ahem- Translations, as always, are at the bottom- ENJOY! .
Chapter 40
A faint cry could be heard from another room as Miroku roused from his sleep, gently pulling his arms away from his sleeping wife as he placed a chaste kiss on her neck and pulled himself tiredly out of bed. Once he had dispondently managed to pull on the bottom half of his robes and secure the sash around his waist, he proceeded into another room where his son's faint cries echoed from. he smiled softly, pulling the small bundle from the crib in which he slept and rocking him soothingly in his arms. He awed to small child several moments as the boy hushed into a relaxed state, Miroku cooing softly to quiet his beloved son. Sango soon roused, coming to the doorway with a pleased look at she watched her husband lull their young Kasaku into a deep sleep- she loved to watch Miroku tend after their child so gently, as he made such a caring and natural father. Soon, she sighed, walking in to his side and placing her arms to rest against his strong figure, gazing down at their son who seemed to be slipping off into a pleasant dream.
Sango whispered softly as Miroku tenderly placed their son back into his resting place. "Have Kagome and Inuyasha come back yet?" Miroku smirked with a familiar look in his eyes as he placed his arms over Sango's shoulders-both looking contently down at their pride and joy. "Not yet...but I wouldn't worry too much about them..." Sango smiled, finally taking Miroku's hand teasingly and leading him back to their bedroom quietly.
Deep in the forest, night was wearing on, and Inuyasha and Kagome had fallen asleep at the base of a tree together, Kagome layed comfortably against Inuyasha's chest- blood still freshly teasing her neck. Her eyes flinched a moment, finally she awoke, sensing something strange. She let a smile curve her lips as she gently opened her eyes, ready to huddle closer next to Inuyasha's warm body- only to find that something unusual was occuring. Her eyes blinked a few moments, looking up to take in the full view of what was happening around them. At first, she was sure she was dreaming, or that she had simply lost her mind- everything around her was tinted a faint blue, as though she were in a haze, and farther out from her- standing on the hotspring's surface was a figure. She quickly got to her feet, expecting to hear Inuyasha's voice in the next moment, but nothing ever came. She looked down for a moment, to see that his figure was frozen- everything was frozen...time itself had captured her and she noted the ripples from the glassy surface which spread out from the figure- even they were stopped.
Her eyes immediately caught the glowing form in a fierce expression, confident that he was responsible for the abnormality. Almost instantly, the glow died, as though a flame had been snuffed out...and everything was enshrouded in darkness, yet the blue stillness that time was caught up in remained. She stared straight into his eyes- certain she recognized this stranger...then it hit her, harder than she expected. Her breath was caught in her throat as her dream rushed back to her. It was him- the figure who stood blood-soaked in her ruined village, the one who's claws slaughtered her fantasies.
"Who are you! Why have you come here?" Her icy tone cut through the still air without any echo, yet it did not come out as loudly as she anticipated- everything here seemed to be but a distant whisper. Her body shook without her consent from the silent look in this figure's eyes, quietly awaiting his reply as anxiety built. His ember hues held a tint of deep red, making them a dark honey brown in the shadows as she watched him intensely. Finally, answers came- though not from his lips, because they were not moving. They seemed to resound from everywhere and nowhere, as though his eyes and mind spoke for him.
"Be not afraid Kagome- I mean you no harm...I know you better than you can imagine...I know you from every angle and personality...every time and every place...in those realities you were born, and those you could not dream...and I am here to show you what has transpired because of your existence- and what may occur if fate is allowed to follow this path..." His eyes held a stoic gaze, staring into her gently as she questioned him innocently-his voice as smooth as silk, holding a warm, yet emotionless tone.
"I don't understand...what have you done? What do you mean by this path? What path?" She let concern and fear seep into her voice as she desperately questioned the demon for more. "This, miko, is but one path of many...branches have been formed for every vital decision that has taken place in your life- whether voluntary or not...I am here to show you what paths have been lost to you...and what paths lay ahead...you may choose- as you have always chosen, this is just one more decision that will branch off in your life...you may choose to come with me and see the realities time lost, yet in doing so you give up this moment...I am afraid I cannot replace this piece of time- and when you return, time will be set to an earlier stage..."
Kagome's fingers instinctively went to her neck, stinging the unhealed wound. "But...when? How early would I have to come back..." Her voice trailed as she looked back at the sleeping hanyou, then besetting her eyes back on the figure with a sigh. "And the other choice?" "To stay on this jinseikouro, and see where it leads you...but a word of caution- this does not come without price...just as you must give up these moments to learn forbidden knowledge, so must you give up something to stay here." Kagome's thoughts ran over her options ungratefully. "Why have I been given these options! These ultimatums...Who would do such a thing to me..." Her fists balled tightly by her sides for a moment, pondering her choice- though her anger was giving way to defeat as she weighed both options- including her option to slay this demon where he stood, though from the look of this frozen world, she knew she wouldn't have much of a chance against his power. "And who are you to make me choose?" She looked at him fiercely. "How could I give all this up! EVERYTHING I'VE WAITED FOR IS HERE NOW! You expect me to give this up!" Her heart rate and breathing flared with her anger once more, yet once more it died away. "Can we have no peace together...is there no room for us? ...always...something always comes between us! Fate so cruelly lets us have this moment, only to tear it away from us! ...why?...its not fair..." Kagome's voice hushed into a whisper, building walls to hold back the flood of emotions that threatened to tear down her heart and set free her cries.
"What must I give up...tell me, what is it I lose if I stay?" The demon looked at Inuyasha and then back at Kagome momentarily. "I'm afraid you would lose something precious to you in the future, but you haven't met them yet..." She sighed, utterly confused as to why she was staring down these choices. "Who are you...really? And who sent you...explain to me before I make my choice!" He sighed, finally letting emotion come into his personality slightly and seeming to have a sympathetic view for her.
"My name is Konomi...I come from another place in time, another era-like you I suppose, and as you can guess, I'm a demon." With that, he stepped from the enshrouding shadows to reveal himself- a very handsome young demon, about Kagome's age with pointed ears and long, flowing brown hair. His form was fitted with black armor that was placed over a navy blue kimono. "I am here because whether you realize it or not, you are a powerful miko...and since you come from another era- you have a strong connection to the tree of ages..."
"The Goshimboku tree..." Kagome's voice was hardly a confused whisper as she wondered what the tree could possibly have anything to do with this. Konomi nodded. "I too have a strong bond to the tree...that is why I am here...you must see what I have seen...believe me-this affects your life more than I can explain..." Kagome was swimming in confusion- he wasn't giving her much, just the basics- and she didn't like that. "How do I know I can trust you...I don't even know you..." He smiled caringly- giving a strange warmth to his character that comforted her in some way. "Kagome...I can't explain exactly how I know you...but in my time you are a very powerful priestess...you cared for me-for a very long time...and you are like my own mother..."
Kagome sighed- searching herself for answers she couldn't find. "I...I...I don't know what to do...-how can I...why should I go?" Her chocolate hues searched the ground for some satisfaction, but the frozen winds and still ripples gave no answer. "Because-" He finally spoke, "if you don't you will regret it...believe me...I've seen it...Kagome- this is meant to be, don't you believe that- you know that your union with the hanyou Inuyasha is fated...so why do you doubt that it will take place? If it happened once already...are you not sure it will happen when you return?"
She thought back, her mind running over things quickly- almost not breathing as she wondered what he was saying. 'No...I can't have anymore regrets...what if its someone I love who is lost all because I can't face this demon...I couldn't have that on my shoulders...' She sighed in defeat, tears filling behind her brown eyes, already regretting the choice she made. She turned silently, kneeling down to face Inuyasha, his sleeping face seemed so peaceful and content. She thought for sure she would burst of pain as she gently kissed his lips. Her voice was filled with the barriers that held back her tears, until finally- with her whisper- a gentle, silver stream tore down her cheek. "Goodbye my love...I will return soon...and we will be together- I promise..." Her forehead pulled away from resting on his, brushing his silver bangs as she turned toward Konomi.
"I...I will come..." The shadows hid her eyes, her will was defeated and her heart sank mournfully in her chest as he held out his hands in front of him, a small glow escaping- engulfing them both as they left the forest quietly. Kagome wiped away her tears, looking around to see that it seemed they were falling through the well- the swirling stars and glistening lights that she had so often seen on her travels now surrounded them, until finally she felt her feet plant firmly on the ground again, in what seemed to be the edge of Kaede's village, the glow fading away to nothing as the fireflies danced in the darkness.
Well, what can I say- I'm back...this chappy was a bit rusty, but I'm sure you are going to love where this is going...I wanted a way to show all different kinds of Kagome's, -different sides, different situations...believe me- some of them are going to be suprising, & I promise when Kagome comes back from this trip- her and inu are getting together- its going to be so kawaii...Hope you like...R&R!
Here's your translations, as always...
jinseikouro-path of one's life
Konomi-his name means "choice"