Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters they are the property of Rumiko Takahashi. This story was written for the purposes of entertainment and I by no means will profit from the story other than the satisfaction of exercising my imagination and writing abilities.
Chapter 20: After Dinner Conversation
The tension amongst the group was palpable even to two youngsters that sat amongst them. Unasked questions hung in the air as the group eyed each other, trying to find the words that would open the lines of communication without risking the tentative fragile peace that enveloped them now. Eyes flitted from brother to brother … wary … uncertain yet hopeful.
Inuyasha had joined the group shortly before dinner. Conversation had become awkwardly stilted upon his arrival. Each of them looked at him, trying to assess his mood, but failing miserable. Even Kagome was having trouble reading his thoughts initially. But as the meal wore on, in quiet tension, they each began to hope that this would be the turning point. Each of them sent up a silent prayer asking that Inuyasha's lack of communication would hold through out the evening.
The unasked questions weighed heavily within the minds of four that sat in the uneasy silence that surrounded the group. Miroku, Sango, Kagome and Kaede had spent a better part of the afternoon discussing theories as to how the jewel was to be destroyed. Many were thought of but all had been discarded when one of them found a flaw in the method. They had spent over an hour in such a way. Their views and opinions on certain theories may have differed, but there was one point they all agreed. The jewel had to be destroyed. They each understood and agreed that anything that had the potential to wreak such devastation should not be allowed to exist. There were many who would use it carelessly and in the end cause something to happen that was never their intent.
Upon Inuyasha's arrival they found yet another agreement, though silent. Each looked to the other in silent understanding when the hanyou rejoined the group. Inuyasha would not react well to this news. The hanyou had made it clear from the beginning that he intended to use the jewel to become a full demon. Now, more than ever they knew they would not allow this to happen. Sesshomaru's presence amongst them; and his words from earlier spoke volumes now. The taiyoukai would not allow his brother to use the jewel for such a purpose.
They knew that Sesshomaru would not allow anyone to use the jewel for any purpose. He had come with the express intention to help them destroy the jewel. And somehow Kagome was part of that equation. This much was understood and acknowledged by the amount and time and interest the demon lord spent with the young woman. Each of them longed to know, so they could begin to prepare, yet each of them was afraid to ask.
They knew, all of them, that the atmosphere around them was charged. There was an explosion waiting to happen, in the form a silver haired hanyou that sat between Kagome and Kaede, directly across from Sesshomaru. Each of them searched for the right question to ask that would open the discussion they all wanted to have. Yet loyalty and genuine concern for their friend kept them silent.
Sesshomaru was not oblivious to the tension that hung in the air. The looks that passed between the four adults, the confusion of the children, the barely controlled silence of his brother, he saw it all. He understood it all. Though he too cared about preserving this tentative peace (if one could call steadfast silence peace, yet it was preferable at the moment to the alternative that he had the misfortune to be party to first thing this morning) he needed answers. And he had already decided nothing, not even his brother's frame of mind would stand in the way. Too much was at stake and his brother was a grown hanyou, not some child to be sheltered and protected from the cold hard truths of this world.
Rin in her effervescent chatter this afternoon had unwittingly provided him with some new insight into the relationship between Kikyo and Inuyasha. In her own childish way she had led him to understand that Kikyo was going to destroy the jewel, but Onigumo, (who in Rin's story was described as a very bad man who was mean to Kaede), turned into Naraku and tricked Inuyasha and Kikyo into killing each other. Those parts of her story had piqued his interest. Yet she was still a young child, and questioning her further on the details of the story proved fruitless. He wished he had not sent Jaken back to retrieve Ah Un.
Looking around this group he knew he could get the answers he sought. His gaze flicked between the elderly priestess and his brother. The two of them would know in detail the whole of the story since they were both present at the time. Amber eyes rested on the hanyou momentarily as he briefly considered asking Inuyasha. The thought was dismissed even before it was fully formed. He needed specific details, and he knew in order to get them from Inuyasha he would have to ask pointed questions that would upset what little control the hanyou was exercising at the moment.
This silent peace between them was tentative at best. In reality Sesshomaru knew it was an explosion waiting to happen. He had watched his brother all evening. He had noticed the subtle facial twitches, the way his brother would clench and unclench his fist whenever he spoke. He knew Inuyasha was trying, but he also knew his brother's self control was tenuous at best. Sesshomaru however could not fault his brother for feeling that way. Kagome had been right, he had taught him that.
Yet, his brother's silence told him something else. Inuyasha was trying. His gaze flicked to the young woman who sat beside his brother. Whatever Kagome had said to him this morning had brought his brother around. Somehow this didn't surprise him. The young woman had a way of making others see things differently, and his brother was no exception.
As he saw it he had only one alternative. His eyes again rested on the elderly priestess. She was sister to the dead miko that Inuyasha had loved. The more he thought about it, she was truly the best one to relay the story. She was a third party after all. Even if she was a child at the time, she would have already started her miko training under her sister. She would recall things that Inuyasha and Kikyo would have overlooked as they were directly involved with one another and had too many emotions invested in the whole scenario.
"Lady Kaede," Sesshomaru's emotionless voice broke through the tense silence. The elderly priestess looked at the taiyoukai in undisguised confusion. He then made his request of her. "I understand from Rin that you told her a very interesting story the other day. She relayed much of to me, but there are some points that I am unclear on. I was wondering if you would be so kind to tell the story once more."
Amber eyes glittered like warm molten gold in the firelight as he listened attentively to the story Kaede retold once more for his benefit alone. The gaps that Rin had left were slowly being filled in as the elderly priestess gave him a less romanticized version of the story she had told the children the other day. This version may have lacked the emotional appeal but it did not lack the facts he needed. Unknowingly the old woman had answered many of his questions. There would be no need for further questioning. He knew that the old woman was uncomfortable with telling the story.
He knew why. The constant furtive glances she would cast at his brother as she spoke gave away her reasons. Inuyasha's unease had not escaped his notice. But Sesshomaru could not regret his request. Instead however he was pleased to see that his brother had maintained his steadfast silence as the old woman continued her story.
Indeed the hanyou was in an inner turmoil. Silently he sat in what he would have described as yet another version of hell. Inuyasha clenched and unclenched his fists as he listened to Kaede tell his brother about him and Kikyo. Somehow this gave him something to do to stem the tide of the current of emotions that were beginning to rise within him. The guilt, the agony, the heartache that stirred within him as she spoke, along with the mistrust he felt for his brother, mingled with incredulous confusion. He could not see a reason for his brother's interest in something that had happened so long ago.
But as he watched his brother, and saw the expression in his eyes, that small hope within his heart stirred as he saw remnants of the brother he had known and loved all those years ago. Even as that hope gathered strength within him, he could not stop the ache that came along with the memories. He could not stop the unreasonable feeling of anger that deepened its hold on his heart. Sesshomaru had asked Kaede about him and Kikyo. That both wounded and angered him.
He knew why. Inuyasha knew he would not have willingly told his brother about him and Kikyo. As Inuyasha watched his brother, it had become apparent that the story held Sesshomaru's attention. The taiyoukai wore his usual mask of indifference as he listened, but he was listening. Sesshomaru was never one to politely listen to the ramblings of an old woman, nor to solicit a story without reason. Everything his brother had ever done had held purpose. But once more he found that he could not begin to guess what that purpose may be.
Inuyasha closed his eyes to find the will inside himself to stay silent as Kaede relayed the parts about Naraku and Onigumo. All thoughts of his brother were momentarily forgotten as that name was said. He listened as Kaede told his brother about Naraku's trickery. He felt Kagome's hand on his left arm. Unconsciously he placed his right hand over hers. He squeezed his eyes tighter as he relived those emotions once more. But he kept his seat, hanging onto Kagome's hand. She was his lifeline to sanity, his shelter in this hurricane of emotions that swelled within him.
Somewhere through the haze of emotions that he was feeling, he comprehended what the old woman was saying. It was a confession of sorts, an apology. She had been the one to tell Onigumo that her sister intended to destroy the jewel. He opened his eyes in surprise and unintentionally pulled his arm from Kagome's grasp as he turned to look at the woman who sat to his right. When he looked at her, for the first time since he had been revived he could see the young girl she had been. He remembered how she was as a child. Forthright and outspoken, much like he himself was. But he didn't have a chance to acknowledge her apology or dwell on the differences between her and her sister that had sprung his mind as he was pulled out of his thoughts by his brother's voice.
"Do not trouble yourself with such thoughts. The past can not be undone." Sesshomaru had heard all he needed to hear. He could tell that the old woman truly felt guilty for her part, but he did not have time for such trifling displays of human emotions at this time. She was a woman grown, a priestess at that, surely she could see what was at work here. It wasn't an accident that any of this had happened, so there was no need to apologize. Her sister never should have considered using the jewel.
Inuyasha's eyes looked at Sesshomaru's face. His brother's eyes once again glittered like polished topaz. Once more it was cold impassive and unreadable. The Great Taiyoukai had returned and the brother he had thought he had seen moments ago was once more lost in the cloudy mists of his childhood memories. The words his brother spoke threatened to unleash the anger that lay simmering beneath the surface, ready to react to save his heart from further damage.
"You must understand that it was most fortuitous that your sister did not succeed in following through with her plan." Sesshomaru stated calmly.
The tones of his voice; calm, emotionless, and authoritative hid the emotions that had stirred within the taiyoukai. Everything the old woman had told him this evening only served to give further credence to his belief that there was indeed some force that was behind all this. Something, perhaps the jewel itself was preventing those who sought to use it from doing so. Now more than ever he truly believed that everything that had happened so far had happened for a reason. The story the old woman had told had been his proof.
How many times had the jewel exchanged hands over the years? Somehow it always ended up going from good to evil. Always, always there had been some seemingly random act to prevent the current holder of the jewel from acting. How many failed attempts at destroying the jewel had been thwarted as well? Countless, he wondered if these attempts had thought of using the jewel for good. So much death and heartache had come to those that had been connected with the jewel.
Amber eyes flicked to the young woman who sat beside his brother. Over the flames of the fire their eyes locked. The mixture of emotions animated her eyes. He wondered if she could feel the exuberance he was trying to keep hidden. He saw the understanding in her eyes, as well as a silent pleading. What she was asking him to do he did not know. His brother's growl was the answer to this thought.
"How the hell can you say it was 'fortuitous that Kikyo failed?" Inuyasha growled. Anger evident in every feature of the hanyou as his eyes locked onto his brother.
"Inuyasha." Kagome said gently. "Sesshomaru didn't mean that he was glad she died. He just meant it was a good thing she didn't use the jewel."
Kagome could indeed sense the taiyoukai's excitement. She was just glad his face was such an impenetrable façade of detached indifference when he spoke. Because, just as clearly as she could feel his excitement, she could feel Inuyasha's growing anger. All evening she had felt the fluctuating emotions from the hanyou who sat next to her. She knew that he was reaching his breaking point when Sesshomaru had begun to speak. Whatever had the taiyoukai excited had held his undivided attention.
"Aye, my sister never should have tried to use the jewel for such an endeavor. We only just began to understand today that what my sister tried to do would have failed. Is this not true, Lord Sesshomaru?" Kaede placed the question to Inuyasha's brother.
"It is. As you may have already come to understand, what your sister intended to do would not have destroyed the jewel but rather existence itself. Listening to your story seemed to confirm what I had suspected for some time. There are forces at work, forces that prevent the jewel from being used, for any reason, good or evil. Those that protect the jewel must understand what lies in their custody. As a guardian of the sacred jewel your sister swore an oath that denounced all worldly goods and desires and promised to never allow the jewel to be used for any reason. Her sole purpose as guardian was to maintain the safety of the jewel. It may have been her intent to destroy the jewel, but I can not help but wonder at her reasoning..."
"It was her intent. She hated that jewel, it stole her life. She wanted it gone more than anything so she would finally be free." Inuyasha interrupted his brother. Molten amber eyes reflected the anger and resentment Inuyasha felt. An unspoken challenge lay within their depths.
Inuyasha could barely contain his fury. It took all of his will power to not draw his sword and strike his brother dead for what Sesshomaru just said. The small voice of hope that had for a brief moment gained some strength and holding within him was all but dead. Anger and resentment burned within his breast as he seethed.
Sesshomaru spoke of Kikyo as if she were nothing. He spoke of oaths and duty. He knew nothing of what she had lost, of what she had given up for that damned jewel. And in the end she had paid the ultimate price. Even then, when her life was slowly draining out of her she had done her duty. For this duty, this oath she had sworn and kept, her reward had been death and an eternity in the bowels of hell. Only to be returned to this world a pale shadow of the woman she had been. A pale imitation of the woman he knew and loved. His one true desire was to give her back all she had lost and restore her to all that she had been.
The taiyoukai's attention was focused solely upon his brother. Yet again his brother had misunderstood him. Even with Kagome and Kaede trying to steer the conversation in the right direction his brother would take offence to everything he said. Instinctively he knew that Kaede could have very easily have answered that question, or directed it to the monk. He accepted the fact that they seemed to be trying to help him restore his relationship with his brother, though he doubted a conversation regarding the miko was a good place to try to start the dialogue of reconciliation. A movement beside his brother caught his attention. Amber met midnight then. He read the silent plea held in Kagome's eyes. Her words echoed in his mind. Words she had said to him just this morning.
"Tell him you don't hate him. Show him.… until he can't but accept it's real." Kagome's voice echoed in his mind.
Another memory flashed through his mind. A different voice, one filled with cold indifference as it spoke of Kagome's assumed demise.
"She is human just like the mikos whose souls she possesses. They were strong as well, but in the end they were still painfully mortal."
Hikari had not meant to wound him, or stir his emotions, but he had. His eyes returned to his brother then. He saw the anger burning in molten amber staring back at him. He noticed as his brother clenched an unclenched his fist in an effort to keep the emotions at bay. Understanding dawned within his mind then. And he could understand his brother's plight.
His eyes softened then as he regarded his brother with empathy. He too knew what it was to listen to the one your heart desired more than life itself talked about in cold callous indifferent tones. To Inuyasha Kikyo's life was just as precious as Kagome's. To him everything that had happened between him and the priestess was as fresh as it was yesterday. Fifty years of lifeless slumber had seen to that.
When he spoke, he used the tones of considerate empathy he had used to deal with other taiyoukai the past week. But with Inuyasha he didn't have to pretend, he knew how he felt.
"Inuyasha, I understand your confusion. This is something that I too have pondered many nights before I realized the truth of it. In all honesty I am certain the miko wanted to be with you. But I can not deny the faults in her line of thinking. I know it is not easy to hear her spoken of in such a way, but I only seek to speak the truth. Kikyo swore an oath never to use the jewel for any purpose good or evil. As protector of the jewel she had a responsibility to ensure that balance within the jewel was maintained. In the jewel's depths, good and evil co-exist in balance. Over the years it has been tried to have been used for one purpose or another over the years, but thankfully it has been purified before each attempt had been successful."
The hanyou noticed the change in his brother's voice. It still lacked the warmth and compassion of Kagome's, but it no longer held the edge to it. As his brother spoke, Inuyasha was amazed at how his eyes softened once more to that shade of gold. His brother was back, and the hope inside of him began to grow once more.
"If it's been purified wouldn't that mean it's filled with good energy? I thought using it for good would destroy it once and for all." Inuyasha was surprised at the lack of anger in his own voice. The haze of anger had subsided enough for him to actually listen to what his brother was saying.
Sesshomaru stole a quick glance at Kagome then. Encouraged by her smile and nod he turned his attention back to his brother and continued on in the same tones.
"Purifying the jewel only restores the balance within. The mikos who have protected the jewel over the years have lent their power to Midoriko's soul within the jewel to keep the balance within the jewel. That is why it was necessary that they swear to never use the jewel. The intentions are good, but it would only lead to certain destruction."
"I thought Midoriko made the demons weak and useless depriving them of their hate and desire to kill." Inuyasha said as he remembered the lecture Miroku had given them in the cave where Midoriko's remains were.
"Yes, of weaker youkai that is true. The demon that resides in the jewel with her is not a weak youkai. In his day he was a great Taiyoukai with immense powers. That is why she could not overcome him. She was not meant too. But she did what she had to out of selfless love for those who would have been helpless against him. Her selfless act had created this jewel, in which the powers reside in equal degree. The ancient battle of good and evil is fought within its bounds. The irony of which is, the very fabric of the universe depends on both for its survival. If one side were to finally be victorious and overcome the other, existence would be no more. Midoriko had unwittingly created something that could very well destroy much more than just what she had given her life to save."
"Well if we can't use it for good, and we know we can't use it for evil then what good is it? How the hell are we supposed to destroy it?" Inuyasha asked surprising everyone at his acceptance of his brother's answer.
"We break the barrier of the jewel using the powers of opposites to set the energy and souls within the jewel free once more."
"We're going to set the soul of the evil youkai free?" Shippo asked his eyes going wide.
"How do we use the powers of opposites?" Miroku asked trying to remember his spiritual training, but failing to land upon the answer.
"Kagome, does this have something to do with the other soul you possess?" Sango asked as it occurred to her this may have something to do with what Kagome had confided in her a while ago.
"Hai." Kagome said blushing, she had yet to tell them that she possessed part of Midoriko's soul. "The other soul I have besides Kikyo's is only a partial one, I have part of Midoriko's soul."
Midnight sought out amber in a silent plea for help. She knew there would be questions that she knew she wouldn't be able to answer without betraying her promise to him. Now she wished she had not kept silent about the whole affair. Now they would all know she held Midoriko's soul. It wouldn't be long before they began making connections.
Uncertainly she shot a glance at Miroku. If anyone was going to come to any conclusions it would be him. The monk was smart as well as intuitive. She would not be able to deceive him. Sesshomaru's presence would buy her tonight. She may have grown comfortable with him, but it was evident that they were still unsure how to act. This outburst of questions had been the first all evening. She knew it was more from their own burning curiosity than anything else that let them speak up.
"Kagome, if you have Midoriko's soul, won't the evil youkai come after you?" Shippo asked wide-eyed. Fear pouring from his very being. But Kagome was thankful for his question. The kitsune had effectively distracted Miroku from his thoughts at least for the moment.
"Kitsune, do not worry yourself needlessly. The youkai within the jewel still reside within the jewel intact. When the jewel was shattered, all the souls save one were intact and whole. The energy and souls were divided equally within the shards."
"Naraku has the shards in his possession." Sango countered, her brown eyes wide with fear and distrust as she addressed the taiyoukai. "If Kagome was able to bond with but a piece of the soul…Naraku's a powerful demon; he may be able to bond with the part of the youkai's soul that dwells inside the shards he has."
Sesshomaru regarded the taijiya. The words began to form in his mind that would both explain what needed to be explained and keep concealed what still needed to be concealed. As he was about to speak the monk joined in with a theory of his own.
"Naraku, even if he didn't initially bond with the demon's soul, has the ability to absorb other demons. Would he not be able to absorb this demon as well?" Miroku asked, latching onto to Sango's question.
"That can't happen if Naraku is dead." Inuyasha's voice broke through the group's chatter. The deadly intensity of his tones only served to reinforce how serious this was to him. All eyes turned once more to the hanyou. His features matched the intensity in which he spoke. Sesshomaru saw again the fierce warrior he had faced many times in battle. The warrior he was proud to call his brother within his heart. "I protected Kagome this long, I don't intend to watch her die…or put her in danger just so we can destroy the damn jewel."
The group was silent. No one spoke. There was nothing to say to that, because each of them knew he meant it. And somehow Inuyasha would find a way to make good on his words. Always, no matter what enemy or trial they had come up against, he had somewhere, somehow managed to reach deep within himself and make sure Kagome was safe, no matter what the cost to himself was.
Kaede had heard all this as well, but within her a memory stirred. The day Urusue had created the being that so much resembled her sister. Looking at Kagome, she now understood what had happened, and why the girl had been able to call the soul back. She held a piece of Midoriko's soul within her. If the souls were released, the remainder of the soul in the jewel would seek out the portion that Kagome possessed and it would become whole again. She knew what would happened then, and she both feared and welcomed the outcome, but she had to ask to be sure.
"What of my sister's soul? When Kagome regains all of Midoriko's soul, will it not summon the soul back as it did once before?"
"Yes, it will..."
"You mean to tell me if we destroy the jewel, Kikyo will die?" Inuyasha asked suddenly. Wide amber eyes regarded his brother for a moment. In their golden depths the truth was further acknowledged.
"Inuyasha," Kagome whispered as she put a hand on his shoulder. Guilt welled up within her heart. She would be the one to cause Kikyo's death this time. It wouldn't be a foul demon who intended to sully the jewel, no this time it would be a miko who intended to release the powers within it so the universe could be at peace once more.
Even through the compassion and the guilt that resided in her, questions began to form in her mind. Questions regarding her training and things that Sesshomaru had said earlier that day. Midnight eyes caught his from where he sat across the fire. The golden eyes seemed to plead with her to remain silent, to understand his plea. An almost imperceptible nod was all she could give him in answer. Kagome knew he understood. She would not question him here. He had his reasons, and she would respect them. Just as he had hers, but later when they were alone she would remember to ask him about the Kokoikomi and why it was important for her to learn.
"The Kokoikomi is a barrier that secludes you from the rest of the world, nothing can pass through it. Energy, sounds…only sight." Sesshomaru's voice rang clear in her thoughts. She wondered if that included souls.
A movement of red beside her brought her thoughts back to Inuyasha, and his feelings that had been momentarily forgotten. She looked at him in silent apology, which he seemed to shrug off. That was a good sign. He didn't look too angry or upset.
In Inuyasha's mind Sesshomaru's words from moments before ran through his head, "…I have suspected for some time. There are forces at work….there are forces at work…"
If what his brother believed were true than everything from his and Kikyo's death and resurrection were meant to happen. They were meant to help find a way to once and for all destroy this jewel that had already disrupted so many lives. Was it his destiny to live on? Not without Kikyo…he leaned forward on his haunches, silver hair falling forward, shielding his face from their view.
He breathed in deeply. Her scent, Kagome's sweet smell drifted into his consciousness then. She had to live. Out of everything, all his emotions, all his thoughts, that was the single thing that had never changed. Kagome must live, no matter what the cost…even Kikyo's life.
He knew the truth of that too. She was not alive. Even Kaede had said before that she was a demon; that the being that so resembled her was not her sister. He had known that, but until now his heart was loath to admit it. And this knowledge let him find the strength to truly accept the fate he had chosen those many weeks ago. He would keep his promise to them all.
He and Kikyo had their chance at a future once long ago. They had been given a second chance to help someone. Maybe, just maybe, there would be hope for them, but even if there wasn't, even if their fate was irrevocably sealed, he knew Kagome must live. If anyone deserved a future, it was Kagome. The girl from another time who had brought them all together, the one who finally showed him that it was okay to be who he was. Kagome didn't realize it, he hadn't until this moment, but she had in a sense already saved them all.
He stood then, aware that everyone's eyes were upon him. He looked down at Kagome's upturned face. He saw the guilt in her eyes. It broke his heart that she felt that way. She could not take Kikyo away from him. It didn't matter that she possessed her soul, he would always possess Kikyo's heart. Nothing could ever change that. A small sad smile graced Inuyasha's face.
"Don't worry. Everything is fine. I'll keep my promises to everyone." His voice was steady and strong. His eyed relayed his resolve to Kagome and she felt her heart crumble with a mixture of pride, sadness and other emotions she could not name. He walked away from them then. He walked out of the village, into the moonlit night, away from their looks and stares, and most especially their questions. The God Tree was his destination.
They all knew where he was headed. Only Kagome understood what his words meant. She would not let him go to hell…either of them. She would find a way to save them both. They had been through so much. They deserved a chance at happiness as well. She intended to see that they got it.
If that meant Kikyo had part of her soul, that was fine with her, she had been surviving on partial souls as it was.
No one spoke another word. All eyes rested upon Inuyasha's departing form. They all knew where their friend was headed. A heavy silence filled with sad concern filled the air. Inuyasha's words may not have been understood, but his tone carried with it an ominous note. All eyes turned to Kagome. The stricken look in her eyes told them what he had not.
Kagome had understood what his words meant only too well. She had heard him promise Kikyo.
"…my heart and soul are not mine to give away. My promises are, and I have promised to finish this. I have also promised you that I will go with you willingly when this is over."
Even now Kagome could feel his loss, his despair. He had offered Kikyo his love, and she had thrown it in his face. But that didn't change his heart. Kagome wished now as she did then, that she could change everything for him and Kikyo. She was going to lose one of her dearest friends, and Kagome didn't intend to lose anyone. Not like this, he had so much more to give and learn. She would not allow him to lay down his life so easily. He had been given a second chance for a reason. Kagome was sure it wasn't so he could give up and go to hell in the end.
Midnight caught in expectant amber eyes. A raised silver brow was the only outward sign that he like the others waited for her to speak. But she could not, not yet while her thoughts were racing, as a thought again recurred to her...the Kokoikomi, Sesshomaru didn't intend for the soul to go back to her.
"Kagome, what did Inuyasha mean?" Shippo asked.
The kitsune's question quickly dispersed any relief that the thought had given her. She knew she would have to tell them what Inuyasha meant. "He promised Kikyo, when this was over he would go with her willingly to hell."
The words hung in the air. They seemed more ominous now that she had said them aloud to anyone since that night. She saw the looks on their faces, and understood their feelings. She felt them too. Only Sesshomaru's face remained unreadable. But somehow, she knew, she believed that he wouldn't let that happen. Especially now that he knew what his brother intended to do. He hadn't fought him and perpetuated this farce of a Vendetta just to see his brother lay down his life to join some female in hell; especially a human female.
Kagome's thoughts were correct. Sesshomaru had no intentions of letting that last piece of the soul return to Kagome. She had unwittingly given him another reason to prevent that occurrence. Sesshomaru had no idea his brother's feelings for the dead miko ran that deep. It was almost unfathomable to him, but as he looked at Kagome he could almost understand why his brother would welcome death if the priestess were to return to the world of the dead. Despite this, he couldn't let that happen. He had a promise to keep to his father. Somehow he would keep it.
Looking around the group it was evident that they felt the same way. He would have allies in them. Not just to defeat Naraku, but they would help him save his brother from himself. He looked at Kagome then, and knew that they would succeed. He could see the determination that burned in her midnight eyes. With her on his side, anything could be accomplished.
He felt it then, someone had passed through the barrier he had set around the village. Only one being could have done so…that was because part of her soul was already here, sitting across from him.
If he allowed himself to laugh, he would have at the irony of it all. The priestess Kikyo had come, and he would face her for the first time. Yet he could not help the feeling of distaste for her that permeated his being. He knew too much, and he was prejudiced against her. Her very presence in the vicinity of Kagome was enough to lay waste to all his carefully laid preparations. He could not let that happen. He rose and excused himself from the group, once more wishing he had not sent Jaken away to retrieve Ah Un, the imp would have come in handy tonight.
Revised/Edited/Reposted 1/14/05
Author's Note: : I am continuing to revise, edit and repost chapters as errors are brought to my attention. Special thanks to theBigW for all his edits, his help has been immeasurable and very much appreciated. As always thanks for reading. Feel free to leave a review either by pressing the button below or sending an email.
