Always Doesn't Last Forever
Chapter 9: Sister and CousinDisclaimer: I own nothing off Inuyasha! Just the plot and any original characters!
Again, the Lord Sesshoumaru's guests danced and played games until it was nearly dawn and as with the night before, Sesshoumaru carried Kagome to her room and remained there with her. For the first time in years he'd not dreamed of his younger years and he was grateful for that one blessing.
"Hello my lord." Called a feminine voice as he passed by a dark hallway. Sesshoumaru stopped and looked down the darkened corridor suspiciously. That voice… It sounded so familiar… "If you forgot me Fluffy then I'm going to tell Kado." She continued.
"I have not forgotten you, Aislinn."
"Tis a good thing that cousin." She replied and stepped into the light and grinned up at him. Like Sesshoumaru Aislinn had white-silver hair but hers was streaked lightly with honey brown strands and her eyes were a lavender color. Aislinn was unique in his family; his mother and her own had been sisters but Aislinn's mother had become the life mate of a wolf demon. Although younger than he, Aislinn had seen much more of the world with her father since her mother died giving birth to her, and was known for her healing abilities and free-as-the-wind spirit.
"Why are you here Aislinn?" He asked. Neither Aislinn nor her father had been in this country since a few months before Inuyasha had left the castle. His Uncle had tried to stay with his deceased wife's family for as long as he could but once the wanderlust took him he left, taking his daughter, Sesshoumaru's closest friend, with him.
"I don't know. I felt like it was time to return so I came home." She answered and looked deeply into his eyes. "You're unsettled about something." She stated after a moment.
Sesshoumaru growled lightly in annoyance and looked at her unhappily. "So you inherited your father's other gifts as well?" He asked.
"I did not read your mind, cousin. It has been many years since we last saw one another; centuries even, but we are family." She stated simply. "I bet it's a girl." She said after a moment, causing him to gaze at her haughtily.
"What do you know? You are still a child Aislinn." He said coldly.
Aislinn tossed back her hair and looked back him just s coldly. They were of the same blood and neither would ever back down from the other. "So you say, Sesshoumaru." She said finally and turned and walked away from him, leaving the young demon lord to ponder her words.
Kagome was sitting quietly on a stone bench in the garden while she watched Rin and Shippo play when she felt someone's eyes on her. She managed not to squirm for a long time but finally her unease and curiosity got the best of her as she turned around to meet her watcher. A female dog demon that resembled Sesshoumaru quite a bit stood smiling at her.
"Hello, I'm Aislinn." She said in a friendly manner.
"I'm Kagome." She answered a little hesitantly, unsure of the beautiful demon's intentions.
Aislinn nodded and much to Kagome's shock, elegantly plopped down on the ground near her feet. "So how long have you been with my irritatingly haughty cousin?" Aislinn asked curiously.
"You're Sesshoumaru's cousin!?" Kagome yelped in surprise.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean he still isn't annoying." She answered with a frown.
"I didn't know Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha had a cousin." Kagome murmured and Aislinn tilted her head thoughtfully as she studied Kagome more intently.
"I'm not. Sesshoumaru is my cousin through our mothers. I have no relation with Inuyasha though once I would have claimed him as my cousin as well." She answered sadly.
"Is it because Inuyasha is a hanyou?" Kagome asked stiffly.
Aislinn snorted and rolled her eyes. "Not hardly; it's because he sees things as he wishes them to be and blames others for what he cannot comprehend." She looked around the garden then and a faraway look came into her eyes. "This castle has always held secrets, and many of them have been very dark but it's lighter here now. More filled with life and joy, just as it felt when my aunt was still alive."
"It's hard to imagine Sesshoumaru joyful." Kagome muttered.
Aislinn frowned a warning towards the girl and shook her head slightly. "Don't be so quick to judge him, centuries ago he was different." She sighed then and stood up. "Many things were different but it is not until we grow older that we are able to see truths behind woven veils of intricate lies and even then it is sometimes too late." She added.
"What do you mean?"
"I can't tell you." Aislinn answered her after a moment. "But perhaps Sesshoumaru will, in time anyway." Her eyes lighted up then and she grinned mischievously. "Until then and afterwards you and I should be friends."
Kagome looked up at the beautiful demon but only sincerity and an open curiosity shone from her amethyst eyes. "I'd like that." She answered quietly with a smile and Aislinn smiled back at her. At that moment they were just two women in a garden who were on their way to becoming friends. What neither Kagome nor Aislinn would realize was that their friendship would help protect the young miko from the vicious tongue, and claws, of the other female demons.
~*~*~*~*~*~* Flashback *~*~*~*~*~*~
Aislinn stood beside Sesshoumaru as her father prepared both his and his daughter's packs for traveling. Aislinn held Inuyasha in her arms yet she was leaning slightly against Sesshoumaru, seeking strength from him and trying to give some of her own in return. Aislinn had asked her father if she could remain behind this one time but Connlan, her father had forbidden her to stay and had asked Sesshoumaru to come with them instead.
Sesshoumaru had declined, knowing full well that his uncle sought to protect him from the wrath of his father but even a seer as great as Connlan was nothing compared to the great Inutaisho. "Why are you leaving?" Inuyasha asked Aislinn innocently, still unaware of the true darkness within the world around him.
"I have to go with my father, little pup." She answered.
"But why do you want to leave us?" He pouted.
"I don't but… there are some things that we just have to do at times, Inuyasha." The small hanyou wrinkled his nose slightly as he thought over what she said and after a time, nodded.
"Okay!" He agreed suddenly, smacked his lips to her cheek, wiggled out of her arms, and ran to his 'uncle.'
"I wish you would come with us. Sessho." Aislinn said and linked her arm through his.
"You know I cannot." He answered.
"I know." She replied with a sigh and rested her head on his shoulder for a brief moment. "There is so much darkness here, I fear for both of you."
Sesshoumaru frowned and looked down at her. "What do you see?"
"I don't know. There's so much darkness that it hides those who seek to cause turmoil. I fear for you the most Sessho, whatever comes will bring you much sorrow and pain… and I will not be here to help you."
Sesshoumaru shook his head and smiled slightly at her affectionately. "You are unusual, little cousin. You are a demon but a healer, kind instead of cruel, and forever loyal." He sighed greatly then and looked up towards the sky. "I must tell your father not to let you marry some weak boned youkai."
"Sesshoumaru!" She scolded but laughed and Sesshoumaru joined her.
Both Connlan and Inutaisho looked at their two children when they heard their laughter echoing in the courtyard and then at each other. Once, these men were the greatest of friends but that had changed as Inutaisho had changed. Connlan knew that the Western Lords days were numbered, he just hoped that Sesshoumaru would be ready to step into his father's place.
Unknown to Sesshoumaru and Aislinn, this was the last time they would see one another in centuries and the last time Sesshoumaru would ever laugh so freely…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~ End Flashback ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sesshoumaru shook his head and scowled at the memories that flooded his mind. He did not want to remember those days but seeing Aislinn was making him remember that he had not always been so cold, especially to her. Hell, never to her. I love her as a sister, as much as I loved my own mother. But he was different now. They both were. He'd been lying when he called her a child, her lavender eyes saw him as clearly now as they had when they were children.
'I bet it's a girl.' Her voice echoed in his thoughts. "You were ever a romantic cousin." He muttered and shook his head. "But why are you here without Connlan?" He murmured and stood up to seek out his cousin.
Kagome and Aislinn were laughing over the children's antics when Aislinn froze suddenly and looked up towards the castle and sniffed disdainfully. "I have to go." She said and stood up swiftly.
"Why?" Kagome asked worriedly. "What's wrong?"
"Oh nothing really. Sesshoumaru is looking for me and I'm not finished being mad at him." Aislinn answered and waved one of her hands carelessly. "I'll see you later at dinner!" She added and leapt into a fast pace run.
Kagome rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the smile that made its way onto her face. Aislinn was Sesshoumaru's complete opposite, yet some things about the girl reminded her a lot of the elegant lord. Like how he always looks so perfect and handsome, not to mention that-… Wait! I did not say handsome! Kagome's mind yelped. Sesshoumaru is not handsome! He's ah umm… Sesshoumaru! She argued with herself and shook her head. I'm going crazy.
"Kagome."
And now I'm even starting to hear him in my head. She mused.
"Kagome."
"What?!" She snapped.
"Do not take that tone with me wench." Sesshoumaru said coldly.
Kagome blinked in surprise and stared at him. "I'm sorry Sesshoumaru. I was thinking about you and I thought I was just imagining your voice. I didn't mean to snap." She apologized.
"Why were you thinking about me?" Sesshoumaru asked and raised one eyebrow curiously.
"Well… I … Umm… I met you cousin just now and she reminded me of you."
"And how did she remind you of me?"
This time Kagome glared at him a bit and rolled her eyes. "Oh I don't know. The pair of you do sorta look like each other you know?"
"There is no need to be sarcastic." Kagome hmphed and didn't reply. "Do you know where my cousin went?" Sesshoumaru asked after a moment.
"No. She left after she said that she wasn't through being mad at you." Kagome informed him and nearly died of shock when she saw him smile slightly.
"That sounds like my little sister." He murmured thoughtfully and locked his gaze on Kagome's. The wind blew a lock of Kagome's hair across her face and Sesshoumaru reached out his hand and tucked it behind her ear but didn't remove his hand from her cheek.
So soft. He thought dimly and traced his thumb over her cheek, jawbone, and her bottom lip.
"Sesshoumaru." Kagome whispered softly.
"A memory." He answered quietly and dipped his head down and caught her lips in his own. It was pure hell holding himself back when he wanted nothing more than to see if she tasted as sweet as she acted towards him and those living within his castle. Needless to say, he couldn't quite resist nibbling her lips gently and licking them. But he pulled away from her the next moment and they looked at one another, gold staring into brown hazel. Are you really as you seem Kagome? Or are you like my step-mother and nothing more than a very good actress? He wanted to ask but didn't want to know the answer. She was getting to close to him.
"Why?" She asked him softly.
"For a memory." He repeated and walked away. A memory that will torment me forever…
Lady Fate scowled as she watched the young demon lord hurry away from Kagome. "Hard headed pup! Why do you fight the inevitable?" She asked aloud but as expected, only silence answered her.
~ I know I know I know. It's been forever since I updated and I apologize must humbly. But don't worry! I will update as soon as I get back from my trip to Disney World. I have the whole way there and back to write and then I can come back and type it all up. I hope everyone likes Aislinn alright. Like Hunter, she's an original character and while she's not a main character she is a big help to Kagome, especially when it comes to dealing with Haruko. Anyway, I hope everyone enjoyed reading this! Please review! ~