A Heart's Immaculence Chapter 6, an inuyasha fanfic

"A Heart's Immaculence"

Disclaimer: Once again I repeat this: I do not own Inuyasha or any characters related to it, but I often wonder what my life would be like if I was the creator.

Author's Note: Believe it or not, I started writing this chapter around 12:30 late at night. The reason I wrote so late is because I won't have time to write the next two days because I'll be tremendously busy. I know I should have been sleeping and getting the rest I need, but I am dedicated to my craft and hate to be lazy. Because I have readers, I feel obligated to glue myself to the computer and let my imagination flow. I put a lot of pressure on myself, but the pain I take to write right pays off when my readers respond positively to my story. Thank you for choosing my story to read, since I know there are tons of other stories out there about Sesshomaru and Kagome. I must be doing something right to keep your attention. Well, on with the tale….

Chapter Six

The tinkle of chimes resonated in the spacious room, a melody that was sweet but rather unnatural, seeming as if they were playing a requiem. They jingled in the open silence, for Kikyo and Kagome stood in front of each other, neither one of them saying a word after the priestess had uttered hers. Both young women were replicas of each other, and Kagome looked at Kikyo closely yet unwantingly, pretending she was gazing at a mirror, staring at herself in a different form, reflecting another part of herself. Her's and Kikyo's bodies were at close range to each other, but although they were nearly touching physically, they were both very distant in mind and soul.

Kagome remained transfixed with Kikyo, and not she or the priestess did anything to break the silence between them. Such was intolerable for Kagome, and she prayed that someone or something would intervene to breach the magnetic curse she felt Kikyo had placed on her.

Then the old man spoke, Kagome breathing a sigh of relief.

"I can't believe my eyes," said the man, looking back and forth from Kikyo to Kagome. "You both look identical."

"Yes, that is the way it is." Kikyo said icily.

"The girl told us she knew you," the woman said with a startled look on her countenance. "I had no idea she looked like you, Lady Kikyo. As you see, her face and hair are very soiled. My husband and I did not notice the similarity in her until now since the dirt on her face does cover her features somewhat."

"Are you both related?" said the old man inquisitively. "Are you sisters? Cousins?"

Kagome finally had the courage to look away from Kikyo, a slight string of anger rising within her, for she had to acknowledge that she was indeed related to the priestess, much more so than she wanted to admit.

"She and I are," Kikyo replied unemotionally. "But our relation is deeper than you can imagine."

Curious to know more about Kagome, the woman asked: "Are you a priestess as well? Do you have spiritual powers like Lady Kikyo?"

Kagome did not want to be there, her uneasiness making her fidget with her hair, her eyes positioned downward, her entire self trying to avoid looking at Kikyo again. She was unable to answer them, and she wished she had not found the village or spoken to the two villagers who were now inquiring her.

"If she is related to Kikyo, then she must have spiritual powers," said the man. "Look! She uses the same weapon our priestess has, the bow and arrow. Her powers combined with Lady Kikyo's could bring great protection to our village."

"Indeed she does have spiritual powers," Kikyo said relaxedly. "But I'm afraid she does not put them into much use. She is not as competent in her archery either."

Clenching her fist behind her back and biting her tongue so as not to blurt out words she would regret saying, Kagome looked up at the old man and woman, giving them a smile, one that showed she was unbothered by Kikyo's comment, which of course she was. If there was one thing about Kagome's smile, it was always lovely to look at, and even if she faked it, it was still believable.

"Oh, well," said the old man, disappointed that Kagome would not be of much help to the village. "We all have certain gifts, some more than others."

"Who's to say she won't become as talented as Lady Kikyo?" said the woman, returning Kagome's smile. "She just needs time."

Kikyo was unaffected by the woman's words concerning Kagome's spiritual gifts, yet she shivered when she mentioned the word "time."

Looking at Kagome again, Kikyo's smooth face transformed into a wrinkled mass, the skin of her head and the sides of her cheeks crumpled like paper. The fire in her eyes also became less glossy, the lack of light making them darker.

"She is fortunate," Kikyo said, her voice cracked with sadness. "Time is on her side. I, however, do not have that luxury."

The man and woman were confused by the priestess' words, but Kagome understood them completely. She knew the meaning of what Kikyo had spoken, and although she had become angry with her in the few moments that had passed between them, she pitied her and sympathized with her. Even if Kikyo's treatment of her was rather unamicable, she still felt a strong connection with her, but sadly it was a connection that brought both of them pain.

"I think it is time for us to be gone now," said the woman, sensing their presence was not needed there anymore.

"Oh, yes," the man said as his wife nudged him in the arm. "We have much work to do before the day is out."

"I understand," Kikyo said, a friendly smile on her face. "You have your duties to attend to as I have mine with this young girl. I will attend to her as you will attend to your chores."

"Well, good-bye, then," the man said, he and his wife walking out of the shrine together.

Don't leave me alone with her! Kagome thought, following the movements of the two villagers with her eyes until they were gone.

"May I see your wounds?" Kikyo said to Kagome.

"Huh?" Kagome replied. "Oh, my wounds. They're not that bad. You don't have to take care of me. I can do it myself. I'll be fine."

Kikyo was not fooled. She had tended many injured people during her lifetime and had seen and dressed many wounds, knowing which were minor or fatal. Her patience with her victims in healing them was an invaluable trait, something she was greatly known for, but at this instance, with Kagome denying she needed help, her calmness was slowly peeling away.

"Please remove that bag from your back," said Kikyo. "I must inspect the severity of your wounds if I am to provide you with herbal medicine."

"I told you," Kagome responded, her patience waning slightly as well. "They are my wounds and I say to leave them be. Just tell me what herbs to use and I'll apply them myself."

"I would think you to be knowledgeable in herbal healing by now. What else do you not know? I should not be surprised though, since you are not a trained priestess."

Kagome's temper was at the edge of erupting. "Your sister Kaede has taught me some things, but she hasn't been able to teach me everything. How can she? I am always with Inuyasha trying to find jewel shards."

Kikyo's eyes shot piercingly at Kagome, the fire that had diminished in them quickly returning into a full blaze.

"Inuyasha," Kikyo mouthed her former lover's name to herself rather than to Kagome.

She looks very upset, thought Kagome cautiously. Why did I mention Inuyasha's name?

"How is he, that half-demon friend of yours?" Kikyo continued. "Or are you more than friends?"

Kagome's heart was thrown backwards by Kikyo's brave question.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Inuyasha and I are just friends. It's always been that way."

"Do you not love him?"

Again Kagome's heart convulsed, and she did not know where Kikyo was leading this conversation to, but she felt she had to defend herself from what the priestess was hinting at concerning her relationship with Inuyasha.

"I should be the one to ask you that, Kikyo. After all, you and Inuyasha were a couple long before I came into the picture."

"Are you assuming I still love him, you silly girl? Did I not try to kill him? How can love make someone do something as terrible as that?"

"Your anger, your lust for revenge. Those feelings were to blame for your blackness of heart. But now your heart is red again, and I know you still have love for Inuyasha."

"Why do you presume to know my heart? Do you think that because you are my reincarnation that you know what is in my soul?"

"I should since you once stole my soul from me, and I was inside your body long enough to see what was in it."

"Is that what you saw, love drowned by hate and pain? Inuyasha is responsible for what I feel, and you only serve to remind me of him!"

"As I said, Kikyo, Inuyasha loves you. Think of all the times he has gone after you, searched for you, protected you. Is that not proof that he still cares for you?"

"To care and to love someone are two different things. One can care without having love. What Inuyasha feels for me is simply pity and guilt. What he feels for you, on the other hand…."

Kikyo suddenly spun around and went into the doorway she had entered the room from. From its corner, she gathered up a straw basket filled with white cloth, bottles filled with herbs, and a kettle. She walked near Kagome again, kneeld down and set out the contents of the basket on the floor. A place had already been displayed where fires were burned, and Kikyo lit the sticks there, placing the kettle on top of it. She opened up certain bottles of herbs and poured them into the kettle, adding water to mix them with, steam rising out into the air.

"My love is sealed in the past," Kikyo said. "It should be left there along with my memories. Unfortunately, the emotions I possess are not easily left behind."

Kagome was dumbfounded at what had just transpired between her and Kikyo. It was rare for both of them to express what they felt to each other, but somehow it all seemed unavoidable. They both kept their emotions locked from each other because they were, in a sense, each other's rival. As long as Inuyasha was alive, the two of them would be in conflict, and there was no escaping that. Their situation could only be endured for as much as it prolonged itself.

"Now," Kikyo said, her voice returning to a calm smoothness. "Allow me to examine your wounds so that I may apply this herbal remedy on them."

Hesitating for a few seconds before complying, Kagome slid her backpack off her shoulders and sat next to Kikyo, the floor beneath her feeling cool and comfortable. Kikyo flipped Kagome's shirt over her shoulders just enough to see the wounds. Her hands felt cold and rough, and Kagome felt as if death had grazed her living skin. After the priestess cleaned them, applied medicine and bandaged them, Kagome's wounds no longer pained her, but there was a bit of numbness caused by the herbs.

Kikyo picked up all the contents on the floor, blew out the fire, and carried the basket back to the opening of the doorway. She was gone from the room for a few minutes and returned to where Kagome was. This time she held a blue and white kimono in her hands.

"Here, put this on," Kikyo said, handing Kagome the kimono. "The clothes you have on are filthy and are stained with blood. This is more suitable for you to wear in this village."

Kagome knew what Kikyo truly meant by "suitable" clothes, since her school uniform's skirt was short, a style women in the feudal era were not accustomed to. Nevertheless, she accepted the clothing without a word of complaint.

"Thank you," Kagome said gratefully.

"I will leave you alone so that you may change. Your wounds should be healed by tomorrow. Also you will stay here for tonight. I will bring you some food later in the evening. You may leave whenever you wish, or until your friends come for you."

At that, Kikyo walked out of the shrine and left Kagome to do whatever she pleased inside the confines of the village. Since she had a few hours to spare before dinner, Kagome decided to practice her archery. She went outside and breathed the air, wondering where Kikyo had gone off to.

"There's no way I'm staying here more than a day," Kagome said. "As soon as tomorrow arrives, I'm outta here. Still, now that I'm here, I wonder if any more interesting things will happen to me."

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Evening had arrived and Inuyasha was inconsolable about Kagome's whereabouts and of her safety. He and his friends had been searching for hours, and they had no luck in finding Kagome anywhere. Inuyasha's sense of smell had completely disappeared, and the scent of his brother Sesshomaru had vanished completely as well. Since Shippo was the only one capable of smelling Kagome's scent, everyone was relying on him, but he explained that he too could no longer smell anything. Kagome's scent became less and less until it faded, just like the daylight that was now ebbing away.

"We're in the middle of nowhere!" Inuyasha shouted. "I can't believe how long it's taking us to find Kagome! We haven't accomplished anything! I am going out of my mind!"

Inuyasha was going ballistic, and had Kagome been there with him, she would have told him to "sit" for his untamed behavior.

"Calm yourself, Inuyasha," Sango said, climbing off Kilala along with Miroku and Shippo. "We must not give up hope. Be patient."

"Patient!" said Inuyasha, scratching his forehead roughly. "How can I be patient when Kagome is out there by herself! Who's going to protect her from danger! She is hurt! Koga smelled her blood. She might be dying!"

"Don't think that way, Inuyasha," Miroku said, placing a hand on the hanyou's shoulder. "Try to be positive. Maybe Koga has already found her."

Inuyasha pushed Miroku's hand off his shoulder. "I'm sick of everyone telling me to be calm, to be patient, to be positive! There is no time for me to do any of that! Do you hear me! Kagome needs my help now!"

"He's going crazy!" Shippo said, frightened by the way Inuyasha was shouting his words.

Sango and Miroku were frightened as well, and they did not know whether or not they would be able to control his frantics. He was obviously worried to death about Kagome, more now than they had ever seen him.

"Inuyasha," Miroku asked. "Does this have anything to do with the dream you had about Kagome?"

Inuyasha looked at Miroku silently, then he sunk to the ground, his head leaning against his hand, his long, silver hair falling over his face.

"Don't remind me of that," the distraught hanyou said. He looked like a child, innocent and lost, despairing over a broken toy.

"It's obvious how much the dream bothers you," Sango said, kneeling next to Inuyasha, putting a hand over his knee. "Kagome's disappearance and your bad dream about her is too overwhelming for you to handle on your own. Why don't you tell us about your dream? Maybe it will take some of the load off your shoulders."

Inuyasha shook his head softly. "I can't. It's too painful, too real. When I dreamt it, I felt as if it really happened. I woke up and almost screamed, believing that what I saw while I was asleep had come true. It was not until I saw Kagome with my wakened eyes that I knew it was a dream."

"What happened to her, Inuyasha?" Miroku said. "What happened to Kagome in your dream?"

Inuyasha's lips trembled. "She dies."

Sango and Miroku gasped in unison, and Shippo began to shed tears at the shocking words he had just heard.

"Dies?" Sango said sadly. "But how? Who? Was it Naraku?"

Inuyasha pulled back his head and brushed his hair from his face. Once again he became angry, wrapping his fingers around his sword tightly.

"Sesshomaru killed her," he said a little above a whisper.

More shock spread across everyone's faces.

"Are you sure it was him you saw in your dream?" Miroku asked, unwilling to believe what he heard.

"Of course it was him!" Inuyasha said infuriatingly. "Don't you think I'd recognize my own brother!"

Inuyasha stood up defiantly and looked up at the sky, searching the vastness of heaven for some relief for his troubles. Tiny speckles of stars began to appear, their bodies looking like white jewels set on a blanket of crimson. The hanyou wrapped his arms around himself, a chill consuming his body, yet the wind was not cold and the atmosphere was still warm.

"Night is almost approaching," said Inuyasha tensely. "I won't be of any help to Kagome tonight, but that doesn't mean I'll abandon my search to find her."

"What do you mean, Inuyasha?" Sango asked. "Do you feel all right?"

"I think I know what he means," Miroku said. "It all makes sense now. Tonight is the night of the new moon. That is why Inuyasha was slightly hurt by Koga's attacks, why he could not detect Kagome's smell, and why he is greatly irritated by the entire situation we are in. He'll lose his powers very soon. He'll be human."

"I have to find Kagome," Inuyasha said determinedly. "Human or not, I have to go to her, no matter what. I can't wait until morning for my demon powers to return."

"I agree," Miroku said just as determinedly. "We'll follow after you as long as it takes."

Inuyasha gave the monk a slant of a smile. He climbed on Kilala's back and everyone else followed, for he would not be able to search for Kagome on the ground with his human abilities. As soon as they were in the air, the sun was no longer visible, and the bright moon made its debut in the darkness.

Inuyasha was now human, and his emotions were even stronger than before. Yet his determination ensued, keeping him company for the long ride ahead.

Kagome, Inuyasha thought. I'll find you, I promise. I won't let Sesshomaru slay you. I swear he'll pay for the pain he's caused me!

The night settled on the village quietly, the villagers going about their way, making last minute preparations for the following day. Everyone seemed happy and content with their lives, not fearing any danger would come to them, not doubting the safety of their community. They all expressed their gratitude for the goodness that had befallen them, mainly giving credit to the priestess Kikyo for their good fortune. Since her arrival at the village, only good things appeared to happen: their farm lands were prosperous; there was an abundance in agriculture, textile, lack of disease. It was as if Kikyo had made all their troubles disappear, and the villagers loved her dearly.

Kagome heard the villagers speak of her frequently throughout the day, and they were astonished at her likeness to her. She paid no mind to how the villagers reacted with her, especially when she walked around in her refashioned kimono. Kagome had cut off some material from the kimono's bottom half, stopping a few inches above the knees. She did so because she was not used to walking around in a tight outifit where she was unable to mover her legs freely. Of course she received many stares, glares from the women and gawkes from the men.

Kagome also managed to practice her archery while in the vicinity, but she soon got bored shooting at the same target repeatedly. She was hungry throughout the day, and she could not wait until evening arrived to consume her first true meal in days.

She went back into the shrine and looked around, admiring the decorations on the walls, the relics, the bronze figures. Although she was uneasy about seeing Kikyo again, she did her best to be calm and collected, for Kikyo would soon arrive with her meal. She sat on the wooden floor, then stretched out her body, her hair spreading around her head like an open fan. Soon she began to feel sleepy, and she closed her eyes to the sound of the chimes she had heard before, singing a lulling lullaby in her ears….

Peace and serenity seduced Kaogme into dream, and she saw a familiar face, the individual she had grown to cherish and love. It was Inuyasha. He appeared as attractive as ever, but the most noticeable of his features was his triangular ears. He was as clear to her as he had ever been in real life, yet a dark shadow loomed over him. Suddenly his eyes turned fiery red, two purple marks emerged on each of his cheeks, his fangs thickening and enlarging themselves. His hair spiked outward the same time as his claws. Inuyasha was a full demon. The loving face of the hanyou she knew was suddenly gone.

"Inuyasha," Kagome moaned, still dreaming.

Her dream then entered another phase. Inuyasha's face became blurry and a new face transfigured itself. It was Sesshomaru. He was beautiful, a blinding sight even in dream, yet a cold, cruel, aloof expression was plastered on his face. For a moment his eyes too turned red, his purple markings more sharp in color, and he turned into his true form, the demon dog he truly was. Strangely, he shrunk back to his human form, and there was a radiant glow to him. His pearl-like face was smoother, more animated, and he smiled, one that did not melt a heart from fear but from loving warmth.

"Sesshomaru," Kagome moaned again.

As quickly as she had fallen asleep, her dream had ended and she felt an uncomfortable presence looking over her. Kagome opened her eyes and saw Kikyo standing above her. She raised herself from the floor and looked at Kikyo again. The priestess displayed a disgusted expression on her countenance, her eyes filled with distrust and suspicion.

"Having strange dreams?" Kikyo said, placing a bowl of rice and fish next to Kagome.

"Was I dreaming?" Kagome replied. "I don't remember."

I wonder if she heard me, Kagome thought, referring to the two names she had spoken while dreaming. If she did, she must think I was dreaming something perverted.

"You were dreaming," said Kikyo. "But be mindful of your dreams. They have a tendency to become real."

Moving gracefully across the floor, Kikyo walked outside of the shrine, and Kagome snuck behind a window to watch where the priestess was going. The soul collectors came out of the sky and danced around her excitedly, their movements fast and twisting.

"She's off to gather more souls for herself, no doubt," Kagome whispered.

Kikyo stopped in her tracks and made a half turn towards the window Kagome was hiding behind. She tucked her head inside her knees and trembled, realizing Kikyo had heard her. She stayed in that position until she sensed Kikyo was gone. She looked up from the floor and out the window. Kikyo was no longer there.

"Why does she always make me quiver like that?" Kagome asked herself.

Her stomach growled and she almost forgot the bowl of food Kikyo had left for her. She ate ravenously, and although she could have had a second helping she was still satisfied. Kagome also noticed a blanket in the corner of the room, so she took it and spread it across the floor, laying her body on top of it, her head filled with questions about her dream.

What does it all mean? Kagome said, trying to figure out what she had seen. Why did I dream of Inuyasha in that way? Why did I dream of Sesshomaru? What does he have to do with anything? Could it be because I ran into him this morning? Does it really matter? He was so beautiful though….

Kagome felt another surge of sleepiness befall her, her thoughts still lingering on the two brothers she dreamt about. However, it was the older brother her mind held last in its protective bubble before slumber took her away.

Screams.

Kagome woke up with a start as she heard the cries of the villagers echoing within the shrine. It was already morning, and she rubbed her eyes and tried to focus her vision. She was confused by the commotion outside, and she ran over to the shrine's entrance doorway. People were running all over the village, women clutching their children with tears in their eyes, men carrying spikes, spears, swords, and other weapons.

"What's going on?" Kagome shouted. "Why is everyone running?"

She ran back inside the shrine to get her yellow back pack and weapon. Kagome then ran as fast as she could through the crowd, pushing herself into the opposite direction of where everyone was running.

It must be a demon, Kagome said. And a big one too.

Kagome stopped in front of the long, wooden fence that encircled the village and stared into the openness of the farmlands, searching for the demon she knew had come to attack.

"He's coming!" one of the villagers screamed. "Run away!"

"Wait!" Kagome yelled at the man who had screamed. She approached him and grabbed his arm. "Is it a demon? What does it look like? Tell me."

"Lady Kikyo! We need Lady Kikyo! We need the priestess to protect us!"

"Hey!" Kagome said impatiently. "Until Kikyo shows up, I'm the only one you have to try and help you all from this demon. Now tell me what it looks like."

"He's unlike any other demon I've seen before," the man described. "In fact, he doesn't look like a demon at all, except for his white hair."

"White hair?" Kagome's heart skipped. Could it be Inuyasha? "What is he wearing?"

"He is dressed like a prince. A demon disguised as a prince, I should say."

Kagome freed her grasp from the man's arm and he ran away from her in a swift sprint.

"Prince?" Kagome said. "Inuyasha looks far from a—"

Kagome's thoughts froze instantly. She knew who the demon was. It was him, the one with the beautiful face, the one whom she was determined to meet again, the one from her dream….

Sorry if I didn't make Sesshomaru appear in this chapter. I was hoping to write that part in, but I got too sleepy and I couldn't stay awake. I only hope this chapter was not less interesting than the others because of my drowsiness. I'm getting restless with my story a little bit because Sesshomaru is taking his sweet time to come out and be with Kagome. I'm sick of waiting. Hey, what am I saying? I'm the writer of this story! I'll force him to show himself, even if I get killed by him in the process (heehee!). I promise, you guys. No, I swear to you that Sesshomaru will definitely be in the next and remaining chapters. I just didn't have time to write about him tonight. Forgive me for that. I would appreciate your continuing reviews to let me know how I'm doing with the story. Thanks again!