A Chance Reunion
...OOO...
Sesshomaru was back in the air. An expression of deep thought settled in his eyes and he frowned slightly. He had left abruptly after Inuyasha's tale, his main question unanswered. But what he had learned perturbed him, unable to discern the reason behind it all.
Inuyasha believed Kikyo to be dead, but she wasn't- not that he did anything to inform them of this fact. She was alive and well, so why was it that after doing so much to preserve his life, she wasn't with Inuyasha? And even more mystifying, why had she concealed her continuing existence from the person she loved and who obviously loved her in return?
Humans, Sesshomaru thought in consternation. So many times they were so stupidly simple minded- guided only by their own predictable needs and desires- but every now and then he found himself completely baffled by them- by her.
What is her motivation?
Having no other leads to finding her, he had decided to return to his castle when a faint but familiar aura caught his attention. Scanning the forest below him, he found its source- a three eyed wolf barking excitedly and running around in circles.
One of Royakan's pack.
As soon as he landed, the wolf trotted up to him, its tongue lolling in and out in anticipation.
"Did Royakan send you?" Sesshomaru asked, addressing it as if it were capable of answering him in speech.
Rather the dog just barked in a positive response, shaking it's head in one direction, indicating for him to follow before darting off into the trees.
"This had better be worth my time," he mumbled to himself, but gave chase.
...ooo...
The sun had risen past its peak but still Kikyo journeyed, unaware that she had crossed the border into the Western Lands.
For a while now she had felt them watching her, sensed their aura enough to where she could pinpoint their exact location amongst the shadowy trees of the forest around her. She was wary of their presence but gave no indication of her awareness. They were low level demons and so far had done nothing to indicate malice towards her, and she had decided not to act unless they did so first.
...ooo..
Royakan paced nervously, every now and then halting to scratch his furry chin in thought.
He had spotted the woman early in the day just outside the border and had kept his sentries on her as she crossed it. There was something odd about her, something not quite right... Her scent was off for one thing- nothing like any human's he had come across before. But what disquieted him most was the power that surrounded her- so strong it was almost overwhelming.
No mortal could house such a power, he had reasoned... and then remembered the legendary Shikon Jewel. Surely that was it- this woman carried it... but what was she doing in the Western Lands?
He wasn't sure, but a sudden idea came into his mind- wouldn't it be wonderful to present his Lord Sesshomaru with such an item? Not that his lord needed it, but what could it hurt? Especially since it just happened to cross his path...
But the woman worried him...
He wasn't one to go around slaughtering mortals (rather he hated it) but if she resisted in handing the jewel over, she would have to be disposed of...
After some time mulling over the thought, he finally sent a dispatch to the castle to learn of his lord's wishes to absolve himself of the decision.
But an hour passed and no word had returned...
Then another.
And another.
In her travel the woman had barely entered the domains of his lord but just skimmed along its borders, her destination apparently elsewhere. Soon she would leave his jurisdiction altogether...
Royakan decided to act.
...ooo...
Kikyo was only mildly surprised when she found herself surrounded by a pack of three eyed wolves and short sturdy hellhounds with bulging eyes, large mouths, and tiny spears.
"What do you want?" she demanded, calmly leaning a little on her longbow.
The warriors held out their spears as Royakan stepped out from the shadows.
"You have the Shikon Jewel," he declared authoritatively. "Hand it over and you won't be hurt."
"That's an impossible promise," she answered, smiling amusingly at the contradiction. "The jewel is within me so I cannot give it to you freely without first ripping apart my own body."
Thinking she was mocking him, the usually sedate Royakan became angry.
"If you wish to die here, then you shall have it!" he yelled, signaling his pack to attack.
They closed in around her, but a calm but commanding voice stopped them in their tracks.
"Royakan." Sesshomaru stepped into view, the dispatch at his side, and Kikyo's mild surprise grew. She had never anticipated their paths would cross again, let alone so soon.
"What is going on here?" he asked without batting an eye at her.
"Milord," Royakan explained bowing in reverence. "This strange mortal entered your dominion bearing the Shikon Jewel. We thought you might have wanted to take possession..."
Sesshomaru scoffed, "I have no interest in such trinkets. Leave her be."
"Y- you wish to spare her, milord?" The words flew out of an astonished Royakan's mouth before he could stop them, and he quickly apologized with one glance from Sesshomaru, begging, "Forgive me, milord. I have no right to question you."
"Fool," Sesshomaru scorned. "I do not save this woman from you, I save you from her. Had she wanted to, she could have already purified you, though why she hasn't is none of my concern. Now leave us."
"You know her, milord?" Another surprised remark from the flabbergasted hellhound. But another icy glance from his master and he and his whole pack departed, bowing humbly.
Even after Rin, Royakan could not believe his lord would ever hold counsel with a mere human...
What was this world coming to? He asked with a shake of his furry head.
...ooo...
Kikyo spoke first.
"I am sorry. I did not realize I had crossed into your lands."
"It matters not," he answered casually. "I was just returning from searching for you."
The announcement caused Kikyo's eyes to widen slightly but she said nothing.
"Naraku is alive," he continued.
Looking away she merely replied, "I know."
"How?" he demanded. "Kagura told me, but you have no one. How did you know?"
Kikyo stared up at the sun dappled leaves of the forest canopy.
"That night after the rainstorm- he came to me. In my head," she clarified, seeing the stunned look in his eyes. "He spoke to me... I do not dream, I know it was him."
For a minute neither of them spoke allowing the revelation to sink in with the silence.
Then she continued, "Even before that- even before we encountered his poisonous insects- a part of me questioned the seeming reality of his demise. A part of me I had tried to ignore but can no longer."
"What did he tell you?" he inquired suddenly.
"That he cannot be destroyed. That he resides in the darkness of our minds... but I do not believe him. There's something more to it," she concluded.
"You saw Kagura?"
"Yes, but she knows as little."
"What do you propose to do?" he finally asked after a short standstill.
Turning her head in the general direction of her travel she announced, "I have learned that there is a valley about three nights' journey from here, and in that valley blooms a rare flower which has the power to induce a state in which the body becomes completely numb while the mind grows sharp and alert- transcendent. If Naraku does hide in my consciousness, I aim to find him out."
"I shall come with you," he decided after a brief deliberation. "Whatever that bastard is up to, I wish to find out for myself."
Shrugging complacently, she replied, "Do as you wish." before turning her back to him to continue her journey.
This woman, he thought irritably falling into step beside her, shows no fear or respect... fool. Though to be honest, she was the only one who could lead, being the only one who knew their destination.
They left the borderlands heading south and east.
We will come close to Inuyasha's village.
The thought popped into his head impulsively, and he remembered his earlier confrontation with his half-brother.
'Kikyo is dead!' Inuyasha had shouted.
Foolish half-breed.
Still, Sesshomaru could not help giving Kikyo a questioning sideways glance wondering, Will she go to see Inuyasha? Will she let him know she is still alive?
"Is something wrong?" Kikyo asked when she caught him staring.
"No," he answered, diverting his eyes to the sky. This woman frustrated him- like a puzzle he could not understand... Not that he cared to.
They walked on without speaking further, never resting until they came to a fork in the road. One path lead straight through Inuyasha's village and to their destination. The other curved up north.
For a second she hesitated, casting a wary glance at her unlikely companion, before taking the northern road.
Let him go where he will, she thought to herself. I owe him no explanation.
Though a part of him had wanted to bait her, had wanted to provoke her into explaining herself, he held back and followed without a word.
...ooo...
By sundown they were coming to a small village and were about to turn into the nearby forest when a small boy running recklessly knocked Kikyo down.
"I am so sorry, Lady Priestess!" he apologized breathlessly, climbing to his feet and helping her to hers.
She laughed forgivingly.
"It's alright," she answered kindly, placing a hand on the boy's thin shoulders. "You are not hurt are you?"
"N-no, ma'am," he shook his head, amazed at not being scolded.
"Why were you running so fast?" Kikyo questioned, a small concerned frown tugging at her lips. "It's dangerous not to watch where you are going."
"I'm sorry, Lady Priestess," he apologized once more, explaining, "But I must go to the next village to find a midwife- my mother is in bed right now and is ready to deliver, but she is having great difficulty with the birth."
Complete seriousness overtook her eyes as she took the boy's hand and declared, "Come. Take me to her quickly."
But the boy hesitated, casting a quick glance at Sesshomaru. Following his stare, she was taken back a little to see him still standing there so aloofly. For a second she had forgotten all about him.
"Would you like to come?" she asked addressing him. "Or would you rather I..." her voice trailed off, unable to find another alternative.
"I'll come," he conceded. "But make it quick."
She did not hear him however, as she took off after the boy.
He followed but in no apparent hurry.
Damn woman. I hope she does not plan on aiding every needy mortal we come across.
...OOO...