Mirrored Future

by Amazonian

Recap: He decided to confront the miko and find out everything he could, determine to see nothing but flaws and so obliterate every positive aspect that had taken root in his mind. He would find her to be the most annoying, aggravating, and normal woman he'd ever seen, and would banish her from all thought.

So thinking, the TaiYoukai decided to grant Rin's wish to check up on the miko. He told himself that really he was just ensuring himself a peaceful journey, free of a nagging and depressed human child. It had nothing to do with his own desire to see how the miko fared, and everything to do with reveling in her human weaknesses.

Poor youkai never stood a chance.


Chapter 5

The morning dawned bright and hopeful. There was an air of expectancy to the day, as if the world waited to see what would happen with fate's newest favorite toys. Whatever it was should prove interesting, because wheels had been set in motion that almost guaranteed a big bang.

InuYasha poked Miroku and Sango awake as soon as the sun rose in the sky. Kagome he nudged more gently, still worried after her collapse. He would have been embarrassed if he could have seen the look of concern on his face, but luckily he couldn't. Four years and he still felt uncomfortable showing his true emotions. The look was gone by the time Kagome woke up fully, replaced with a studied air of impatience.

"Can you travel today, or are you going to pass out on me again?" he asked, looking her over for signs of stress or illness.

Kagome wasn't fooled by his tone. She was used to the hanyou and his gruff ways. She knew he cared, even if he was horrible at showing it.

"I think I'll be fine, InuYasha, don't worry," she reassured him gently. She stretched and tested her muscles. She was a bit sore and a little tense but it was nothing moving around wouldn't cure. "I'll get breakfast ready," she promised.

"Good," InuYasha said, and turned to walk away, satisfied she would be alright.

The little camp bustled with life and activity as Kagome cooked, Sango prepared weaponry and rolled up bedding, Miroku brought water for their morning use, and InuYasha hunted for breakfast meat. Shouts and chatter could be heard for miles as the group prepared for their day happily, pleased to be in each others' company and happy that the morning allowed them to act their ages for the moment.

Sesshoumaru's morning camp was a study in contrast. There was no morning bustle, no friendly bantering or good natured griping. Sesshoumaru was simply the first to wake from his light doze, and the one to determine when the others should get up. He nudged his toad retainer awake none too gently, not sparing a word for the floundering little demon. The toad, starting into consciousness with a squawk, rose in turn to prod Rin awake.

Rin sat up, rubbed her eyes, turned to smile at the impassive youkai, and set about making her own morning meal. Her breakfast consisted of cold rice and dried fish, taken from a pack that rested on the back of Ah Un, Sesshoumaru's double headed dragon steed. When she was done eating she washed her face with water Jaken had hauled from the river and prepared for another day of travel.

All this was done in near silence, Rin occasionally humming to herself to break the monotony of the lack of conversation.

Sesshoumaru watched his ward's morning preparations. While she worked he'd gotten his own breakfast, scaring up some rabbit in the underbrush. He preferred his meat raw and ate away from the girl's eyes, not wanting her to see the bloody flesh. She was sensitive about such things. Sesshoumaru did not live to cater to her whims, but he found life went more smoothly when small consessions were made.

There were much larger considerations to take in to account at present. They'd passed a human settlement a few weeks ago, and Sesshoumaru had surreptitiously observed the villagers there. Several of their adolescent females in particular had caught his attention. It placed thoughts in the TaiYoukai's head that had never entered before. Suddenly, Sesshoumaru knew that soon, big changes would come into the life of the small girl who traveled with him.

Rin was growing up. She was no longer a little creature he let follow him on a whim. She was turning in to an individual, complete with her own thoughts and opinions on everything.

Rin was supposed to just be Rin, his acquired shadow. She wasn't supposed to be a complication. The beginnings of her time with him hadn't been.

He wasn't sure why he'd resurrected the girl after Kouga's damned wolves had killed her, and he didn't want to dwell on it. All he knew was that the girl who'd so selflessly tended him when wounded hadn't deserved to die. Tenseiga, needing a loving heart to activate its powers, had agreed to raise her back to life at his request. He didn't need to examine his feelings for the girl any further. To do so would be admitting his heart had vulnerabilities and capabilities outside of violence, and such was ridiculous sentiment.

But all that aside, he could not ignore the fact that Rin would grow into a woman someday. She would need to find a mate, have a family, and live a normal human life. He couldn't pretend she was just a curiosity any longer. She wasn't a pet for his amusement, or something he could cast aside when she began to bore him. He had a responsibility to make provisions for her future, a future amongst humans and away from the danger she faced far too often.

The demon on the field hadn't been the first to endanger Rin. She'd been kidnaped by Naraku himself and had survived. Sesshoumaru was no demon to let weaker, insignificant creatures decide his fate, but he needed to consider the child. She should not grow up thinking that sort of mortal peril was normal.

She was like a strange inversion of an animal raised in captivity. A human child raised to run wild amongst demons in the forest? Sesshoumaru kept tight order and didn't let her indulge any sloppy habits, but he was unable to instill the human mannerisms that would allow her to like as a human female should. Instead, his war-like nature had her thinking that all life was a physical struggle punctuated by flower fields.

One day the girl would be fully grown and would have missed out on her chance for a complete life. He couldn't take her options away when she was incapable of deciding for herself. She would choose to stay with him, never knowing there were other possibilities. He couldn't keep her with him just to have her grow to resent his presence in her life when she was past her prime, family-less and without any ties to the world outside himself.

Unfortunately, Sesshoumaru wasn't the sort of demon humans willingly interacted with. He preferred it that way, seeing as there were only a handful of the vermin he didn't detest. Humans were sloppy, loud, and arrogant, and he welcomed their fear. But he would need someone's help to aid Rin in her transition. It needn't happen right away, but a human influence in her life would make things smoother as the years passed and the need grew stronger.

Sesshoumaru didn't even let it enter his mind that the only human he trusted to be around Rin was the same human he was supposedly capable of kissing in some unfathomable future. It didn't affect his decision to seek out Kagome's company at all.

Not one bit.

Sesshoumaru called his small entourage together and headed out in the direction of his brother's camp. He knew there would be trouble when he appeared. His brother would be aching for a fight. Normally Sesshoumaru would enjoy indulging him, if nothing else than for the chance to cause the whelp some pain. However, the idiot's efforts this morning would be counterproductive to his plans.

He needed to get the miko alone so he could tell her what he expected from her. He had no doubt that the girl would obey his orders- she'd be too scared not to- but he didn't want his bastard half brother to lengthen his time in her presence by arguing.

But how to convince the miko that she wanted to be alone with a youkai who'd previously tried to kill her? It wouldn't be easy. Rin would help, the older girl seemed to genuinely care for his small ward, but she wouldn't be a sure success.

He would worry about it when he got there. He was used to getting his way. This would be no different.

Sesshoumaru was so unaffected by the mere thought of the miko that he didn't even notice the way his inner demon seemed to settle down for the first time since yesterday at the thought of seeing the girl again so soon. It wasn't hard for him to repress the upheaval he was experiencing, the way his instincts led him towards unhealthy thoughts about the raven haired girl. He dismissed it as indigestion and was glad when his stomach had finally decided to behave.

Little did Sesshoumaru understand that the decision to see the girl once more, for whatever reason, was simply another step taken along the path of destiny. The TaiYoukai was many things- fierce, intelligent, sharp, strong- but even he didn't know how time and the future worked.

Sesshoumaru's path had been set the moment he set eyes on the girl holding the mirror. Possibly even before then, but that moment's branch had been the thickest.

That limb, in the tree of time, had come to a serious split. This particular divergence was much more significant than the millions of others that had come before. While those were little choices (using one item of clothing automatically making it impossible to choose another item of clothing, which in turn decreases your options for future clothing, resulting in a clothing destiny), this had been a big choice. This was Fate, and Destiny, no longer fate and destiny.

Sesshoumaru, for all his knowledge and experience, didn't know that coming to pick a fight with InuYasha and to recover the artifact meant seeing Kagome in the moonlight. That in turn increased the likelihood that he would choose to stay near her longer than necessary. That meant he was much more likely to share the mirror's visions with the young miko. Consequentially, he was certain to think of her more often than he was comfortable with. And it's no secret where that is sure to lead. Seeing his future had ensured his future. That was the real secret of the mirror. Once you see a desirable or intriguing outcome your mind takes measures to secure it.

Sesshoumaru had reached the end of his tree's branches. All choices had led to this road, and each junction was fated to end along this path. It always had, so it always would, and always will. That is how time works.

But Sesshoumaru was oblivious to all of this. His inner demon, however, was not. But Sesshoumaru had denied all of its input up until now, citing stomach troubles or any other ailment under the sun, and he wasn't about to start listening at this stage of the game.

Without telling Rin where they were going, wishing to avoid any unnecessary chatter or squeals of excitement, Sesshoumaru kept a steady pace down into the valley. He soon came across his brother's scent and could almost hear the second InuYasha became aware of his presence in return.

"Damn it!" he heard yelled across the tree tops. Sesshoumaru picked up his pace, drawing his ward along with him so they'd reach the camp before the hanyou decided to meet them in the forest.

He walked into the clearing that was already cleared of the evidence of their nightly repast. He didn't spare a glance for the demon slayer or monk. His eyes lingered on Kagome briefly before they focused on his brother. InuYasha had already drawn his sword and was prepared to launch into an attack.

"Calm yourself, nuisance," Sesshoumaru said coldly, looking at the frothing half demon with a studied air of indifference, "I have not come for you today. Your antics do not interest this Sesshoumaru."

InuYasha sputtered at the dismissal, annoyed at being ignored as Sesshoumaru turned to the side to allow Rin to step forward.

When Rin saw Kagome she smiled and ran to the older girl's side. Kagome smiled in turn, and the two fell into a pleasant chat while the inu brothers circled each other warily.

"What is your brat doing here?" InuYasha demanded, looking warily to where the girl played happily with Kagome.

"This Sesshoumaru does not have to justify his actions, as I have told you before, simpleton. Rin owes Kagome a life-debt and wanted to make sure the girl is all right." Sesshoumaru declined to say anything further. It irked him that he'd said so much as it was. He was not used to explaining himself to anyone, much less strays with delusions of grandeur.

"Well, she saw her. Now get her grubby hands away from Kagome before she makes her sick," InuYasha said brashly, with little regard for his own safety.

Kagome overheard what he said, and turned to see Sesshoumaru go deathly still. It was the calm before the storm, a steady and terminal build up of electricity that would end with the biggest bolt of destructive lightning...

"InuYasha, SIT!" she yelled, desperately hoping it would be enough to distract both males from blood shed.

InuYasha plummeted face first into the ground while Sesshoumaru looked on. His anger was replaced with interested amusement as he watched the hanyou struggle against the spell's bonds, cursing all the while. It was obvious the half demon was humiliated and Sesshoumaru loved every minute of it. The miko was good for entertainment, if nothing else.

"Damn it, Kagome, you have about a three second's head start!" he yelled, mortified at his current position. His bastard brother could easily kill him where he sat and he'd be defenseless. How could she endanger him like that? More importantly, since he secretly knew his brother had too much well-touted honor to strike an opponent who was incapable of fighting back, how could she embarrass him like that?

Kagome shook his threats off. She hadn't survived all these years to let a couple harsh words get her down. Besides, she didn't feel bad for preserving the ingrate's life, even if he was a jerk. She simply turned back to her conversation with Rin and began chatting carelessly. She did, however, notice the gleam of amusement in Sesshoumaru's eye.

The sight made her pause for a moment. She wasn't used to seeing anything in his expression, and the sudden thaw in his icy exterior was riveting. She didn't realize she was staring until her gaze met the TaiYoukai's in one sudden moment.

She felt as if someone tried to pull her bellybutton out her back. She'd never realized how little eye contact she made in life until she was almost gutted by the power in meeting Sesshoumaru's gaze. It zinged through her, lighting all her nerve endings, until she felt like she'd never be able to move again.

She watched in awed confusion as she saw the unflappable youkai's eyes widen marginally in surprise, seemingly just as caught as she was.

The glance was only a moment in time, but it played over and over in her mind and along her nerves, the memory of a future kiss whispering tantalizingly right along with it. It was overwhelming and Kagome was thankful for the distraction that caused her to tear her eyes away.

'Two jewel shards, heading this way fast!' she thought with alarm. Then she put two and two together and groaned as realization set in.

"Kouga," she said miserably. This was not what she'd wanted out of this day.

"Damn it!" InuYasha swore again, finally able to pull himself fully off the ground. "As if I don't have enough crap to deal with now that Fluffy's here," he griped, angrily sniffing the air. "What does that bastard wolf want this time?" he said, fingering the hilt of Tessaiga.

"I'm sure he has his reasons," Miroku said, reminding Kagome of his and Sango's presence. They'd been off to the side during the brothers' exchange, ready to step in should things get ugly.

"Unfortunately," the monk continued, inching his way down the path towards the river, "Sango and I have stuff to do."

"Oh, yeah, stuff," Sango finished lamely, following after the monk. Neither wanted to be anywhere near the upcoming scene. It wouldn't be pretty. Things were already tense with Sesshoumaru present but at least he'd already shown he wasn't inclined towards violence at the moment. Kouga would be a different story entirely. Whenever the two were around Kagome they seemed to loose what little reason they had to begin with. Their vocabularies, never particularly extensive on the best of days, were reduced to shouting matches of 'bastard', 'idiot', 'wimp' and other similar endearments.

Sango looked towards Kagome, silently asking her if she wanted to come with them. Kagome shook her head sadly. For the moment someone would have to play referee. She would just visit with Rin for a while longer.

She resolutely ignored the demon lord to her left and focused on the energy she sensed coming from her right.

Kouga burst onto the scene in a whirlwind of dust and leaves. He'd already swept Kagome into his arms before her eyes even had time to adjust to his presence.

"Kagome!" he yelled joyfully, with all the exuberance of a puppy. "How's my woman?"

"I'm fine, Kouga-kun," she said, laughing as he swung her around. She did care for the wolf, even if he was such a pain. It was nice to be so highly regarded, even if only by an overly sporty wolf demon.

She didn't notice InuYasha's usual build up of temper or Sesshoumaru's surprising display of emotion. The demon lord expressed such strong displeasure at seeing the way the wolf handled Kagome that his eyes narrowed. Wonders would never cease.

"Arrrrgh," InuYasha began, a frustrated and possessive growl building up in his chest, "Get your filthy hands off her, you mangy mutt!"

Kagome sighed as she was immediately released as Kouga moved to engage InuYasha in a tiff more appropriate for school children than for seasoned warriors. It was so familiar and so routine she felt it might as well be scripted.

She sniffed angrily and moved to the side. Kouga had completely forgotten her presence in his enthusiasm to fight InuYasha. For a man so completely in love with her, he sure spent more time name calling and more energy fighting over his dubious right to molest her than he ever had spent getting to know her.

And InuYasha! The guy got so jealous over any rival male he would bash someone's brains in for looking at her, but he wouldn't use that energy to make her happy or emotionally secure.

It was enough to make a girl scream. Or at least it would be, if there hadn't already been four full years of this to dull her to the effects.

Kagome knew, now more than ever, that some things never change and that wasn't always a good thing.

She ignored the blustering males and turned to Rin. She took the girl's hand and nodded towards the river.

"Would you like to swim again, Rin-chan?" she asked, smiling at the incredulous girl. She'd been watching the interaction between demons with something close to awe.

"Yeah!" Rin answered enthusiastically, before turning to her stoic guardian for permission.

Sesshoumaru had turned from watching the disgusting sideshow and had been studying the miko's face instead for the past five minutes. His sharp eyes had not missed the way she'd first looked wistfully at the two demons before her gazed closed over with frustration, resignation, and slight amusement as her lips pursed at their antics. He'd been mildly surprised when she'd simply turned away from their violent display, completely unimpressed by the two males who supposedly fought over her. She seemed to sense it was nothing important, and had wisely sought entertainment elsewhere.

Sesshoumaru wondered how the two fools could take themselves seriously. It was obvious they did not truly care for the miko the way their actions implied. No demon that deeply in love would be capable of letting go what was theirs, no matter the reason. They certainly wouldn't stoop so low as to insult the object of their affections by making empty gestures.

Sesshoumaru knew he personally would never behave in this manner. If he found something worth cherishing, there wasn't a force in the world that would keep him away.

With that thought, he found himself once more watching the miko closely as she interacted with his ward. He'd felt the same jolt she had when their eyes locked. His inner demon had just grinned smugly as if satisfied with its argument, ready to make its closing remarks on a won case. Sesshoumaru wasn't so quick to agree. It had been powerful, and combined with all the confusing thoughts and feelings of the past couple of days, it was completely mind numbing, but it was no reason to forget who he was.

He was Lord Sesshoumaru, TaiYoukai of the Western Lands. He hated humans. He was the destroyer of the West. He leapt tall buildings in a single bound. He ate bunnies for breakfast, raw.

He did not like mikos. He did not like his brother's friends. He did not like human girls, especially not ones from the future. He did not like anything about the young woman standing in front of him. He barely deigned to nod regally when he saw that his ward awaited his permission to go to the river with the older girl.

He did not like this annoyance, and did not like the way his inner demon was sniggering snidely, completely heedless of how greatly Sesshoumaru hated to not be in control of a situation.

If all that were true and if Sesshoumaru thought so little of the miko, why did he suddenly find himself following Kagome down to the river?


A/N:Your reviews make me happy like back rubs make me happy. I've never had so many hits on a story. That's awesome to me, even ifnot allof you reading thisend up reviewing.I try to respond to each one if they're signed.They really do make me happy and I appreciate the time you take to leave them.