Chapter 14: A Visit from a Fairy

Tsuki and Haruka hovered over the fountain pool, watching Kagome and Sesshoumaru sleeping. Tsuki stood up and began to pace, her face showing deep concentration. "First, I want a thank you, my wondrous plan is working."

"If it was working, the chain would be broken by now." Haruka sat on the stone rim of the fountain as the image of Kagome and Sesshoumaru disappeared. "Plus that's not the problem. The problem is how are we going to tell them that we've found 'it' without Naraku finding out? I mean he has damn spies everywhere. If it weren't for me guarding this place, he would have taken it over by now."

"I know, I know. It's just, it's my spell and I can...feel it wearing off. The chain has vibrated a lot and that means..." Tsuki trailed off as she stopped pacing and looked into the sparkling blue waters of the fountain.

"Tsuki, I know this is important to you and I know you want it to work. But maybe the best thing to do is break the spell and let them go their own ways so they can find 'it'. The main goal here is to defeat Naraku so She can complete Her task." Haruka's eyes fell on the weeping statue in the middle of the fountain. At first glance it looked like a fairy, but really... it was a warrior. A female warrior.

"I know, Haruka!" Tsuki snapped and then shut her eyes. Suddenly she opened her eyes and smiled. "I got it! I know how we can make this work. Oh this will be great! And it'll prove that my spell is working." Tsuki giggled as she raised her wand. "I'm so excited!" Spinning around, Tsuki was gone.

Haruka shook her head and then looked at the water. The image of Sesshoumaru reappeared and she could see Kagome awake, staring at the youkai lord. She was still in his arms and they looked, so perfect.

And Haruka knew they were perfect for each other.

----------

Kagome had woken up when the light of dawn appeared through the slits in the curtains. She was extremely surprised to see Sesshoumaru...sleeping. He looked so peaceful as he laid next to her. She also was surprised to wake up lying on his chest while he held her. But it was comfortable, lying next to him like that. And Kagome found herself never wanting to leave.

She had a dream about him last night. For so long she had always compared herself to Kikyou, the less refined image of her. Inuyasha had only made it worst, making his comparisons of her daily, causing her already low self-esteem to wane.

But in her dream, the scene she had witnessed last night replayed, only different words were being spoken. Inuyasha was telling Kikyou of every fault that Kagome had. And every flaw in her character. She had just sadly watched the scene, thinking that every word was true.

Until she felt someone behind her. She felt them leaned down and whispered huskily in her ear, "If you were half the woman Kikyou was, you would be lowering yourself." It was Sesshoumaru's voice Kagome heard in her dreams; it was Sesshoumaru's words that took the sadness away.

Gently she brushed back his sliver bangs away from his closed eyes. He would never know what he was doing to her. Making her actually believe in herself. Making her actually feel like someone. Not just a copy. She moved her hand and slowly caressed his cheek. His head slightly turned towards her, his face showing peacefulness that Kagome has never seen him show.

It was dangerous falling for the heartless, and Kagome knew it. This was still Sesshoumaru she was thinking about and despite everything that had passed between them, Kagome knew that he would never see her as any love interest. She was a human, and not just any human, she was a miko.

Depressing as it was, Kagome knew it was true. And as soon as they figured out how to break the chain, she also knew that she would probably never see Sesshoumaru again. But for now, she pushed those thoughts out of her mind and brought her arms to her chest as she snuggled closer to Sesshoumaru.

Yes, for now, she would just linger in the moment.

Sesshoumaru slowly woke, noticing that Kagome was still next to him. He also noticed that she wasn't sleeping anymore. He watched her meet his golden orbs and then she grinned.

"So, you still want to stick to that story about not being tired?" She asked hauntingly and Sesshoumaru groaned.

"Woman, I will..." He began but his eyes closed again. "Don't you have something else to do?" He asked his voice indifferent but still held a sleepy tone.

Kagome rolled on her back, away from the warmth of Sesshoumaru to stare at the ceiling. "Yeah, like I know where to go in this damn castle. It will practically take all three hundred feet of my chain just to get on the other side of this room." Kagome sarcastically said.

"This room isn't that big." Sesshoumaru knowingly stated; his eyes still closed.

But Kagome wasn't listening to him. She was too busy staring at the large painting on the ceiling. It was of a huge dog, similar to Sesshoumaru's dog form, but larger. And there were some other differences.

The fluffy dog sat on a crescent moon as it looked down across a field of blue flowers. There was a smaller boy in field, staring up at the large dog. His silver tresses looked as if it were blowing in the wind. His golden eyes looking up admirably at the large dog.

Wait... golden eyes?

"Sesshoumaru is that little boy you?" Kagome lifted her wobbly arm and pointed.

"Yes." Sesshoumaru said flatly without opening his eyes.

"And that dog, is that dog your father?" Kagome moved her finger over to the large dog.

"Yes." Sesshoumaru answered again.

"Oh." Kagome's arm dropped as she stared up at the painting. The sky was dark midnight blue and it almost had a sad aura to it. "How did he die?" Kagome whispered softly and waited in silence for the answer.

After a long...drawn out, typical Sesshoumaru silence, he sighed. "My father had been in a fight and was wounded from it, but he left to go save Inuyasha and his mother, Izayoi. A man had fallen in love with Izayoi and couldn't stand the fact that she was about to bear a hanyou child."

"The man was a guard at the castle Izayoi was staying at, so he easily got into Izayoi's room and killed her right after she gave birth to Inuyasha. Then he set the place on fire. My father came to the castle and immediately brought Izayoi back to life. He gave her the rat-skin hoari and told her that boy's name was to be Inuyasha and to run away. She left with Inuyasha and he stayed to kill the man using Sou'unga, which destroyed everything." Sesshoumaru fell silent as he relived the dark memories.

The greatest youkai in all the land had fallen in order to save a human and a hanyou. It was a fact that Sesshoumaru couldn't stomach at first. Until...

"I'm sorry." Kagome broke into his thoughts. "For making you tell that story."

"You didn't make me. I wouldn't have if I didn't want too." Sesshoumaru said arrogantly and Kagome let of a laugh in relief. Sometimes his arrogance was comforting. Suddenly there was a soft knock at the door. "Come in, Rin." Sesshoumaru called and the large white door open slowly.

A young Rin pushed the heavy door open with effort and then squeezed through the tiny crack she made. Once inside, Rin ran over to Sesshoumaru's bed and leapt on it. Crawling to the other side of Sesshoumaru, Rin laid on her stomach and propped herself up by her elbows as she beamed at Sesshoumaru.

"Rin knew Sesshoumaru-sama came back last night!" She said as Sesshoumaru affectionately patted her head. "Sesshoumaru-sama was gone for a long time; Rin missed Sesshoumaru-sama very much." Her voice showing no trace of sadness, just happiness that he was there.

"KAGOME-CHAN!" Rin finally saw Kagome lying next to Sesshoumaru. In all of her joy she crawled over Sesshoumaru's stomach and leaped on top of Kagome who laughed and gave her a fierce hug. "Rin didn't know Kagome-chan would be here too!"

"Hai, Rin-chan, I came along too." Kagome sat up and let Rin sit in her lap and began to play with her hair as she talked to her. "So tell me, Rin-chan, what are some fun things to do here?"

"Um... Rin likes the gardens." She said, giving a toothy grin.

Kagome was ranking her fingers through the girl's raven black hair--much like her own--and smiled brightly. "Gardens! Well that sounds wonderful! Sesshoumaru let's go to the gardens!"

"No." Sesshoumaru closed his eyes, he was still lying down and he didn't plan on getting up.

"Oh no, mister! You are not staying in this room all day, well I'm not staying in this room all day and I can't really go anywhere without you!" Kagome smacked her lips and said with a little attitude.

"Why can't Kagome-chan leave Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin questioned.

"Well Rin, look at our ankles." Kagome grinned when she heard the girl gasp.

"What happened, Kagome-chan?" Rin whispered in awe.

"Well..." Kagome cleared her throat and got ready to tell a story. "One day I was coming back from... a long trip, and I ran into Sesshoumaru and this fairy. The fairy's name was Tsuki and she got this bright idea to chain me and Sesshoumaru together."

Rin giggled. "Why?"

"Because she thought it was a good idea." She didn't want to tell her 'because she wanted Sesshoumaru to stop being selfish' that might hurt the girl's feelings. "So me and Sesshoumaru traveled all the way to Fairy Fountain to plea with this mad fairy to break spell. But on the way we had to fight tons of demons!"

Rin gasped. "Were they scary?"

"No way! Not with me around, my miko powers--" Sesshoumaru grunted, obviously listening to her story. "And Sesshoumaru's youkai powers, were no match for these puny worthless youkai." She mimicked Sesshoumaru's cold voice and Rin giggled.

"Did Kagome-chan and Sesshoumaru-sama make it to fairy fountain?" Rin asked, quite interested in the story.

"Yes! We made it there. We get the guardian to open the door, once inside we plea our case to the mad fairy and you know what she says?" Rin looked at the chain and smiled. "That's right, she said 'No'. So now me and Sesshoumaru are stuck like this."

"Forever?" Hope bubbled in her voice at the prospect of a mother.

"I don't know." She looked at Sesshoumaru's whose eyes were still closed. "Maybe." And the prospect of it didn't seem as scary like the first time she thought about it. She had been traveling with Sesshoumaru for three weeks and he knew her better than Inuyasha whom she had been traveling with for a year.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, can Rin show Kagome-chan the gardens?" Rin asked; her eyes large and her voice too cute to say no to.

Opening one eye to look at Rin, Sesshoumaru inwardly sighed and then slowly got up. "Follow me." He commanded to the two girls and Rin giggled with glee. Kagome stared at the child wide-eyed and confused as they walked to the door.

"How...how did you do that!" Kagome's voice full of awe at the skipping Rin. She just giggled and shrugged and Kagome shook her head. "Teach me your ways, O Great One. Teach me how to manipulate Sesshoumaru!" Kagome pleaded as they walked past Sesshoumaru who held the door open for them.

"Shut it, woman." Sesshoumaru gave her a little push out the door and then followed behind her.

"SESSHOUMARU-SAMA!" A loud croak echoed throughout the long hallway. Sesshoumaru gave a silent groan as he turned around to see a green toad throw itself at his feet. "I didn't know if you were coming back! Sesshoumaru-sama please don't ever leave your faithful--WHAT IS SHE STILL DOING HERE!" Jaken screeched as soon as he caught sight of Kagome.

"Jaken." Sesshoumaru said his name coldly. "Stop your useless yelling."

"Hai." He said dejectedly, but made sure to cast an evil glare towards Kagome.

----------

Kikyou crossed her arms as she stood in the shady clearing. The words Kagome had spoken to her yesterday still rung loudly in her head. She couldn't drown it out and it was beginning to eat at her. Now she was standing in the clearing Naraku had directed her to come, waiting for her next orders, all the while thinking... what was she doing?

She was actually working for the man that tore her and Inuyasha apart.

"Are you alone?" She heard Naraku's silky voice overhead and she wanted to rip his throat out. Looking around for his baboon skin, Kikyou let a smirk play on her lips. The coward didn't trust her.

"Of course, Naraku. Now what do you want?" He appeared in front of her and Kikyou took a step back, she held his gaze however and cringed when his cold fingers touched her equally cold skin.

"Kikyou. I'm done with the Inu-tachi. Now with Kagome gone it will easy to drag him to hell." He caressed her cheek and crooned. "You can finally have him. Just lead his friends to me, first. I'll take care of them."

"And just because you don't have a soul doesn't mean you need to go all bitter and work with satan himself!"

Even now the girl's voice was ringing in Kikyou's head. What was she doing this for? Why was she working with this...devil? All for what? To take

away the life of someone she once loved? "Just tell me when and where." Kikyou said, her voice eerily mono-toned.

"Tomorrow, sunrise, come back here." Naraku hooked his index finger under her chin. "Don't be late." He said before he left.

Kikyou crossed her arms and gave an evil smile. Oh, she wouldn't be late. Tomorrow was going to be the day she waited for all of her life or...afterlife?

Looking down, she grabbed a fistful of dirt and smeared it all over her miko outfit. She ripped it at the sleeve and then at the knee as well. She mussed her hair and then took a deep breath. "INUYASHA!" She screamed in utter despair and took off to the hanyou.

It didn't take Inuyasha long to find her. They ran into each other right in front of the well, Miroku and Sango sitting under a tree with Shippou and Kirara watching the two. "Inuyasha!" Kikyou fell into his arms and he cradled her body against him.

She had told him that she was going to get souls, and didn't want him to see her doing it, and now she was going to have to explain the scent of Naraku on her. But Kikyou didn't worry, she had that covered.

"Kikyou! What happened!" Inuyasha pulled her away to get a good look at her.

"Naraku." Kikyou swallowed hard. "He attacked me saying that he found the last jewel shard and to tell you he wants to have the final match tomorrow at sunrise." Kikyou talked as if she was out of breath and then to end the dramatic show, she fainted.

"Kikyou?" Inuyasha held her limp body and looked at his friends with worry. "It seems we have the final showdown tomorrow."

His friends didn't believe the dead miko. Surely Kagome would have come back to them if the shard had been found...right?

----------

The gardens were beautiful. Kagome sat on the stone bench and let the sunlight caress her face. Rin was running through the many fields of flowers, Jaken chasing her, tripping as he did so, and Sesshoumaru sitting next to Kagome, deep in thought.

Kagome was starting to notice a change in Sesshoumaru. Well... in both her and Sesshoumaru. They didn't fight that much, or even at all. She would throw in sly remarks but he wouldn't counter back. What was the matter with him? Kagome wondered. She opened her mouth to say something when the smell of lilacs stopped her.

"Sesshoumaru I didn't know you had lilacs in your garden?" Kagome said, confused.

"I don't." Sesshoumaru grabbed the hilt of Tokijin.

Laughter, high pitched laughter that rang out like bells could be heard. Flower petals swirled in front of them, and soon Tsuki appeared. "Ah, Sesshoumaru. Relax." She beamed, noticing his hand on the hilt.

He slowly let it go and glared at Tsuki. "What do you want?" He demanded and Tsuki let out a long depressed sigh. The glow and flower petals disappeared and Tsuki shoulders drooped as she looked from Sesshoumaru to Kagome.

"I need your help--" She began.

"No." Sesshoumaru said flatly and Kagome lightly placed a hand on his arm.

"Now, now Sesshoumaru, remember what got us here in the first place. Continue, Tsuki." Kagome gestured to the fairy who smiled a little.

"I've always liked you. Well." She brushed off her skirt and began again. "We fairies have banquet every year. And this year, I'm in charge. It's a big deal. And if you mess up you go down in fairy shame forever. There is plant that I need. It's at the mountains a bit north from here and I need it before sunset tomorrow. I would get it myself, however I have to go to another country tomorrow and gather all the fairies."

"So this is where you two come in. This is extremely important to me. If you can get me this plant before sunset tomorrow, I'll break the chain." Kagome's mouth fell open and Sesshoumaru stared at the mad fairy.

"Just like that?" Kagome finally spat out.

"Yes, that's how important this is to me!" Tsuki cried. "Please say you'll do it!"

"Uh..." Kagome glanced at Sesshoumaru, who met her gaze. His golden orbs were unreadable... his face indifferent. "Ok... we'll do it." Kagome looked back at Tsuki who was bowing in front of her.

Tsuki took Kagome's hand and kissed it in gratitude. "Thank you so much! You do not know how much this means to me!" Kagome gave an uneasy smile at the fairy. "This is how you find it. Those mountains." She turned around and pointed at the mountains in the distance. "Take the trail all the way up. When you hit the fork in trail...GO LEFT. If you go right you'll hit a village of powerful ninjas. Once you take the left, you should find the plant in no time."

She waved her wand and in her hand a piece of paper with a drawing of a flower on it appeared. She handed it to Kagome. "That's what the flower looks like. I only need one. As soon as you get it, call for Haruka. Sesshoumaru knows how to do it. She'll take it back to Fairy Fountain."

"How long will it take us to get there?" Kagome asked Tsuki, still staring at the picture.

"If you leave by tomorrow morning, you should have plenty of time." Tsuki waved her hand. "Now I must be off to...uh... England!" Flowers petals surrounded Tsuki and then she was gone.

"Wow..." Kagome said after a long silence. "Tomorrow we could be free."

"Indeed." Sesshoumaru's voice capped with ice.

End of Chapter

----------

Moonchild: I have been sick for TWO DAYS!

Kagome: I'm so sorry MC.

Moonchild: No it's ok. Besides the throwing up, its been pretty good. I've missed school and got to update this chapter! Hooray!

Sesshoumaru: Must you be so vulgar?

Inuyasha: I saw nothing wrong with what MC said.

Sesshoumaru: My point taken.

Moonchild: Well thanks so much for all your wonderful reviews that you have sent me. I love them! Please continue to send them! But no flames!

They make me nauseas.