As they grew nearer and nearer to the mountain where Suikotsu lay imprisoned, Kagome became more and more wary. Is this really what she wanted? Sure, Sesshomaru was a fox, but he was a demon! She didn't want to be racist, but dude, different species! Wait, would that make her a specist? A gene-iest? Oh, forget it.
Kagome turned to look at Sesshomaru as he landed lightly next to her on the ground. They had finally arrived and were both opening their senses to find where he was imprisoned. As they did, their auras brushed against each other. Instead of clashing like before, they curled and mingled like two cats before settling down and continuing to search out Suikotsu.
Kagome didn't let on how surprised she was at her aura; it was only a sign that she was ready to make this commitment. That her body was ready for a mate, even if her heart and mind weren't.
Sesshomaru felt only a smug satisfaction at the interaction of their auras, she was ready to be taken and he was ready to do it. In more ways that one.
Even as they both looked at each other of the corner of their eyes, a loud howl went into the air. It was almost inhuman, but Kagome understood before Sesshomaru.
"It's Suikotsu!" Kagome explained as she bolted toward the howl. It had come from a rock face not far away. Kagome could feel Sesshomaru at her back and took comfort from it as she started to store her energy up. She had felt a small presence near Suikotsu that resembled that of Kanna and she wanted no part of Suikotsu lost to her.
"What is that?" Sesshomaru asked, nodding ahead to a bright light.
"I don't know," Kagome replied a bit put out; Sesshomaru was running a lot faster than her and would get there first. Before she could even complete the thought he had swept her into his arms and was carrying her with him at his high speed.
"Why are you..."
"You are obviously too slow to keep up."
"I could have caught up."
"And been too late...I sense things." Kagome thought at first he was talking about mystical things, like the future and her intentions, but then realized that he meant up ahead with Suikotsu. There were things there, things that Kagome could not identify without seeing or at least touching. Some miko senses or practices required a physical connection, but usually this only was used with the more powerful entities as it can be especially dangerous for the miko doing it. It put them into a position of vulnerability, both physically and mentally.
"What is it?"
"I don't know," Sesshomaru replied, slightly perturbed by the fact that he could not identify the presence ahead. He did recognize Jakotsu's aura but the other larger presence was unknown to him. Familiar, but still unknown.
As they rushed toward Suikotsu and the battle ahead, even they had no idea of just how this event would affect them...of the ideas fate had for them...and just how devious Naraku was...
Sesshomaru set Kagome down and turned to finally look at the familiar but unknown aura in near the cliff, and what he saw shocked him to the core.
"Father?"
Three Hours Ago
"Kikyo? Are you sure you should be moving?"
"Inuyasha, I am made of clay, I do not feel sickness or illness like others. I am not weak. I was...shocked. Surprised. Not ill; now let me up," Kikyo explained as she tried to push the overbearing Inuyasha away from where he hovered over her in Kaede's hut.
"Kaede said you should rest."
"Kaede is my little sister, I don't have to listen to her," Kikyo replied as she finally made it to her feet. She began to walk to the door, but was once again cock-blocked by Inuyasha.
"I'm worried about you."
Kikyo knew how much it had taken him to say that and rested her hand briefly on his cheek before lashing at him with her powers and sending him flying out the door. "I can take care of myself."
"We're not sure of that, Lady Kikyo," Miroku, who had been outside playing with the idea of jumping Sango when the loud commotion had gotten his attention. "You were quite unwakeable last night. Almost like you were in a stupor."
"Yeah, Lady Kikyo," Sango stressed the "lady" as she said it, making it clear that despite the new and improved Kagome she still supported her friend by hating Kikyo who she saw as an interloper in Kagome and Inuyasha's relationship (or at least she had been an interloper since said relationship is over).
"I have things to...Do you feel that?" Kikyo asked of the group, as a large presence came towards them. They all stood in readiness as the presence came closer and closer through the forest, but were greatly disappointed when the "large" presence turned out to be Kanna.
She stepped from the forest with her mirror reflecting the light of the morning sun. No, it wasn't the morning sun. It was the mirror's power and everyone was caught in it. They had been sent into trances, the kind that only Kanna could awaken them from. With some small signal from Kanna, Jakotsu stepped from the other side of the clearing and hurried towards Inuyasha.
"He's so cute! Look at these ears!" Jakotsu said in the "school-girl-crush" voice she always used with Inuyasha.
"What are you supposed to be doing?" Kanna asked in a surprisingly mature voice. It was deep to be coming from such a childlike body, but despite appearances this was no child.
"Oh, yeah! The bones!" Jakotsu pulled a small dagger from his pouch and slowly lowered it to Inuyasha's right eye. Inside was a small marble sized orb, in which the bones of Inuyasha's father, Master Tashio, rested. The dagger was specially made to be able to do this. Some sword maker that rode a three-eyed cow had delivered it an hour ago to Naraku, who had immediately sent Jakotsu and Kanna on this "mission".
"Got it!" Jakotsu said happily as the orb slid free of Inuyasha's eye and into the small pouch Jakotsu held ready. Naraku had said not to touch the orb, for it would draw in any who touched it. When Sesshomaru had entered it three years ago he'd broken the wards and left it wide open.
Jakotsu spared a long, slow kiss on Inuyasha before striding to where Kanna stood with her mirror at the ready. Kanna whispered the trance-breaker word before stepping into her mirror. Jakotsu followed, allowing herself one last glance at Inuyasha. He was very awake and mad.
"Goddamnit! Where'd they go?"
"I do not see them or sense them Inuyasha," Miroku replied.
"My eye hurts. Damn it, Kikyo, wait! There's no need to go speeding off."
"On the contrary, there's every need..."
"Father?"
The large dog demon before them slowly began to shrink and become a humanoid figure until a large man resembling both Inuyasha and Sesshomaru stood before them. In his mouth was Sesshomaru's lost arm.
"My son," the demon stated in a very deep, growling voice. "Is this yours?" He asked, holding out Sesshy's arm as if it was everyday that a hundred year dead demon rose from his grave and appeared to his elder son.
"Yes," Sesshomaru replied in a shaken voice (or at least as shaken as he can sound).
"Well, I slobbered a little, but it's good as new," Master Tashio explained as he threw the arm to his son, who accidentally dropped Tokijin in his attempt to grab the arm.
Master Tashio turned to Suikotsu and smiled. "Now, back to dinner."
Okay, so just got Monkey Business from the Black Eyed Peas, and yes...I do love it.
Back to my loyal reviewers! Here's a little writer/reviewer repartee to keep you satisfied on a personal level...
Kogasgirl142: You crave no more! It is here and a new one coming up...
Shadow Miko: What the hell is a xova? Alright, back to the point...it's not that she's acting like an ass, it's that to Kagome that is what being strong is all about, (future storyline spoiler in 5...4...3...2...) but with Sesshomaru I'm feeling that she'll learn that she doesn't have to be a cold hearted bitch to be strong, it's okay to just be a girl sometimes.
royal blueKitsune: I don't read Rurouni Kenshin, but only because despite the couple of episodes I saw I can't really understand it. I liked the show, but I never watched it enough. So my story resembles someone else's? What do you think I could change so that it no longer does? (Don't want plagiarism accusations)
SesshiesPersonalPriestess: You found. You read. You loved. You reviewed. Yeah, that's the circle of life! I'm glad at least one person likes the Bankotsu/Kagome angle I threw in their. I got a few hate mails over that.
animefreak404112: Oh, you! I love you too!
Kimster4: Why are you going to abandon my story?
Special thanks to lildevil0644, destinyheart15, hermonine, Sesshomaru's Miko,and Ruby27...guys, I UPDATE OFTEN! So return and look and more than likely you'll find a new chappie.