A/N
Things are getting heated and I bring you another chapter, which I'm actually very pleased with and hope you will be as well!
As always, thank you for your positive reviews and inputs, I'm having a lot of fun writing the exchanges between those two, so I'm happy to know you're enjoying my portrayal of them.
Please continue telling me what you think!
Chapter Five
Staring to the high, far distance at the first soft rays of sunlight piercing through the dark blue sky with a brilliant orange color, Kikyo let out a confused, small breath at her own unexpected behavior as she sent both of her hands back to fix the binding supporting her long, straight hair.
She most certainly did not plan to slumber for this long...
When was even the last time she had slept so much in one night? Usually she would rest for an hour or two, a respite for her mind while inside a protective holy barrier, assuring her of her own safety and solitude.
This night, however, she had accidentally lost herself in unforeseen carelessness, lured by a dangerous warmth that made her feel so relaxed, so at home, that it apparently overcame her sense of alarm, of reality, stretching her calm sleeping session and granting her with a false feeling of peace. Making her mind automatically trace back to the past, to more simpler times in her home village, where she and Kaede would sit by the caressing fire, sharing a similar embrace as they both allowed themselves to drift into deep sleep inside their safe, wooden homestead after a long day of work.
She breathed in deep with both sadness and longing.
Those days were gone, now. The times and the situation have changed, turned far more dangerous and unpredicted, and yet for a few hours, she let herself be completely vulnerable.
A rare case of irresponsibility on her part which shall not repeat itself – she firmly decided.
Lowering her brown eyes to stare forward, Kikyo focused her gaze on Rin, who was diligently gathering spare firewood together and tying it with an improvised string, preparing for departure. The child had been strangely quiet ever since they had woken up earlier, the sad expression crossing her features making the priestess blink with realization.
'She doesn't want me to leave, huh.' Reaching the conclusion, Kikyo simply let out another soft sigh.
That's right.
The night had already passed and the new day was upon them, the sun's warm rays were slowly spreading through the land, purifying the cold and darkness, making the birds above them chirp loudly and the air to feel fresh and clean, meaning that it was now time to part. Sesshomaru himself had agreed to this arrangement only because Rin had asked him to, while also foolishly believing he could somehow lure more information out of her. Kikyo made sure to inform him that she was aware of his intentions, but knowing the daiyoukai already, he probably took that as merely another challenge for him to conquer, understanding that even if their ways will part now, Mt. Hakurei itself will not be going anywhere.
However, keeping her gaze on Rin for a few more moments, the priestess found herself suddenly crossed with doubt, making her frown slightly.
Was it indeed a good idea to leave this child under Sesshomaru's care, once again? Reading the interactions before her throughout her stay, she found the issue to apparently be his incompetent vassal who was not capable of properly protecting the child whenever Sesshomaru himself tended to his errands. However, she found herself unable to even blame the small imp demon in this matter, since in the end, an arrangement of this sort was simply doomed to fail on arrival no matter how you glance at it – a human child set on this journey together with two other youkai couldn't end in any other way than constant danger and possibly even death, with the responsibility falling on none other than Sesshomaru to realize this fact. On the other hand, Kikyo was aware of her growing attachment to the child and she knew that the more she stayed, the harder it would be for them to part later on when she eventually has to carry out her own plan of killing Naraku.
No matter how nice this feeling was, it was only temporary.
But her inner conflict was suddenly paused by Rin raising her head, silently locking her gaze with Kikyo's, as if she was aware of her relentless thinking. The child only stared at her for a few moments, then eased her shoulders and tilted her head a bit to the side, giving her a warm, sad smile, yet full of understanding and acceptance.
Kikyo let out a final, soft, defeated breath down at Rin's direction.
Turning her gaze to Sesshomaru, she noticed the daiyoukai had been watching her for quite some time now, making her blink with slight annoyance at this odd habit of his. She kept her expression composed as she started slowly moving closer towards him, maintaining her eyes locked with his, stepping with poise and eventually stopping at a safe distance from him as he only studied her actions silently.
"I will be following with you." She informed him with a calm, yet firm voice, making Jaken give a sudden jerk of his head at her direction, his eyes once again bugging out with disbelief at her speaking to his master like that. Rin however, straightened up at her decision, her expression pure happiness.
Sesshomaru held his ground as his golden eyes bored down into the priestess' brown ones. Standing this close to her, her aura was once again flushing him with prominent spiritual energy, compressing against his own in a persistent, hostile matter, a silent battle of dominance and assertiveness, almost.
He kept silent as his expression remained undisturbed by her sudden insolent announcement. He did find the miko's presence necessary and beneficial to himself, however, he would never tell her that, resulting in only the sound of the chilly, early morning wind rattling the tops of the trees around them to compensate for their mutual silence.
But staring down into her large, mahogany orbs, Sesshomaru noticed a hidden trace of determination, making his interest regarding this woman's mysterious agenda involuntary spark, once more; Just what is her plan? How will she execute it? What is she thinking, suddenly accepting the idea of accompanying them this easily? After all, she was so fixed on operating by herself before...
His golden eyes narrowed as he suddenly realized.
'This overconfident woman doesn't trust me with Rin.' He concluded, slight irritation crossing his features. But no matter – he will gladly take this opportunity to use her own audacity against her. She can't conceal everything away from him, forever.
"Do as you wish." He only replied with much, turning on his heel and stepping away in the direction of the mountain, with both Jaken and Rin who was leading A-Un by his straps, quickly following behind him.
'How transparent.' Kikyo silently noted, an amused smile crossing her features.
Climbing higher and higher on the side of a nearby rocky landform relatively close to Mt. Hakurei, Sesshomaru calmly strode forward, maintaining a consistent interval from his companions behind him. His golden eyes scanned the path ahead as they all steadily moved forward, keeping away from the holy barrier's reach as possible. The weather was slightly more welcoming during daytime, with the heavy mist reducing to circle only the mountain itself in the distance and the much higher parts above them, the air moist and cool, however, the sun barely managing to puncture through the haze, making the area seem almost secluded.
Suddenly stopping in his place, the inu daiyoukai lifted his gaze upwards to a higher spot above where they currently stood.
"Sesshomaru-sama?" Jaken asked, confused by his actions.
Sesshomaru only kept his gaze on the same spot for a few more moments in silence.
"I am going ahead." He stated, effortlessly jumping up with immense speed to a much higher and further spot above them, elegantly using each rock in his way to elevate his movement and quickly disappear into the thick mist.
Kikyo quietly stood in her place, staring up at the direction where the daiyoukai had just vanished to. She could still feel his presence, although she noticed it was growing weaker and weaker with an impossible pace.
He sure was a fast one.
"Good grief... there he goes again..." Jaken sighed with exhaustion, "Just what did he suddenly sense, to have him use his special agility like that...?"
Turning her gaze to the mountain to their left, Kikyo kept silent for a few more moments. Then, she lifted her eyes to the continuation of the path a little ahead of their current location, managing to make out some sort of a small cave, successfully hidden by a large rock positioned just above its entrance. Focusing her attention on it, she sensed there were no traces of either youkai or animal activity near.
Resuming her steps, the priestess said nothing as she moved forward, making Jaken turn his attention to her as she passed the small, green creature without even glancing down at him.
"H-Hey!" He called after her, repeatedly shifting his eyes between Kikyo's back and the direction where Sesshomaru had left in, "W-We shall not stray from this location, wench!" but the priestess only continued her silent walking.
Rin, who was riding on top of A-Un's back, quickly followed in her steps, understanding where Kikyo was heading, "Jaken-sama, it's alright, Kikyo-sama noticed a spot for a camp." She explained, passing him as well.
Landing on the edge of a high cliff, close to the spot where he had left his companions a couple of hours ago, Sesshomaru eyed the occurrences below him in silence. It was already mid-day, and yet the weather seemed to have only gone colder as time passed. The wind was strong and wild where he stood, cold against his face, through his draping sash and his long, silver hair swaying behind his tall figure.
He focused his vision on A-Un, Jaken and Rin far below, happily eating while sitting around a new, small fire, right at the entrance of a narrow cave near the path, surrounded by large rocks that successfully managed to conceal them all from casual upper view. He turned his golden gaze to the edge of the cliff not far from their location, where Kikyo was standing by herself, facing the mountain in the distance. He only stared down at her form for a few more moments in silence, studying her upright, refined posture and relaxed aura, her long, silky hair rhythmically moving from side to side with the chilly breeze. He couldn't see her expression from where he was positioned, but he figured it was probably as unreadable as ever.
Just then, as if reading his mind, the priestess turned her head halfway up in his direction, locking her gaze with his for a moment while giving him a bored look and shortly turning her attention back to the mountain in front of her.
'This woman...' His golden eyes narrowed down at her reaction to his presence.
Lingering in his spot for another moment, the daiyoukai soon used his immense speed to land on the ground right next to her, leaving afterimages of his figure behind him as he focused his attention down at the priestess, giving her a calm, yet moderately annoyed look.
Kikyo only slightly jumped in return to his sudden actions, but her surprised expression and her fingers tightening on the large bow resting on her shoulder was enough for an amused smirk to cross his features. Noticing it, she narrowed her brown eyes up at him in response, turning her head back to the mountain without sparing him a single word.
The daiyoukai kept his studying gaze on her profile for a short while, then, turned to face the mountain as well, neither of them saying anything as only the cheerful sounds of Jaken and Rin's chatter filled the air far behind them.
"I see you are done with your sightseeing." Kikyo eventually commented dryly, still not looking in his direction.
Sesshomaru only glared down at her for a moment.
"I suppose staring vacantly at this uneventful mountain seems like a better avocation to you." He affirmed, turning his gaze back forward.
Kikyo's composed expression crossed with slight annoyance.
"Yes, it does." She answered calmly, shifting her gaze up, prompting him to watch her from the corner of his eye as she gave him with a sharp look.
He left his gaze on her as she turned her brown eyes away from him, once again.
As always, he couldn't tell what this miko was thinking. However, her aura just now while even for a single moment, was spiked with a sudden surge of the same noteworthy energy, hinting him that he indeed managed to pierce through her unreadable exterior, once again. Slowly, he was beginning to understand the pattern of it.
"Is it the Shikon Jewel shards that you are after?" She suddenly asked.
Sesshomaru processed her unexpected inquiry for a few moments in silence. Somehow, he was displeased with the fact that the priestess would even see fit of asking him this question.
"I have no interest in such cheap means of acquiring strength." He replied with a stern voice.
He caught her slightly lifting her head at his answer from his peripheral vision.
"Then, why do you pursue Naraku?" She continued, turning in his direction, provoking him once again to return her gaze.
Neither of them said anything as they stared at each other, the wind maintaining a steady rhythm in their hair and clothes as both of their expressions remained calm.
"Humph," He let out a mocking breath, turning once again to the mountain before him, "You cannot possibly expect me to share my reasons with you when you yourself so stubbornly refuse to do so."
The daiyoukai watched her from the corner of his eye again, awaiting her response. The priestess's gaze was still on him, a hint of contemplation flashed in her mahogany eyes as he felt her quietly examine him.
Then, she turned to Mt. Hakurei.
Sesshomaru took the opportunity to lower his head a bit more towards her, his golden eyes quietly studying her. She only kept her silence for a few more moments, eventually letting out a soft breath. Something in the way she stared at the far distance, in the way the soft sun reflected in her brown eyes and how she held her head slightly higher than usual; for a single moment, he noted something about the miko seemed bare.
"Naraku had managed to turn myself and a very dear person to me against each other." She eventually answered, still facing forward, "For that, I will eliminate him even at the cost of my own life."
Sesshomaru processed her words as he kept his golden gaze on her.
Considering the information he had collected on this priestess up until today, it would be fair to assume that Naraku himself was probably after the Shikon Jewel she was guarding in order to convert his own pitiful half-youkai body into a full-fledged one, which is most likely also his current objective, still. Deducting this fact, the daiyoukai was pleased about learning another weak point regarding his prey, even if the priestess had still yet to fully elaborate on her plan. However, he found himself strangely detained on a different part in the miko's answer; a very dear person to her must be no other than...
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes as a sudden and unexpected unpleasant feeling sparked deep within his chest, making him shift his gaze to the distance.
The notion of this priestess and Inuyasha together... why did it feel so impossibly unsuited to him?
He brushed the odd feeling off as he let out a silent breath, noticing that the miko had now turned in his direction, her expression once again back to its usual composed nature, yet her brown eyes locked on him, demanding him of answering her first inquiry.
He lifted his head slightly, displeasure crossing his features.
"That vermin dared to get in my way, therefore he must perish." He replied with a low voice.
She only stared up at him for the longest time in silence, then, lifted the back of her hand to her mouth, blocking an unexpected, light chuckle at his response.
"A simple matter of tainted pride, I see." She surmised with amusement.
Sesshomaru's golden eyes widened as he immediately turned his head to frown down at her with disbelief. He took a few moments to wrap his mind around what had just happened as he stared at her now much softer features. His response was apparently entertaining enough to reveal a genuine smirk from this unbelievable woman.
How dare she mock him?
"My reason will not matter once Naraku dies by hands and not yours." He countered with an eerily calm expression, narrowing his gaze down at her as they once again locked their eyes.
She only quietly glared back up at him.
"I wonder about that." She began, lifting her chin up in a proud, yet composed manner, "You have set on this journey to slay him for so long and yet your results are not very impressive, Sesshomaru."
Hearing this, the daiyoukai's jaw clenched, and he turned around fully in the priestess' direction, his golden eyes boring down deep into her mahogany ones as she held her ground, returning his glare without the slightest hint of fear in them.
"And I suppose your progress is made by you demonstrating defenselessness while sleeping, miko?"
He studied her as the priestess' eyes widened at his sudden and rhetorical remark, making her calm expression suddenly cross with shock, a mental image that he would gladly remember. However, she quickly collected herself, her brows meeting in a displeased frown as she narrowed her gaze up at him.
Not sparing him another word, Kikyo swiftly turned on her heel, ending the exchange as her long hair swayed after her movement. Staring forward, she began making her way to where Rin and Jaken had camped in, leaving the daiyoukai standing in his place with his vision closely following her departing figure.
'So that wasn't intended, huh.' He observed, a bit taken aback by her sudden, honest reaction.
Evening fell sooner than expected with the heavy mist blocking the sun above, making the rocky area around them even more chilly than before. Mt. Hakurei remained steadily looming from afar, its grand dimensions and unusual, brightly-lit spiritual energy confining it made the structure seem falsely serene, yet also genuinely enchanting.
Kikyo's eyes were kept on the fire before her as she sat on the ground, leaning her back against a large rock with one of her arms resting on her bent knee. The group was now sitting below the vast, narrow rock marking the entrance to the small cave, the formation somehow successfully blocking the pesky, cold wind from their position and preserving the warmth created by the fireplace.
'There hasn't been any unusual activity coming from the mountain at all since that day.' She noted, turning her gaze once again in the direction of the mountain in the distance. 'I can't sense any traces of Shikon fragments, either.'
The first fact however, didn't prevent Sesshomaru from tending to his odd errands as he once again took off to examine the mountain closely from a different angle. Although she found his actions unnecessary, Kikyo couldn't help but finally relax without the feeling of his boring gaze on her, making her let out a soft breath.
Ever since she had joined their group, whenever Sesshomaru was present, his golden eyes were constantly observing her. At first, she deducted it was a simple matter of distrust, but she now knew it was something else; the inu daiyoukai was testing her, in every single moment and through her every action.
And apparently, even in her sleep, as well.
Rising to her feet, Kikyo turned on her heel and silently began stepping away from the warm location, giving Rin a knowing look as the child stared at her for a moment, then nodded as she understood where the priestess is heading to.
Jaken narrowed his eyes at her figure as he watched Kikyo make her way ahead in the path, eventually disappearing behind a large stone wall without saying anything.
"That miko is too suspicious!" He croaked, lifting his hands towards the warmth.
Rin picked up a branch from the nearby pile, throwing it into the fire in front of her.
"Kikyo-sama isn't suspicious, Jaken-sama." She disagreed, hugging her knees, "Sesshomaru-sama can probably see that as well."
The imp demon shook his head at the child.
"Rin! That miko is the one who sealed Sesshomaru-sama's despicable half-youkai brother, her powers are dangerous, and she is truly unpredictable! Not to mention the fact that she is no longer even part of the living!" He stressed.
Rin's expression only turned sad as she heard his last words, keeping her gaze at the fire in front of her.
"Rin knows, Jaken-sama." She said with a low voice, leaning her chin on her arms.
Jaken's yellow eyes widened.
"Y-You do?" He asked, staring at her.
The child only nodded silently.
"T-Then! You must understand as well that we are better off not staying near such a perilous and powerful being! Sesshomaru-sama needs to –"
The imp demon's rant was suddenly cut by his master appearing behind them, now done with his casual mission.
"I need to what, exactly, Jaken?" He asked dryly, giving his vassal a bored look, making the small green creature choke on his own words and the child to beam with happiness.
"Sesshomaru-sama! Welcome back!" Rin greeted him.
The daiyoukai stood in his place for a moment in silence.
"Where is the miko?" He asked.
Her scent still carried in the air, coming from a nearby spot not far from where they were positioned. However, Sesshomaru sensed something else along with the priestess, somehow around her location, there was also a different kind of youkai energy, weak and insignificant, he noted, but still present nonetheless.
Jaken turned back to the fire, raising his hands once again to enjoy its steady warmth.
"That woman left suddenly without sparing a word!" He answered with disdain.
Sesshomaru processed the information for a moment, then turned his gaze to Rin, who watched him silently with a worried expression.
"W-We should wait for Kikyo-sama here, Sesshomaru-sama!" She urged him, "She'll be right back..."
Jaken swiftly turned to her.
"How do you know that, Rin?" He voiced his confusion.
The child averted her gaze to the fire, her expression troubled.
"Kikyo-sama wouldn't want anyone coming after her right now..." She whispered, her voice barely audible.
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes down at her, then quietly turned on his heel.
"Fool! Why would Sesshomaru-sama waste his time following that susp – Eh? S-Seshhomaru-sama?!" the imp demon whipped his head back to notice his master was already making his way in the same direction of that woman, making him rise to his feet in confusion, then sigh loudly and sit back down once again. Rin, however, only quietly tightened her own hold around herself.
Stepping in the path of the priestess in question, Sesshomaru's expression turned solemn.
'Just what does that mean? I shall see with my own eyes.' He decided.
'How serene.' Kikyo mused, reaching a hidden, unexpected green field on top of the landform, just a little further up the path from their current camp. The heavy mist that surrounded the area somehow spared its specific location, granting it with a clear view, revealing a small river that acted as a life source for all of the greenery around her. The grass which was growing from the rocky ground was lean and soft against the soles of her sandals as she stepped forward, all the way to the edge of the water. Dusk had already fallen, coloring the sky with deep dark blue and a hint of red, yet somehow, at this area, the strong wind was reduced into a mere, soft breeze, gently caressing the priestess' features and flowing through her long hair, leading her all the way to stand on the abrupt riverside, taking in its fresh and pure scent.
Staring down at the water in silence, Kikyo let out a soft breath.
Then, she untied her long, silky hair from its binding, letting it fall gracefully down her back and around her shoulders. Raising one arm in the air and tilting her head back slightly, Kikyo summoned her Shinidamachu, allowing the silvery serpents to orbit her extended hand and body as they released the grip on the souls in their possession towards her.
Now circled with the bright white spheres and floating youkai helpers she had gotten so used to, Kikyo lowered her arm slowly as she cupped one in her palm, drawing it closer to herself as her mahogany eyes settled down on it for the longest time. Expressionless, she closed her eyes and gently moved her hand towards her chest until the glowing sphere was absorbed into her own body.
Opening her eyes back, however, Kikyo straightened up and let out a soft sigh, her expression crossing with slight annoyance as she turned her head halfway in the direction of another unwelcomed party, who had been watching her from afar for quite some time now.
"You really should cease with your silent spying." She commented, giving the daiyoukai a sharp look.
Sesshomaru only quietly lingered in his spot for a moment, then, once again used his unparalleled speed to suddenly land right next to the miko. This time, however, failing to even make her budge.
Towering over her frame, he simply stared down at her with indifference, eventually raising his gaze to the long, pale, eel-like creatures flying slightly above them. Locking his golden eyes on one of them, Sesshomaru lifted his right claw up, quickly slicing it in half, watching as the feeble youkai disintegrated in mid-air against his sudden and uncalled for attack.
"What is the meaning of this?" He asked with slight interest, lowering his gaze back to observe the miko, standing next to him.
Kikyo narrowed her eyes up at him.
"Isn't it obvious?" She sighed, turning her back and stepping away from him, creating distance between them as she set her gaze on the river.
Although without her Shinidamachu present at the time, he had already seen her rely on souls once before when they shared their first exchange, did he not pay it any attention back then since she was of no interest to him? How absurd.
Sesshomaru stayed in his place as neither of them said anything for the longest time, the gentle wind occasionally meeting with the grass surrounding them showered the area with a low and steady ring. The sun had already completely set above them, making the bright orbs surrounding the priestess their only source of light.
Realizing that the inu daiyoukai will not leave without a proper explanation, Kikyo turned around fully in his direction, her long, straight hair flying against the wind and landing across her chest as she titled her head slightly to the side.
He asked for it, after all.
"I am neither alive or dead, Sesshomaru." She began, perfectly composed, yet her brown eyes fixed on him with silent and hidden sadness, "I have died fifty years ago and was resurrected against my will, into this unbalanced clay body which cannot sustain itself without the souls of the deceased."
Lowering her head, yet maintaining his eye-contact, Kikyo's expression was suddenly crossed with quiet resolve, "This is the reality I am currently in, and although I realize that... I still roam this earth and pursue my goals, my interests and my revenge..."
Raising one hand to collect another soul in her palm, the priestess lowered her gaze down to stare at it, a soft, sad smile crossing her features.
"Pure is impure, impure is pure." She said quietly, absorbing it into herself with an elegant movement as he quietly watched her expression turn once again unreadable, "A sad, false existence, and yet I strive to make the best of it, as long as I am already here."
She then sent her mahogany eyes back to meet with his golden ones, his face not revealing any of his thoughts.
Sesshomaru kept his silence for the longest time, neither of them breaking eye-contact.
"I know what you're thinking, you can say it, Sesshomaru." She continued, raising her head up him, her gaze sharp.
Quiet, he only mirrored the woman's actions.
"And what is it that I am thinking?" He calmly demanded with a low voice, his golden eyes fixed on her.
Kikyo's expression turned solemn at his question.
"Call me a hypocrite, mock me for clinging onto this world so stubbornly, for being selfish, I am aware of it all, myself." She sighed, watching him closely.
Silence fell between them once again, letting the nature's sounds pick up all around them as they broke through their stillness.
But Sesshomaru only narrowed his eyes at her.
"I have already told you, miko, you do not have me figured out so easily as you think." He replied with a notably annoyed tone, his features crossed with an avid hint of displeasure.
Taken aback by his reply, Kikyo showed slight confusion.
What was this man playing at, exactly? Why did he even come here in the first place, if not simply to learn and ridicule this obvious weakness that she has?
"What is it that you wish to say, then?" She demanded with poise, collecting herself, once more.
The daiyoukai eyed her in silence for the longest time.
"Follow with us for the time being." He ordered her.
Kikyo frowned at him in response.
She took a moment to process his sudden words, once again attempting to read into the plans of this man standing in front of her.
"I do not require you taking pity on me, Sesshomaru." She calmly concluded.
But Sesshomaru only turned on his heel, beginning to step back in the direction in which he came from.
"Rin is waiting for you, finish what you have to do and return." He only said much, making his way through the grassy field as the priestess watched his figure eventually disappear into the mist without saying another word.
Keeping her gaze on that spot, she narrowed her eyes in confusion.
He did not ridicule her on her weakness.
Not only that, but the daiyoukai refrained from even commenting on it, focusing instead on the fact that Rin was currently waiting for her return. Did he not think of her condition as abnormal? Did he not find it a liability? As something that he wouldn't want anything to do with?
Kikyo turned once again to the steady water as she continued her silent pondering.
"Follow with us for the time being." His suggestion replayed in her mind.
For the first time, Sesshomaru's actions were truly a mystery to her.