Inu-Yasha has managed to get something right this time! It was only a passing nightmare, Yee have nothing to be concerned about."
At first, the girl seemed not to be unconvinced. Her mouth hung open in surprise and she stared dismally at Keade. "But, I can remember every detail of it! That's not normal!"
"That often happens with nightmares child. Humans usually respond to fear more than any other emotion. That is why nightmares seem so clear." Kagome stared at her blankly.
"I, suppose that would make sense..." She mumbled hesitantly. "I was just so sure it was something different." Keade could feel her uncertainty and immediately made a move to reassure her.
"It was not." She said a bit more firmly than was necessary. Her hand had moved to grip Kagome's shoulder tightly.
A heartbeat fluttered by, and in that moment Kagome considered a falsehood, but her close friendship with the priestess willed her heart otherwise. "If you say so Keade-baachan." Keade's hand went limp in relief, and she settled back on her legs slowly.
The girl smiled and cocked her head to the elderly woman sweetly. "Thank you very much, I knew when I had that silly nightmare that it'd be the right idea to explain it to you. You always know what to do." She moved towards the exit with a polite bow. "Good-bye now! I'll be with Sango if you need to find me or anything." Without another word, Kagome dashed out of the hut quickly and left the door fluttering in the night breeze, along with Keade, who had inner struggles working against one another as she had told the girl the lie.
"It was for her own sake," she said hoarsely as soon as Kagome was out of earshot, trying to convince herself that what she had done was for the best.
Silently, she recounted the nights events. Kagome had wandered into her hut looking confused and troubled. She had recounted her frightening walk through the forest, her discovery of Kikyo's newly rebuilt grave, her self doubt, and her dream.
Her dream, it was obviously a vision. No doubt Inu-Yasha had probably found her with open eyes, and shaken her from a trance. It was a surprise that he went for the bait and let her be so easily, but then, they had been fighting. Visions were not to be taken lightly, and even more disturbing, that she had been screaming for Sesshomaru.
At any rate, it was best to let the poor girl be. It would play itself out, and perhaps truly be a passing thing, but in the end, it would only rupture the situation if Kagome were to make a fuss over it. She already had enough to deal with, she didn't need to be aggravated over this.
In the end, Keade had come to the conclusion that Kagome's spiritual abilities were only growing, and that she had experienced this as a warning, perhaps to an upcoming confrontation with Sesshomaru himself.
Such a thing had happened to Keade as a child often. For even in her very earliest days she had suffered visions prior and after serious occasions. After Kikyo had died, she fell into multiple trances in which she had witnessed her sister's entire death, from start to finish, and had therefore known of possible betrayal long before it was confirmed by Inu-Yasha and Kagome. Perhaps then this would be good for Kagome, and such a talent might then be useful in the midst of future trauma.
Even as Keade left the subject to consider other issues, an uncertainty still lingered in her heart, and as she walked silently to the hut she shared with Sango, in Kagome's as well. It spoke that things were otherwise, that this was of terrible importance, and that it had only yet begun.
"Sango-chan!" Kagome exclaimed delightedly as she found her friend sitting pleasantly by the fire with Kirara as she had left her.
Sango smiled happily at her friend's return and motioned for her to join her. "I'm glad you're back Kagome-chan," she said gently. "Though that was a long walk. You were gone for an hour, where did you go?"
Kagome tucked her skirt beneath her as she knelt down beside the exterminator, "Oh, I just ducked in to say hi to Keade, no reason, just passing by."
Sango noticed the delicate girl's jittery manner immediately. "Are you sure?" She met Kagome with an icy stare.
"Y, yes." Her hair dropped down like a drape across her face, giving Kagome a type of comfort as it acted like a shield from Sango's accusation. Betraying her trust was terrible for Kagome to bear, but after spilling to Keade, the very thought of discussing the "nightmare" again brought forth a tremendous headache. Silently, she prayed that Sango wouldn't suspect the fraud.
After a few frigid seconds, Kagome watched from behind her hair in relief as Sango shrugged in dismissal and turned away. A quiet sigh escaped her, and she relaxed momentarily as she eyed Shippou in the corner, curled up in her sleeping bag, already out of it and looking quite content.
"Here," a steaming bowl was extended to her, filled with stew again. Sango was firmly holding it just beneath her nose.
"Oh but Sango," Kagome began, "You know I just ate before I left, I'm really not hungry." She held up her hands in protest and tried to push the bowl away.
"Kagome-chan, you don't look well, you're paler than usual, please eat something and get some rest."
"Really Sango I'm fine, it's just the night air or something. But I will be retiring now if you don't mind," and she rose to walk towards the small kitsune and the large red bag. Sango followed her with troubled eyes. "I am tired."
Carefully, Kagome pulled back the top and shuffled the kit out of the way as she climbed in. "Goodnight Sango-chan, and you please be off to bed soon too, we both haven't gotten much sleep lately, you know?"
Sango set the bowl down and brushed it's contents into a pot settled onto the fire. "Alright Kagome-chan, goodnight to you too." The girl nodded shortly and settled into the plush covers while she cuddled Shippou to her.
Outside, the full moon hung in the sky darkly, this time it seemed to stand as a warning rather than a symbol of wonder and beauty. That night, Kagome continued to dream.
The dim light of early morning dawned on the small village. The sun had not yet risen, and the sky was a faded blue. A dense fog hung in the air, and drifted about hauntingly.
Kagome curled tighter into the sleeping bag, and tried vainly to ignore the hanyou's screeching outside the hut. "Not now Inu-Yasha..." she mumbled as she pawed blindly about for her watch. "It must be six o'clock in the morning." Her hand landed on the small wristband, and she wearily dragged it into her line of vision. "Oh never mind, it's five thirty. What the hell do you expect us to be doing right now? It's too early."
At that moment the said dog-demon came bursting into the small room. He stomped around a bit and swore at their laziness before making a move at Kagome's covers. "Get up Kagome, we have to leave now! And you too Sango!" He shouted as he began to wrench the red material off of her. Kagome only groaned a bit.
"What's the rush Inu-Yasha?" came the tired voice of Sango, "We just got here, let us rest. She rolled into her sheets and hugged her pillow defensively.
"You guys have had plenty of time to rest now get up!" With a massive tug he revealed Kagome, half-asleep and obviously miffed.
"Osuwari." She muttered, and Inu-Yasha immediately hit the ground. "You almost tore my sleeping bag. Now let us sleep or I'll do it again." Kagome flopped back down into her blankets and turned away from the half-demon, knowing full well that it wouldn't end there.
"Oh no you don't! We're almost a few steps away from Naraku and I'm not losing him again!" He leapt at the girl, claws extended and poised to tear the bag to shreds. Kagome, meanwhile moved her lips over the all powerful word once again.
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"Inu-Yasha," Miroku placed a hand on the hanyou's shoulder. "Perhaps it was not so wise to wake the ladies this early."
Behind the two men trailed Kagome and Sango; stumbling about in the half-light and glaring daggers at the pair in a way that froze the blood. Their hair was slightly askew, and they each bore dark circles beneath their sleep deprived eyes.
Inu-Yasha struggled to overcome a shiver at the sight. "See what I mean?" Miroku commented dryly. "I suppose it would be best to let them be for a few hours."
"Feh."
"You did get 'sat' four times. What is the purpose of this early leave? We've been traveling for weeks, and it is due time for perhaps a longer rest than was spared." At first, Inu-Yasha yielded no answer, but after a moment's pause, pulled Miroku off the road.
"I can't believe nobody's felt it but me, but there's a great gathering of demonic energy in that mountain range to the Southwest." He pointed a clawed finger in the general direction, and continued. "I can almost feel Naraku taunting me, and I can smell my brother."
"Sesshomaru?" Miroku gripped his staff more tightly and glanced about nervously. "Could he be in league with Naraku?"
"I doubt it, he seems to hate Naraku for various reasons. I don't know what he's after quite yet, but I think we can safely assume that he doesn't give a damn one way or another about what happens to us." A light breeze ruffled the surrounding trees, and an unsettling quiet descended. "And yet," Inu-Yasha's voice was the single sound, and had the impact of a gong in its solitude. "We still can't be sure. Keep your guard up monk." He pat Miroku's shoulder formally and resumed walking ahead into the mist, leaving a tense Miroku to stand alone in the road.
"And to answer your question," Inu-Yasha called, "I will not let Naraku slip through my fingers again; and besides, what good would it be to lure such destruction to the village?" The monk nodded and began to follow the half-demon cautiously.
Meanwhile, Kagome and Sango wondered at the interaction they had just witnessed. "What to do you think that was about?" Sango muttered.
Kagome stared at them fiercely. "They were probably conspiring against us." With a moment of surprised realization, Sango lowered her head with Kagome and joined her gaze.
"Or complaining of how 'weak' we are."
"Let's kill the bastards."
"Agreed."
Shippou and Kirara could only glance back and forth between their companions, very confused at their murderous intent.
"Hurry up or we'll lose the trail!" Inu-Yasha whined.
"Will you shut, up?! We-need-to-rest." Kagome barked shortly as she picked at her food angrily.
"It's to early to quit now! Naraku's getting away!"
"Naraku's not going anywhere! For all we know this is probably a trap! Besides, do you really want to be 'sat' again? Because that can certainly be arranged." There were no more complaints from the dog-demon, who sat back in his tree quickly at the mention of "the word."
Darkness had settled long ago, and the group had stopped to light a fire and eat something at sunset, though the sun itself had been masked by the ever present fog since the earliest hours of the day. It lingered like everyone's bad mood.
Sango examined Kagome quietly, looking her up and down and noticing her lack of attention. "Kagome-chan, I think you got even less sleep than the rest of us, are you all right?" The girl's food had barely been touched, and she was as white as a sheet.
"I've just, lost my appetite." She muttered and set her dish down. "May I, pardon me, but may I just be alone for awhile please?" The fire cracked and popped merrily, but it shed warmth to an ice queen. Slowly Kagome rose and wandered off into the surrounding woods. Sango said nothing, but it wasn't like Inu-Yasha to let this go.
"You should quit doing that Kagome. Someday you're going to devoured or something, and I won't be there to protect you."
"I'll only be a few feet away, and I don't need your protection 24/7." There wasn't a hint of sarcasm in her voice as she swung her quiver over her shoulder and gripped her bow. "Just call if you need me." She strode past her startled fellows without a single backwards glance, and left them in the firelight without a care.
Around her, the trees opened like a dark curtain and seemed to beckon her into their black depths comfortingly. In moments, Kagome found herself crashing through them like a terrified animal, as she had done just the night before. Her breath soon came in rugged pants, and she reached forward as if trying to grasp something just out of her reach. Suddenly, without warning, she came stumbling into a wide clearing, fog streaming into it in a ghostlike manner.
Without a single second spared to catching her breath, Kagome burst into song. She began fading into and out of a hum, keeping it low, wary of Inu-Yasha's sharp ears, and always repeating the same delicate tune. Gradually, she slowly curled into a tight ball and hugged her legs tightly, head buried into her arms, black hair fanning out about her shoulders like a shawl. Small tears rained down from her eyes, which she kept firmly closed. Yet still, the song poured from her. It was the song of her dream. Her nightmare, wether it was a lie or not, her horrible nightmare.
"What's happening to me?" She sobbed between catches of the music. "All day long that song's been eating me up! All day long I've been fighting the urge to sing it to the heavens!" She put her face in her hands and cried out notes painfully, pausing only to wipe her tears. Truly, the mysterious song had plagued her dreams, which continued as scenes of that same woman standing before her, and the moon in the back round, crumbling into dust.
The graceful tune had tortured her all through the night, causing her often to rise in a cold sweat, trembling uncontrollably. After numerous and brief bouts of fitful sleep, Kagome had given up on a good rest, and lain awake for many hours with blood-shot eyes, gazing out at nothing in an eerie daze. Only as the first rays of light began to wash over the land had she finally been released to sleep, woken shortly after by Inu-Yasha.
The song had stayed with her, and every second she had to fight to keep it chained inside, lest she start screaming it to her companions.
But something else had stayed with her as well, and it was Sesshomaru's name.
The next day, Kagome and her fellow travelers woke up once again to the same dense mist. Now questionable, and unusual. However, despite the intimidating weather the company continued with their journey, trying not to spare it too much thought.
Inu-Yasha was his usual self, moody and frustrated. The others were uncharacteristically much of the same, and each entertained a single thought: 'I hope Inu-Yasha knows where he's going in this mess.'
Every step they took was dragging and weary. The seconds passed with tension and exhaustion, and yet they all felt the grinding need to push forward. Of course, the long hours were not without conversation. Kagome could do nothing but busy herself with small talk to be rid of the music. Ironically, she decided to make the music her topic of discussion.
"Sango-chan," She followed her own footsteps with a heavy stare. "Have you ever heard this song before?" And she proceeded to hum it gently for her friend to hear, and found herself, not surprisingly, finding it difficult to stop.
Sango watched her feet as well, not bothering to look up, or blink much for that matter. "That song? No I'm sorry Kagome-chan but I've never heard it."
"Neither have I." Shippou mumbled next to Kagome's ear.
"Oh, well never mind." Kagome then began to kick a rock back and forth between her ever-moving feet. Nobody noticed how each hit was keeping with a certain rhythm.
Outwardly, she looked tired, and bored, but inside, her blood was boiling. Teasing ideas popped into her mind spontaneously. 'Something's going to happen.' 'Do you feel it?' 'That presence, someone's close...' All the while Kagome could only shake them out of her head for moments at a time before another would rise to haunt her. By then she was beginning to fear for her mental health. Never before had she been so expectant, and she didn't even know what she was expecting.
______________________________________________________________________________
The light began to fade slowly, drawing itself out. Thunder could be heard faintly in the distance, and every so often lightening would rip across the sky suddenly.
At a word of advice from Inu-Yasha, they swerved off the path to cut through a tall woods in order to save time. Gradually, however, almost unnoticeably, as they walked through the trees, the sounds of the evening, of the creatures that dwelt in the branches and on the ground faded away, and some stopped abruptly. The travelers understood immediately that this was not their doing.
Inu-Yasha became visibly nervous, and frequently began pulling Miroku off to the side for frantic, inaudible conversation. The half-demon's nose twitched about, and he muttered curses beneath his breath. Every muscle was pulled tight, for he had prepared his body for attack.
After several agonizing minutes following his behavioral change Inu-Yasha released a sigh, and stopped in his tracks. The others did likewise, ready for inevitable bad news. Without turning to face his friends, Inu-Yasha's voice came echoing to them from out of the dark mist. "Everyone," he announced solemnly, "Sesshomaru has been circling us ever since we entered the forest. I don't know if he's playing with us or not, but you can bet he'll attack if he has continued like this for so long. Stay close, we're stopping for the night." The dog demon then drew his sword carefully and held it out as if he already saw his enemy.
"Inu-Yasha," Miroku whispered. "Should we start a fire?" Darkness suddenly drowned what little light remained, and thunder crashed directly overhead.
"No use." He spat, "Rain's coming."
As if hailed by his word, a sheet of heavy rain began pouring from the sky harshly. It soaked each of them through in a heartbeat, and left them nearly blind with fog, lack of light, and a massive downpour combined.
Miroku held fast to his staff, bitterly reminding himself not to use the hellhole unless Naraku himself were to appear before him.
Sango placed a shaky hand on the large weapon strapped securely to her back, and made a check that Kirara was at her side, ready at any time to transform into her more ferocious form.
Kagome was immobilized, only able to think of one thing, and one thing only. 'He's here.'
A shadow grew out of the darkness before them, a figure began moving towards the group. Inu-Yasha froze as a low growl grew in the depths of his throat. Lightening tore across the heavens in an instant, every heart skipped a beat, for illuminated in that brief space of time, was the source of all the tension that had been raging in each of their souls.
Still half in darkness, standing before them, was Sesshomaru.
Well that's that. Personally, I think that chapter dragged a bit. But you're supposed to be your own worst critic so what the hell do I know? Time to reply to reviews! And I apologize sincerely for the cliffhanger.
Kenshin N' Sano lover: I'm not telling you a damn thing girl! You'd better keep your mouth shut too if you know what's good for you. You have an advantage in this department. But even so, I think I'll trick you guys up just for the fun of it. Perhaps I shall write a different story. How do ya like dem apples? It would be boring if you knew everything already. Humor is a difficult thing to write Mooget; and I can't very well find a place to put it until Kagome starts to take life as it is instead being so "surprised" every time another monster shows up. She has to start not caring, not about life in general, but the surly teenager sort of way.
Myouga Jiji: Well I'm glad you bit your tongue Myouga. I can write at a much faster pace, and this was done a few days ago, but things like technical difficulties and watching a ghost story with my sister that scared me to the point where I had to go upstairs rather than stay down here and put this chapter out created delays. And you would be afraid of mean people too if you ever decided to write anything.
Kagura-chan: Oh, spectacular, mine is a "very will typed piece of work." Mind your grammar K-T. Because I know you I'll pick at your reviews if I want to. Hey, you know Myouga and Inu-Yasha signed up on FF.net? They say that you don't have to pay for it if you don't write anything, so maybe you should consider it and put me on your favorite authors and stories lists. I'll continue, don't worry, I've just been having some troubles with the computer. Oh, and the following two people I responded to above you are you-know-who and you-know-who. Just to let you know. Mooget wants me to disclose important story information in coming chapters too. That sneaky little devil, can you believe that?
devilsangel: Yes I'll continue. Provided technology allows.
Moon Fairy: I caught somebody's attention! In a good way! Well that's wonderful to hear and I'll try to update faster. I can you know, but things seem to conspire against me often. It's not my fault! Really!
trihn: I'm glad you like it! Yes, yes I'll update as quick as I can.
IceColdJade: You know, among myself and my very close friends we have created an internet language abbreviation called LLD. It stands for Laugh Like Dilly, and if you haven't seen Escaflowne you won't understand that joke, but the point is, you have pulled an LLD, and we like that. So continue laughing maniacally and I'm happy you have enjoyed my story thus far.
Emme: Begging is not something I expected so soon, but if you insist. I'll add more, I'll add more, I promise. Things are just a little slow around here.
Matakishi Hirata-san: Whoa, what a mouthful. Does your name mean anything or did you just make it up? I actually shouldn't be talking, I was about to make my name, "Akashira Takashe." Now that's going to be the name of a future story. Anyhow, I will update and e-mail as often as I can. Happy your enjoying the story!
LyCheE: I will most certainly try to keep it up! Thank you for your support. Hee hee, that's what my journalism teacher used to say.
Katzztar: Well your wait is over! And I'll be updating as often as possible so you won't have to again.
jubilation15: Ha! Aren't you the clever one! That's all true, and that will be happening, hopefully in chapter 4 (I don't want to rush things and put it in chapter 3). But you read my mind! So far nobody's actually bothered to make such a dead on prediction about the future parts of the story.
Thank you, thank you, your reviews have touched my heart. Chapter 3 should be on in the next two days.
