Sesshomaru

The glass shattered into a million pieces as Hojo went crashing through it. Luckily, no one was sitting by the window because after going through it, Hojo smashed into the table directly in front of it. He groaned once and tried to rise to his feet, before giving up and collapsing in an unconscious heap.

Kagome's friends looked at Ilyo in horror as the owner of the restaurant dashed out the front door and loudly demanded to know who had thrown the young man through his front window. Kagome attempted to explain what had happened, but the owner refused to listen. Then, sirens filled the air. Oh crap Kagome thought, somebody must have called the cops. Fortunately however, it was an ambulance that pulled up, not a cop car. She knew the cops couldn't be far behind though.

Kagome turned, and taking Ilyo's hand, attempted to lead him away from the scene of the crime. The owner of the restaurant quickly stepped in front of them. "Just where do you two think you're going? I believe you ought to pay for the damages to my establishment," he said angrily. Kagome's mind started racing.

How the hell am I going to pay for this? There's no way mom's credit card will cover it, she thought despairingly. Then, something odd happened. Sesshomaru stepped forward and confronted the owner. Kagome cringed in expectation of what was to come, but as the scene unfolded, she quickly grew surprised.

"Here, I believe this will cover the expenses." Sesshomaru handed a small piece of paper over to the owner. The man's beady little eyes went wide as he looked at whatever was written on it.

"Yes, this should just about cover it, sir. Thank you." With that, the owner scurried back inside the restaurant to calm his patrons.

Kagome could only gape at Sesshomaru, surprise slackening her features. "What the hell?" she finally burst out. He looked over at her and smiled. Kagome's eyes went wide. She had never seen him smile with any real sincerity in the expression. Suddenly, she noticed that Ilyo had gone rigid beside her. Kagome turned and followed his gaze, only to see Sesshomaru standing behind them. Listening closely, she could hear him growling. It only took a moment for her to make the connection.

"Holy crap, you're the Sesshomaru from this era, aren't you?" This question was directed to the Sesshomaru who had paid off the owner of the restaurant. He smiled broadly.

"Indeed I am. Who else would I be?" Kagome averted her eyes, feeling stupid for asking such a dumb question. When she looked back up, present day Sesshomaru had moved around her to stand directly in front of his past self, who was still growling deep in his throat. Present day Sesshomaru looked at him sadly and stared pointedly at his missing arm. Past Sesshomaru stopped growling and then reached out and gripped the arm of his counterpart. It was the arm that was supposed to be missing.

Past Sesshomaru looked up at his counterpart, confusion colouring his normally unmoving features. "I was under the impression that my arm was not going to grow back. Yet that is definitely my arm; I can see the markings. If it was the arm of somebody else, it would not be marked. How did this occur?"

Present day Sesshomaru smiled mysteriously. "I believe that before we start any tales, you should first accompany me back to my home." Without further ado, he whirled around and walked off down the road, stopping in front of a long, black limousine that was parked around the block. Kagome immediately followed him, pulling Ilyo along behind. Sesshomaru stood still for a minute, contemplating before he too followed the retreating form of his future self.

It was only when they had all clambered into the limo that Kagome realized someone was missing. Turning to Ilyo, she asked him if he had noticed where Inuyasha had disappeared to.

Pointedly looking away from her, he was silent a moment before responding. "He snuck off when we encountered the humans. I sensed some reluctance from him to be seen by them. Right now, he is returning to your home. I can sense his aura."

Kagome felt slightly hurt that Ilyo seemed very reluctant to look at her. She just couldn't figure out why. They weren't an actual a couple, after all. That had just been a lie she had formulated when she saw Hojo. She still felt upset that he wouldn't meet her gaze though.

Both Sesshomaru's noticed the expression on her face and glanced at each other. Although their faces remained emotionless, both thought the same thing: this won't end well. The rest of the car ride was silent, punctuated only by the sound of Kagome's clothing rustling as she leaned against the window.

Finally, the car slowed and came to a halt. Present day Sesshomaru opened the door and quickly exited the car. His three guests followed suit and then stood in silence, staring up at his house. It was huge. Castle was probably a better word to describe it. Kagome looked at the past Sesshomaru and was startled to see a look of longing on his face as he stared at the castle.

"What's up with you, Sesshomaru? Haven't you ever seen a castle before?" she joked. When he looked at her, a solemn expression on his face, her smile disappeared. She hadn't expected him to react, so she was shocked when answered her.

"I have seen this castle before. It is mine," he said, turning to his future self, "I'm surprised that you kept it for this long." The present day Sesshomaru stared at the castle, an odd look on his face.

"I couldn't just sell it; it is the only reminder of the days when I was still Lord of the Western Lands. Now, even though I am a still powerful, I no longer rule over this land like I once did." He said this with a look of such longing in his eyes Kagome couldn't help but find herself feeling sorry for the demon lord.

After a moment of silence, present day Sesshomaru looked up, his expression once again a black mask. "Well, that's enough of that. Please, follow me." With that, he made his way over the massive double doors that served as the main entrance to the castle.

Kagome trailed after him and was struck speechless upon entering the ancient domicile. The door opened up onto a giant hallway, which was adorned by pieces of artwork and small wooden tables holding beautiful vases and small ornaments. Many doorways could be seen on both sides of the hall, branching off into other parts of the edifice. At the far end of the hall was a colossal staircase, which appeared to lead up to a second, third, and fourth floor. Kagome just stood there gaping, until Ilyo came up behind her and gently nudged her forward. Taking the hint, she continued to follow Sesshomaru. He led them up the staircase to the second floor.

Once they reached the second floor, he turned left and led them down a short hallway. At the end of the hallway was a small door, which opened up into a medium sized room, with a couple plush couches and chairs. "Please, sit and make yourselves comfortable. I will return momentarily." He walked back through the doorway and disappeared. While he was gone, Ilyo and Kagome seated themselves. Sesshomaru remained standing however, his emotionless face staring straight ahead.

Present day Sesshomaru wasn't gone for long. When he returned, Kagome noticed he had removed his formal business suit, and was clad in clothing very similar to the clothing he used to wear in the Feudal Era. He smiled at Kagome's questioning look. "I feel more comfortable in these clothes. I did wear them for hundreds of years after all, and they are very comfortable." Kagome nodded at this explanation.

Suddenly, a serious expression came over present day Sesshomaru's face. He quickly seated himself in a chair directly across from where Ilyo had seated himself.

"Now, I would like to know exactly who you are. You smell very familiar."

Now it was Ilyo's turn to smirk. "Surely you recognize a brother when you see one."

Sesshomaru's eyes opened wide at that, shock registering on his features. A moment later however, he nodded, a contemplative look taking over for the previous shock. "So you are my brother? I presume something happened to keep you from contacting me years ago?"

Ilyo nodded. "I have already told my tale once today, and it is a long one. Suffice it to say that I was sealed away four hundred years prior to the shattering of the Shikon Jewel. I was awoken when it shattered and spent several years learning all I could about my remaining family members. Then, about three years after the jewel was broken, I sensed that the gods were becoming angry with the power of the jewel and I attempted to contact you and Inuyasha. I came upon you two fighting at the time-traveling well. The well was destroyed and we were all sucked into this era. Now, an angry god is collecting the shards of the jewel, and killing all who have come into contact with it. He will come for Kagome. It's only a matter of time."

Sesshomaru absorbed this information calmly before voicing another question."I see. Now let me ask you something else. Why is it that a future version of yourself has not contacted me? You said you awakened five hundred years ago; a powerful demon such as yourself would surely remain alive after a mere five centuries."

Ilyo considered that for minute before answering. "I'm afraid that is a complicated matter. It is very difficult to explain, but I will try. When I was younger, my power was immense and growing at an exponential rate. Before long, the gods themselves feared I would grow more powerful than even they were, so they decreed that only one version of me could ever exist at once. Since I am here right now, no other forms of me exist anywhere in time." He shook his head and chuckled humourlessly. "It's all very complicated. Anyways, they figured that if I were ever able to travel through time and team up with a future version of myself, that we would destroy them and take their place. A ridiculous notion, but still, they went ahead with their plan. Now, I can only exist day by day. If someone was to live a day with me, and then relived that day by magic or something, I would not be in the second day. That's as clear as I can make it I'm afraid."

Kagome was completely confused by Ilyo's explanation but she noticed that both Sesshomaru's appeared to be nodding in at least partial understanding.

Then, surprising everyone, past Sesshomaru asked a question. "How did you regain your arm?"

Present day Sesshomaru looked uneasy at the question. He glanced briefly at Kagome, and to her surprise, there was sadness evident in his gaze. "To answer that question, I must bring up a subject which may be hard for Kagome to hear." She was surprised, but indicated that he should continue his tale. "About two and a half years after the jewel was shattered for the second time, I came across Kagome alone in a field. At the time, I had become very bitter about losing my arm. She said she was sorry for the arm, and as she said it, she touched my shoulder. As she was talking, we both began to glow, and before our eyes, my arm began to regenerate. Once the glow faded, my arm had been completely re-grown, exactly as it had been prior to being hacked off by Inuyasha. She seemed as surprised as I was. I was overjoyed, and in my happiness, I embraced her. It was a momentary lapse of judgment, and Inuyasha just happened to arrive in time to witness us. Even though he had seemed to have lost his feelings for Kagome, he still flew into a blind rage at the sight of us. Before I could stop him, he slew her and took the completed sacred jewel from her dead body. Before my eyes, I watched him change from a half-demon to a full-blooded demon. He now works for me, as a sort of traveling agent, scoping out other companies." He ended his tale there, staring at Kagome apprehensively.

Kagome had barely heard him. Her mind had glazed over at the statement that Inuyasha had slain her. Even past Sesshomaru looked shocked at the announcement. Present day Sesshomaru just looked at her with sadness shining from his eyes. Suddenly, he looked up. Turning back to his guests, he motioned for them to rise.

"Brace yourselves; Inuyasha is coming. I must warn you, he has changed greatly from the half-demon that you all know. He may attempt to kill you all." As he said this, the door was suddenly opened with great force and a deep growl filled the air.