A/N
Apologies for the late update! I have been slightly busy! I do however appreciate your lovely reviews! They are truly the A to my Un.
Chapter Six
Stepping back in the direction of the improvised camp, Sesshomaru kept his golden gaze forward as his mind once again replayed his last encounter with Kikyo. This reoccurring phenomenon was strange to him; usually he did not care much for others' businesses, their reasons or goals, and yet every time he had shared an exchange with her, it was as if the experience was etched into his mind, finding its way into a special compartment that he had no control over, occupying his thoughts and making him wonder more and more about the priestess' character, as well as involuntary cause him to reflect upon his own.
'So that woman was resurrected against her will...' He pondered her still fresh words as he strode forward, 'And now requires dead souls in order to maintain her holy spiritual powers...'
Frankly, his instincts alerted him she was hiding something from him, something that Rin knew about and that for some reason had made her so attached to this human miko, however, he did not foresee the answer being so unfortunate. Such a cursed existence for someone like her, and yet she stood so proudly before him, stating her goals while not shying away from her condition and all that it carries with it, all this weight stacked on her shoulders, all this weakness that she has – none of it truly mattered to her.
That woman's gaze was aimed forward. Her past did not stall her, and she decided she would seize this second opportunity to achieve whatever she couldn't before.
This iron resolve that she had, this strength through vulnerability, was oddly admirable.
And it made him interested in seeing what more she had to offer with his own eyes, despite her obvious liability.
However, something in her explanation did not add up from his perspective, making Sesshomaru's brows meet as he ventured deeper into his own thoughts; other than seeking revenge against that vermin, Naraku, what could have prevented her from pursuing her interests before she perished?
At that moment, the image of Kikyo as she lifted her gaze to him right after demonstrating her reliance on souls flashed before his golden eyes. Her mahogany orbs were filled with acceptance, although mixed with an undeniable sadness, with regret and something else – an emotion which he couldn't quite put his finger on. Her spiritual energy was flushing him with calm waves and he could feel it was less aggressive than usual, but it did not give him information on what that woman was actually thinking. All it did was somehow paralyze him; envelop him with an oddly inviting magnetic pull while making it impossible for him to tear his gaze away from her.
Somehow, as much as he hated to admit it, at that moment he found himself strangely captivated.
A dangerous occurrence that should definitely not repeat itself – he determined while clearing his throat.
"Oh, you're back, Sesshomaru-sama!" His vassal's sudden words tore him from his thoughts as he focused his gaze on his small approaching figure, "Have you successfully located that suspicious human miko, my lord?"
Sesshomaru lifted his golden eyes to scan the surface before him, then turned his attention to Rin still asleep on top of A-Un's back by the campfire. Before he even noticed, he had already returned to their location.
"I have." He answered simply, sitting himself on a nearby rock and placing his arm on his right knee, facing the path from which he had just come back from.
The imp demon clenched his hands on the wooden staff he was carrying, drawing it closer to his own body.
"Sesshomaru-sama... that woman... can she really be trusted?" He inquired, sweat running down his forehead.
Sesshomaru kept silent to his question, maintaining his gaze forward with a stern expression.
The miko was indeed unpredictable, but slowly, he was managing to put together the pieces about her mysterious character. Just a little more, and he'd have answers for everything, including whatever she knows about his prey as well as her connection to that worm.
'Furthermore, she has Rin's full trust.' He added in silence.
"She will be staying with us." The daiyoukai answered, his voice firm, subtly alerting his vassal that he was tired of his questions. Unfortunately for him, though, the imp demon was far from being sharp.
"Sesshomaru-sama!" He stressed through an exasperated sigh, desperately attempting to conceal his avid disapproval on the matter, making his master turn an annoyed look down at his direction which sent chills up his spine.
However, he did not back down.
"T-That woman do not seem to possess any respect even for you, my lord! Should we really allow her to follow with us?"
He eyed his servant for a moment, then glanced once again in the direction of the empty path as the memory of the priestess' image once again flashed before him; her brown eyes narrowing at him through her notorious unreadable expression as she patronized him, "I know what you're thinking, Sesshomaru." He remembered her telling him with bitter confidence.
Hearing that line, he straightened up before her. The nerve of this woman never failed to irk him... and yet his interest was undeniable regarding what she was about to say.
"Call me a hypocrite, mock me for clinging to this world so stubbornly, for being selfish." Were the words which followed that statement. And surprisingly, they secretly left him annoyed.
Was that her impression of him?
He blinked as he suddenly recalled their first exchange, in which he decided to test her reaction by venturing perhaps too fast into her reasons and motives.
That look which she gave him as she turned around to face him; the way her mahogany orbs reflected the soft morning rays and the way she fearlessly caught his gaze with unspoken words of silent pity...
Yes, that was a rare foolish act on his own part, he'll admit.
Realization of a certain possibility struck him as the daiyoukai breathed deep;
Perhaps the miko will not be coming back.
Standing in her place, still on the edge of the riverside, Kikyo listened to the soft, chilly wind picking up through the wildlife around her as she tried rearranging her thoughts in hopes of achieving some answers regarding her latest encounter.
She watched the Shinidamachu circling her in slow and graceful movements, whistling through the air as they floated around, then lifted her arm up, inviting one of them to gently land on two of her fingers. Focusing her brown eyes on her youkai helper for a moment, she eventually let out a confused, silent breath.
Sesshomaru had surprised her.
While she believed she had figured him out with ease by now, not even expecting him to show her any kind of respect in his methods of getting whatever information he needed out of her, the daiyoukai unexpectedly listened to her with his full attention, his golden eyes were fixed on her as she shared her reasons with him and his mouth was shut, refraining from releasing any kind of his notorious snarky remarks.
She decided to read his unexpected silence as simply well-disguised mockery – as nothing but a way for him to continue silently evaluate her until eventually disrespecting her in one way or another, just as he did back then when they shared their first exchange. So, she tried speeding up the process, breaking through it, alerting him that she's aware of what he's thinking, prompting him to go on and say it, even.
She didn't mind his vacant words, she was used to them by now.
However, instead of following with her plan and solidifying her impression of him, Sesshomaru ignored her situation altogether, as if taking it into notice, acknowledging it and then moving on, focusing on her importance to Rin.
His golden eyes that showed her neither pity or disrespect at that moment, listening to her every word with such a fierce deep desire to learn, his way of approaching her, and the displeased look which he gave her once she told him of her prediction about him – they were all genuine.
And it suddenly made her feel guilty, causing her to frown in slight confusion.
Could she have misjudged him?
"Such a peculiar man." She noted.
It'd already been a while since they last parted, and yet his offer was still fresh in the air and in her mind, causing her to turn around once again and face the direction of the path behind her.
Kikyo lingered in her spot for a few more moments, then closed her eyes, reaching back to tie her long, dark hair once again in its formal miko binding.
Staring at Sesshomaru in silence, Jaken couldn't help but overcome with bewilderment.
He observed as his master sat quietly, never taking his eyes off the dark, misty path. His posture was relaxed, yet impeccably straight, head held high and long silver hair flowing against the wind. His expression of course, not hinting anything regarding his thoughts.
The imp demon tilted his head with further frustration.
This is the first time he had ever seen his master this invested with another being that wasn't part of their group and aside from Naraku, of course. Sesshomaru had told him before that the miko's reason for staying was to assure Rin's safety, however Jaken had known and served him for long enough to notice that this wasn't simply a matter of needing the priestess' child caring services.
He wanted to ask, but in fear of his own life, he decided he should keep quiet and assume his master was indeed simply testing that woman's character. She was, after all, incredibly dangerous.
Silence had settled all around them.
The hour was already late, the night approached its halfway mark at an alarming pace, and yet the wait was making it seem as if time had stretched, causing Sesshomaru's golden eyes to narrow. Somehow, the obvious conclusion from this was of no surprise to him, and yet he found himself feeling rather displeased with her choice.
But just as he was about to give up on his waiting...
He suddenly sensed her spiritual aura nearing their location, and soon her figure appeared through the misty fog in the distance, making its way towards them.
"Oh, she's back." His vassal stated the obvious.
Sesshomaru watched her as she stepped forward, silently descending the angled surface only lit by the moonlight's soft rays. Her indifferent expression and fierce mahogany eyes were fixed on him, her long hair now once again collected into a neat, dignified arrangement and her head held high, striding with perfect poise towards him with her weapon propped on her shoulder. For a mere human, at that moment he had to admit the miko sure was striking one.
Nearing where he sat, Sesshomaru rose to his feet, his golden eyes not breaking away from her brown ones for a second.
Stopping before him, they both only stared at each other in silence for the longest time.
"Do you not require sleep, Sesshomaru?" She asked.
The inu daiyoukai raised his head at her sudden question.
her calm tone of voice was surprisingly hinted with genuine interest, causing him keep his silence for a few more moments.
"Do not take me for such a weak creature to need something like sleep in order to maintain my strength, miko." He answered steadily.
Blinking up at him, Kikyo only lowered her head slightly, her large eyes hidden for a moment behind her smooth bangs, the subdued moonlight rays allowing him to notice a glimpse of a rare, unnamed emotion in them.
Then, she lifted her head again, breathing deep.
"I am well aware of your strength."
Hearing this, he kept his strong gaze on her as they both resumed back to silence. He only watched her as she held it for a few more moments, then casually moved around him, stepping past and towards the camp behind him, his golden eyes observing her actions as he turned his head after her, attempting to understand the precise meaning behind her latest assertion.
Was that... an unexpected compliment, just now?
He turned his head forward, remaining in his place, completely silent.
This woman was indeed, a mystery.
Approaching the large, two-headed dragon and staring at Rin, Kikyo let out a soft breath as she reached out and moved a strand of frizzy dark hair away from the girl's face. The child was sleeping peacefully, sprawled on the back of the large, loyal companion, who opened one eye to glance at the priestess when she stepped closer, then resumed back to sleep as well.
'Did she stay up late, waiting for me?' She wondered, silently.
There was something soothing about coming back to this sleeping face, Kikyo noted. The feeling of another living being so purely waiting for you to return was something that she indeed missed.
For a moment, she let herself imagine another reality. One in which this warmth was sustained, and she didn't have this fake body of hers. One in which she was an ordinary woman, able to live and take care of whoever and however she wanted, with Rin agreeing to come with her, a safer place to allow the child to grow properly and for herself to fully be free.
Just then, as If deliberately cutting through her silent, mental escape, Mt. Hakurei's sacred lands shook with a distinct ominous feel, the holy barrier which surrounded it had only gone stronger as the days passed, and yet it suddenly appeared almost unstable, with strange pulses of some kind interrupting the flow of the protective energy confining it, making Kikyo straighten up immediately and swiftly turn in its direction.
Stepping quickly to the edge of the cliff which allowed her a clearer view, she narrowed her eyes at its large build.
Just what was going on, so suddenly?
"The presence of the barrier is dissipating." Sesshomaru stated, quickly following after her as he stepped closer to where she stood.
Kikyo kept her eyes on the mountain in the distance, her expression stern.
"Seems like someone has made their move." She said.
Suddenly, a large orb of some kind appeared through the thick mist, unmistakably making its way from the back side of the mountain, levitating in the air and eventually landing amidst the foggy ground far away from it, in a safe area enough to reach.
"Humph." The daiyoukai let out a mocking breath as he stepped forward, reaching for the hilt of his Tokijin, "An easy target."
But Kikyo kept silent as she examined the strange occurrence far below her.
"Wait." She advised, turning her gaze to Sesshomaru.
The daiyoukai watched her from the corner of his eye.
"That is unmistakably one of Naraku's followers." He replied, glancing once more down at the object in question.
"That is clear," She began, stepping forward as well, "However, I sense a holy spiritual aura and a clean barrier, just like the one surrounding the mountain."
Sesshomaru turned fully in her direction.
"So, what?" He narrowed his golden eyes.
Kikyo stared up at him for a moment in silence, determination clear in her face.
"I shall deal with this alone." She informed him with a calm voice.
Sesshomaru studied her quietly, processing her sudden and bold statement.
"I do not take orders from anyone, miko." He retorted.
But the priestess only lifted her head slightly up at his direction, her expression composed, yet her mahogany eyes shining with powerful resolve under the moonlight, transmitting both a need and a duty, a strong desire to solve this issue by her own hands and a passionate request for mutual understanding.
They both stared at each other, neither of them sparing a word.
Sesshomaru clenched his jaw as he silently watched her summon her Shinidamachu to her spot, the long, pale serpent-like youkai enveloping her legs and effortlessly lifting her in the air, taking her down in the direction of the mysterious occurrence below her, successfully scaring the imp demon enough for him to let out a screech of pure terror.
'S-Sesshomaru-sama obeyed that impudent human miko...?!' Jaken stood frozen in his place, his yellow eyes bugging out of his head as he stared at his master's back with disbelief.
"Jaken-sama... why are you yelling in the middle of the night for..." Rin complained from the camp area as she sat up, rubbing her tired eyes.
Sesshomaru watched Kikyo's figure until it disappeared into the mist in the distance, then turned on his heel to face his companions.
"Sesshomaru-sama?" Jaken asked, interested in his master's next choice of actions.
The daiyoukai glanced down in his vassal's direction.
"We're following after her." He said.
Jaken straightened up, then stepped forward with delight.
"T-That's right, Sesshomaru-sama! That miko has some nerve commanding you like that –"
"Silence." Sesshomaru cut into his words, giving him a sharp look.
Then, he turned back around to the edge of the rocky surface.
Jumping down from the cliff, Sesshomaru located a nearby spot to where Kikyo was heading to, just close enough for him to observe and hear her actions from afar. He used the cliff side's irregular build to hinder his momentum, gracefully jumping from one rock to another until he eventually reached the desired location; a slightly higher rock formation than the spot she was heading to – where that strange being had landed. He focused his eyes on the creature in question. Through the mist and that pitiful barrier of his, Sesshomaru could see what appears to be a man, sitting in an almost curled position, his shriveled body covered with traditional human buddha attire. His smell however, was of practically a mummy, well preserved and somehow, still alive.
'This was the foe the miko was so intent on defeating by her own?' he wondered, raising an eyebrow.
A-Un soon followed after the daiyoukai to his spot, landing behind him while carrying both Rin and Jaken.
"Sesshomaru-sama, is Kikyo-sama alright?" Rin asked, her large eyes fixed on her master.
He kept his eyes down on the occurrence in silence, switching them to the priestess' figure as he watched her steadily climb her way to where the mummy was positioned.
"Humph!" Jaken scoffed loudly, crossing his arms, "That miko had the nerve of preventing Sesshomaru-sama from eliminating this current hindrance!" He explained to the child.
Rin only eyed the green creature curiously.
"You mean Kikyo-sama is fighting someone?" She asked.
Jumping down from A-Un's back, Jaken lifted his annoyed gaze back to the child.
"I hope she loses and learns her place!" He muttered bitterly.
"Be quiet, you two." Sesshomaru ordered them both with a low voice, his attention still locked forward.
Jaken and Rin both straightened up and immediately stopped talking.
The inu daiyoukai observed as Kikyo finally reached the questionable being. Stopping before him, he noticed she kept silent for a few moments, studying him.
Then, she stepped forward, closer to where he sat, "You seem to be someone who was of great virtue when alive..." She told him with a calm voice.
The mummy did not move in response to her words, but Sesshomaru could feel a faint pulse in the barrier surrounding the mountain, the sacred grounds, for a single moment, undoubtfully quivered.
'I see.' He finally understood the importance of this odd being to her.
"First that monk and now a priestess..." The shriveled man answered, his voice raspy, wilted and old, fitting his appearance, "You too... are after Naraku?"
Kikyo eyed him sharply, "Inside the sacred grounds you created... was where Naraku was concealed?" she asked.
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at her deduction.
So, he was right with his own; Naraku had been cowardly hiding inside the sacred grounds of Mt. Hakurei all this time.
He continued watching as he heard the man respond to her words, "What's with that expression? Do you think you can see into my own heart?"
With that, Kikyo eased her shoulders, and her mahogany eyes flashed him with compassion as she kneeled down before him to reach his eye-level, "Without even trying, your soul is on full display." She answered the man with calm dignity, as opposed to when she angrily commented the same line to him – Sesshomaru noted silently to himself, making him blink with slight displeasure.
He listened further to their conversation, how she could read the old man's life story with precision, making him open up to her, slander himself and his own state, admitting how far he had fallen simply because of his own holy duty, how Naraku was the one who found him in darkness, and how he promised to give him the second chance in life that he craved so dearly. The way the miko was so inclined to listen to him reminded Sesshomaru of when they first met; when the man who almost killed Rin was at a similar position, pouring his own pathetic life story before her, asking her to put him out of his misery only to have the other worm snatch that chance and take off with the Shikon shard, killing him instead.
Sesshomaru remembered the look of regret that crossed her features soon after...
And he finally understood;
'So, this is why she was so determined, earlier.' He lifted his head slightly at the realization, his golden eyes still fixed on her. 'There is no real point in giving these pitiful souls a proper sending when they're this corrupted.' Sesshomaru determined, silently. He couldn't ever understand why this miko was wasting her time with these fools. However, her following words made him stop his wondering;
"I too, was like that when I was alive." She admitted, lowering her gaze to the ground, "I tried to live with no doubts and without mistakes... that's why, I feel I also understand your suffering a bit."
The daiyuokai listened carefully as she continued;
"To doubt is human." She told the saint, lifting her gaze back to him, "To cry over wanting to live, is not shameful."
The look in her mahogany eyes was of the same strong resolve she had showed him earlier only mixed with undeniable sadness, making Sesshomaru lower his head down, his golden eyes not leaving her form for a mere second.
He had managed to complete yet another piece in this miko's character puzzle.
Asking him to dissolve the barrier, the old saint asked of her intentions, and she stared at him with pure compassion, her eyes filled with understanding as she replied she would like to touch his soul. Sesshomaru watched as he soon complied, with Kikyo inching forward in his direction, telling him she would only like to hear about his grieving and sorrows, eventually wrapping her arms around the man's shriveled form, drawing him in closer for a hug.
The daiyoukai wrinkled his own nose with disapproval at the sight. The unnecessary lengths to which this woman would go in order to follow with her ideals and to complete her duty... she truly was stubborn.
Although something undeniably bothered him about the idea of that wretched man in the miko's arms, Sesshomaru had no doubt that this time, she would succeed in her mission, and he continued observing the encounter until the man's soul was indeed, successfully sent to the afterlife, causing the holy sacred grounds around the mountain to finally fully give up and disappear as well.
She rose to her feet, watching his spirit as it floated above her, finally finding peace. But instead of resuming back to her plans, the miko reached inside her robes to pull out what seemed to be a strand of white hair. Sesshomaru focused his eyes at her odd actions, watching as she held it before her in her palm, the object eventually disappearing into several orbs of light, as well.
"Sesshomaru-sama! The mountain is...!" Jaken informed his master as the last effect of the sacred holy grounds extinguished before them, causing the mountain to shift and wilt, the greenery which so beautifully surrounded it, now turned into nothing but rotten, dead grounds, releasing the thousands of youkai which secretly infested it during all of this time.
"Finally, it has shown it's true form." Sesshomaru said, reaching for Tokijin as he quickly drew it out.
Glancing down in the miko's direction once more, Sesshomaru noticed she had her gaze already set on him, her bow in her hands and a single arrow already drawn. They both stared at each other from afar for a moment.
"Jaken, we're leaving this spot." He notified his vassal, making him hurriedly leap on A-Un's back beside Rin, once more. Then, he jumped forward, slightly below to where the miko was positioned, at nearly what could be determined as the base of the mountain.
Landing before her, Sesshomaru eyed her in silence, his golden eyes fixed on her mahogany ones.
She only tilted her head slightly up at his direction.
"Eavesdropping?" She asked him with indifference hinted with tease, letting out a small breath.
Sesshomaru straightened up at her words.
"A mere cut of my sword would have released that corrupted fool's soul with no effort." He replied, turning on his heel and alerting Jaken to approach with Rin and A-Un to where he stood, positioning the three of them between himself and Kikyo, who silently and quickly understood his intentions as she readied her bow towards the hordes of various youkai flying in their direction, swarming out of the mountain.
They both began their exterminating process as they kept their back to each other, protecting the trio standing between them. Shooting every youkai flying in her direction with ease, Kikyo's holy arrows shone with unparalleled spiritual energy, each of them lighting up the area with a beautiful, bright magenta color, as Sesshomaru did the same, using the incredible power of his Tokijin to wipe out several groups of them with perfect ease, neither of them showing even the slightest of concern or effort in their expressions.
Turning her head slightly in the direction of the inu daiyoukai behind her, Kikyo eyed him in silence.
"Isn't it fitting for a corrupted miko to send a corrupted man's soul free?" She asked him with darkened humor, further allowing herself to try and convince the daiyoukai that she was indeed the one who was meant to deal with this current issue.
But Sesshomaru only kept his gaze forward for a moment, releasing another attack and eradicating another group of low-class youkai.
"I see no corrupted miko here." He replied.
Kikyo stopped for a moment as she processed his answer, her expression crossed with a hint of surprise.
"Only an unnecessarily stubborn one." He continued, hiding a slight smirk.
Hearing this, the miko's eyes narrowed, and she turned her arrow in the direction of the swarm of demons coming his way, making Jaken scream and lower his head between his arms as she shot her arrow at them, the spiritual energy flying above him, A-Un and Rin and piercing through the air with a much bigger surge of holy aura, managing to slay them all before Sesshomaru even managed to lift his hand to land the strike.
The daiyuoukai immediately turned his head in her direction, locking his sharp gaze with hers.
"S-S-Sesshomaru-sama's prey had been stolen from him...!" Jaken whispered, both his and Rin's faces pure disbelief.
Kikyo only lowered her bow in silence, straightening up and slightly raising her head at him in a prideful manner, her expression unnervingly calm.
Then, she swiftly turned around, back to the upcoming group of youkai approaching her side, pulling out another arrow and continuing in her slaying, as If nothing happened.
'The nerve of this woman...' Sesshomaru frowned, turning back around, once again.
A/N
The plot returns! As I said before, it will follow the canon loosely, so expect a few changes but not enough to make this an AU. Mostly a 'what if' occurrence when Kikyo and Sesshomaru decided to team up during this arc. Also forgive me for lack of literal romantic interactions between those two. I'm aware that this story is currently more of a character study than anything but believe me it's soon to come. Thank you for sticking with this until this far, though!
Reviews are as always, highly appreciated and always welcomed!