Chapter Twelve: A Long Time Ago
Disclaimer: I do not own Inu-Yasha.
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"Hey Sesshomaru? Why don't we stop over there for the night," Kagome suggested sleepily. "Please?"
He wasn't in a rush to get anywhere, so he decided to let the human have her rest.
"Fine," he told her.
An hour later he was wondering why they had bothered to stop at the place the human had wished to sleep. So far, they hadn't spent any time there at all; the girl had wanted to find firewood and go to find water to bathe in. Sesshomaru was slightly irked. The human had insisted that he stay away from her when she was bathing, meaning that he had to be constantly moving if he wished to stop any demons that might be nearby before they reached her. He was getting more exercise now that they had "stopped" than he had been when they were actually traveling. It was completely ridiculous.
"Ahhh," Kagome sighed happily as she slid into the crystalline water. She was quite a ways away from her traveling companion, and she wasn't missing him. As she relaxed her tired limbs, her thoughts carried her to the feudal age that she knew. How is everyone doing without me, she wondered. Inu-Yasha came to her mind, and then his only living relative. She tensed with shock as she realized that Sesshomaru had known her even before she had first laid eyes on him. I guess I didn't make much of an impression on him…or rather, I guess that I'm not going to make much of an impression. I'll try though, she decided, determination clear on her face. I'll give him a reason to respect humans.
……………..
Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands, stood silently by the Bone Eater's Well. He let out a small breath of air that strangely resembled a sigh. For him, this was an intense show of emotion. His amber eyes alighted upon the well, and for a moment, they held regret within their cold depths.
Do you still not know me?
He glanced up as he caught his brother's scent on the wind. His eyes narrowed, and he turned to look at the sky above him. He could sense all of his brother's usual traveling companions coming his way…except one.
……………..
"We're almost to the well," Shippo proclaimed, peering out over Kirara's side at the ground far below.
"Good," Sango whispered, trying not to wake the sleeping Inu-Yasha. "Is there any sign of Kagome?'
Shippo looked out curiously. "There is someone down there," he said after a moment. "But I don't think that it's Kagome."
"That's odd," Sango murmured. "I can't make out who it is though…I don't have your demon vision Shippo. Kirara? Would you land in the forest near the well? We should proceed with caution; it may be a demon.
The moment they landed, Inu-Yasha's eyes flew open. He was on his feet in an instant, and was making his way to the well.
"Inu-Yasha," Miroku called quietly. "What are you doing? Should you be moving in your condition?"
Inu-Yasha looked at the monk with a slightly lost expression that came from having to handle surprising information just after waking up. "It's Sesshomaru," he said.
Sango and Miroku quickly stepped up so that they were walking with Inu-Yasha. No matter what Inu-Yasha might think, he wasn't in good enough shape for a full out battle with his demon brother.
"Be careful Inu-Yasha," Sango warned as they neared the well.
Blatantly ignoring the advice, Inu-Yasha stepped out of the forest to confront his brother. "Sesshomaru," he said with dislike. "What are you doing here?"
"Am I not free to go where I choose," Sesshomaru asked.
Inu-Yasha, not realizing that the question was rhetorical, answered. "Feh! Go where you like, but keep away from this well,"
Hatred bubbled up within Sesshomaru. He had come upon the well long before his brother had even been born, and yet he was not to be allowed to see it? This demand was insufferable.
"I will not be commanded by you, half-breed," he declared, his features betraying no emotion.
Inu-Yasha drew his sword. "Oh yeah? We'll see," Inu-Yasha challenged.
"You aren't in any condition to fight," Miroku said, placing a firm grip on Inu-Yasha's shoulder.
"Hey," Inu-Yasha shouted angrily. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Put away your sword, brother. You cannot drive me from this place." Sesshomaru smirked. "Especially when you are unable to even protect one human. Where is the girl you normally travel with, I wonder?" It was bait; he didn't delude himself in thinking that his brother would answer questions if he asked politely.
Inu-Yasha bristled, but felt that his brother was at least partially right. "I don't know," he said quietly, almost to himself.
One of the Western Lord's silver eyebrows arched. "You do not know? And where do you think she is?"
Inu-Yasha was too lost in thought to comprehend how unusual the question was. "She disappeared down the well," he mumbled.
If Sesshomaru was surprised by this comment, he didn't show it. Instead, he turned his back to his brother, and walked from the clearing. Inu-Yasha was absorbed by his thoughts, and didn't realize that Sesshomaru was leaving until he was far away. Miroku and Sango stood by, watching Inu-Yasha with growing looks of apprehension. Finally, Inu-Yasha snapped out of his reverie. He frowned, looking around.
"Where the hell is Sesshomaru," he asked, puzzled.
"He…left," Miroku replied.
"WHAT?"
…………….
The demon lord in question was currently walking in the outskirts of so-called "Inu-Yasha's Forest." He, like his brother, had a certain young miko on the brain.
The half-breed was worried, Sesshomaru thought. He doesn't know what happened to Kagome…
Many thoughts were flashing through his mind, but there was one that he kept returning to.
Do you now know me?
…(Time passes & we return to Kagome & a younger Sess)…
Kagome raised an eyelid, only to find that the sun was already rising in the sky. Her eyes shot open, and she hastily disentangled herself from her sleeping bag. She was only human, and she enjoyed sleeping in as much as any other person, but she also realized that this wasn't the time for such luxuries. She had Sesshomaru's help now, or not at all.
Quietly, Kagome got to her feet and made for a patch of bushes nearby to go get changed.
"And just where do you think you are going, human?"
Kagome sighed inwardly, and then replied. "Just going to get changed, 'k Sesshomaru? Then I'll get out my breakfast out and we can go."
"Do what you will, human, but don't stray too far afield."
Kagome went into the forest and returned to her backpack wearing her school uniform. She had plenty of clothes that she had chosen for herself back in her own era, but she could replace the uniforms so she always chose to wear those.
She rummaged around in her pack for a minute before she found what she was looking for; simple trail mix. It wasn't exactly a grand feast, but she had gotten used to eating on the go, so it didn't bother her.
"You want some," she asked, waving the bag.
Sesshomaru eyed it doubtfully. "I think not," he said, turning his head away.
"Suit yourself," she said, opening the Ziploc and reaching in.
They walked together in silence for a while, before Sesshomaru said anything.
"I've given you a day to explain to me of your own accord why we are going over the mountains, and yet you have said nothing. Now I must ask. Why?"
Kagome considered the question for a moment. She didn't want to tell him about the demon, but she didn't want to lie either. In the end though, she decided to tell the truth, or at least a small part of it.
Taking a deep breath, Kagome began. "Remember when I said that I live in a place that is different from this one?" Sesshomaru nodded, and she continued. "Well, there's been sort of a problem there…and…well, I can't get somewhere that I need to go. There's a swamp on the other side of the mountains…if I go there, then I can fix the problem."
Sesshomaru thought that there was probably a lot more to the story, but he didn't ask for more information. In all honesty, he didn't want to know, and hoped that he wouldn't find out.
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Please review!
I know…I know. Another short chapter…only 4 typed pages. Forgive me. I was actually planning on making this one longer, but I have to study for testing next week in school, so I didn't have the time. Anyway, hopefully I won't get any homework and will be able to post more next week. I hope that you liked chapter twelve!
On another note, you may think that Sess is a little ooc in this chapter, but all shall be explained later…maybe not soon, but it will be explained nonetheless!
golden-kitsunebi- Thank you! (That's what I do too! It seems like I'm always reviewing at night…)
PiNk LiTtLe BuNnY- Thank you:D
kyuushi- Lol, glad you like it!
Golden-Eyed-Girl- Thanks!
shadow miko- I tried to make this chapter mainly about Sess & Kag… Never fear, there shall be more!
kiannacat- He did? Cool! Thank you!
Gothic Lust- This one isn't longer, but at least I was focusing more on Kag & Sess…
Mickiy- Thanks!
NekoYasha101- I've got one! "Hooo…heeee….hooo…heeee…" (Darth Vader breathing through his filter mask thingamajig.) Lol, I may be completely out of lines, but the title of this chapter is kind of a Star Wars thing. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…STAR WARS! (Background music playing)
aninaig- Yeah, I know…there actually is a reason for the Inu gang bits of the story though. You'll find out later.
Celectis- I know… Longer chapters…maybe I can make the next one longer. (I say that every chapter, don't I?)
Kagura134- Thanks!
Cold-Hearted NightFox- Well, I failed miserably at the updating "soon" part, but hey, at least I updated! Hope you liked it.