Summery; Warning; Disclaimer: Same, same, same...
There's no hope for this fic, is there? That's what your silence means!
Please, if you review, I'll love you forever! I'll name my first-born child after you! I just want to know SOMEONE out there is reading this! Comments, ideas, suggestions, and helpful criticism is welcome. Even flames are, at this point.
"It's amazing!" Kyoko gasped, staring at the enormous shrine. It was enclosed by a scarlet-red fence, and the structures inside towered over the street, since the shrine was located on a steep hill.
"It looks like the Higurashi Shrine," Sesshomaru commented, "I visited there once with Inuyasha. The similarities are striking."
"Stand still, Sesshomaru," Kyoko ordered suddenly, "I have to erect the barrier now, or you'll be purified instantly, no matter how powerful a youkai you are."
Sesshomaru remained still as a statue as Kyoko closed her eyes, faced him, and murmured some prayers. Placing her hand on his throat, she withdrew it after a few moments, and opened her eyes, obviously physically drained.
"There," she said breathlessly, "It took more power than I anticipated to strengthen the barrier enough. Let me just catch my breath, or I'll never make it up the stairs."
The two men waited as she took several deep breaths, and then nodded.
"All right, I'm better now. Let's go, I suppose. Lady Meiko will be waiting."
Miroku nodded, and they followed the miko up the steps into the shrine gate. Sesshomaru winced slightly at the purified powers in the air – even with the barrier Kyoko had erected, he still felt slightly ill, but was also grateful for it, knowing that he would have indeed been purified the moment he placed a foot on the steps.
"Lady Kyoko is here, Lady Meiko," a miko-in-training announced, showing the trio inside a building. Kyoko had been dressed in standard miko robes once more, while Miroku had worn black under dark lavender robes. Sesshomaru appeared in full demon form, complete with his clothes, markings, and pelt.
"Lady Kyoko," a tall, black-haired woman rose swiftly and greeted the other woman with a kiss on the cheek. "I feel no end of happiness that you have arrived here safely – and with the Shikon no Tama intact, I trust?"
"Yes, Lady Meiko," Kyoko bowed slightly, and then revealed the Shikon no Tama from underneath her robes. "I have worn it on this chain ever since we left for our journey."
"This is Lord Sesshomaru, ruler of the Western Lands?" Meiko turned to him curiously, and then glanced back toward Kyoko. "You have very powerful miko powers to protect a youkai so powerful from purification."
"Thank you, Lady Meiko," Kyoko nodded, and then gestured toward Miroku. "This is Miroku, a monk sent by Lady Kaede to accompany me on the journey here. He has been to Yatsushiro Shrine before."
"Yes, I remember him," Meiko nodded. Her skin was smooth and creamy, but her eyes betrayed her age – they were dark, and full of wisdom and hidden power.
"Lady Meiko, is something the matter?" Kyoko asked cautiously, as the head miko sat back down, and gestured for her to sit. "Something appears to trouble you."
"Then you have not heard," Meiko sighed, "I was hoping you had…"
"Heard what?" Kyoko asked sharply, forgetting formalities, "Lady Meiko, what has happened?"
"Toshiro murdered Lady Kaede and the remaining mikos a day ago," Meiko told her gently, "He apparently returned for the Shikon no Tama, and slaughtered them in a rage."
Kyoko sat in shock, and Sesshomaru smelled the sadness and horror wafting off her.
"There is more," Meiko continued, and glanced at Sesshomaru before continuing. "Lord Inuyasha was also murdered, no more than two days ago. His body was found by an employee. He had been disembowled and beheaded."
Sesshomaru rose swiftly, and Kyoko shook her head in denial, tears overflowing onto her paled cheeks.
"No…" she whispered, "It can't be. They can't….Inuyasha can't be dead! Lady Meiko, please tell me it's not true!"
"I am sorry, Kyoko," she said softly, "I tried to contact you before you arrived, but you had already boarded the train from Kobayashi. I'll leave you alone to collect your thoughts." Finished, the older miko rose and swept out of the room, silently shutting the door behind her. Sesshomaru remained staring blankly at the wall, and Kyoko continued to sob.
Miroku remained still, unsure of what to do. Suddenly, Sesshomaru knelt beside Kyoko, and gathered her into his arms. She buried her head in his shoulder, the one without the pelt, and clung to his neck. Miroku stood, and left the room as well, sensing that he was intruding.
Sesshomaru rhythmically rubbed his palm against her back, and unconsciously uttered rumbling growls to comfort her. Kyoko leaned into him, her reserves completely down, and he felt her body shake with sobs.
"Just like…my dream," she choked out, and he peered down at her in surprise. "I had…a dream where…where they…" She broke off, but Sesshomaru got the gist of what she was saying.
She continued to cry against him for several more moments, as Sesshomaru forced his own emotions down. Kyoko eventually calmed down, and leaned back slightly, turning her face upward to look into his.
"Sesshomaru…I'm sorry, I should have told you," she whispered. He gazed at her in shock, amazed that she was blaming herself.
"She may be an adult, but Kyoko still has the innocence of a child in many ways," he realized, and shook his head.
"It's not your fault. It's that damn Toshiro's – and we'll make him pay. Your dream wouldn't have changed anything, believe me."
Kyoko nodded, and then heaved a shaky sigh. "He won't get away with it, I swear. Inuyasha was my flesh and blood, and so was Kaede. They didn't deserve to die – not like that."
Sesshomaru held her close for a moment longer, and then released her, and stood.
"Let us speak to Lady Meiko," he said firmly, "There may be that there is something she can do to help us. And you – and the Shikon no Tama – must be purified, no matter what."
Kyoko got to her feet, and strode to the door. Wiping the tears from her face first, she slid the door open, and Sesshomaru followed her down the hall to another room.
"Lady Kaede sent me here to purify myself and Shikon no Tama," Kyoko said firmly, "I will do my best to complete my task."
"I am pleased to hear you say that, Lady Kyoko," Meiko nodded, and exchanged a glance with Miroku. Standing, the miko beckoned Kyoko to follow her, leaving the other two remaining in the room.
"Kyoko's been gone for almost two days now," Sesshomaru frowned, speaking almost to himself, "Are you sure there is nothing wrong?"
"No," Miroku shook his head, "Lady Meiko is very powerful, and apparently the jewel is very corrupted. Kyoko isn't completely pure either – it should come as no surprise that it's taking so long."
"Hrm," Sesshomaru fell silent. "If anyone is need of purification, it is myself. Luckily, the barrier Kyoko formed is holding up quite well. If I could only get that dream out of my head…" The youkai rubbed his temples roughly. He had dreamed another erotic dream concerning himself and Kyoko the night before, and still had no idea why.
"I do not desire her in that way!" he swore to himself, "She is merely a means to find that bastard Toshiro, and take my revenge. I will avenge you, little brother."
As the many centuries had passed, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru had slowly grown closer, and had formed an almost-brotherly bond.
"Lady Meiko, are we almost done?" Kyoko asked.
"It is not you, but the jewel that is in need of so much purification," Meiko informed her, "And since you are the only one who can handle it in this state, you are required to remain here."
Kyoko looked around at the enclosed shrine where she and Meiko had spent the last two days, and sighed.
"But it is almost complete," Meiko continued, much to Kyoko's relief. "Just a few more hours, and we will be complete."
"Thank Kami," she smiled, and returned to her meditations, the jewel held in her hands.
"Lady Meiko!" Miroku jumped up as the miko approached them, "Where is Kyoko? Did everything go as planned?"
"Yes," she nodded tiredly, "Both the Shikon no Tama and Kyoko are complete free of any defilement, and we are both exhausted. Kyoko is taking a steam bath before she retires, but I wanted to come and tell you we are done."
"Thank you, Lady Meiko," Miroku bowed as the miko left them again, and then turned to Sesshomaru. "Happy now?"
"I must take a break from this place," he said suddenly, "The purification in the air is sickening me, even through this barrier. Tell Kyoko I shall meet her outside the shrine when she is ready."
"All right," Miroku blinked as the lord took his leave, and then flopped back down on the floor. "I plan on staying here," he announced to no one in particular, "The food is delicious, considering they're mikos."
"Mmm…" Kyoko murmured happily, waking up from a long sleep. Stretching, she kicked the blankets off her, and rose slowly. Brushing her hair out, she braided it, and twisted it on the back of her neck, and then rubbed her eyes again.
"I feel much better," she realized, and looked at herself in the mirror. "Maybe it's my imagination, but…my eyes seem so much clearer, and my face…I don't know what happened to me."
Dressing in a cream-colored kimono with a wine-red obi and turquoise designs on the trim, Kyoko inspected herself a final time, and then exited the room where she had slept. To her surprise, Miroku met her almost instantly.
"Kyoko!" he called, rushing over. He froze for a second, and then grinned. "You look more beautiful than ever."
"A good night's sleep will do that," she laughed, flushing slightly, and then looked around. "Where is Sesshomaru?"
"The effects of being inside the Shrine was getting too much for him – he told you to meet him outside whenever you were ready," Miroku told her, taking her arm. "Is our business complete here?"
"Yes," she nodded, "I need to retrieve the Shikon no Tama first, but I have already gone over our next moves with Lady Meiko while we were purifying the jewel. I'll meet you both outside in a moment."
Gracefully taking notice of her command to leave, Miroku nodded and strode down the stairs.
"So, you are leaving already?" Meiko asked, as Kyoko placed the Shikon no Tama, which was back on the chain, around her neck.
"Yes," she nodded, "We already discussed this. I'll go to the place I need to go, and start from there."
"All right. But take a word of caution from an old woman, Kyoko," Meiko began, "Do not give your heart away easily. In times of sorrow and fear, it is easy to fall in and out of love, but it hardly ever lasts. Fall in love with the one chosen for you on your terms, not the world's. And never fear what others will say."
"I will, Lady Meiko. Thank you for all that you have done for me," Kyoko bowed low, and then turned her back to leave.
"Sesshomaru!" she called, racing down the steps to meet them. "Miroku told me the aura was beginning to get too much for you."
"Did he," Sesshomaru snorted, but didn't pull away when she took his arm.
"Do you have any idea where we're going next?" Miroku asked, "To catch Toshiro, we'll have to be tricky."
"I know of a place where we can start," Kyoko nodded, "But we have to hurry, so let's go!"
I know, I killed Inuyasha AND Kaede off! But you were warned.