I had promised myself I would update this when I updated Music of the Night. I broke my promise I just had to write this chapter.
So without further adiu I present... the next chapter.
"Demon talking"
Demon thinking
thinking
She had kept herself as far away from Sesshomaru as much as possible that night and the following week. Her mind was muddled and confused. What had possessed him to kiss her? She brought her hand to her lips and touched them for the millionth time it seemed. She was sitting in the rose garden and thinking about how hectic her life had become since she had became this. She contemplated her reasons for allowing herself to let revenge get in the way of what was really supposed to happen. She idly began to play with the string of the jewel in her possession. It was not its normal pink color.
She did that. Through her ache and pain she let it go as far as to slightly taint the jewel. She cleared her mind and concentrated on trying to keep the jewel pure and safe. It was not safe here in the feudal era unless it was in her possession, so she couldn't leave it anywhere. She decided her next course of action. She had to go home. She needed supplies and the jewel wasn't safe here. If she left it here everyone was in danger. She stood and lunged out of the garden and started swiftly toward the front gate inside the castle.
She had to leave tonight. She had to leave tonight without Sesshomaru knowing. She would leave and continue the search for the rest of the jewel. Naraku. Silently she made her way to her room. She wanted to say goodbye to them but if she did she wouldn't ever make it out of the castle. Her heart throbbed painfully at the thought of leaving them, at the thought of leaving Shippo. Her inner beast mourned. He would be safe with Sango.
She made it to her room. She froze. Shippo was lying on her bed sleeping. No. She couldn't leave him. She picked up her bag put a couple of extra kimono's in it. Silently she padded over to Shippo's sleeping form. She moved him off the bed and took one of the sheets and fashioned it into a sling she could easily carry Shippo in and run with at the same time. She put on her pack, carefully laid Shippo inside the pouch of the sling now over her shoulder resting on her stomach. She made her bed again. She left the note she had written earlier to Sakura explaining her disappearance, on her pillow where she was sure to see it when it came time for her to wake her. She was sure that Sesshomaru would notice her appearance but she explained in her letter that she wished for it to be kept a secret until he noticed it himself. That would at least give her a days time headway.
Silently she slipped out the window and began running to the east towards the bone eaters well in Inuyasha Forest.
§§§
It was quite early in the morning. Something felt amiss in the castle. Silently she got up and watched the sunrise. It was rather beautiful. Something she wished for Kagome to see. She slipped into the hallway silently so as not to wake Sesshomaru when she tiptoed past his room. She opened the door and closed it mindful that it would creak if opened too wide. She ran to the bed and sprung onto it to find it empty and something poking the side of her head. It was a piece of paper and she unfolded it to find something written on it she could not read.
By this time the sun had risen and she could hear Sesshomaru's door open. She ran to the door and threw it open despite her size.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" She yelled to the silent demon. He only acknowledged her because of her persistent tugging on his hakama.
"What is it Rin?"
She eagerly thrust the piece of paper into his hand. He looked at it peculiarly. He took another look at Rin's face and decided to read it.
He opened it. He recognized that handwriting. Kagome's. He began reading it.
When he finished her crumbled it into his hand and was gone before Rin could ask what it said.
§§§
Sango got up this morning and stretched. Her muscles ached from her last spar with Miroku. Silently she got up and went t the artificial spring in her room. Turning on the tap she walked back into her room.
She hardly had the chance to gasp as Sesshomaru came bursting through her door knocking it cleanly off its hinges. Red eyes glared at her.
"Where is she." He growled out.
"Where is who?" She struggled to say. He was scary.
"Kagome."
"In her room I suppose."
"Stop playing games with me." He said dangerously stepping closer to her. She took a step back and pressed herself firmly against the wall.
"Is she not here, milord?" She added as an after thought.
He was advancing on her when something obscured her vision.
"Leave her alone Sesshomaru. She doesn't seem to know where Kagome is."
"Get out of the way monk."He spat hatefully.
"No not until you calm down."
"You dare disobey this Sesshomaru?" He said exasperated. Clearly his inner beast was in control and he was not one to be reckoned with.
"N..n..no, Sesshomaru it is just that She doesn't know where Kagome is." He gulped. "Why do you ask?"
Miroku felt something hit his head smartly and he looked to the obtruding object lying innocently on the floor.
Curiously her bent over to pick it up. He uncrumbled it and began reading, with Sango peeking over his shoulder to peek at it also.
Dear Sakura,
I am sorry to be leaving this, but I must return home. I need a few provisions before I continue my search for Naraku and the jewel. I have realized how dangerous it is for the ones I care most dearly for to be in my presence as long as I am the last carrier of such.
Please tell them I will meet up with them soon and not to worry for Shippo for he is in my care.
Please do not tell Sesshomaru. I know he will be angry with me for leaving because I belong to him and all that crap but please let him find out on his own. Burn this immediately after you have read it. It would not be due for Sesshomaru to read it as I have taken careful caution as to leave without his knowing. Tell Rin I will miss her and I will see her soon.
I know I haven't really explained why I have taken such a course of action very well but something happened that made me realize I have to, no need to put this to and end once and for all. Please understand and heed my words.
I will miss you.
Kagome
Miroku looked back to Sesshomaru. "Well it seems she has left to go back home."
"Home." He said as if not understanding the word.
"Yes home. Back to the future. Through the bone eaters well."
This seemed to appease Sesshomaru a bit and his eyes became clear once more. He turned abruptly and began his leave. "We leave tonight."
With that he strode out the room leaving a fear-stricken couple within the room confines.
§§§
She stopped once she reached the front of Kaede's hut. She walked in and found the old woman sleeping still.
Carefully she lifted a rag out of the bucket beside the bed and wet the woman's forehead. Kaede began to stir.
"Kagome?" She asked uncertain.
"Hai, Kaede-sama."
"What brings ye here?" She asked getting up.
"I have to go home and get some things. Can you please watch Shippo until I return?"
"Well of course my child."
Kagome smiled half heartedly and lifted the sling off her shoulder and put it into the older woman's arms.
"Well be off ye."
Kagome nodded and ran to the well. She looked into its depths. Her last thought before her plunge was. Oh please let this work.
§§§
He pushed them hard. Not stopping since there was no need. Sango and Miroku rode Kirara, Rin was on Ah-Un, and he was pushing them all to the limit.
How dare she deliberately disobey him and leave. Did she not know? His thought angered him that he would even care. He looked behind him to see that his group was struggling to keep up with his ungodly speed. Sneering he pushed onward and ignored them.
§§§
She peeked open one eye and almost jumped for joy to look up and see the top of the well house. Her senses were assaulted as she took in her surroundings. It really does stink here. Suddenly she wondered if coming here was a mistake. She numbly launched herself out of the well and opened the door into the air of her once home.
She glanced to her used to be house. She sensed a presence of humans living in it. She was enraged with jealousy she had to fight back. It was no longer her home. She no longer lived here. She would get what she needed and leave.
She was grateful that even though she was a demon she looked human enough. She turned away from her old residence and began to make her way to where she remembered the corner store to be. The same lady whom she had always seen working the cashier was still there. The woman was older and looked a bit like Kaede. She shoved the thought away because it was absurd. Kaede would die just like all of her friends would in due time. She just was going to make sure it was of old age and not because of Naraku or anyone else's stupidity. She grabbed a cart.
Distracted she began to scour the store for all the things she would need in the feudal era. She bought ungodly amounts of shampoo and conditioner. Which she would store at Kaede's. Next she began her pursuit of finding some fruits and vegetables for their journey which she would also keep and give some to Kaede while leaving some for later in her mission.
Once she had accounted all she needed she walked to the cashier. She put all her stuff onto the conveyer belt and watched the lady ring it up. The woman looked at her confused but brushed it off. She paid her sum and began to leave.
"Hold it."
She turned abruptly and looked at the woman.
"I recognize you from somewhere. I just can't put my finger on it. DO I know you?"
"No you are mistaking me for someone else."
She left hurriedly and didn't look back. Once back to the well she wondered if everything she bought would last. She would run out of shampoo and conditioner before this era arrived but it would at least last for a little while.
She couldn't leave the jewel here. She jumped into the well knowing she could never return again.
§§§
Shippo had woken up in the hut and was confused. He had fallen asleep at Sesshomaru's castle. So why was he here?
"Ah child I see ye are awake."
"Why am I here? Where's Kagome?"
"She will return soon dear child and explain all soon. So don't worry. The children of the village have missed ye so and when heard news of ye arrival fell into fits of curiosity. Do ye not wish to play with them Shippo?"
His eyes lightened. At the castle there had been no one to play with but Rin. Not that he didn't wish to play with her, but it had been so long since he had seen the children of the village. He had missed them so.
He nodded enthusiastically and ran out of the hut to bump into something hard. He fell onto the ground and got up instantly rubbing his behind.
He was momentarily shocked with the sight he was greeted with.
"Where is she?"
§§§
She jumped up out of the well and felt an electrical sense of a storm. Sesshomaru. Her mind screamed at her. He was here already. She had only been gone for an hour. How could this be?
§§§
Shippo cowered in fear of the Taiyoukai standing only feet from him with his claws glowing a ghostly green.
"I..I.. don't know." He gulped.
Sesshomaru began lowering his claws rapidly as if to strike him when suddenly he stopped. A scent of flowers and something colder hit his nose.
He was gone leaving a confused fox demon behind.
§§§
She had barely taken a step away from the well when something launched into her forcefully knocking her to the ground and the air out of her lungs and causing the sacks of her stuff to rip and spread its contents all over the forest floor. She made a sharp intake of breath and felt something…….nuzzling her? Something was nuzzling her neck. More like, someone she didn't want to see.
She moved a little and the movement on her neck stopped. Soon she felt the weight shift as if realizing what was happening.
"Sesshomaru?" She questioned. He growled dangerously and back handed her forcefully causing the side of her face to hit the dirt unceremoniously. She whipped her head back to stare hatefully at him. What she met was crimson eyes and an unhappy dog demon. A serious understatement.
"Where did you go?" His voice was demon-like.
"I had to go get some stuff from my home." He growled as if she were lying. Of course! He doesn't know about the well!
"Sesshomaru. Please understand." He growled dangerously baring teeth that looked just sharpened.
Silently she turned her neck to the side where Inuyasha had marked her. He stopped growling and looked confused for a moment. A sign of submission she had learned helped to calm Inuyasha when she was with him. She just hoped it worked with Sesshomaru.
His eyes receded to their normal coloring and he gracefully got up off her. She got to her knees then to her feet not taking her eyes off him.
He watched her. She sighed and looked away to the mess of her things. She began to pick them up a put them into sacks that weren't ripped. Once it was all picked up she looked to Sesshomaru who had not moved since she had begun to pick them up.
He turned briskly and began into the direction of the village. She sighed then followed him opting for walking silently than talking or running.
Once they made it into the village she was met with three pairs of arms and voices.
"Kagome where did you go?" Asked a young demon male voice.
"Why did you leave?" Asked a concerned demon slayer.
"Yes why did you leave?" Asked the older male voice.
"I had to get some things. I was hoping to be back before..."
"Don't lie Kagome. We read your note to Sakura." She turned her gaze to the Monk.
She looked away abruptly. "I didn't want you to get hurt."
"We told you wee would stick with you no matter the consequences Kagome. We all want to kill Naraku and it isn't fair that you took it upon yourself to do something that is for all of us to accomplish together." She took in the hurt voice of Sango.
"I am sorry. I thought it for the best if I did this by myself so you guys could get married and grow old together soon. I mean it is obvious you guys like each other." Two cheeks turned a crimson stain.
She rolled her eyes and resumed her walk to Kaede's hut. Once inside she met the older woman's gaze. "I am going to leave a few things here with you for future use. Is that alright with you?"
"Of course child."
"Thank you Kaede-sama." She bowed and turned to leave.
"I agree with them Kagome." She stopped confused not looking away from the door. "It is for you all to accomplish together. One cannot defeat that which has hurt so emany, by one's lonesome."
With that on her mind she left the hut with more to think about than one mind should possess. As she reentered the sun she saw Shippo, Miroku and Sango talking. She looked to her left and Sesshomaru was leaning against a tree watching her. She took a deep breath and began towards him.
Once she reached him she kept her eyes to the ground as a sign of respect. She could almost imagine him raising one eyebrow elegantly.
"What is it?"
Taking this as permission to speak, she confidently looked up into his eyes. "One might wonder if they would be allowed to continue on one's journey with the help of others."
He minimized his eyes for a fraction of a second before nodding. She was relieved and bowed before turning away from him to inform the others.
"We set out then, together for Naraku."
They nodded. She said a last goodbye to Kaede and the village before they all together strode away from the village.
They had been walking for hours. She turned her gaze to Sesshomaru leading in front of them. He hadn't spoken to her since they had left the village.
Suddenly he stopped. "Sesshomaru?" She sensed a demon and was in a stance before a word was uttered. She noticed faintly that Sango and Miroku were also aware of their company.
A low laugh met their ears and a giant bear youkai leaped out of the forest. "It seems we have visitors." It spoke to no one in particular. "One carries fragments of the jewel."
Everyone looked to Kagome. She shrugged and whipped out a sword from seemingly no where.
The bear let out a full hearty laugh. "One thinks it can defeat us." It continued its laugh.
Suddenly she felt pressure as if being boxed in and the attack happened before anyone knew it had started.
§§§
She sighed wearily. She was slumped over herself one arm held tightly to her stomach. It hurt so much. The bear youkai had allies. She had found herself pinned to a tree a claw paw pressed ferociously into her gut ripping it painfully open.
She looked up to see her savior. All that remained of the bear youkai whom had hurt her, and any others that had attacked, was the blood on Sesshomaru's claws.
She smiled slightly at her savior and her body bucked as another wave of pain coursed through her body.
Sesshomaru sensing her distress picked her up and began walking away. Subconsciously she thought of the blood that must be staining his beautiful clothing.
"We camp here tonight. Find a place suitable away from the mess and set up camp."
He strode briskly away leaving a befuddled group.
"Thank you." She whispered silently. He only grunted and she snuggled further into his warmth.
She felt the feeling of a hot spring close by and knew where he was heading. She felt him lower her to her feet and she opened her eyes. The spring was beautiful and she struggled to take it all in.
She faintly noticed Sesshomaru was undressing. He turned away from her and walked toward the water naked as the day he was born. She blushed and turned suddenly finding the shape of a rock lying nearby interesting.
"Undress." Came the sharp command.
She turned wildly. Staring at Sesshomaru half way submerged into the water. "What?" Came the half angered/surprised answer.
"You need to wash away the blood on your stomach before it can be wrapped. Undress."
She shifted from one foot to the other. "Turn around."
He rolled his eyes then remembered what he had told her not to long ago about being modest. She was following his rule. He wasn't her mate and neither she his.
He did it and waited for her to tell him she was done.
She waited until her was all the way around then began to undress herself. She walked to the waters edge and got in until she could fully put everything into the water except her head. "Okay." Came her reply.
He turned and walked toward her. "What are you doing?"
She backed away. He stopped and glared at her. "If you want that wound washed properly you need to stop moving."
"I don't have a shirt on."
"I am aware."
"But what about…..."
"Let me wash the wound. We can worry about that later."
"Just let me get my bathing suit top and bottom from my bag." She pleaded.
"Baetheeng sute?" He said questioningly.
"Just turn around please?"
He did as she asked and she quickly ran ashore to grab her bag and place her bathing suit on her body. She also grabbed her shampoo and conditioner from the bag before returning to the water. She set it on the side of the spring then lowered herself back below the water.
"Okay." She nodded and he came closer. He stopped before her waiting for her to step above the water. She took a breath of air and slowly made her way up. She brought her arms protectively around her breasts fearing the material transparent to his gaze and almost shivered as she felt him scrubbing at her body with a soapy substance. He came to her abdomen and carefully as possible scrubbed the blood away from the wound. When he finished cleaning it he signaled for her to rinse the stuff off.
When she came back up she stayed just below the water. She then grabbed her bottle of shampoo and began scrubbing it into her hair. He raised an eyebrow questioningly. She finished her hair with the conditioner and then stepped to him.
"It is shampoo and conditioner. Stuff I use to wash my hair and make it soft. Here let me show you." She carefully poured an amount into her hand the cautiously walked up to him. "Can you bend your head back please?" He appeased her and she began rubbing it into his hair. She swore she heard a rumble from somewhere. "Now lower yourself into the water and wash it out. She repeated the process with the conditioner. His hair was shiny from the stuff she had put into his hair and it had smelled good too.
She might as well finish the job. He held out the stuff he had used to wash her body then turned his back to her.
She looked at the stuff in his had and to the back of his head. Did he want her to wash him?
She realized that was exactly what he wanted. Carefully she took the stuff and carefully slid his now clean hair over his left shoulder and began to clean his back. Every once in a while a muscle would twitch. She made her way around to his front and scrubbed his abdomen and where his hard muscles lined all the way until the water began. His muscles were even more toned than Inuyasha's had been. It annoyed her she still thought of him. Once finished she stopped and quickly handed the stuff back.
He looked at her hand and then to her. "There is more to me than what is above the water."
§§§
"I wonder when Kagome will get back. I'm worried about her."
"I don't know Shippo." Sango replied. "But it is time for you to go to sleep."
"I want to wait for Kagome to get back."
"Shippo you need to listen to Sango. I am sure Kagome will come back soon."
He grumbled knowing he was fighting a losing battle and slid into Kagome's sleeping bag and was soon asleep.
"I do agree with Shippo. I too am worried for Kagome."
"As am I Sango, as am I." Miroku replied.
§§§
She was blushing profusely. More than what is above the water. She repeated in her head. Does he mean what I think he means? Her blush turned even more crimson and she was wondering why her face just didn't explode. She had never been so embarrassed.
"Milord?" He raised an eyebrow as if trying to read her unasked question.
He rolled his eyes. Oh how he hated to repeat himself. "I said there is more…."
"I know what you said." She out busted before she knew what she was doing.
He had growled minutely and had her pressed firmly against a rock before she had blinked. "You will not interrupt this Sesshomaru when he answers stupid questions." His hand moved to her stomach and applied pressure to it. "I take no pleasure in answering them for it is rare."
She almost cried out in pain but Sesshomaru's mouth was hot on hers. Asking for a response she could not give. The injury was too much for this kind of pressure. Then suddenly she felt a piercing pain on her bottom lip. Sesshomaru drew blood from her lip exchanging it with his saliva. Then at once it was stopped and she was released into the water. She could only stare after him as he walked away and onto the shore once again.
She remained rooted to the spot touching a hand to her now bruised but strangely healed lips.
"You will not run away again because now whether you like it or not you directly belong to me. If you try I will know. You may have refused my brothers courting mark but mine is solely for the purpose of making sure you do not get away."
She could only stare confused. "So I no longer belong to Inuyasha?"
He sighed. "No. My mark will purify his mark."
"Will he feel it?"
He stared at her for a long while as if asking if she would care. Then silently he nodded looking away once more. Good. "Good."
He looked sharply back to her. She was looking into the depths of the water at her reflection. She stayed like that for a long while.
A scream broke the silence "We should go." They both could feel it and she was out of the water and dressed. Sango and Miroku were in trouble. She had to get there fast and they were at least three miles away. Silently without warning she took a hold of Sesshomaru's hand and her flames flared enveloping his person in their warm embrace. All at once they were back at the scene of the battle. He was confused. He was about to ask her when she said, "It is a gift. I will explain it later but right now my friends and yours are in trouble." With that she ran in the direction of where their scents were most prominent.
She was met with the sight of Kagura, Kanna, and Kohaku standing twenty some feet away from Sango, who had Hiraikotsu positioned and ready, and Miroku whose other hand was fingering his prayer beads. Something was amiss with Kohaku. He no longer possessed a jewel shard. He was here by his own will. Not Naraku's.
"Kohaku. Why must you do this? I can help you." Sango called out pitifully to her brother.
His only response was to look at her weirdly. Kagome's heart wretched painfully at the sight. Sango had a gash going from her shoulder to her hip. Miroku merely was bruised in several places. Shippo and Rin she could tell were hiding behind a bush with Kirara, Jaken and Ah-Un.
This battle had obviously been happening for a while. She hadn't been here to protect them. The stars were high and the moon covered most of the sky casting an eerie mist around their battle.
She slowly made her way to Sango. It was obvious her foolish pride refused to allow her to sink to the ground despite her wounds. Unlike Kagome's, who's even now was healing abruptly and quickly. It no longer hurt with each breath she took. Silently she took hold of Sango's weapon and pulled it out from her grasp dropping it to the forest floor and picking her up and away from the battle.
"No I must help him." She struggled.
"You cannot save him now."
"Yes I can."
"No you can't he is no longer under Naraku's spell. He is here by choice not will."
Sango's eyes widened obviously. How hadn't she noticed? She had been distracted by trying to help him to even try to look.
He struggling ceased and Kagome took her to the spring she had just vacated moments ago with Sesshomaru.
She pulled away Sango's shirt and walked toward the spring with a rag in hand and got it wet then walked back to the hysterical woman's side. She unceremoniously began to wash the blood off the woman's side.
Sango began to speak, tears silently rolling down her face, her body racking in hurtful sobs while she leaned on Kagome's comforting form. "How could he be here by choice? If he is no longer under Naraku's control why didn't he just come home to me?"
"Shh. Stop talking, save your energy for healing." Sango nodded and fell silent leaving Kagome to use her medicines to heal her.
§§§
They had gotten away. No sooner had the battle began that a fierce wind blew and immediately they all left.
He growled. He was in a lust for blood and the blood of Naraku's creations would have helped. He now sat brooding under a tree lightly listening to the houshi and the kits talk. Once in a while they would ask him a question he would answer with nothing. Soon they left him to his thoughts. What is this feeling I get when I am around Kagome? You get jealous. His inner demon supplied for him. Why? We want her to be our mate. Correction you want her to be our mate. Same difference. Shut up. You know it's true. I'm ignoring you. Lalalalalala. Fool you cannot ignore this Sesshomaru! I was trying to at least. Take her as our mate. But what if I don't want her….. Liar I am you I know your thoughts and your deepest desires. You cannot lie to me and tell me you did not like it when she did not protest to our marking. That was rather satisfying. Yes. This was ridiculous he was having a fight with his inner demon about Kagome. Speaking of which where is she? She has been gone for a long while. Go find her. I am.
He was gone leaving two confused creatures behind.
§§§
5230 words. Wow my longest chapter yet. Well review please. The contest is still going on be on the look out for more clues.
I am going to have a contest to see who can correctly guess who the couples are in the story matched with the correct Gods and Godesses. A few I have made terribly obvious and others quite clear. The first one or two people to get it right will get special mentions in my chapters to come. You only have to guess the couples of:
Hi and Aisu,
Ame and Mori,
Ai and Ki,
Kaze and Iwa,
and Hana and Hara.
Unmei and Chigiri have not been introduced officially yet. But you are welcome to try for them. They will not be characters from the origional show.
The rules:
How do we guess?
You let me know by either e-mail or review which ever you prefer. My email is Reviewing is just easier because my inbox is always very full.Plus I always look for those first.
Whens the deadline and how many times can we guess?
You get only one chance per every two chapters and by the time I reveal who they really are, or if I get all my winnersis the deadline and since I have no clue when that is you better get a move on because it could be the next chapter. Likely not but hey it is my Story.
When will I reveal the winners?
I will reveal them when the contest is officially closed. until then only the winners will know whether they have won or not
How will you know if you have won?
I will let you know before hand by e-mail if you were correct or not so be sure to leaveyour e-mail address with your review or e-mail.
Clues:
1.) The way the people act or what power they have acts accordingly to which god or goddess they are.
2.) Names also accord with certain powers.
Well leave a review.
Ja ne
XOXOXO
Raining Tear Drops