"A Heart's Immaculence"
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own Inuyasha or any characters related to it, even though I dream I was the one who created them.
Author's Note: I am doing the best that I can to write a chapter each day, and my brain is about to explode from all the planning I've been doing with this story. It is a bit complicated to come up with ideas that make sense and that go with the plot. I am somewhat of a perfectionist, and I often rewrite some stuff that I feel does not go with the story. Well, I know that the relationship between Kagome and Sesshomaru is coming off rather slow, but I need to develop everything else first, because how can the great Lord of the Western Lands become intimate with Kagome on their first meeting? That doesn't sound like his character. Clearly Kagome has to do something in order for him to open up to her. Sesshomaru has a protective armor around his heart, and I'm happy to say that Kagome will be the one to break it. Alright! I can't wait for that part to happen. How about you? Oh, and thank you , thank you, thank you for your reviews! I am writing this story for you, my faithful readers! Well, on with the story!
Chapter Five
Inuyasha wrinkled his nose as Sesshomaru's scent crept inside him, a look of disgust looming on his face. He was in fear for Kagome's safety, and although he was not entirely sure his brother would come in contact with her, he did not want to take any chances, knowing full well how he would react should he find her in his way. Looking around desperately, Inuyasha tried again to capture Kagome's scent. There was none. He failed to detect it once again, and he cursed himself for not being able to do so.
"Why would Sesshomaru's scent be in the air with Kagome's?" Koga said quizzically.
"I don't know," Inuyasha said. "But I think we better get to her quick. There's no telling what Sesshomaru will do to her if she happens to run straight into him."
"Now we have two dangers to worry about, that demon and your brother. Poor Kagome! And all of this could have been prevented had it not been for you, mutt."
"Stop blaming me or I'll crack that skull of yours!"
"I'd like to see you try it. Come and get me, Inuyasha!"
"Not again!" Miroku said, utterly annoyed at Inuyasha and Koga's immaturity.
"Hey, you two. This isn't the time," said Sango.
"Oh, it's the perfect time!" said Koga. "I'll kill him in less than a minute. After that I can go rescue Kagome on my own. Who needs Inuyasha anyway?"
"That mouth of yours gets on my nerves," said Inuyasha, pulling out Tetsusaiga. "I'll be happy to tear it out of your face."
"Not as happy as I'll be when I knock off your head. I can't wait to kick it around once its off your body."
"Bring it on, wolf!"
"Wouldn't miss the chance for the world!"
Inuyasha and Koga, forgetting about the true reason they were traveling together, began to fight in the same, usual manner. Their rivalry for each other blinded them from everything else, paying no mind to other matters but their own battle. Inuyasha punched Koga in the face, but Koga returned Inuyasha's attack with a kick in the chest, sending him to the ground. Inuyasha jumped up and swung his weapon hastily, but Koga dived at every pass until he back-flipped and managed to spin around and punch Inuyasha across the cheek. The hanyou was becoming angrier as Koga gave him more punches and kicks than he would allow. Inuyasha was irritated by his waning skills. Even his fighting strategy seemed to be less strong, just like his sense of smell.
"What's wrong, Inuyasha?" Koga said mockingly. "Looks like you want to cry. Is the little doggy hurt?"
Koga laughed and pointed a finger at Inuyasha.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh all you want," Inuyasha said, ready to give Koga a taste of Tetsusaiga's power. "You won't be so happy when I use my wind scar on you."
"By the looks of you, I'd say you are too beaten up to have the strength to wield your sword. But I dare you to try it."
"You asked for it!"
Inuyasha and Koga both ran towards each other, but before either of them could do anything, Miroku uncovered his right hand and yelled "Wind tunnel!"
Koga and Inuyasha were swept off their feet by the wind and struggled to hold on to something to avoid being sucked in. However, Miroku only held out his hand for a few seconds and covered it up again.
"What's the big idea, Miroku?" Inuyasha shouted.
"Yeah," said Koga, wiping the dirt off his fur. "You could have killed us."
"You two better behave yourselves," Miroku said solemnly. "I am not afraid to suck you in, and I will if you both decide to have another fight while we're on our mission to look for Kagome."
"You both are such babies!" Shippo announced, yet after he spoke he felt a sharp pain on his head. "Ouch! That hurt, Inuyasha!"
"Serves you right!" he replied.
"I only spoke the truth."
"Do you want another one?"
Shippo remained silent and held on tightly to Miroku's shoulder, feeling he had some sort of protection with him.
"We better be on our way now," Sango said. "Come on, Kilala."
Sango, Miroku, and Shippo rode on Kilala's back and were in the air before Inuyasha could say anything. Koga sniffed the air for Kagome's scent again, and a strong wind blew through, blowing in the scents he smelled.
"Kagome's scent is stronger," Koga said. "We must be getting closer. Funny though. I no longer smell the demon, but your brother is still around."
"How about blood?" Inuyasha said apprehensively. "Can you still smell that?"
Koga sniffed the air again. "Yeah. There's blood."
Inuyasha could tell by Koga's expression that it was Kagome's blood he smelled. Not wanting to think of what might have happened to her, Inuyasha focused on finding Kagome in time before any more harm came to her.
"Let's go, Koga" Inuyasha said.
"No way! I'm not going with you, mutt-face."
"What! Are you abandoning Kagome? I thought you cared about her."
"Of course I love her!"
Inuyasha twisted his face at Koga's words and fought hard to keep his temper under control. "Then why are you leaving?"
"I'm going to look for Kagome on my own. I'm only wasting my time here. I'll find her faster if I do things my way. Once I find her, I'll make sure to bring her right back to you, after I've comforted her of course."
"Just shut up!"
"See ya later, mutt!"
Inuyasha shook his head and clenched his teeth tightly as he watched Koga spin away within his whirlwind. No other demon on earth could annoy him(Naraku being the exception) as much as Koga. Even Sesshomaru did not compare when it came to causing his blood to over boil. The thought of his older brother brought him back to reality, and he looked up to see if he could find where Kilala was. He saw his friends riding on top of her, and they were waiting for him to lead the way.
"Where did Koga run off to?" Miroku shouted.
"He decided to find Kagome on his own. Looks like we are going to have to rely on my sense of smell alone. The only scent I detect is Sesshomaru's, so I guess we'll follow that for now." Inuyasha shouted in return.
"Hey, Inuyasha," Shippo said. "I might be able to help. It's just a little, but I can smell Kagome."
Inuyasha's face brightened and he gave Shippo a smile, a rare thing for him to do unless he was smacking the runt around. "Good job, Shippo. Now let's go rescue Kagome."
With the morning well into its lateness, the noon hour soon to be at hand, Kagome began to feel tired and hungry, having walked a few miles without any success in finding her friends. She missed their company: Sango's good-hearted disposition, Miroku's flirtations, Shippo's playfulness, and Inuyasha's recklessness. But it was Inuyasha whose absence she felt the most, her heart pulling her down into an abyss that only the hanyou could rescue her from. The thought of him still bothered her, for she continued to wonder what had made him so angry at her when he had never commented about her lack of skills in such cold fashion. He almost looked like Sesshomaru when he had said those words, cutting into her soul like a sword's blade.
Sesshomaru!
Kagome's thoughts then alternated themselves to the demon lord who had crossed paths were her a few hours before. She remembered when she first saw him during the time she was barely getting to know Inuyasha. He possessed a terrible and frightening presence, and that combined with his preternatural beauty made a deadly combination. Upon seeing him, she was quickly taken by his physical perfection and daunted by his demonic strength and power. He was almost godly, a being whose aura scintillated around him, spellbinding anyone who looked at him. His demeanor, however, somewhat flawed his attractiveness, if only in the slightest sense. If it were not for his coldness, arrogance, overly pride, and distantness, he would be the epitome of a heavenly angel.
No wonder he's conceited, Kagome thought. How can he not be being as perfect as he is? He almost acts as if he's in love with himself.
An eerie feeling consumed Kagome suddenly, and she heard a slithering in the wind, a noise she associated with the one individual who interfered with her closeness to Inuyasha: Kikyo. She looked above her and saw that the priestess's soul collectors were still around, but she did not know why they were so near her. It looked as if they were spying on her, watching her every move, yet just as Kagome had thought this, the soul collectors unexpectedly vanished in a bright ball of light.
"What was that all about?" Kagome asked herself.
Kagome then thought about Kikyo and Inuyasha's relationship, knowing well she could not interfere with that. Whether Inuyasha truly loved Kikyo as he did fifty years ago or whether he had grown feelings for her, Kagome did not desire to dwell on the sadness of it. The conflict she had with her heart about Kikyo and Inuyasha was one she would always have until one of them was no longer a part of his life. As unthinkable as that appeared, it was the truth. Love was both beautiful and hideous, lovely and painful, emotions she had to endure unendingly.
No wonder Sesshomaru is so unfeeling. Kagome thought again. He must know how damaging emotions are to the soul.
Kagome shook her head and chided herself for being so negative. There was nothing wrong with love, she knew, but there is always a risk of getting hurt by the person one cares for, whether it is done intentionally or not. It was love after all that made her a happier person.
And what of Sesshomaru? Kagome was puzzled by her own mind, for she did notunderstand why she was thinking so much about the youkai. I wonder if Sesshomaru ever loved someone. No. Impossible. With his attitude? Yet there's no doubt many females in the past and present found him attractive. Why isn't he with someone? Maybe it would do him some good to be with a female demon. Sesshomaru with a human is out of the question. He'd be insulted and would not dare lower himself to that extreme.
Kagome then remembered Rin, Sesshomaru's human companion whom followed him everywhere.
That little girl has also fallen in love with him. She respects and adores him. But why does he not treat her coldly like everyone else? She has done something to him that no one else has been able to. Not even I could do that. Or could I?
Kagome's thoughts were wildly careening inside her head the more she pictured herself with Sesshomaru.
Maybe he is not as bad as he seems. Now that I think about it, he has shown certain slants in his character that he is not all meaness and cruelty. He allows a human girl to follow him and treats her well; he has not killed Inuyasha and has never gotten revenge for the loss of his arm; he did not kill Kohaku; he did not kill me….
Filled with a newfound energy, Kagome walked even faster and was determined to discover who Lord Sesshomaru truly was, if indeed he had a soul at all.
"Inuyasha may not like it," Kagome said. "But I have to understand who he is. I know he is not the way everybody believes him to be. I might dislike him myself, but I can't seem to ignore him. There's something about him that interests me. I wonder when I'll see him again."
As if fortune were on her side, a village was situated just beyond sight, and Kagome was excited to see the different houses and farm land. She saw people walking around doing their daily chores, living their lives peacefully and in harmony. Kagome ran towards them, her back pack bouncing on her back vigorously, making her wounds hurt. Her back felt wet, and she realized her wounds had opened up again.
She approached the village and two children spotted her and called their parents to observe her. An elderly man and woman, both carrying baskets filled with vegetables, looked at Kagome with an odd look on their faces. They had never seen a young girl dressed so revealingly, but the man's expression faded into one of enjoyment, scanning Kagome below the waist. The woman realized what he was doing and slapped him across the cheek.
"Hello!" Kagome said cheerfully. "Can you please help me? I have been traveling alone for some time and I need a place to rest. May I stay in your village for a while?"
"Of course you can, my dear," the woman said. "What is your name?"
"Kagome Higurashi."
"What a lovely name!" the man said before the woman pinched his arm.
"Are you hungry?" the little boy said.
"Yeah. I sure could have a good meal today."
"Oh, my! What is that red stain on your clothes?" said the woman.
"Right, my wounds." Kagome could see the bleeding had seeped through the bandages. "I got hurt while I was traveling. No big deal. I can re-bandage my back by myself."
"No, my child," the man said. "Your wounds look too serious for you to handle on your own. Let me take you to someone who can help you."
"You won't take her alone, old man," said the woman. "I'll go with you."
Not wanting to argue with the man and woman, grateful for their kindness and concern, she followed them inside the village.
"I hope the doctor can make my wounds heal fast," Kagome said hopefully. "The pain is not as bad now, but my wounds still hurt whenever they're touched."
"Oh, we're not going to see a doctor," the woman said. "We're taking you to the priestess."
Kagome's eyes widened. "Priestess?"
"What's the matter?" said the man, noticing Kagome's change of face. "Is there something wrong with us taking you to her?"
"What is her name?" Kagome asked. "Don't tell me. It's Kikyo, right?"
"Yes," said the man. "Do you know her?"
"More than you know," Kagome said irritably.
"Well, then you should be quite comfortable being in her care."
"Don't be so sure about that." Kagome suddenly felt ill, and she knew Kikyo was the cause of it. Her palms were getting sweaty, and she did not want to see the priestess, for she had a clear vision of what would happen once she saw her. "I don't think I should see her. I know you're trying to be kind, but I know I'm only intruding. I don't want to bother the priestess."
"Kikyo is good and kind," said the woman. "She won't turn you away. Our village has grown to love her. She accepts everybody into her heart."
Everyone except me, Kagome thought.
After following the man and woman some distance, they arrived at a small, makeshift shrine the villagers had built some time ago for worship. All three of them walked up the wooden steps and entered into the spacey building. There was the sound of chimes and a slight aroma of incense. Kagome tapped her foot on the floor nervously, waiting for the instant she would meet the person who supposedly had been her past self.
"Lady Kikyo," the woman called out. "Priestess, forgive us, but we have brought a young girl who desperately needs medical care. We know you can help her. Please."
Silence. Not a spoken reply. After the passing of a few moments, though, a woman's voice was heard, soft but commanding: "How hurt is she?"
"The wounds are serious," said the man. "I believe she is still bleeding."
Kagome stared into the doorway in front of her, then a slender figure wearing white and scarlet attire appeared. There stood Kikyo, the former living woman whose beauty was unmarred by the cruelty of death. Ironically, death seemed to have made he beauty more conspicuous, her eyes as black as night, her hair illuminating a sheen like raven feathers, her rubescent lips thin yet seductive. All Kagome could do was stare at her admiringly, feeling inadequate and unattractive in Kikyo's presence. Kikyo stared at Kagome in return, and it was not the look of happiness or pleasure that the living girl saw in her.
Kikyo walked gracefully across the shining floor and stopped in front of Kagome, her sharp eyes continuing to penetrate into Kagome's soul. A whisper followed:
"So we meet again, my reincarnation…"
Okay, I'm a little behind but I'm hustling to get down to the meat of the story. In the next chapter you'll see what happens between Kagome and Kikyo. Also Inuyasha will finally reveal why he treated Kagome so rudely. But most important of all, Sesshomaru makes his appearance again, which is the starting point for the juicy stuff that happens with him and Kagome. From then on Kagome and Sesshomaru take the reigns. Keep the reviews coming please! I aim to please my readers and appreciate what they have to say.