Hi there! Well, things have let up, as so many of you wise people have predicted, so, I'm going to take that little notice off my story, as it's not really a chapter anyway. Okay now, so I've just read a story, that has four chapters, and it's already gotten 123 reviews. That's amazing. Ahem. Hint hint. Anyway, I'm here with the real chapter 11, and I'm terribly sorry to have kept you all waiting so long. By popular demand, yes indeedy, the grave is in this chapter. Like oh my god, I'm totally for real. So go knock yourselves out you precious little dewdrops!
Oh, and I'd like to recommend a few stories, Prisoner, My Prisoner, by profiler120, Disease, by psycho pixie, and Ariels, by psycho pixie, sequel to Disease.
***
Reflection
Chapter 11-Pardon Me While I Start Banging My Head Against This Wall
***
Kagome rolled onto her side and glared at the stars wordlessly. What Sesshomaru had considered as "close" was actually several hours away from their destination. As the day faded into darkness, Sango had eventually pulled up next to them on Kirara, and proposed the idea that they rest for the night.
Sesshomaru had reluctantly followed her down into a forest, and they had all turned in for the night. Except for Kagome. While the others were gathered around her, some sitting up with their swords clutched to them, some tucked under covers with friends curled into fuzzy balls in their arms, some sitting far too close to the ladies, she wasn't getting any shut-eye at all.
Perhaps it was the fact that she would be visiting a grave the next day, or because she was showing signs of possession, but the most probable reason was that Sesshomaru had determinedly settled in a tree for the night, on watch. She winced, knowing that there was a distinct possibility of those cold yellow eyes being focused on her at that very moment.
Kagome knew that he realized she was still awake. What with her constant thrashing and sighs and what not, it was easy to tell. The fact that they both knew that the other was conscious and they weren't doing anything that would suggest it made her extremely uncomfortable.
In a vain effort to take her mind off of the thought, Kagome was now staring fixedly at the radiant night sky, made even more beautiful by the glistening leaves of the forest canopy fanning across it. The moon, now waning into a thick crescent, beamed down at her, surrounded by stars.
Kagome stared at it and stared at it, growing less observant of her situation with Sesshomaru by the moment, and becoming totally enamored of the loveliness. She was smiling, just feeling the earliest signs of sleep when a thought struck her.
All sleep was banished, when what had been the harmless effect of a fancy had shot her through. 'I wonder what the moon looks like, from back home...'
Tears sprang to her eyes, and began rolling down her cheeks. The moon seemed to disappear in front of her, replaced by images of friends family...'Even school!' She thought tragically, 'oh god, when did I ever become so homesick that I missed SCHOOL?'
The hot water nursed her skin as it coursed down her face. She had cried many, many times lately, but this was the first in a while, that she had actually cried for herself. This wasn't Tenshik, this wasn't her obsessing over boy-troubles, this was just Kagome. It was Kagome, and she wanted to go home.
"Why do you weep?"
The voice smashed her train of thought, and Kagome snapped back to reality. She flipped back over, and sat up, searching for the source before she saw the eery eyes looking at her from out of a tree.
"You know you're eyes are glow-in-the-dark?" She said off handedly, still gawking at the unnerving sight.
"I asked you a question."
Kagome wiped at her eyes with a sleeve and hugged her knees, resting her chin on top of them. "Well geez," she sniffed, "isn't it obvious? Wouldn't you be upset if you were having an identity crisis?"
Sesshomaru replied quickly, "Don't lie to me."
She shivered at his tone, and said in a much quieter voice, "I guess I'm just a little homesick."
There was a silence, Shippou stretched in his sleep and wriggled closer to Sango and Kirara.
"Why?"
She jumped in surprise, royally miffed, "What do you mean why? I'm really far from home here, I miss my family! Wouldn't you miss family too?"
More silence, "I don't think I need to point out that Inu-Yasha is the only family I have left."
Kagome blinked in surprise and raised her head to look at him, "Really?" She couldn't imagine it.
"Yes." He was short with her, an obvious sign that he didn't want to discuss it, but she wasn't paying attention.
"Wow, I know that you're dad died, but...What about your mother?"
He faced her with piercing stare.
"Oh, Sesshomaru, I'm sorry..."
"Don't be." He quipped, "I didn't even know her."
She gasped, "You didn't know your own mother?"
"No."
Kagome felt herself weeping again.
He watched her silently, "You should sleep."
She shook her head, "I can't," she whispered.
He didn't respond, and Kagome sat in uncomfortable quiet. She looked up at the stars again, and slithered out of the plush comfort of her sleeping bag. "Sesshomaru, I'm going for a walk."
He followed her with his eyes as she stood up. "No you are not."
She kept her head bowed, trying to hide her freshest tears from him, "Yes I am."
"No."
Sesshomaru suddenly leapt from the branches of his tree, landing smoothly in front of her. Not expecting this, Kagome hesitantly lifted her head slowly, eyes moving from the middle of his chest to his face. Confidence gradually flowing back into her, she said in a feirce whisper, trying to forget her sadness and sympathy for him, "Listen, it's none of your business what I do, and do not do, so let. Me. Walk."
He replied in a low voice, "I will not allow you to wander in a forest alone at night."
Kagome scowled, eyes narrowing to small, irritated slits, "You know Sesshomaru," she said dangerously, "I can't help but notice that a week and a half ago you wouldn't have cared one way or another."
Sesshomaru's eyes grew fiery for a moment, and without a word, he tugged her sharply by the arm and stalked off with into the trees. "What are you doing?" She spat in the same sharp whisper.
"You wanted to go for a walk, we are walking," he hissed.
"I want to go alone!"
"I will not let you. You walk with me, or not at all."
"Why are you doing this?!"
He spun around sharply, and shoved her suddenly against the back of the nearest tree. It was a violent gesture, but performed carefully with just enough force that it only scared her a bit. His face came close to hers. "You have the physical appearance of the only person I could ever love. Is it so wrong that I care about your safety?"
With that, he turned back around, not speaking, but standing rigid. Kagome eased herself from the back of the tree, glaring daggers at his back, "But Sesshomaru," she spat, "that's almost human."
He looked at her over his shoulder, focused with hate. He looked as if he could have hit her then, but calmed suddenly, shutting his eyes, "Let me ask you something, human. You seem beside yourself in all things, what would you have done?"
She went still, remembering how she had been weeping over her loved ones a moment ago; Kagome knew she would have done the same thing, and she was struck with regret. But he continued, "Or if that is not enough because you are human, what would my brother have done?"
And then she remembered Kikyo. She remembered how Inu-Yasha had been bound to her in the beginning, because of her likeness to Kikyo. Or how he had risked himself so many times, for Kikyo.
Kagome was speechless, and then she breathed in a gasping cry, "Sesshomaru I'm so sorry, I never thought-"
"That's right, you never think. I am going back now, and you are coming with me." He said it with such finality that she knew it was totally unquestionable. Kagome nodded, and followed him.
***
The rest of the night passed in uncomfortable silence. Kagome rested on her side, still at a loss for sleep. Sesshomaru was purposefully looking away from her, though every so often, Kagome would see his two yellow eyes staring at her from the partial shroud of leaves, a strange look of painful sadness in the demon lord's eyes. Kagome had determinedly filed these strange stares under the hallucinations of her dreams.
***
"Kagome-chan, Kagome-chan, wake up!" Sango was gently shaking Kagome awake. She moaned and her eyes fluttered open. Pale morning light was spilling through the treetops. Very pale.
She sat up, Sango was sitting next to her, "How early is it?" She asked in a voice that indicated that she was still half-asleep.
"Very."
"Why are we up?"
"Sesshomaru wants us to leave now, I think that he would like to spend the greater part of the day at...the grave," Sango replied hesitantly, "Now come have some breakfast."
Kagome pushed her covers aside and stretched, "That's alright Sango-chan, I'm really not hungry."
The exterminator protested, "Now Kagome-chan, you really should eat, you have a big day ahead of you."
Kagome looked her in the eye and sighed, "Yes, fine, but really, what is it with you and making me eat? I won't starve you know."
Sango laughed softly, "I know, but I just think you need the energy, you do a lot around here Kagome-chan."
Kagome smiled at her and Joined Sango by the small fire she had created, where a small cooking pot was hanging over it, it's contents bubbling. Sango spooned some into a bowl, and offered it to Kagome. While she drank, Sango spoke to her in a low, and quiet voice. "Kagome-chan."
"Yes?"
"I heard you and Sesshomaru come out of the woods." Kagome put the bowl down, "He has seemed more irritable than usual this morning, did, something happen, last night?"
Kagome was silent, staring at the food she had cupped in her hands. "You don't have to answer," Sango suddenly said in a hurry, "I just, you know, I just want you to know that you can tell me if you want to."
"Nothing happened Sango it's alright, we...just had a misunderstanding."
Now Sango was quiet, "I see."
"But Sango," Kagome began again.
"Yes?"
"Do you...think that you could ride with him today, please? I know Inuyasha won't do it, and I don't think that we should be..."
"I'll do it Kagome-chan."
"Thank you Sango-chan, you're a good friend."
***
Sesshomaru made no move to protest when Sango climbed onto the back of Aun. He did, however, protest when Miroku did as well, and Shippou.
Miroku, however, had simply said that he should be there to protect Sango, should she be in any danger of slipping off. There was falseness in his voice, though, and Sesshomaru knew it. But as if a secret code had been passed between them, he had changed his mind quickly and allowed Miroku to ride with him without another word. Shippou came along, out of, what looked like, fear.
Kagome, meanwhile, wasn't too particularly pleased that she would be riding on Kirara with Inu-Yasha, alone. She had uneasily wrapped her arms around his waist, which she was sure he enjoyed.
Gliding above the clouds now, she was totally apprehensive about the situation. He was the first to speak, as she had thought. "Kagome, I wanted us to travel alone today, for a reason. I want you to know, that I do not love Kikyo any more, I don't think I did, from the first time I met you."
She nearly winced when he said those words, dreading them, and knowing they would come. She couldn't respond.
"I meant what I said, when I told you that I loved you."
Kagome shut her eyes, "Please don't hate me for this, but I can't talk about that right now Inu-Yasha, I just can't."
"I could never hate you Kagome," but he sounded disappointed.
She lowered her head, "Inu-Yasha..."
"Yes?" He said hopefully.
"Do you...Did you ever, meet, Tenshik?" The question was almost forced out of her. She had been hoping for a second opinion of Tenshik, since Sesshomaru was so tight-lipped.
He seemed to be thinking for a second, and then, "I did meet her once, and I heard a lot about her from mother, and sometimes from father."
"Wh-What was she like? When you met her?"
"I was very small, but I remember, that she seemed to glow, like the sun, no, differently, I can't even describe it. But that was nothing next to her eyes. They just, shined. Tenshik was so full of life, I had never met anyone like her before. She loved to live, and she loved to keep other things alive, and happy. Tenshik was the kind of person who wouldn't turn her back on you, not ever. No matter what you had done."
She was awed, he went on, "She was nice to me. She took my hand and said, 'Hello Inu-Yasha, I like your ears.'"
He looked down, "Father never approved of her."
Kagome gawked, "Why not?"
He shook his head, "I don't know, I think he wanted Sesshomaru to mate with somebody else. I don't think he thought there was any room for a demi-godess in our bloodline."
"That's awful, just because she was an outsider, he shot her down?"
"I don't know, but it certainly seemed like it. He didn't have the right to talk anyway, he loved my mother."
"And she was human."
"That's right."
Kagome looked out over the clouds, and watched the sunrise. A lovely sight, "I remember when I heard the news that she died. Sesshomaru came after we got the message, he was very angry. He was speaking in a very quiet voice, and he said, 'She has died father, are you happy now? But I will warn you, there will be no precious demon children for you, no, I will never love anyone again.'"
"He really did love her then..." Kagome said slowly, "Is that why he's always so cold?"
"I really think so. He was almost, kind, before she died."
"Kind?"
Inu-Yasha nodded, "He was caring, and, he didn't have anything against humans. He liked them, thought they were creative." Kagome laughed at the thought, "He liked me too."
"How did she die?"
"I don't really know, Father just wouldn't say anything, and Mother would always just ruffle my hair with this sad look and say 'I'll tell you when you are ready to hear it.'"
"Was it that bad?"
He sighed, "Apparently. You know, to see you now, to see her, almost alive, it's making me very happy. Tenshik was a wonderful person. You would have loved to meet her."
***
Hours passed. Inu-Yasha and Kagome didn't speak much. The sun rose, but the land beneath was still covered in pale light and early morning mist. It reminded Kagome of the morning after her first vision of Tenshik. She was going to comment on it, but she forgot it as she saw Aun pulling down, and passing through the clouds. It was landing. They had arrived.
***
Kagome was shaking all over, every muscle twitching and convulsing. "Are you cold Kagome-sama?" Miroku asked thoughtfully.
She glared at him, "No thank you Miroku-sama, and that's very nice of you, but I don't need you to warm me up."
He smiled seductively, though obviously disappointed that she had read his mind so quickly.
"Then why are you shaking?" Shippou said from Miroku's shoulder.
"I guess...I'm just still tired or something." Kagome was lying, but she wasn't about to tell either of them that she was frightened.
"Sesshomaru?" She called to the front. "Are we near?"
"Yes."
The group brushed aside the thick tree branches with growing frustration. The forest near this grave was incredibly dense, and not in the least bit welcoming. Strange sounds echoed all around them, calling. Among them, Kagome could still hear Aun half a mile behind her, snorting in irritation at having been tethered to a tree. Sesshomaru had insisted that they not drag the beast with them. If he was tied too close, if anyone discovered him, Aun would lead them straight to the group, and the shrine.
"It is just ahead." He easily hacked at a rather large branch with his talons, clearing the path."
"Just ahea-" Sango stopped midway through her word, "Oh..."
"What is it Sango-chan?" Kagome gasped, her shivering suddenly becoming even more violent.
Carefully, with the timidness of a fawn, she stepped into the clearing in front of her. A few birds scattered from the top of the small palace.
"Tenshik was loved by many, they wanted her tomb be large enough so that she could descend and protect them as she wished."
It was a magnificent design of architecture, a mighty fortress standing stoutly on a square base of steps. The walls were thick, with slender columns and intricate patterns worked into them by what must have been a master of the craft. The shrine was entirely made of gray stone, a color that accented the light morning perfectly. It was immense, and certainly very high, standing several meters and stretching just as much.
It was beautiful, but it terrified Kagome. "I have a bad feeling about this..." She whispered. "It, has a strange energy, I don't want to go up there."
Sesshomaru turned around, giving her the same look that he had last night, "You must."
"I can't..."
"Come on Kagome," Inu-Yasha said softly, "We'll be with you..."
"No you won't." Sesshomaru snapped.
"Of course we will! We came all this way, we're not going to sit outside now!"
"It is not a matter of desire, Inu-Yasha, it is something that cannot be questioned."
"Like hell it can't!" He barked.
Sango intervened, "Sesshomaru, please let us go with you and Kagome, we're her friends, we need to be there."
"That's right!" Kagome put in desperately.
Sesshomaru turned to Sango slowly, eyes shadowed, "You cannot go in, it is beyond my control."
Miroku restrained Kagome, Sango, and Inu-Yasha with a hand, "What are you saying, Sesshomaru?"
"There was a barrier erected around this shrine. It was performed by a priestess, long ago, when it was built, to protect it from evil, to protect the final resting place of Tenshik's soul from taint."
Every one of them stopped dead, Inu-Yasha was the first to explode, "Why didn't you tell us?!"
"In your state at the time, you were so concerned about the girl that you would not have believed me had I told you. You and I both knew this. I tried to dissuade you all the same, but you refused, and came nonetheless. The others followed, naturally."
Kagome was ready to burst into tears. "But, then how are we going to get in?"
"I was the closest person to Tenshik during her life, the barrier reacts to the visitors' meaning to her. You shall of course be let in, because we have reason to believe that her soul is resting within you. Tenshik would be allowed into her own grave."
"I can't go in without my friends," she muttered quietly.
"And we won't let her." Inu-Yasha placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Besides," Sango said, "What is there to achieve in entering the shrine?"
Sesshomaru almost sighed, "The contact of Tenshik's soul with her ashes would almost undoubtedly bring her into the light. We must try, unless of course you would prefer to remain in her body for the rest of your life." He addressed Kagome.
She shook her head in answer.
"I'm just...Afraid..."
"Do not be." He turned, "It is time that we entered."
Sango took Kagome's hand gently. "Be brave Kagome-chan, it will all be over soon..."
Inu-Yasha touched her hand as well, "We'll be right here, not far away at all, alright?"
Miroku came up behind her, "We will be waiting for you."
"Good luck Kagome!" Shippou squeaked.
"Thank you," she whispered, looking around at all of them.
"Are you ready?" Sesshomaru asked.
Kagome nodded, "Yes."
Together, they began the ascent up the stone steps leading to the entrance of the shrine, a deep darkness seemingly looming within.
***
Grave, there, happy? Grave. Yep. They made it. Okay. Yes. That was funny, I had to rewrite most of Inu-Yasha's dialogue because he was speaking too poetically. Stick around for chapter 12, it should be just as long, and that, of course, is LONG. Farewell dewdrops!
Oh, and I'd like to recommend a few stories, Prisoner, My Prisoner, by profiler120, Disease, by psycho pixie, and Ariels, by psycho pixie, sequel to Disease.
***
Reflection
Chapter 11-Pardon Me While I Start Banging My Head Against This Wall
***
Kagome rolled onto her side and glared at the stars wordlessly. What Sesshomaru had considered as "close" was actually several hours away from their destination. As the day faded into darkness, Sango had eventually pulled up next to them on Kirara, and proposed the idea that they rest for the night.
Sesshomaru had reluctantly followed her down into a forest, and they had all turned in for the night. Except for Kagome. While the others were gathered around her, some sitting up with their swords clutched to them, some tucked under covers with friends curled into fuzzy balls in their arms, some sitting far too close to the ladies, she wasn't getting any shut-eye at all.
Perhaps it was the fact that she would be visiting a grave the next day, or because she was showing signs of possession, but the most probable reason was that Sesshomaru had determinedly settled in a tree for the night, on watch. She winced, knowing that there was a distinct possibility of those cold yellow eyes being focused on her at that very moment.
Kagome knew that he realized she was still awake. What with her constant thrashing and sighs and what not, it was easy to tell. The fact that they both knew that the other was conscious and they weren't doing anything that would suggest it made her extremely uncomfortable.
In a vain effort to take her mind off of the thought, Kagome was now staring fixedly at the radiant night sky, made even more beautiful by the glistening leaves of the forest canopy fanning across it. The moon, now waning into a thick crescent, beamed down at her, surrounded by stars.
Kagome stared at it and stared at it, growing less observant of her situation with Sesshomaru by the moment, and becoming totally enamored of the loveliness. She was smiling, just feeling the earliest signs of sleep when a thought struck her.
All sleep was banished, when what had been the harmless effect of a fancy had shot her through. 'I wonder what the moon looks like, from back home...'
Tears sprang to her eyes, and began rolling down her cheeks. The moon seemed to disappear in front of her, replaced by images of friends family...'Even school!' She thought tragically, 'oh god, when did I ever become so homesick that I missed SCHOOL?'
The hot water nursed her skin as it coursed down her face. She had cried many, many times lately, but this was the first in a while, that she had actually cried for herself. This wasn't Tenshik, this wasn't her obsessing over boy-troubles, this was just Kagome. It was Kagome, and she wanted to go home.
"Why do you weep?"
The voice smashed her train of thought, and Kagome snapped back to reality. She flipped back over, and sat up, searching for the source before she saw the eery eyes looking at her from out of a tree.
"You know you're eyes are glow-in-the-dark?" She said off handedly, still gawking at the unnerving sight.
"I asked you a question."
Kagome wiped at her eyes with a sleeve and hugged her knees, resting her chin on top of them. "Well geez," she sniffed, "isn't it obvious? Wouldn't you be upset if you were having an identity crisis?"
Sesshomaru replied quickly, "Don't lie to me."
She shivered at his tone, and said in a much quieter voice, "I guess I'm just a little homesick."
There was a silence, Shippou stretched in his sleep and wriggled closer to Sango and Kirara.
"Why?"
She jumped in surprise, royally miffed, "What do you mean why? I'm really far from home here, I miss my family! Wouldn't you miss family too?"
More silence, "I don't think I need to point out that Inu-Yasha is the only family I have left."
Kagome blinked in surprise and raised her head to look at him, "Really?" She couldn't imagine it.
"Yes." He was short with her, an obvious sign that he didn't want to discuss it, but she wasn't paying attention.
"Wow, I know that you're dad died, but...What about your mother?"
He faced her with piercing stare.
"Oh, Sesshomaru, I'm sorry..."
"Don't be." He quipped, "I didn't even know her."
She gasped, "You didn't know your own mother?"
"No."
Kagome felt herself weeping again.
He watched her silently, "You should sleep."
She shook her head, "I can't," she whispered.
He didn't respond, and Kagome sat in uncomfortable quiet. She looked up at the stars again, and slithered out of the plush comfort of her sleeping bag. "Sesshomaru, I'm going for a walk."
He followed her with his eyes as she stood up. "No you are not."
She kept her head bowed, trying to hide her freshest tears from him, "Yes I am."
"No."
Sesshomaru suddenly leapt from the branches of his tree, landing smoothly in front of her. Not expecting this, Kagome hesitantly lifted her head slowly, eyes moving from the middle of his chest to his face. Confidence gradually flowing back into her, she said in a feirce whisper, trying to forget her sadness and sympathy for him, "Listen, it's none of your business what I do, and do not do, so let. Me. Walk."
He replied in a low voice, "I will not allow you to wander in a forest alone at night."
Kagome scowled, eyes narrowing to small, irritated slits, "You know Sesshomaru," she said dangerously, "I can't help but notice that a week and a half ago you wouldn't have cared one way or another."
Sesshomaru's eyes grew fiery for a moment, and without a word, he tugged her sharply by the arm and stalked off with into the trees. "What are you doing?" She spat in the same sharp whisper.
"You wanted to go for a walk, we are walking," he hissed.
"I want to go alone!"
"I will not let you. You walk with me, or not at all."
"Why are you doing this?!"
He spun around sharply, and shoved her suddenly against the back of the nearest tree. It was a violent gesture, but performed carefully with just enough force that it only scared her a bit. His face came close to hers. "You have the physical appearance of the only person I could ever love. Is it so wrong that I care about your safety?"
With that, he turned back around, not speaking, but standing rigid. Kagome eased herself from the back of the tree, glaring daggers at his back, "But Sesshomaru," she spat, "that's almost human."
He looked at her over his shoulder, focused with hate. He looked as if he could have hit her then, but calmed suddenly, shutting his eyes, "Let me ask you something, human. You seem beside yourself in all things, what would you have done?"
She went still, remembering how she had been weeping over her loved ones a moment ago; Kagome knew she would have done the same thing, and she was struck with regret. But he continued, "Or if that is not enough because you are human, what would my brother have done?"
And then she remembered Kikyo. She remembered how Inu-Yasha had been bound to her in the beginning, because of her likeness to Kikyo. Or how he had risked himself so many times, for Kikyo.
Kagome was speechless, and then she breathed in a gasping cry, "Sesshomaru I'm so sorry, I never thought-"
"That's right, you never think. I am going back now, and you are coming with me." He said it with such finality that she knew it was totally unquestionable. Kagome nodded, and followed him.
***
The rest of the night passed in uncomfortable silence. Kagome rested on her side, still at a loss for sleep. Sesshomaru was purposefully looking away from her, though every so often, Kagome would see his two yellow eyes staring at her from the partial shroud of leaves, a strange look of painful sadness in the demon lord's eyes. Kagome had determinedly filed these strange stares under the hallucinations of her dreams.
***
"Kagome-chan, Kagome-chan, wake up!" Sango was gently shaking Kagome awake. She moaned and her eyes fluttered open. Pale morning light was spilling through the treetops. Very pale.
She sat up, Sango was sitting next to her, "How early is it?" She asked in a voice that indicated that she was still half-asleep.
"Very."
"Why are we up?"
"Sesshomaru wants us to leave now, I think that he would like to spend the greater part of the day at...the grave," Sango replied hesitantly, "Now come have some breakfast."
Kagome pushed her covers aside and stretched, "That's alright Sango-chan, I'm really not hungry."
The exterminator protested, "Now Kagome-chan, you really should eat, you have a big day ahead of you."
Kagome looked her in the eye and sighed, "Yes, fine, but really, what is it with you and making me eat? I won't starve you know."
Sango laughed softly, "I know, but I just think you need the energy, you do a lot around here Kagome-chan."
Kagome smiled at her and Joined Sango by the small fire she had created, where a small cooking pot was hanging over it, it's contents bubbling. Sango spooned some into a bowl, and offered it to Kagome. While she drank, Sango spoke to her in a low, and quiet voice. "Kagome-chan."
"Yes?"
"I heard you and Sesshomaru come out of the woods." Kagome put the bowl down, "He has seemed more irritable than usual this morning, did, something happen, last night?"
Kagome was silent, staring at the food she had cupped in her hands. "You don't have to answer," Sango suddenly said in a hurry, "I just, you know, I just want you to know that you can tell me if you want to."
"Nothing happened Sango it's alright, we...just had a misunderstanding."
Now Sango was quiet, "I see."
"But Sango," Kagome began again.
"Yes?"
"Do you...think that you could ride with him today, please? I know Inuyasha won't do it, and I don't think that we should be..."
"I'll do it Kagome-chan."
"Thank you Sango-chan, you're a good friend."
***
Sesshomaru made no move to protest when Sango climbed onto the back of Aun. He did, however, protest when Miroku did as well, and Shippou.
Miroku, however, had simply said that he should be there to protect Sango, should she be in any danger of slipping off. There was falseness in his voice, though, and Sesshomaru knew it. But as if a secret code had been passed between them, he had changed his mind quickly and allowed Miroku to ride with him without another word. Shippou came along, out of, what looked like, fear.
Kagome, meanwhile, wasn't too particularly pleased that she would be riding on Kirara with Inu-Yasha, alone. She had uneasily wrapped her arms around his waist, which she was sure he enjoyed.
Gliding above the clouds now, she was totally apprehensive about the situation. He was the first to speak, as she had thought. "Kagome, I wanted us to travel alone today, for a reason. I want you to know, that I do not love Kikyo any more, I don't think I did, from the first time I met you."
She nearly winced when he said those words, dreading them, and knowing they would come. She couldn't respond.
"I meant what I said, when I told you that I loved you."
Kagome shut her eyes, "Please don't hate me for this, but I can't talk about that right now Inu-Yasha, I just can't."
"I could never hate you Kagome," but he sounded disappointed.
She lowered her head, "Inu-Yasha..."
"Yes?" He said hopefully.
"Do you...Did you ever, meet, Tenshik?" The question was almost forced out of her. She had been hoping for a second opinion of Tenshik, since Sesshomaru was so tight-lipped.
He seemed to be thinking for a second, and then, "I did meet her once, and I heard a lot about her from mother, and sometimes from father."
"Wh-What was she like? When you met her?"
"I was very small, but I remember, that she seemed to glow, like the sun, no, differently, I can't even describe it. But that was nothing next to her eyes. They just, shined. Tenshik was so full of life, I had never met anyone like her before. She loved to live, and she loved to keep other things alive, and happy. Tenshik was the kind of person who wouldn't turn her back on you, not ever. No matter what you had done."
She was awed, he went on, "She was nice to me. She took my hand and said, 'Hello Inu-Yasha, I like your ears.'"
He looked down, "Father never approved of her."
Kagome gawked, "Why not?"
He shook his head, "I don't know, I think he wanted Sesshomaru to mate with somebody else. I don't think he thought there was any room for a demi-godess in our bloodline."
"That's awful, just because she was an outsider, he shot her down?"
"I don't know, but it certainly seemed like it. He didn't have the right to talk anyway, he loved my mother."
"And she was human."
"That's right."
Kagome looked out over the clouds, and watched the sunrise. A lovely sight, "I remember when I heard the news that she died. Sesshomaru came after we got the message, he was very angry. He was speaking in a very quiet voice, and he said, 'She has died father, are you happy now? But I will warn you, there will be no precious demon children for you, no, I will never love anyone again.'"
"He really did love her then..." Kagome said slowly, "Is that why he's always so cold?"
"I really think so. He was almost, kind, before she died."
"Kind?"
Inu-Yasha nodded, "He was caring, and, he didn't have anything against humans. He liked them, thought they were creative." Kagome laughed at the thought, "He liked me too."
"How did she die?"
"I don't really know, Father just wouldn't say anything, and Mother would always just ruffle my hair with this sad look and say 'I'll tell you when you are ready to hear it.'"
"Was it that bad?"
He sighed, "Apparently. You know, to see you now, to see her, almost alive, it's making me very happy. Tenshik was a wonderful person. You would have loved to meet her."
***
Hours passed. Inu-Yasha and Kagome didn't speak much. The sun rose, but the land beneath was still covered in pale light and early morning mist. It reminded Kagome of the morning after her first vision of Tenshik. She was going to comment on it, but she forgot it as she saw Aun pulling down, and passing through the clouds. It was landing. They had arrived.
***
Kagome was shaking all over, every muscle twitching and convulsing. "Are you cold Kagome-sama?" Miroku asked thoughtfully.
She glared at him, "No thank you Miroku-sama, and that's very nice of you, but I don't need you to warm me up."
He smiled seductively, though obviously disappointed that she had read his mind so quickly.
"Then why are you shaking?" Shippou said from Miroku's shoulder.
"I guess...I'm just still tired or something." Kagome was lying, but she wasn't about to tell either of them that she was frightened.
"Sesshomaru?" She called to the front. "Are we near?"
"Yes."
The group brushed aside the thick tree branches with growing frustration. The forest near this grave was incredibly dense, and not in the least bit welcoming. Strange sounds echoed all around them, calling. Among them, Kagome could still hear Aun half a mile behind her, snorting in irritation at having been tethered to a tree. Sesshomaru had insisted that they not drag the beast with them. If he was tied too close, if anyone discovered him, Aun would lead them straight to the group, and the shrine.
"It is just ahead." He easily hacked at a rather large branch with his talons, clearing the path."
"Just ahea-" Sango stopped midway through her word, "Oh..."
"What is it Sango-chan?" Kagome gasped, her shivering suddenly becoming even more violent.
Carefully, with the timidness of a fawn, she stepped into the clearing in front of her. A few birds scattered from the top of the small palace.
"Tenshik was loved by many, they wanted her tomb be large enough so that she could descend and protect them as she wished."
It was a magnificent design of architecture, a mighty fortress standing stoutly on a square base of steps. The walls were thick, with slender columns and intricate patterns worked into them by what must have been a master of the craft. The shrine was entirely made of gray stone, a color that accented the light morning perfectly. It was immense, and certainly very high, standing several meters and stretching just as much.
It was beautiful, but it terrified Kagome. "I have a bad feeling about this..." She whispered. "It, has a strange energy, I don't want to go up there."
Sesshomaru turned around, giving her the same look that he had last night, "You must."
"I can't..."
"Come on Kagome," Inu-Yasha said softly, "We'll be with you..."
"No you won't." Sesshomaru snapped.
"Of course we will! We came all this way, we're not going to sit outside now!"
"It is not a matter of desire, Inu-Yasha, it is something that cannot be questioned."
"Like hell it can't!" He barked.
Sango intervened, "Sesshomaru, please let us go with you and Kagome, we're her friends, we need to be there."
"That's right!" Kagome put in desperately.
Sesshomaru turned to Sango slowly, eyes shadowed, "You cannot go in, it is beyond my control."
Miroku restrained Kagome, Sango, and Inu-Yasha with a hand, "What are you saying, Sesshomaru?"
"There was a barrier erected around this shrine. It was performed by a priestess, long ago, when it was built, to protect it from evil, to protect the final resting place of Tenshik's soul from taint."
Every one of them stopped dead, Inu-Yasha was the first to explode, "Why didn't you tell us?!"
"In your state at the time, you were so concerned about the girl that you would not have believed me had I told you. You and I both knew this. I tried to dissuade you all the same, but you refused, and came nonetheless. The others followed, naturally."
Kagome was ready to burst into tears. "But, then how are we going to get in?"
"I was the closest person to Tenshik during her life, the barrier reacts to the visitors' meaning to her. You shall of course be let in, because we have reason to believe that her soul is resting within you. Tenshik would be allowed into her own grave."
"I can't go in without my friends," she muttered quietly.
"And we won't let her." Inu-Yasha placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Besides," Sango said, "What is there to achieve in entering the shrine?"
Sesshomaru almost sighed, "The contact of Tenshik's soul with her ashes would almost undoubtedly bring her into the light. We must try, unless of course you would prefer to remain in her body for the rest of your life." He addressed Kagome.
She shook her head in answer.
"I'm just...Afraid..."
"Do not be." He turned, "It is time that we entered."
Sango took Kagome's hand gently. "Be brave Kagome-chan, it will all be over soon..."
Inu-Yasha touched her hand as well, "We'll be right here, not far away at all, alright?"
Miroku came up behind her, "We will be waiting for you."
"Good luck Kagome!" Shippou squeaked.
"Thank you," she whispered, looking around at all of them.
"Are you ready?" Sesshomaru asked.
Kagome nodded, "Yes."
Together, they began the ascent up the stone steps leading to the entrance of the shrine, a deep darkness seemingly looming within.
***
Grave, there, happy? Grave. Yep. They made it. Okay. Yes. That was funny, I had to rewrite most of Inu-Yasha's dialogue because he was speaking too poetically. Stick around for chapter 12, it should be just as long, and that, of course, is LONG. Farewell dewdrops!
