Chapter 20: Goshinboku Tree
Sesshomaru's journey lasted less than a day and night was starting. He stopped in a village where he saw Inuyasha's friends; the monk and demon slayer.
"What bring you here, Sesshomaru? Another village you wish to slaughter?" The slayer nearly spat. Sesshomaru ignored her completely.
Kaori was following behind him carefully, still curious to know why he was anywhere near here. It was rumoured that the nearby forest was called Inuyasha's Forest for he was pinned to a tree for fifty years. Well, Inuyasha was freed now, so why was Sesshomaru here?
The monk held the slayer back and just watched Sesshomaru pass by. The villagers made way for him to pass without any trouble.
They nearly got to the end of the village when an elderly woman peeked her head out of her hut.
"Sesshomaru-sama. What brings ye here?" The woman asked. Sesshomaru looked over his shoulder at the woman.
"Kaeda, it's been a long time," Sesshomaru said.
"Last time I saw ye was nearly forty-five years ago, checking on the rumours that Inuyasha was pinned to the tree. He is no longer, as ye might guess," Kaeda said.
"I have business here, Kaeda. There is no need for your assistance," Sesshomaru said.
"If you're looking for a fight, Inuyasha isn't here," the monk said.
"I can tell," Sesshomaru said, looking at the monk.
Kaori was standing close to Sesshomaru, not saying a word. How did so many people know Sesshomaru? How was it that some many knew why he was in a village? Kaori looked up at Sesshomaru. He seemed to not showing any emotion at all.
"Sesshomaru, if ye have any business around here, can it not wait until morning? Night has come and it is almost impossible to locate anything in the dark," Kaeda said. "Especially with a human accompanying you."
Everyone averted their gaze to Kaori and she tried to make herself disappear in his boa.
"There is no need to rest," he told Kaeda.
"Humans need to rest. If ye have been travelling all day, she must be tired, though ye might not be," Kaeda told him. Sesshomaru looked down at her. She did seem slight weaker than when they had started out.
Sesshomaru turned completely around and nodded and the villagers searched the huts, looking for a free one Sesshomaru would be able to occupy. They found one almost out of the village, alone.
Sesshomaru got closer to it and froze. He hadn't been in that hut for a long time. Over sixty-five years. He looked down at Kaori and found her looking up at him with worry.
"I will not rest in that hut," Sesshomaru told Kaeda.
"I'm sorry, but it's the only one free. It seems no one will live in it for they are worried about the Izayoi spirit that is said to stay around this hut," Kaeda told him.
"I will not rest in that hut," Sesshomaru repeated.
"Sesshomaru-sama, Inuyasha no longer lives there. Forget any problems ye have with him and just rest one night in this hut," Kaeda told him.
"I'd rather rest under the star," Sesshomaru said, turning and walking away. Kaori stood, slightly puzzled. Why was Sesshomaru acting odd all of a sudden? Usually he didn't care where he rested and usually they would stay in the east end. What business did he have here?
Kaori followed Sesshomaru, slightly puzzled. Kaeda held a hand on Kaori shoulder.
"Lady, it is not wise to follow that one. It is rumoured he thinks of humans like insects. It will do ye any good to continue to follow," Kaeda warned.
"I'm going to take my chance," Kaori told Kaeda hurrying to follow Sesshomaru.
"That child will be killed one day," Kaeda said to no one in particular.
"Kaeda, why does that woman follow Sesshomaru? It reminds me of that human girl that used to follow him," Miroku asked.
"I believe she's in love," Kaeda told Miroku.
"With Sesshomaru?" Sango asked.
Kaeda nodded. "Does she not know who she's in love with? Is she that blind?" Miroku asked.
"She knows. And I think he cares as well," Kaeda said, looking at Kaori again. She had just disappeared into the shadows of the forest.
Kaori hurried to follow Sesshomaru. If he got out of sight, she wouldn't be able to find him. She looked around at her surroundings. She most likely wouldn't be able to find her way back to the village. She stopped and looked around. Every tree looked the same. She looked ahead and around. Where was Sesshomaru going? She was completely lost with no protection at all. She sighed and fell to the ground. Might as well give up. She looked up at the stars.
Why was he acting odd? He usually waited for her to join him. He wouldn't leave her behind. What was happening to Sesshomaru? Was he ill or something? Kaori sighed and lowered her head. She was lost in a forest in the middle of the night in an unknown place to her. She had never been over here before. She stayed in the east. It's where the well was and her village. Also the training grounds.
Kaori sighed again. What she wouldn't give to be in that old hut with Jaken, Sesshomaru and Rin eating Instant Ramen. Kaori stood. No sense in just sitting there in the middle of no where. She looked around. She started walking forward, wherever it led her to.
Twigs and branches cut her, but she continued walking. She tripped over a root and fell on her face onto grass. She got up and brushed herself off, looking around. A large tree was in the middle of a clearing.
She looked at it. It must be important seeing that it was secluded from the rest. She came to it and touched the bark. It was rough and she smiled. Just a regular tree. Little did she know that Sesshomaru was on the other side, doing the same thing. He eventually got mad and hit the tree, startling Kaori. She peeked her head around the tree and saw Sesshomaru standing with his fist hitting the tree.
"Why are humans so confusing? Why don't they just mate and do it as simple as that?" Sesshomaru asked. "Proposals and weddings are stupid."
Kaori just stood, watching and listening. He never even sensed her presence. He turned and slumped to sit at the base of the tree. Kaori just stood and watched, not saying a word.
"Their customs are so wrong!" Sesshomaru nearly yelled. "What's the point in marriage? Mating is a strong bond than some stupid marriage. As her father said, they can be broken."
'So he's been talking to my father. That's how he knows about weddings and proposals,' Kaori thought. Kaori just listened. 'How dare he call my customs stupid!'
A tear escaped her eye and an accidental sob. Sesshomaru was alert and looked behind him to Kaori.
"Kaori," Sesshomaru said.
"Jack ass!" Kaori yelled.
"I, Kaori-" Sesshomaru stuttered.
"Save it. If you find my customs so stupid, why did you love me?" Kaori asked. Before he could respond, Kaori continued. "You didn't. All you wanted was a strong ally. That's all I was to you. A strong ally. A strong princess that could be good on your side. Use and abuse. That's all you demons do. I should have realized that from three years ago."
"Kaori, that's not true," he told her.
"You kept me alive because you would just lose a strong ally if I wasn't alive, correct? I swear, your brother must be smarted than you. You can see how happy they were together. How he risked his life for her," Kaori snapped.
"I did too," Sesshomaru told her, getting angry.
"You risked your life for me when I couldn't die. The more I told you that, the more you risked your life. I can't die! Get it through that skull! Why did you risk your life?" Kaori asked, yelling.
"Because I love you," he told her.
"No. Love isn't calling my customs stupid. I got you to meet most of my family and taught you some human stuff like food. And guess what, you liked it. But underneath, you hated it, didn't you?" Kaori spat. "All lies."
"They weren't lies," he told her.
"Then all the times I told you about my culture and species, you never once made an attempt to teach me about your demon culture," Kaori cried. "You never accepted I was a human, did you? I accepted you as a demon but you couldn't accept I'm mostly a human. And you hate humans, don't you?"
Sesshomaru was blown back. How did she find out he hated humans?
"I used to. I don't anymore," Sesshomaru said.
"Yeah, when did that change? After Rin? After me? Or never?" Kaori cried. "I never want to see you again!"
Kaori turned and ran full blast one direction. She didn't know where it was leading, but she if she went one direction and didn't change, she was getting farther and farther from him. She instantly got an idea. While running, she put her hand to her locket and pull it off and threw it away. She wanted no part of him anymore. No more reminders of his lying love for her. She eventually collapsed near a cliff. She caught her breath and walked forward. The sound of running water was coming from over there. She came to it and found a cliff connected to a waterfall. Tears were still streaming down her face. She could leap and attempt suicide, but the black pearl would protect her. She placed her hands on the clasp of it and unlocked it, putting it on the ground. Now if she jumped, she most likely die. She sighed and closed her eyes, just hoping her body would make the jump. She instantly felt a hand on her wrist. She could feel the claws and instantly started struggling against him.
"Kaori, stop this nonsense. You're not going to jump and you haven't given up on your love," Sesshomaru told her.
"Let me go!" Kaori yelled, pulling away from him. She pulled too hard and he let go by accident, letting her fall into the water. He caught her wrist again, leaning over the cliff.
"Kaori, don't do this," he told her.
"Why would you care?" Kaori asked, tears streaming down her face. "I'm just a human now."
"Kaori, come on," Sesshomaru said, pulling her up. "I need to do something now."
Kaori opened her eyes and looked up at him. He brought her to land and pulled her close.
"Kaori, I wonder, what is love?" Sesshomaru asked.
Kaori sniffed and allowed Sesshomaru embrace her. "You would die for the other person, you would die if they did, risk everything for their life. There's no definite definition for love," Kaori told him.
"From what you said, I'm in love with you," he told her. He pulled her away and looked into her eyes. "When I saw you pull away and start falling, my heart stopped and I did the only rational thing and catch you. Even though you said all of those things to me."
Kaori looked into his amber eyes. He truly was in love with her.
"I need to do this before I change my mind, so please come," he told her. Kaori wasn't exactly ready to trust him and pulled her hands to her chest and nearly planted her feet.
"Can you explain something first?" Kaori asked and saw him stop and look back at her.
"What?" Sesshomaru asked.
"You acted odd after we returned from my grandparents. Why?" Kaori asked.
"Everything will be explained soon," he told her, taking her hand delicately.
"I want it to be explained now," she told him.
"Then come," he told her and told her hand, making her follow him. She stopped, making him stop and look back at her. She pulled her hand away and went back to the cliff. She kneeled down and picked up something, putting it around her neck. Sesshomaru finally saw what it was and smirked. She had taken the black pearl off and now needed to return it. She took his hand and followed him back into the forest. He came back to the huge tree and came over to the side he was at. In the middle of the trunk was a void in the bark.
"What was there?" Kaori asked.
"Inuyasha. He was pinned here for fifty years," Sesshomaru told her.
"Wow," Kaori said, looking at the void.
"Look, Kaori, your father and grandfather talked to me that day you went out with the females," Sesshomaru told her. She looked up at him. "They were telling me about rings for a wedding and engagement."
Kaori smiled and continued to listen.
"So, that day we went to the jeweller's to see rings. And I saw the perfect one for you in a book and your grandfather bought it for me," Sesshomaru told her, reaching into his shirt and pulling out a small box covered in red silk.
Kaori's eyes went wide as she looked at the box and them back up at Sesshomaru.
"I had to get it for you. It probably doesn't compare to your beauty, but it caught my eye," he told her. He was then remembering what Kaori's father had told him.
Go down on one knee and open the box. Then ask her to marry you.
Sesshomaru bent down on one knee and looked up at Kaori. How he hated to be lower than a woman, but this was for Kaori. He flipped the box open and Kaori's hand went to her mouth.
"Will you marry me?" Sesshomaru asked.
Kaori was speechless. She never expected Sesshomaru to be doing this. She always thought Sesshomaru would quickly tell her about mating, then mate her. She never thought he would try human standards. Kaori looked at Sesshomaru and then at the ring. It was the same colour as he eyes. She smiled and lowered her hand, tears brimming her eyes.
"Yes, Sesshomaru," she said. She saw his eyes light up and he stood, taking the ring out. He took her right hand and she laughed. "Other hand."
He took her left hand and put the ring on her ring finger. She looked at it and then at him. They kissed and embraced each other.
Kaori were resting underneath the Goshinboku Tree the next day. Kaori was in Sesshomaru lap, resting her head on his chest. He was leaning against the tree, relaxing now that he had popped the question. He had later explained why he was being so secretive and why they had travelled here. This was the place every Uzuha Kaori was purposed to, or so Kaori's father had told him. Kaori smiled. She wouldn't care where she was asked, just as long as it was Sesshomaru. She twirled the ring between to fingers. Suddenly, Sesshomaru smelt something familiar. It was Inuyasha and his woman. How did they suddenly show up?
Sesshomaru was suddenly alert and Kaori could tell. She could also tell he was trying to understand what was going on.
"Kagome, why do you want to take me here?" Inuyasha asked.
"Just come. I have this feeling," Kagome said.
"Is it a Sacred Jewel?" Inuyasha asked.
"No, not that type of feeling," Kagome said. She came to the clearing and found Kaori and Sesshomaru relaxing in the shade of the tree.
"Sesshomaru," Inuyasha said, coming from behind Kagome.
"Inuyasha," Sesshomaru said. Neither were making moves to attack each other.
"Holy shit!" Kagome exclaimed. She was looking at the rock on Kaori's hand. Kaori looked at her hand and then hid the ring as much as possible.
"What's the matter, Kagome?" Inuyasha asked.
"She... You..." Kagome was shocked. How would he know anything about human customs? And that ring looked like it was modern.
"I see you've noticed our secret," Sesshomaru said, running his claws through Kaori's hair.
"Why can't you be more like your brother?" Kagome asked, hitting Inuyasha.
"What are you talking about?" Inuyasha asked.
"They're engaged," Kagome told him.
"What's that?" Inuyasha asked.
"Didn't I tell you to talk to my grandfather?" Kagome asked.
"Yeah... Uh, oops?" Inuyasha said, backing slowly away from Kagome.
"You didn't, did you?" Kagome growled.
"What can I say? He scares me!" Inuyasha said. Kagome was nearly red in the face at how angry she was at Inuyasha. "You do too, sometimes."
"SIT!" Kagome yelled. A huge thud was heard and Kagome stomped off. Inuyasha stayed planted in the grass for a while before he ran after Kagome.
"And you wanted to be more like them?" Sesshomaru asked.
"I changed my mind," Kaori told him, rubbing the jewel again. It just seemed so nice. It shined and reflected the sun just perfectly.
"Maybe we should return to Jaken and Rin. They might be searching caves again," Sesshomaru told her.
"We should tell them the news, but my parents don't even know yet," Kaori told him.
"I have a feeling they already know. They, uh, threatened me that if I returned to your time without asking the question, I was, uh, going to be dead," he told her.
"Their threats are mostly empty," Kaori said.
"You're mom's a priestess, Kaori, as well as you. Both of you could purify me if you wanted to," he told her. "And I would die."
"I know. But she hasn't purified a demon in years. Just relax. We're engaged, so they won't hurt you," Kaori said.
"What about the wedding?" Sesshomaru asked.
"What about the wedding?" Kaori asked.
"Where is it going to take place? I have family here and you have family there. How will this happen?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Do you even know what a wedding consists of?" Kaori asked.
"No," he told her.
"First thing's first. You need to know what it is," she told him.
"I hate lectures," he sighed. Kaori playfully hit him on the arm and relaxed in his arms.
"Some other time," Kaori told him. "It's time to relax."
Sesshomaru played with Kaori's hair while she relaxed. It was a sunny day with warm temperatures. A perfect day to be relaxing underneath a tree.
They stayed the night in the same spot, just relaxing. Neither were talking too much and Kaori gasped when she saw some fireflies come out near dusk. They flew around the tree and them and Kaori laughed, trying to touch one. Sesshomaru looked at them too, but not with as much fascination.
"I want to stay here forever," Kaori told him.
"Life goes on," he told her.
"But it's so beautiful here," Kaori told him.
Sesshomaru smirked and thought of another place he had found on one of his journeys. If she thought this place was beautiful, she would most likely think that place was magnificent. He tightened his grip around her waist and rested his head on her shoulder. She sat between his legs on the grass.
Kagome's scent was located nearby and Sesshomaru raised his head and looked in that direction. The smell of tears was also from that direction. He instantly smelt the dead priestess that was Inuyasha's old love on the opposite side of the forest and turned his head that way. A soul collector flew out and travelled around Kaori, Sesshomaru and the Goshinboku tree before returning to the shadows of the night. Kaori saw it and crawled closer to Sesshomaru. She did not like the looks of that. Sesshomaru looked ahead and smelt wolves. And then behind the tree was Inuyasha. Great, everyone.
"Kaori," Kouga said, coming from the shadows.
"Kouga, uh, hi," Kaori said nervously.
"How have you've been doing since we last met?" Kouga asked. He was instantly alert and looked at where Kagome was. "Kagome."
"Kouga, this isn't the best time," Kagome said, sobbing.
"Did mutt-face hurt you again?" Kouga asked, growling.
"This is none of your business," Inuyasha said, coming from behind the tree.
"If I found you hurt Kagome-" Kouga growled.
"You're no longer part of this!" Inuyasha yelled.
"I still care!" Kouga yelled.
"I wonder," Kikyou said, coming from the shadows with her soul collectors around her, "if we could solve this all tonight."
"What are you talking about?" Kouga asked. "And who are you? You look like Kagome."
"That bitch is nothing like me!" Kagome yelled. "I'm sick of being compared to her!"
Kaori and Sesshomaru sat, silently listening to this all. Sesshomaru decided to stand with Kaori.
"Deal with this on your time. We're leaving," Sesshomaru said and he and Kaori started walking away. Kaori's left wrist was caught by a clawed hand.
"Kaori, stay with me," Kouga asked. He looked at her hand and found the ring. "What is this?"
"It's a ring," Kaori said, pulling her hand away softly.
"I know that. But why does it look like mutt's eyes?" Kouga asked. He then saw the look in Kaori's eyes. "He... Did he mate you?"
"No, not technically," Kaori said, scratching her head.
"It's human customs," Kagome told Kouga. "To you, it might mean she's mated."
"How could you?" Kouga asked, grabbing her arm with more force. "After I told you."
Kaori tried to take her arm out of his grasp but he held it tighter. A low, dangerous growl was heard in the shadows and Kaori looked to see a pair of red eyes staring at her and Kouga.
"Let her go," a voice ordered.
"Two can play at that game," Kouga laughed as his eyes went red.
"Kaori, move!" Kagome yelled.
Kaori's arm was released as Kouga ran into the shadows towards Sesshomaru. Kaori saw the red eyes disappear and then growls heard. Whines and barks were heard and Kaori was held back by Kagome.
"The winner will walk out. From experience, don't go join them," Kagome told her.
"Sesshomaru!" Kaori called out.
A few more whines, barks and growls and then it went silent.
"I take it that they killed each other," Kikyou said calmly.
"You bitch!" Kaori yelled, turning to Kikyou. She walked with anger towards her and put her hand to where the Tenseiga would be. All she found was the sheathe. She looked down and nearly kicked herself. They both left it at the palace. That meant Sesshomaru had no protection. She turned and ran into the forest full blast and instantly smelt blood, even with a human sense of smell. She showed up and found Sesshomaru's arm covered in blood and Kouga kneeling on the ground with a complete hole through his gut. Kaori couldn't take it anymore and dashed to the bushes and vomited. Sesshomaru's eyes had returned to normal and he came over to Kaori. He went to put a comforting hand on her shoulder and found his arm full of blood. He tried to wipe it off but found his entire shirt covered in blood. He then noticed the amount of blood around and was shocked Kaori hadn't vomited earlier. It was like a war zone and shockingly, Kouga was still alive. All of it was his blood.
His eyes were still red with furry, but during the battle, silently both agreed not to transform. Kouga was growling and Kaori turned around and instantly saw a bloodstained shirt. She closed her eyes and covered her mouth, trying her best not to vomit.
"Still alive, huh?" Sesshomaru asked, red returning to his sight.
"I'm not going to give up on her," Kouga said, slowly standing. The hole didn't seem to bother him much. It also looked like he was healing. Sesshomaru turned and saw Kouga was standing now.
"Stop. Don't hurt him," Kaori said quietly. Sesshomaru looked behind him. She was looking at the ground.
'Who is she talking to?' Sesshomaru thought.
"I want no more blood spill. Just stop," Kaori said, almost gagging. "I love him and it's never going to change. So just stop."
'Is she talking to me?' Sesshomaru thought.
"Kouga, go back home!" Kaori yelled, looking up straight at Kouga. Sesshomaru had moved aside.
"Kaori-" Kouga started.
"If I don't do this, Sesshomaru will kill you. You have a tribe to look after and didn't you once say you needed to take revenge for your comrades? Stay alive a little bit longer and go," Kaori told him, fire nearly flashing in her eyes.
Kouga looked like he was ready to talk, but closed his mouth. He lowered his gaze to the ground and nodded.
"Kouga-" Kaori started, but Sesshomaru held a hand to her to stop her from continuing. Kouga turned and started walking away. He disappeared into the shadows.
Kaori hung her head. She felt awful for saying that. He was a good friend, but he had more than friendship feelings for her. She looked at Sesshomaru and saw him looking down at him.
"Go wash up. You're covered in blood," Kaori told him, walking away. Sesshomaru nodded and followed the faint sound of water. He stripped his shirt off and started washing it into the river. It was coated in blood when he was halfway done. Kagome's scream was heard near the tree and Sesshomaru stood up, dropping his shirt to the ground. Why had Kagome screamed?
He was curious to check it out, but it wasn't like Kaori had screamed so it was not his problem. He kneeled back to the river and finished washing his shirt. He didn't dry it off, making it see-through. He walked towards the tree to see if Kagome needed any help. As he neared, he heard Inuyasha nearly yelling.
"Kikyou, why the hell did you do that? She never did anything to you!" Inuyasha yelled.
"I'm fine," Kaori said. Sesshomaru continued walking towards Kaori's scent.
"Kaori, rest," Kagome told her.
"Not until I kill that-" Kaori stopped suddenly. Sesshomaru sped up slightly. The smell of Kaori's blood was fresh as he neared, nearly making him speed to Kaori's side. He did, once he realized it was blood from a wound than from her heats. He was next to Kaori in no time and saw her hand covered in blood while the other held her chest.
"Sesshomaru," Kagome whispered.
He held an arm around Kaori while she kneeled on the ground. She was silent, but she was still breathing.
"Kaori, what happened?" Sesshomaru asked.
Sesshomaru then saw the arrow next to her, almost completely covered in fresh blood. Kaori's blood. He looked forwards and found Kikyou was the only one holding a bow.
"Bitch," Sesshomaru growled, standing. Kikyou nearly smirked as she got another arrow and aimed her bow at Sesshomaru. Kaori looked up and found Kikyou pointing a bow at her love.
"No!" Kaori yelled, forcing herself to her feet and running in front of Kaori. As soon as she did that, Kikyou let go of her arrow and Sesshomaru watched as it pierced Kaori's heart. Sesshomaru's eyes were wide as he caught her as she fell. She forced the arrow out and Sesshomaru looked up once he heard a gasp. Inuyasha had taken Kikyou by the throat.
"She has done nothing to deserve that twice!" Inuyasha yelled.
"I have my orders, Inuyasha. I thought you would understand out of all people," Kikyou told Inuyasha. She dropped her bow as she was pushed up against a tree.
Inuyasha was full of fury. Kaori had shown up and was pinned against a tree by one of Kikyou's arrows. She shockingly took the arrow out and kneeled on the ground alive. Now she was in the arms of Sesshomaru, dying. Or so everyone thought.
"I'm fine, Sesshomaru. Deal with that bitch for me, ok?" Kaori asked, dropping the arrow.
Sesshomaru laid Kaori carefully on the ground and stood. Kagome hurried to Kaori's side. Sesshomaru walked slowly, loving the way fear radiated of the corpse.
"Inuyasha, I'll deal with her," Sesshomaru said. Inuyasha turned when he heard the anger in his voice. Inuyasha dropped her and Kikyou picked her bow up. Taking an arrow, she aimed at the demon. Her orders were to kill the pair and she was.
She shot the arrow, but Sesshomaru smoothly caught it between two fingers and crushed it. Kikyou took another arrow and fired it at him again, but Sesshomaru caught it. This time he didn't crush it. He was in front of Kikyou and he pulled her up and slammed her against the tree. With the hand that held the purified arrow, he forced it through Kikyou's heart with excessive force. Kikyou's eyes were wide with shock as her only soul left her body and went straight towards Kagome and Kaori. The soul entered Kagome and she sighed. Her entire soul was finally with her and she felt whole again.
Inuyasha let one tear fall. His first love just died before his eyes once again. He harshly wiped it away and received a comforting hug from Kagome. Kaori kneeled in the middle of the area, bleeding. Sesshomaru let go of the arrow and everyone looked at Kaori. She had just dropped to the ground completely. Sesshomaru held Kaori in his arms as both of her ands were covered in blood. Kaori smiled at him and tried to sit up on her own.
"Kaori," Sesshomaru whispered.
"I can't die, remember?" Kaori told him. Kagome and Inuyasha came by and kneeled next to her. She laughed. "I'm fine, really."
Kaori held onto his shirt. She was in pain, but she wasn't going to die. Maybe she would lose some blood, but it would regain it as soon as the wound healed. Well, with two purified arrows that pierced her heart, it most likely take a few days.
"How can you live?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome's eyes looked like they asked the same question.
"I'm princess Kaori," Kaori told him, trying to sit up again, but fell back in obvious pain.
"Princess? Inuyasha told me you were Queen Kaori," Kagome said, looking at Inuyasha.
Kaori laughed and Sesshomaru smirked. "It's hard to explain," Kaori told them.
"Are you the daughter of the Queen?" Inuyasha asked.
"No. I'm the reincarnation of her, I guess," Kaori said.
"What about Sesshomaru? Isn't he your guard?" Kagome asked.
"I don't know about that," Kaori said, her hand across her chest clenching.
"We'll talk about this some other time," Sesshomaru said harshly.
Inuyasha and Kagome looked up at him.
"Naraku is going to die by my hands. I will make sure of it," Sesshomaru nearly growled.
"It was Kikyou who did this," Inuyasha said.
"She was under orders of Naraku," Kaori told him.
"She wouldn't work for him. He wants to kill her," Inuyasha told them. Kaori looked at him. His amber eyes looked like they held tears.
"We saw them together. She's working for him," Sesshomaru told Inuyasha.
"Are you sure? Are you sure she wasn't possessed?" Inuyasha asked.
"She used her soul collectors at her own will," Kaori told him. She then saw one of Kikyou's soul collectors in the sky. "Can someone kill them?"
Everyone looked up and saw three more join the one that Kaori saw.
"Their harmless now," Kagome told them.
"If they steal my soul, I'm dead," Kaori told them all. Inuyasha stood and extended his claws. He nearly smiled at Sesshomaru and Kaori.
"It'll be my honour," Inuyasha said and leaped into the air.
Kaori smiled as she tried to sit up once again. This time she succeeded and laid her head on Sesshomaru's shoulder. Sesshomaru almost hugged her, but her wound reminded him not to.
"We should invite him," Kaori whispered into his ear.
"You mean-" Sesshomaru started.
"Yes," Kaori said.
He turned his her to her. "We aren't that close," he told her. "And wonder if it's not here?"
"I have a feeling Kagome and him can travel," Kaori said, smiling.
"What are you whispering about?" Kagome asked.
Kaori smiled and relaxed.
Sesshomaru took the hand that held the ring and wiped the blood off with a clean part of his shirt. Most of it was bloodstained again.
Kagome gasped. It was beautiful. Amber, like the brothers' eyes, but a small diamond underneath the amber. She almost touched it but pulled her hand back. She then realized it was on her left hand.
"This is the ring I saw earlier," Kagome stated. Kaori nodded. "It looks like it's, um, modern. To my standards."
Kaori looked at Sesshomaru and smiled. She was right. She was from the future and Inuyasha most likely could travel. That's how they suddenly showed up.
"I'm like you, Kagome. My time isn't here," Kaori said.
"What do you mean?" Kagome asked. Inuyasha was heard landing nearby. He walked into the clearing and sat down next to Kagome.
"What are you talking about?" Inuyasha asked.
"Inuyasha, I think Kaori is like me," Kagome said, looking at Kaori and Sesshomaru.
"Like you how?" Inuyasha asked.
"She's from the future," Kagome said. Inuyasha turned to her and then looked at Kaori. Her clothes did look odd, but then again it was all bloodstained He then looked at Sesshomaru's clothing. It was black pants and a green t-shirt. He had seen clothing like that in Kagome's time.
"Sesshomaru, can you travel the eras?" Inuyasha asked. He saw a slight nod.
"Well, at least he wears the clothes," Kagome said, hitting Inuyasha's arm. Inuyasha was dazzled still. How was this possible?
"We are most likely having a wedding in my era. We, well I, want to invite Inuyasha and you," Kaori told them.
"I'm flattered," Kagome said, holding her hands to her chest. "Have you planned a date? Place? Clothing? Food?"
Kaori laughed and looked at Sesshomaru. He seemed slightly scared. He didn't know a wedding consisted of all that.
"We haven't even told my parents yet," Kaori laughed. She held her chest out of pain. She smiled after a while.
"Well, we could plan it together. We need the dressed and suits, guests, place of the wedding and reception, food, music..." Kagome was telling Kaori and everyone else. Sesshomaru held a hand up to stopped her and turned to Kaori.
"I thought your father just said I had to purpose to you and you would plan the entire thing. How will you be able to?" Sesshomaru asked. "It sounds like you're going to have to do a lot."
Kaori and Kagome laughed and Inuyasha looked at his older brother.
"We usually have help. We usually just ask for the guy's opinion once or twice, but we plan the rest on our own," Kagome told him.
"I would like more participation with you. This is your wedding as well. We could have the traditional demon clothing or food. I would like your species included," Kaori told him.
"As you wish," Sesshomaru said. At the corner of his eye he saw the look his brother was giving him.
"Most humans hate what we eat," Inuyasha told both Kaori and Sesshomaru.
"Well, she'll try it first," Sesshomaru told her. "Isn't that right?"
Kaori sighed and closed her eyes. When she opened then, two amber eyes were looking at her intensely.
"Won't you?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Yes, yes!" Kaori said.
Kagome laughed and turned to Inuyasha he was looking at her.
"No, we won't be doing the same," Kagome told him. He did his puppy dog face he had learnt from Sota while in Kagome's time and Kagome looked away. Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow. What was Inuyasha doing?
Kagome glanced at him and he was still doing the puppy look. His ears were folded down, looking sad. Kagome sighed and gave him a simple, "I'll think about it."
Inuyasha smiled and pulled Kagome to him. Sesshomaru gave thought to it. Maybe if he wanted something, he would try it. He gave Kaori a glance and saw her looking at him, perturbed.
"Don't even think about it," Kaori told him in a tone that told him not reply to it. He blinked at her, but said nothing.
"I can get my way other ways," he whispered once her look vanished.
Her eyes went wide and her mouth was opened, but she closed it and nearly glared at him. The looked she giving him that he didn't catch was that she was going to get him later. Kagome caught it and nearly laughed. She knew both were probably fighting for who was the boss of the relationship. She barely knew anything about Kaori, but from the three years she had heard about Sesshomaru and from what she knew, Sesshomaru was the boss of almost everything that was around him. He had two companions that would commit suicide if he told them to. He was the lord of a part of Japan and never took kindly to Inuyasha trying to piss him off. He had tried to kill both of them for many years and he was in control of all of the battles that conspired between him and Inuyasha. Inuyasha would end up the loser in most battles for they went to Sesshomaru's side.
Kagome let a giggle escape and Kaori looked over at Kagome. This would be a good wedding with her and Kagome working together.