I want to apologize to those of you who have been reading this story... I am terribly slack and have not been working on any of my stories. I am now going to try my hardest to finish at least this one by the end of the year...So with out much more rambling.
"Lord Sesshomaru, I apologize I was unaware that you were still alive in this time." Kagome was almost at a loss. What does one say to a twelve hundred year old demon that you haven't seen in five hundred years? What's up didn't really seem appropriate. Drawing on memories not her own she searched for the most diplomatic way to extract herself and companions from a potentially dangerous situation, quickly she realized she was on her own. Hiei was many things diplomatic not being one of them. "I am sorry that we have trespassed, had I been aware that these were your lands I would have asked your permission to cross them."
"I am unconcerned with your lack of knowledge Miko. What is your business on this Sesshomaru's lands?" He demanded.
Kagome realized that he was not going to make this easy. If the great Sesshomaru wanted to be rude and difficult than so could she. She owed no allegiance to him nor did she respect him in the least. He was as he had always been, Arrogant.
"We are on our way to the Northern lands, Lord Sesshomaru. We are on a mission for the Spirit Realm." Kurama interjected. " I apologize on behalf of our group. We will leave your lands as soon as possible." He finished with a low bow.
Sesshomaru gave Kurama a cursory glace before dismissing him, again he focused on Kagome.
"You have until nightfall to leave my lands. Do not let the sunset catch you on my lands Miko." With that he turned and disappeared into the trees.
Kagome watched him leave with trepidation and a bit of anger. How could things become this bad in only a matter of years. True it was only three years for her and over five hundred of Him, but this was worse than anything that she could imagine.
The quiet after the storm lasted for only a tenth of a second.
"What the hell was that about. How do you know a demon that old and powerful?" Yusuke demanded to know.
Kagome was not ready to give her life story to those who didn't already know it. Sighing she turned to Yusuke. "We don't have time for this right now Yusuke, we need to get moving. Sesshomaru is not playing around, and we don't know how much further we have to go."
Thankfully Yusuke took the hint and the group started out once again.
As they traveled at a much faster past, Kagome wondered about Sesshomaru, what the last five centuries were like for him. What had become of Rin, the child that followed Him around? Was that toad that worshiped him still alive? Was the time that had past so rapidly for her, a long and lonely one for the demon? What would it be like to see everything you've known change so rapidly? Kagome knew better than to think that Rin had found the secret of youth. She had passed along time ago. Was Sesshomaru lonely, was he bitter at his longevity or was he as callous as InuYasha had always declared.
How would Hiei feel when the time came for age to take her? As powerful as any demon was they couldn't stop the human life cycle, not and let the human remain as so.
Kagome had no wish to be anything other than human.
Shaking herself from her thoughts she watched the sun set behind the mountains. I hope we have crossed the border, she thought
As dusk became twilight the group decided that they would push on for a few more hours wanting to put as much space between Sesshomaru and themselves. Kagome knew that they hadn't seen the last of him. He always had a way of showing up were all the action was. Of anything you could say about him, he was always looking for someone powerful to fight. Kagome knew that all the power was in the Northern Lands. She could feel the power rolling in waves all the way to where they were.
Midnight loomed as the travelers decided to stop for the rest of the night. All could feel the danger waiting and wanted to be as well rested as possible for the certain battle ahead. Choosing a small clearing for a campsite, Kagome opened her trusty yellow backpack and started pulling out all she would need for the night. First to come out was her sleeping bag followed by her pajamas and cleaning supplies, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush and paste, hair brush, and hair band, towel, luffa and body wash. Finally she noticed all eyes on her. Curious and amused seem to be the most prevalent emotions coming from her male companions.
"What is all this stuff?" Yusuke asked. "How in the hell did you get all that in that bag?"
"It's just the essential," She answered. "And lots of practice, don't tell me you didn't bring anything?" She said looking at them. "What are you going to sleep on? Please don't say in the trees."
Hiei chuckled. "We do usually sleep in the trees, although I don't now smell any water around to bath in."
Kagome groaned before repacking most of her essentials. Keeping out the toothbrush and toothpaste, and pulling out a bottle of water and a metal cup. Under the watchful eyes of all three of her companions she pulled her hair up and brushed her teeth. Rinsing out her cup she repacked it once more regretting her inability to bath. Deciding against changing incase they had to leave in a hurry.
After getting the males to start a fire she quickly made a small diner of ramen for everyone except Hiei who was adamantly against eating it. Digging around in the black hole she called a backpack she came up with a power bar that seemed to be acceptable to the fiery demon.
"Honestly Hiei, I don't see why you dislike ramen that much." Kurama said. "It isn't that bad."
Ignoring him Hiei jumped into the nearest tree settling into a low branch. "Don't tease him Kurama, I don't mind if he wants something else." Kagome informed him stealing a glance at Hiei.
Although she wondered at his refusal, was it her memories of InuYasha or did he just really not like it. Given his history not taking food where it could be found was not the best choice for survival. Determined to ask him later she finished eating be for dousing the fire and crawling into her sleeping bag.
Knowing that Hiei was keeping watch she fell into a deep sleep before the last of the glowing embers faded.
Well there you have it, an update long coming. I can't promise that the next ones on the way anytime soon. I will say that I am working on it. In my head at least.