Chapter Forty
"Little youkai."
Golden eyes bore into the small imp-demon as the woman maintained her relaxed, sitting position, the sudden call causing him to jump nearly out of his own skin.
"I-I am Jaken." He warily notified, immediately turning to face her.
But the specific information was completely lost on the uninterested ruler, who was instead more preoccupied with shedding light on an entirely different mystery;
"That small, human girl, what is she to Sesshomaru?" Inukimi steadily inquired, watching him intently.
Swallowing the lump in his throat, Jaken approached her seat with cautioned steps, coming into a graduate stop before the elegant female daiyoukai.
"Even though you ask that of this Jaken, I do not know..." He explained, a drop of sweat running down his green temple, "While I have been in Sesshomaru-sama's service for hundreds of years already, Rin is always treated more favourably."
Confirming enough to sate her curiosity on the matter, Inukimi simply released an amused breath into the cold air.
"That girl will die." She determined ever so easily, her voice eerily calm as the words rolled on her tongue with bored indifference.
"E-Eh?!" Jaken exclaimed to the knowledge, forgetting his place for a moment.
Yet, no explanation followed to that abrupt remark, and silence descended upon their exchange once again, heavy and almost unbearable for his small body to sustain while the cold wind bit into his features, freezing the tips of his fingers as those held desperately onto the wooden staff in his grasp.
And just before the imp-demon resolved to further voice his confusion with her unthinkable words, a sudden reading tore into their deafening quiet, and both raised their heads to the unmistakable silhouette of A-Un materializing through the depths of the layered clouds, his form soon coming into full view before them while the two-headed dragon gently lowered himself, his long claws making contact with the smooth marble clicking with an echo that pierced through the grand space of the empty castle, dissipating somewhere unknown into the obscured scenery shrouded in mist.
Just like that, Jaken noticed that the atmosphere completely shifted around him.
With a smooth motion, Kikyo climbed down from the kneeling A-Un, her sandaled feet meeting the varnished floor one after the other as she straightened herself with elegance, taking a moment to inspect her new, unfamiliar surroundings. Composed, her gaze travelled the hazy space before her, yet instead of detecting Sesshomaru, Rin or Kohaku like she had preferred, the priestess only met with the trembling sight of her imp companion.
And the unmitigated dread which so effortlessly displayed on the small demon's face was enough for her to know that something had most likely gone terribly wrong.
With that, Kikyo set her mouth in a hard line, and as soon as her glance sent forward to the woman gracefully sitting on her grand chair of carved ivory... she could only inhale deeply to the next understanding rising in her mind regarding her current whereabouts, as well as who the regal individual before her might be.
Poised, Kikyo quietly studied the female daiyoukai's beautiful features, her long, lush hair collected into two neat waterfalls of silver at each side of her head, with straight-cut bangs framing her fair face, revealing only the center of her forehead, on which shone the distinct mark of the purple, crescent moon, the same as Sesshomaru's. Unlike his, however, the woman's sharp golden eyes held a certain wise and hidden knowledge about them, seemingly endless in their depths, solidifying her ethereal presence as one that had possibly lived through thousands of years already, if not more. Beneath those eyes displayed unfamiliar markings as well, small and refined, and the layers of kimono she wore were woven from the finest of fabrics, with a large, fur sash curled around her slim shoulders.
Perhaps the most intriguing part about the mysterious woman, however, were the pearls that decorated her neck; bold in color and connected to a large, dark stone that hanged in the middle of the gaudy necklace, emanating a certain odd energy around it which Kikyo could not quite decipher.
Eerie silence prevailed between both women with little effort once the priestess raised her eyes up to collide with those of the silent ruler sitting before her, the space soon filling to the brim with a certain unrecognized heaviness that caused a chill of sheer terror to strike through Jaken's small body, lifting all of the hairs on the back of his neck. Motionless, neither of them spoke for the longest time, each side maintaining its quiet position with seemingly no trouble at all.
"I see the rumors are true." Inukimi eventually said, colored lips curled up into a smile and golden gaze fixed like that of a patient predator, "Even for a mere human, you truly are quite a sight for the eyes to behold."
Observing her for a moment longer, Kikyo simply closed her eyes.
"I am surprised to hear the rumors have been so kind." She stately replied.
The female daiyoukai maintained her set attention, form leisurely relaxed in her gaudy seat.
"Pray tell, what is your name?"
Mahogany orbs opened once more to lock with deep golden ones in response.
"I am Kikyo." She answered.
"Kikyo..." The female daiyoukai tasted the name on her tongue, "I should tell you that the rumors did not cease with tales of your beauty, you see... I have also heard you were resurrected into this world, and a renowned miko in your past life; the keeper of the Shikon Jewel, no less. Is that correct?"
Preserving her unreadable expression, Kikyo nodded once.
"That is correct." She confirmed.
Hearing that, Inukimi watched her closely.
"Well now, is this not a perfect opportunity for you?" She tested, "After living a life of strict mental confinement by your duty, this must serve as your second chance to taste the freedom you've never even dared to imagine... it must have been especially challenging to be this beautiful and a holy, pure miko, unable to respond to whomever showed you their affections; a curse, even." Then, the female daiyoukai narrowed her eyes with intent, "You can now finally act on your many desires, can you not?"
But against her better calculations, Kikyo simply released an amused breath into the air.
"I suppose I had failed, then." She steadily admitted, keeping the hint of a smile on her face, "As I have not let myself become so freely ruled by my appetites, like you suggest."
Taking in her answer, Inukimi remained silent for another moment, intrigued by the possibility of the woman before her seeing through the meaning behind her inquiry.
"Is it fear, perhaps?" She asked further.
"A choice." Kikyo corrected, "I find no merits in succumbing to meaningless acts of the sort."
The female daiyoukai hummed.
"Quality over quantity, hm?" She continued, resting her chin on the back of her clawed hand, "I have also heard of your past relationship, you see... tell me, what difference does this one hold to you, exactly?"
Inhaling sharply to her invasive question, Kikyo maintained her composure before her.
There was a certain line which she knew not to allow anyone beyond, a private truth which was hers and hers alone to treasure, no matter what sort of importance her partner of the conversation could ever carry.
"That is for me to know." She said, tone even.
Unable to receive her answer this time, Inukimi withheld from speaking for the longest time, her eyes not leaving Kikyo for even a moment and her cryptic expression concealing any of her thought on the matter.
But the more she stared at the woman standing before her, the more the female daiyoukai noticed there was not even a hint of hesitation in Kikyo's shades of deep brown, not a trace of fear or even doubt.
And eventually, she stirred in her throne, rising back to her feet with perfect elegance to stand before the priestess, now finding her at her eye-level.
"I can see you are very certain with your opinions, young lady." She determined, studying her further, "However, do you truly comprehend the weight of the union you so crave with my son?"
Stilled, Kikyo only listened to her words;
"Can your human mind truly grasp the stark difference between both of your kinds? Of how insignificant you are in comparison to a full-fledged youkai, compared to my Sesshomaru, who was born into power and excellency bursting from his fingertips, skills that take even a gifted human such as yourself years upon years to master, sometimes even a lifetime dedicated to diligent training. He will live on for hundreds if not thousands of years from now, and time will barely make a dent in his being." Her smirk grew while her golden gaze narrowed, "Do you believe yourself to possess the true capacity of understanding a partner like my son?"
Frozen on his feet like an iceberg, Jaken curled into himself, clutching the wooden staff in his hands as if a war was about to break before his very eyes.
But the atmosphere maintained its eerie calmness before him despite the pressure of the heavy words spoken, still.
Taking all of her inquiries in, Kikyo simply released a deep breath.
"At first, I shared your exact thoughts, and I most certainly did not." She boldly admitted, her stern expression inevitably easing along with the memory, "However, it was none other than your son who managed to see right through me, know me enough to convince me of the very opposite... with who he is as an individual and his keen skills, Sesshomaru managed to release me from the prideful rut I was stuck in and broaden my mind, redeeming me from an incorrect mindset that I had let define my thinking throughout the entirety of my previous life."
Observing her in silence, the noblewoman said nothing.
And after a long pause in her speech, the priestess casted her gaze to the smooth, pale floor.
"I was resurrected after fifty years had passed since my untimely death, nearly a full lifetime of an ordinary human... and I have even met with my younger sister again, now a woman of old age... the world as I knew it, is nothing but a distant memory." With that, Kikyo lifted her eyes once more to the female daiyoukai before her, "Therefore, you can say time serves as no strict guidance for the likes of myself, any longer."
Quiet, Inukimi only evaluated the woman before her for the longest time, taking in all the answers she had given.
"Ohh..." Kohaku groaned into consciousness, propping himself up on his hands as his eyes slowly adjusted to the dark space, recognizing Rin's form lying on the cold ground, along with Sesshomaru's towering presence, kneeling beside them both.
"Looks like you are able to move." The daiyoukai noted, "The power of the Shikon Jewel, huh."
Kohaku inhaled sharply, then lowered his worried gaze to the motionless girl.
"Rin..." He breathed, lifting himself on one knee, "Is she...?"
Rising to his feet with a swift motion, Sesshomaru quickly turned his back to them, Tenseiga already drawn in his hand.
"She is alive, take her and go. Now." He firmly ordered, bracing himself to the scent of another incoming attack.
"R-Right." The boy stuttered.
With no time to waste, Kohaku immediately grabbed the small girl and propped her limp body on his back, rising to his feet and quickly beginning to dash along the narrow path, away from the dangerous area. But the remaining heads of the beast Sesshomaru had yet to slay darted to crash against the rocky cliff, breaking through the surface and crumbling the earth beneath their feet.
Turning on his heel, Sesshomaru jumped towards both children, wrapping his sole arm around the boy and making sure to steady their heads against the softness of his moko-moko, all until landing in a far enough distance from the shattering trail behind them.
Then, he granted Kohaku with a deep scowl.
"Do not make me waste time unnecessarily, Kohaku." He instructed, golden eyes boring into the boy, "You are now in charge of keeping Rin out of harm's way."
The taijiya's expression turned stern as the words settled within him, and he only nodded with confirmation.
"Yes, Sesshomaru-sama." He said, his brown orbs now clear from any trace of hesitation in them.
And pleased with his comprehension of the full situation at hand, Sesshomaru's expression eased.
"Let's go." His master commanded, "Do not stray away."
With that, both proceeded on the path presented before them, soon noticing that the air strangely rid from any danger, the lurking monsters remaining hovering behind as if watching their progress closely from afar.
"They've stopped attacking..." Kohaku sighed with relief, glancing back to the luminous, red eyes which still fixed on him and his companion like hungry predators monitoring their prey.
Noting the occurrence to himself as well, Sesshomaru kept his silent gaze forward.
'They are telling us to keep moving, huh.' He deducted, 'So up ahead is where the test for Tenseiga's further strengthening lies...'
However, as much as the daiyoukai attempted to keep his mind focused and free from any distractions at that particular moment, the image of a certain human priestess inevitably flashed before his very eyes, and a feeling of mild unease washed over him, causing him to draw in a deep breath while his gaze narrowed.
'Where is that woman...?' Sesshomaru couldn't help but wonder to himself.
And it was not long before he found Kohaku's unsuspecting being from the corner of his eye as he walked closely beside him, studying him carefully.
"Kikyo-sama needed to take care of something, and she said she will catch up with us, soon."
The boy's words rose in his thoughts, the vague explanation regrettably welcoming more questions than answers.
Granted, he did not actually require for the woman to be present while he completed his father's tests and finally unveiled the method to master the Meidou Zangetsuha, as this was his own private challenge to overcome...
And yet, Sesshomaru would lie if he claimed he did not feel as if he preferred the priestess to be there along with him.
For her to witness that moment by his side, to see the unfiltered respect and wonder decorating her expression and shining in the deepest shades of her eyes when she looked at him... to share the success with her, even.
Yet, as much as he'd rather to further soothe his thoughts with this secret motivation...
"Sesshomaru-sama..." Kohaku's voice suddenly tore him from his pleasant thoughts.
And the avid alarm carried in the boy's words made him involuntary stop right at his tracks as a wave of cold dread suddenly seized him to the following information;
"Rin... isn't breathing..."
Turning sharply towards him, Sesshomaru stepped closer to both Kohaku and Rin.
"Put Rin down." He immediately said, unsheathing his sword.
Kohaku quickly complied, stepping away from the now lifeless body of the child.
However, no matter how long Sesshomaru waited for the familiar sight of the tiny, cursed creatures which he knew so well by now, this time, they did not materialize before him.
'What...?' The daiyoukai inhaled to the unthinkable realization, golden eyes widening, 'What is the meaning of this...?! I cannot see the pall-bearers of the underworld...'
He stood there, frozen in his place as the reality of the situation crashed down on him, the darkness of the space they were occupying as if closing rapidly from every possible direction.
'She's dead...?'
'Why Tenseiga...?!'
'Answer me!'
But the blade did not respond to any of Sesshomaru's frantic demands, rendering them lost and forgotten like mere pebbles thrown into the murky depths of the ocean.
And the longer he stared down at Rin's vacant face, the more his shoulders slumped to the next brutal memory rising in his mind as if to only further sear his conscious and turn the blood in his veins to ice;
"Kaede had offered to take care of Rin, at least until the danger of Naraku passed."
Kikyo's voice rattled his entire being to its very core, his hold on Tenseiga loosening and nearly sending the blade falling to the ground.
'I could have left her right there, in the safety of that human village...' Sesshomaru's jaw tensed to the understanding, 'Everything Rin wished for would have been taken care of... and yet I chose to let her stay with us...'
But when he dared to venture even deeper into his own reasons, the daiyoukai only came face to face with a truth much harsher than the one he chose to believe in before.
'I... wanted Rin to stay with us...'
Suddenly breaking him from his endless musings, the space around them shifted, and darkness engulfed the three of them in a matter of seconds, swallowing them whole and then vanishing as if it weren't even there in the first place... yet leaving only Kohaku and Sesshomaru behind.
"Rin!" Kohaku called after her, his freckled face overcome with distress.
Without saying a word, Sesshomaru quickly turned on his heel, striding towards the continuation of the path while the boy hurriedly followed in his steps.
And noticing how utterly quiet his master had suddenly become, the taijiya glanced up in his direction, staring at his unreadable profile.
"Sesshomaru-sama." He said, making sure to keep his voice as steady as possible, "No matter what happens, I'll do whatever I can to help... I promised Rin that I'd protect her... and yet I..."
It was only for a moment that the daiyoukai's gaze found his, as if something in his unfinished words managed to pierce through the curtain of swirling thoughts which weighed him down and ruthlessly tore his mind apart, somehow pulling him a bit out of his inner turmoil.
"Then make sure not to get in my way." Sesshomaru replied, eyes sharp with intent.
And Hearing that, Kohaku nodded once, setting his unwavering focus forward.
'Rin.' Sesshomaru mused, his grip on Tenseiga tightening, 'I'm bringing you back!'
Whatever was lying ahead of them now, he knew, was about to suffer the full wrath of his powers.
Just then, a figure moved in the endless darkness, and a wave of the most putrid scent collided against them, assaulting their senses and forcing the boy to raise his arm before himself, his dark eyebrows low with disgust.
"This smell...!" Kohaku coughed, yet never stopped his movement.
Before they could even say another word, a colossal being suddenly emerged before them, sheer black in color and reeking with death, its long limbs and bony fingers trapping none other than the small Rin in their grasp, immediately grabbing Sesshomaru's attention.
And the further their eyes travelled the space before them, the more they met with the countless bodies of the dead, piles upon piles of deceased, rotting corpses; humans who all found the same unfortunate fate.
'So this must be the master of hell...' Sesshomaru concluded, his line of vision fixed on his final enemy.
Gathering enough information with that piece of knowledge, the daiyoukai swiftly charged ahead, jumping into the air with impossible speed and successfully cutting through the grand, dark beast, releasing the girl from its wretched grip.
"He did it!" Kohaku called, watching with amazement as Sesshomaru caught the falling child into his hold.
But the way Rin's hand kept draped motionless over his arm... was enough for Sesshomaru to know something was not right. Still, he waited and waited, tried to hold onto a morsel of hope that perhaps it was a matter of time before Rin opened her eyes once again... yet the child did not move, remaining limp and cold in his hold while the uneasiness viciously ate through him.
And soon, the daiyoukai's stomach churned as if someone clutched his insides in their cursed grip, the hairs on his arms rising all at once with the heavy realization;
'She cannot be saved...?'
He felt his heart sink in his chest while fear paralyzed his limbs, relentlessly washing over him, every wave colder than the last one.
And before Sesshomaru even noticed, his grip on the hilt of his sword weakened, sending it falling down until it etched into the ground with a dull sound that couldn't even reach his ears.
The silence that soon followed to that notion... was the heaviest he had ever known in his life, pouring into the darkness which already suffocated him from a far, distant place that even he, could not go to.
"Hmph." Inukimi scoffed, thin eyebrows forming the faintest of confused frowns as she gazed into the large necklace cupped in her fair hands, "Even though he had completed his test and I was about to open a portal for him to return through, Sesshomaru chose to use Tenseiga in order to purify the dead of hell."
Hearing the news, Kikyo blinked with surprise.
'He succeeded...?' She echoed the information to herself.
And as if in perfect sync to the noblewoman's words, a large void shortly opened through the night sky above, nearly a full circle in its shape, revealing the dark space of the Meidou before all witnesses watching.
"T-The Meidou was opened from the inside...?!" Jaken called with disbelief.
Then, out of the depths of that endless nothingness, stepped no other than the inu-daiyoukai himself along with Kohaku, safe and sound from any kind of danger.
Relieved, Kikyo's gaze darted to Sesshomaru as he soon met her eyes...
But his golden orbs were dark, shielded under his silver bangs and his expression set and grim, like she had never seen it before.
And once the priestess lowered her attention to the small, limp body carried in his sole arm... all she knew was pain. Cold, sharp and fierce like a blade driving through her chest, threatening to tear her rigid body apart and expose her internal organs to the icy air;
Rin was dead.
'Of course...' Kikyo swallowed the lump of realization in her throat, the shudder that soon followed to how late her understanding came shook her being to its very center, almost managing to knock her off her feet.
Was she not the one who suspected there was something odd with how Sesshomaru was rewarded for nothing but his suffering, before?
Why couldn't she just accept the reality of the situation, then?
After all this time, she should've known better, already;
She should've guessed that the more pain he grew to know, the more his father planned for him to learn from it... it was obvious what he now had to experience in order to expand his emotional capacity and further develop his abilities... all of the red flags were waving right there before her very eyes, and yet she chose to ignore them like a blind, stupid fool.
She, herself, was just as responsible for Rin's death.
Stilled like stone, Kikyo watched as Sesshomaru stepped forward, silent and stiff until he reached the elevated side of his mother's throne. And gently like that, he lowered the lifeless body of the once cheerful girl he used to know onto its harsh surface, staring down at the now blank face that beamed with the brightest and most carefree of smiles the world had to offer only a few hours prior...
An innocence that he failed to protect.
Inhaling the cold in the air deeply, he rose back to his feet as gold collided with gold, the anger slowly building within him.
"You knew that this would happen to Rin." Sesshomaru determined, his voice low and laboured.
"Naturally." Inukimi replied, tone unbothered like she were discussing the weather, "However, I did not foresee you using Tenseiga to revive that child before already, I will admit."
Hearing that, both Sesshomaru and Kikyo's gazes sharpened.
"Oh, do not look at me like that, Sesshomaru." She scoffed, a single fair hand sent up to fan the air as if to rid it from the heavy atmosphere, "A person's life can be called back by Tenseiga only once, after all."
Silence fell on the exchange like the densest of fogs while the information settled within all individuals present, deafening and suffocating as the knowledge hung in the air, gradually seeping further into the daiyoukai and priestess' minds like poison, almost forcing the air right out of their lungs in return.
"Life is finite. It is not something you can just call upon as many times as you want for your personal convenience." Her blunt words cut through the cold air like heated knives, "Did you think you were a god or something? That as long as you had Tenseiga there was no need to fear death?"
Keeping quiet, Sesshomaru could do little but listen.
"This is a lesson you had to learn, as decided by your father." She continued, lifting her chin before him, "Fear and sadness of losing someone truly dear to you... not just in theory, but first-hand, as well."
With that, Kikyo casted her gaze down to the pristine floor before her feet, processing all of the unfortunate information.
They had travelled together for so long, covered so much ground, managed to overcome so many obstacles, and yet neither of them was aware of this fact... of such an important limitation that the sword possessed, a crucial puzzle piece that was missing without either of them even knowing of its absence...
What was Sesshomaru's impressive progress with Tenseiga even worth now, without a basic revelation such as that?
Yet, the more she weighed the severity of the entire situation, the more Kikyo filled with a feeling of dread at her most recent actions as well, mahogany eyes glancing to her free hand as she opened her palm under her own judging gaze;
She had dared to wield the sword, herself... the same youkai weapon which ultimately demanded Rin's life.
Breathing heavily, the priestess frowned with disgust, slender fingers balling into a tight fist at her side.
To only now grant Sesshomaru with the warning of the sword being able to resurrect a soul once...
This was hardly a harsh form of guidance anymore. This was nothing short of cruel.
An insult to injury, even.
And easily like that, the comprehension of where Sesshomaru's little regard for human life originated from struck her with further unneeded and uncomfortable understanding, gradually filling the priestess with a strong urge, the same familiar need which she chose to suppress once before.
Now, however, she did not care any longer.
Even if it wasn't her place, even if it meant disrespecting the methods of Sesshomaru's late father, and even if this distorted way of thinking was considered tradition to the likes of Sesshomaru's kind...
Still, Kikyo knew with every fibre of her being, that Rin should not have been the one to suffer for it.
Equipped with her new resolve, Kikyo raised her determined gaze once more as she began stepping forward with perfect poise in the direction of both the daiyoukai and the noblewoman, seizing their combined attention.
And calmly like that, she passed through where they stood until reaching the elevated surface upon which the body of Rin was resting, all eyes directed at her cryptic actions, yet her gaze aimed down at the lifeless child as she merely stared with heavy silence.
Then, her shoulders eased along with the inaudible breath she released.
"Sesshomaru cannot see the pall-bearers of the underworld due to the blade's limitations..." Kikyo said, her steady voice breaching through the prolong quiet, "...But I can."
Lowering herself down on one knee, the priestess sent her free hand up to cut through an invisible enemy above the girl's body with a single, swift motion.
And they all witnessed as Rin's large, brown eyes slowly fluttered open once more to the world she so untimely departed from, her coughs blocked by her small hands filling the air and as if purging the space from the thick haze of sadness while gradually summoning the fresh breeze to their elevated area, instead.
Sesshomaru breathed a shaky sigh of relief, stepping closer as his gold found Kikyo's steady mahogany brown for a long moment, proceeding to lower himself on one knee in front of the exhausted Rin as well, raising his sole hand to tenderly cup the side of the child's small face.
"You are safe now." He calmly promised, making sure to rid his voice and expression from any of the strong emotions which currently swirled within him.
"Yes, Sesshomaru-sama." Rin confirmed with a tired smile, too weary to say anymore than that.
Silent, Inukimi studied the scene before her carefully, how the human boy and even the imp-demon huddled closer to the spot and stood beside the kneeling Kikyo and Sesshomaru, amazed by the now once again alive and well Rin.
And she only released a quiet breath of amusement to her own private understanding.
Gathering themselves after Jaken thanked the respectable ruler for her precious time, they all began to depart from the area, down the pale stairs upon which they had previously arrived to the castle. Yet, just as Kikyo stepped down from the elevated surface and onto the first level in her angled path, the female daiyoukai approached closer, prompting her to momentarily halt her movement and turn her head halfway over her shoulder.
"Are you upset by this turn of events, Kikyo?" She lastly tested, watching her closely, "This is simply the way of youkai. Success cannot come without a sacrifice, after all."
Noticing their sudden exchange from his position further down the staircase, Sesshomaru soon paused in his tracks as well, yet his gaze remained set forward and not a word left his mouth.
Composed, Kikyo turned back to face her, deep mahogany meeting with calm gold.
"Then, the way of youkai is that of nothing but pain and ruin." She countered with a measured tone, making sure to rid her expression from any telling emotions, "What honor lies in success that is built upon the death of those who cannot even fend for themselves? Those who we swore to protect?"
Inukimi stood silent to those words, face as calm as a mask.
And curious like that, she allowed the woman to continue speaking before her.
"Both Sesshomaru and I care for that child." Kikyo steadily admitted, her keen eyes showing no hesitation in them, "And gaining strength in exchange for her life, no matter how grand, is most certainly beneath him."
With that, the priestess stared up at the honorable mother of her lover for the last time in silence.
Then, Kikyo only bowed lightly before her, respectfully notifying the female daiyoukai that their exchange was now over. Wordlessly like that, she turned on her heel once more and resumed her slow descendance down the vast, marble stairs to unite with the rest of her waiting companions.
Now finally left alone, Inukimi turned on her heel as well, stepping back to her gaudy throne to sit herself down with perfect poise.
However, before she managed to relax, a sudden and yet familiar reading shortly caught her attention.
"Totosai, huh." She called with indifference, turning her head to the new source of interest flashing into sight at her right side.
"Greetings, my honorable lady." The swordsmith bowed with deep respect before her as the smoke from his means of transportation cleared from the crisp air, and he quickly signalled for his trusty ox to approach closer to her presence, "I see the trial unfolded as Togashimaru had eventually planned."
Colored lips curved up into a satisfied smile in response.
"Well, I had no doubt. My Sesshomaru may lack any charm, but when he truly puts his mind to it, nothing can stand in his way." She said, bringing her hand up to rest her chin on the back of her palm, "That woman, however... she was quite something."
Nodding once, Totosai shifted his wide gaze to the now empty stairs.
"I had the chance of conversing with her a couple of times before, myself." He notified, "An extraordinary human, that Kikyo."
Hearing that, the female daiyoukai hummed.
"I had my suspicions before, but now I know what Sesshomaru truly loves about her, aside for her beauty and elegant manner, that is." She said, prompting the old swordsmith to once again find her gaze, "That woman is a fierce warrior, and one who possesses a wise understanding of true power, unmarred by greed... she embodies exactly the kind of validation which he secretly always strived for."
Silent, Totosai took in the information for a few more moments as the wind carried through their high location, the soft clouds drifting with it before them and shortly obscuring the wide staircase from their sight.
Contrary to her newfound understanding, however, the female daiyoukai's thin eyebrows soon lowered into a slightly confused frown.
"But what could a former human miko possibly see in my stubborn son, I have to wonder?" She voiced her musings before him.
Crossing his arms over his chest, the old swordsmith closed his eyes to ponder his answer.
"Most likely, his strong sense of self and confidence in his own place whithin this world." He eventually determined, "If there were two things Sesshomaru was always invariably sure of, it's who he is and where he belongs."
"Is that so?" Inukimi urged him to elaborate on his point, her full attention placed on his being.
Totosai nodded, then opened his round orbs to once again meet with her intrigued expression.
"That woman does not resonate with neither the dead or the living, and something tells me she had felt this imbalanced even much prior to her resurrection, although for other reasons." He explained, watching his late friend's mate closely, "Sesshomaru embodies a definite place for her to belong in this world; by his side."
The ruler processed the information for a long moment in silence.
"I am pleased." She eventually declared in conclusion, rising back to her feet with impeccable elegance, "Men of sense and great power should not settle for useless nor simple-minded wives.", Then, the female daiyoukai tore from Totosai's presence, setting her gaze to the far distance before her, "She would suit my son well."
The swordsmith, however, allowed himself to analyze the situation for a bit longer.
"Indeed, but that is only if and when they both pass their combined test which is yet to come..." He said, wrinkled fingers rising upwards to twirl around his thin beard, "A union like that will be no easy feat, after all."
But the hidden reference carefully woven into his words prompted her to shoot him with a sharp, fierce look which pierced Totosai like a shard of ice through the ribs.
Then, the noblewoman only drew in a deep breath.
"You and I mourned one failure before, do not presume I had forgotten, Totosai." She cautioned, raising her chin as if to remind him of her own keen judgement, "However, today, I had also witnessed something that I did not think was even possible before..." With that, Inukimi casted her unreadable gaze to the far distance of the layered clouds ahead, "Perhaps this is truly why we live for so long; seeing generations rise and fall around us, centuries passing like mere seasons of the weather... just so we could be surprised time and time again."
The steady fire crackled in the chilled air while Sesshomaru watched the dancing flames before him, standing idly beside his campsite and its four sound-sleeping members. The sky above already begun paling to welcome the calm dawn as the stars gradually dimmed, and the curling singing of birds carried through the forest like a hushed melody, further lulling him into the depths of his own thoughts.
Observing him like that for a moment longer, Kikyo eventually stepped in his direction, coming into an eased stop at his right side.
Silent, she followed in the daiyoukai's example, her vision hovering over the curled Jaken slumbering by himself, A-Un who was as if guarding the two children resting in the curve of his warm body, with Kohaku laying on his side and supported by the softness of the dewy grass, and finally Rin who was sprawled closely next to him, still compensating for the exhausting day and all she was so unfortunately forced to experience.
And lifting her gaze back to the man standing beside her, she watched his handsome profile until he soon met her eyes, his shades of fierce gold unveiled by the low flames and presenting her with a certain, rare vulnerability which she had not seen him wear for a long time.
Assessing that look, Kikyo only breathed in deeply;
Unease and disappointment...
His failure at protecting the girl's life.
And at that moment the priestess noted that this man, although he tried his very best to hide it, truly was not immune to moments of weakness, to cracks in his armor.
In stillness, she kept her even stare up at him.
'After all, this is one of his imperfections which drew me to him, and which I love so much...' Kikyo mused.
Even so, she felt herself compelled to say something, to prevent him from feeling as if he now needed to overcompensate for that miscalculation.
Exhaling her breath, Kikyo eventually casted her gaze down onto Rin, observing the steady rise and fall of her small back.
"It is quite strange." She began, maintaining her calm stare on the sleeping girl, "How sometimes the gentlest touch can be the one to pierce through the hardest of walls."
Sesshomaru kept his silence to her words, his eyes never leaving the priestess' being.
"I still remember the day in which I had first conversed with Rin." She continued, a soft smile finding its way onto her features, "The way she looked at me when we sat together, how her small hand took mine, pulling me after her into your camp just so we could spend the night together, allowing me the chance to temporarily bask in her unconditional love and forget the loneliness of my situation... only for me to ultimately grow this fondness, to have this inexplicable urge to make sure that this girl would be truly happy."
"Rin wishes we could stay like this forever, Kikyo-sama. You, Sesshomaru-sama, Rin, Jaken-sama and A-Un!"
As if on cue, the familiar wish resurfaced in Kikyo's thoughts, leaving a pang of guilt behind it.
"This innocence that she carries with her, this sacred purity... is what I think first allowed you and I to re-evaluate ourselves within this world..."
With that, Kikyo locked her eyes with his once again.
"And because of that, I feel that it is now our combined duty to protect and see that she is granted with a good enough life."
Processing her words, Sesshomaru simply watched the woman beside him as the silence cascaded like mist all around them, the hushed light shining her keen eyes with her strong resolve, as well as a certain want, a wish for him to let her fight this particular battle along with him, to share this role that he had taken upon himself...
A need for him to know that he was not alone, and that she, herself, was just as at fault for not being there in time, for failing to protect the girl's life.
His burdens were her burdens as well, and she wanted to shoulder them along with him.
"Hmph." Sesshomaru could only scoff to how accurately the woman managed to unravel the issues he could barely even name.
And at that moment, he found himself unable to avert his attention from her fascinating presence.
But a different kind of doubt suddenly seized him, pulling him back into reality from his small moment of peace;
After everything she said and all that unfolded before her... what did this woman truly think of the world from which he came from? His father's plan which demanded Rin's life in exchange for Tenseiga's strength?
No matter what, Sesshomaru knew that those traditions were an inseparable part of him.
It was where he sourced from, and where he would eventually return to...
Knowing that, he couldn't help but wonder... did the priestess take these facts into her consideration?
Then, as if reading right through his laboured silence;
"Despite all that occurred today... I am proud of you, Sesshomaru." She told him, placing her gaze to the early morning skies.
Studying her, the daiyoukai refrained from saying anything.
"Proud?" He eventually tested through a low voice, his expression unreadable.
With that, Kikyo inhaled deeply and turned to him, mahogany eyes showing him nothing but deep sincerity in them.
"I may not agree with the harsh methods of your kind... however, I know you well enough to see that you've already risen far above them."
Sesshomaru stared down at her, silent.
And ultimately, he shifted to watch the uneventful depths of the forest in a desperate attempt to control the soothing warmth which effortlessly sparked in his chest and poured through his limbs.
But his emotions at that moment were overflowing within him, untameable and dangerous, and Sesshomaru knew he had to do something in order to force them back under his control.
"Did the fool bother you with another one of his pointless drivels?" He quickly changed the subject, the notion of his cursed half-brother and the remains of his scent which still hung over Kikyo successfully changing the tides inside him and reducing the intoxicating warmth that tried to overrun both his mind and his actions.
Surprised by his inquiry, the priestess blinked up at him, soon understanding that her conversation with Inuyasha was evidently long enough to linger on her being.
And despite the distaste in Sesshomaru's voice, Kikyo noticed there was still no hint of blame in it, only acceptance.
But she knew this was not the whole truth. Not anymore.
Then, through the freshness of the air and their mutual, peaceful quiet, Sesshomaru suddenly felt Kikyo move closer to him, her slim fingers seeking his sole, clawed hand, sliding to interlock with each of his fingers until their palms laced perfectly into the other, the softness of her smooth touch never failing to make him flinch.
And inevitably easing into the woman's small hold, he only found her from the corner of his eye, already sensing heat gathering between their united limbs.
"I told him that I have already made my choice." Kikyo concluded, the vow prompting the daiyoukai to turn and find her gaze for the final time.
Silent, her eyes held his in the firelight, present and steady.
And with that, all of the doubts drained away.
Never in his life did he think he would want to rely on another being... but after so long among clouds, the skies above now suddenly seemed so clear, vast and endless, and this woman beside him was a constant, fixed star for him to follow.
A/N:
Thus, we conclude this specific arc. I know some of you waited eagerly for this chapter and for Kikyo and Inukimi to finally meet as well as all that would carry with it... so I'm very interested to know what you thought of it. :)