A/N:
Long time no see, my readers, I hope you're all doing well. ^_^
I will keep this upper section short this time around, and simply thank you all for being so patient with me. Life has been keeping me very busy, but even so! I never forget this story or you, its wonderful followers and readers. Your reviews, messages and positive feedback inspires me and reminds me of where I occasionally need to also direct my attention to. (I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of your responses to the most anticipated Lemon chapter, by the way. ;))
Please, enjoy.
Chapter Forty-Five
Dawn seeped through the small, square window, casting upon the inner wall of the hut while the curling chirping of birds carried into the room along with the coolness of air, causing Kikyo's eyelids to slowly flutter open. In stillness, her vision adjusted only to be met with a screen of cream-colored fur positioned right before her, upon which her left hand was rested, fingers buried into the lush softness twitching slightly as a result.
Staring at the odd sight for a moment, pieces of yesterday's occurrences came gingerly falling into their rightful place as her mind gradually dismissed the haziness of sleep... But the further Kikyo allowed herself to recall the previous night, Sesshomaru's unplanned visit, her unexpected resurrection and all that followed to it... was the hotter her cheeks flushed with the shade of every inconceivable impulse she exhibited while drunk on those certain, overwhelming and highly addictive sensations...
'How truly shameless.' She quietly reprimanded, swallowing harshly.
Breathing deeply in order to fully awaken herself, the priestess soon felt the strong arm which was draped over her high waist and across her stomach tighten its hold, clawed fingers neatly sliding between her and the futon beneath only to draw her even closer against the broad body those belonged to with fearsome strength.
Stunned, Kikyo's mind immediately cleared as her back met with the endless warmth of Sesshomaru's bare skin, their legs intertwined and no space left between them while his face buried into both her silky hair and nape, the deep inhale he drew of her scent effortlessly making her shiver. Shifting comfortably in his hold, she sighed softly while her own right hand placed upon his, fingers curling around his striped forearm.
"...Good morning." The priestess greeted through a whisper, then softly cleared her throat from the thickness of sleep.
Yet, Sesshomaru simply nestled himself even closer as a response, lips pressing gently against alabaster flesh and bringing tingles down her spine, nearly allowing a faint and most certainly unwanted moan to escape her.
Long eyelashes fell shut to the small but inevitable waves of pleasure that next flowed within her now living body, and Kikyo could only squirm quietly in his strong capture, helpless under each and every one of his relentless attacks.
Self-control, however, was not something she would let slip so carelessly, this time around.
"We must rise, Sesshomaru..." Kikyo breathed despite the overwhelming sensations and her quickening heartbeat, attempting to seize her unpredictable lover's attention and halt his dangerous actions as well, "...Dawn is breaking."
Hearing that, Sesshomaru eventually paused.
But his immovable arm still remained secured in its spot, wrapped neatly around the woman in his embrace.
And noticing that she was not about to be freed anytime soon, the priestess inhaled, then rolled over until she was met face to face with the defiant man laying behind her, colliding with half-lidded golden gaze faintly obscured by messy, silver bangs.
Staring up at him in that endearing state, Kikyo eventually breathed out with amusement.
"Am I your captive?" She asked softly, raising a single eyebrow.
Sesshomaru, however, maintained his heavy silence, seemingly unruffled by her sudden presence and teasing.
"Your answer." The inu-daiyoukai finally spoke, his voice low and yet holding a certain firmness to it, still.
His words were left to hover in the room, managing to reel Kikyo's memory back to the specific, heated exchange they had also shared only a few hours prior... and she resolved to withhold her response while eased mahogany fixed on stern gold.
That's right.
Along with all that occurred yesterday night... she was also asked to refrain from taking part in the approaching final battle against Naraku;
A request that she had yet to properly respond to.
Silent, Kikyo delved into the subject once more, finding herself strangely more welcoming of the notion, causing confusion to soon spark within her, especially considering she was the one who so adamantly declared that her mind on this matter shall not ever change. Now, however, illuminated by the fresh new day's sunlight, the priestess noted that her lover's plea for her to remove herself from the confrontation somehow gathered surprising amount of validation to it...
Could it be that Sesshomaru once again succeeded in peering into her own subconscious desire?
One that she was not only completely unaware of... but also did not even think could ever reside in her mind to begin with?
'Is it truly so simple, though?' She had to wonder quietly to herself, dropping her gaze to an unfocused spot on his chest and plunging herself into an endless pit of rampant thinking.
Was she to discard her duty so easily? Midoriko's plans, Kohaku's last shard, the protection of both him and Rin...
Everything that she had gotten so used to and held so dearly until now...
However, the memory which next assaulted her thought process, a certain old set of venomous words, unexpectedly managed to shed further light on the sense behind her current change of heart;
"The weak follow their designated path... and the strong create a new one for themselves to follow."
Blinking, Kikyo recalled Naraku's binding words.
A sentence that once only filled her with rage and a smothering need to prove him wrong and smite his existence from the face of the earth... now left her with a different kind of inspiration, instead. With all of the proof she could ever ask for regarding how utterly wrong she had let herself perceive the situation until this point;
There was no freedom, only enslavement on her part, if she were to continue on this path...
A corrupting path of revenge which would only further trap her, unless she truly let go of both her anger and resentment, altogether.
And just like that, the priestess released a deep breath, bringing her gaze back up to meet with Sesshomaru's keen one, who never strayed his line of vision from her being for even a second as if patiently following after every single one of her cryptic notions.
"How were you able to tell..." Kikyo decided to test, watching him closely, "That avoiding the upcoming battle would indeed be the best option for the likes of myself?"
Staring at her for the longest time in silence, the daiyoukai allowed himself to take in her close presence for a few more moments, the warmth that now so effortlessly radiated from her skin, her scent and the vivid brightness of her clever eyes.
"War is not your province, Kikyo." He determined simply.
Surprised by the plainness of his reply, Kikyo tilted her head slightly to the side.
"Is that so?" She further demanded, a hint of skepticism carefully laced into her calm tone.
But her lover's next explanation was something that she most certainly did not ever foresee...
"On the night of our first encounter." Sesshomaru said, gold boring into her deep brown, "You decided to grant that lowlife with the luxury of companionship in death, yet when he asked for you to be the one to end his pitiful existence, you hesitated."
Her eyes widened slightly to the unpredictable and blunt reasoning, recalling Suikotsu and his last wish; a harsh deduction which the daiyoukai had already made once before, yet at a time when Kikyo did not grant it much special thought. She said nothing as the familiar prick of guilt let itself be known once more, however, at this point, the woman knew better than to somehow hinder Sesshomaru's perceptive views, and she only quietly listened to the rest of his verdict;
"Your hands were not meant to take life." He continued, his rich voice as if gradually soothing her rampant thoughts, "I, Sesshomaru, shall be the one to relieve you of this final burden."
Processing his complete analysis, the priestess could only bite her lower lip, inevitably wondering whether this man in front of her had really picked up on this dormant side that she secretly possessed for that long... ever since they had shared their first meeting, all those months ago.
A hidden wish for herself to know true peace from the battlefield.
Her heart skipped a beat to the idea of him watching her so intensely, reading her that precisely... and calculating only the best for her now as a result...
His stubbornness and strength of will were truly, unparalleled.
Defeated, Kikyo released another soft breath into the air between them, proceeding to raise a single hand towards Sesshomaru, who only watched her actions in silence. Softly, slim fingers entered below his bangs to brush them aside and smooth the strands back into their dignified place, clearing his sharp line of vision. Then, her touch slid down his handsome face until reaching the two magenta stripes embedded on his high cheek bones, using the tips of her fingers to gently trace their unique shape; his undeniable demonic markings, the symbol of his strength, his origin and who he is as an individual.
"Thank you, Sesshomaru." Kikyo finally said, nodding once as she called back on her curious palm, hoping that her words were enough to convey the depth of her overwhelming feelings, "For all that you've done."
Answering to her sudden yet avid display of rare and unfiltered emotions, Sesshomaru could only stare at her for a long moment in silence. Then, he moved closer until his forehead rested against hers, sensing the heaviness of uncertainty lift off of his shoulders to the sound of her final agreement, of her seeing his point of view and fully accepting it, despite this woman's notorious habit of holding onto countless, impossibly fixed convictions.
There was no greater satisfaction, he found, than having her finally comply with his offer.
The first of many yet to come.
Stilled, Kikyo closed her eyes and leaned into the act, placing one fair hand on the daiyoukai's firm chest and sensing the steady beating of his heart as both of them remained in their shared embrace for the longest time, allowing themselves to bask in the other's close, silent presence while their once conflicting auras now resonated in complete harmony all around, blurring into each other and filling the wooden hut like a cocoon of restrained and protective deadly power. For a single but long moment, all walls were let down and nothing else existed, no danger or enemies, no restlessness or worry, only them and their unshakable bond, held in the inviolate, safe circle of their arms.
However, as much as they wished, both knew their current moment of peace and intimacy could not go on forever.
And wordlessly like that, they eventually released one another, turning to slowly sit upwards on the pale futon supporting their forms, long smooth strands of dark and silver hair spread across the ground in every direction, an intricate map of all their previous doings, almost.
Propping himself on his sole arm, Sesshomaru watched through an unreadable expression as the early sunlight spilled into the room, caught in Kikyo's messy, long hair and caressing smooth alabaster skin, only amplifying the curves of her naked figure before him, making it hard to tear his gaze away from her alluring presence.
And once the priestess turned her head halfway over her shoulder to collide with his watchful gaze, the daiyoukai felt his heart miss a single beat to the way her keen eyes found him beyond dark strands of hair haphazardly framing her fair features.
Truly, there was no other woman in this world who could possibly rival such raw, natural beauty.
"What is it." He demanded, breaking the silence of her cryptic staring once he realized her line of vision shifted down to his missing limb.
And as soon as he did, Kikyo's eyes met with his once again.
"Do you require assistance with dressing yourself?" She calmly asked, the casualness in her tone prompting him to silently consider the offer.
Refraining from answering for now, however, Sesshomaru simply resolved to observe the woman before him while she turned her attention to the ground beside her, reaching for her forgotten kosode and soon wrapping herself with the burgundy-colored garment using movements as smooth as water.
Then, she glanced up at her lover, yet again.
"I have assisted many in my line of duty." Kikyo further explained, "Soldiers injured in war, still healing from their wounds and unable to properly dress themselves in robes and armor... although I must admit that I have yet to experience with youkai attire."
Hearing that small piece of information, Sesshomaru's golden eyes narrowed.
And the unmistakable spark of jealousy that soon spread viciously within his chest to the concept of the priestess dressing countless other lowly men before him threatened to overrun his coherent thought process completely.
Before that could happen, the inu-daiyoukai scoffed loudly before her.
"Do as you wish." He eventually replied, ridding his voice from any possible trace of those most unbecoming emotions.
With the sound of her lover's approval, Kikyo allowed her lips to curve up into a hint of a smile. Then, she elegantly rose to her feet and crossed the wooden boards until reaching Sesshomaru's discarded pale robes and pants, inhaling sharply to the erratic way in which all of his other belongings scattered before her, making the blood rush to her cheeks at the memory of how dangerously blinded they both were by their mutual passion. Dismissing her quiet embarrassment, however, Kikyo simply kneeled down and gathered the layers of garments into her arms, stepping back to Sesshomaru, who had thankfully already adjusted his loincloth in the process of her secret and lengthy musings.
Silent and observant, the daiyoukai watched as Kikyo stepped before him, smoothly lowering herself to sit down on her knees while singling out the first, white layer of his upper wear. Golden eyes flickered to the lazily-hanging kosode barely covering her breasts for a moment, then once again fixed onto the woman's poised expression, seemingly unbothered by his staring.
"Lift your right arm." She calmly instructed, and Sesshomaru silently obliged, allowing her to slide the sleeve up, all the way to his shoulder, stopping once the robe could hang steadily upon his broad build and fall loosely behind him. Adjusting herself even closer to his seated position, Kikyo reached one fair hand behind his back to pull the rest of the garment around him and under his streams of silver hair, the movement causing her own long and dark strands to fall and brush against his still bare chest while her scent wafted between them, making Sesshomaru's jaw tense.
However, once Kikyo's eyes fixed onto the sight of his missing limb up close, she momentarily halted her actions, inching backwards in her makeshift seat as her labored silence filled the room.
"Do you regret it? This injury?" She couldn't help but ask, gaze still set on the now scarred wound and absence of flesh, the one that was caused by none other than Inuyasha, himself.
She never quite realized how striking Sesshomaru's disability was, until now.
Scoffing with disdain, he only arched a single dark eyebrow to her inquiry, his line of vision never leaving her features.
"I have nothing to regret." Sesshomaru replied evenly, "This issue is merely a result of myself demanding for that which was supposed to be my birthright."
"Even when that certain greed has now left you lacking?"
Refraining from answering, Sesshomaru studied her for a moment, already recognizing the particular way her eyes seemingly avoided his, telling of this woman's roundabout method of discovering perhaps more about herself, than him.
"Even so." He concluded, and the avid certainty behind his words invited her to finally meet his unyielding gaze, "I will not pitifully conform without first attempting to gain what rightfully belongs to I, Sesshomaru, at the very least."
Staring at him, Kikyo eventually chuckled lightly, then lowered her attention back to resume her actions, dressing up the absent arm into the empty sleeve, as well.
"Do you find this notion amusing?" Sesshomaru investigated, mildly confused by her reaction.
However, the priestess merely shook her head, glancing up at his direction below straight-cut bangs.
"It is just that you never cease to surprise me." She admitted, allowing herself to smile softly before him, "That is all."
Hearing that, Sesshomaru maintained his silence as he watched Kikyo nonchalantly proceed with her task, her slim, diligent fingers smoothing the pale fabric over his refined chest and making sure that it hanged evenly on both of his shoulders. Outwardly collected, He inhaled deeply to how skilfully she could lure him into her musings like that, then entirely leave him stranded in the vast fields of those ever-growing feelings, appearing completely unaware of how these simple words of her shifted the tides within him.
This time, he did not plan on allowing her such freedom with no consequences.
Smirking with secret intent, Sesshomaru simply leaned closer towards her, sensing her flinch as his lips placed a single kiss to her temple.
"Sesshomaru..." Kikyo breathed, a sweet shudder running through her to the next one pressed onto her ear, "I cannot finish this simple task if you distract me in this manner..."
But the daiyoukai ignored her plea, moving even lower in his current punishment and pushing his nose into the depths of her hair, placing another kiss on the priestess' fair neck and listening to her quickened heartbeat in response.
"...Or are you perhaps fine with an unkept appearance...?" She desperately attempted to negotiate, making sure to calm her traitorous heart and its now restless thudding in her chest along with how the way her lover's warm breaths on her sensitive skin made her curl with hushed delight like a helpless prey in his capture.
To think that she had composed herself so well until now, despite his close, electric proximity and penetrating gaze fixed so firmly on her...
Deeming it enough for the time being, he wordlessly distanced himself from her while his handsome features presented Kikyo with nothing but his regular placidness, much to the priestess' chagrin and the looming fact that at any moment now, the rest of the human village could potentially wake from its nightly slumber.
"Then, make haste." Sesshomaru casually advised while raising his chin, closely observing her reaction.
Kikyo bit her lower lip to his endless display of audacity.
Yet, she merely shook her head up at him, aware that at this point, her reddened face was most likely already unveiling far more than she was comfortable with showing. With a soft sigh passing through her parted lips, she reached for the second layer of the daiyuokai's red and white kimono, applying it onto his body using the same careful procedure.
And once the upper part of his garbs could be marked as completed with no further distractions, Kikyo moved back and smoothly rose to her feet once again, then stepped to the rest of Sesshomaru's attire still dispersed on the floor, mahogany eyes examining from the yellow ribbon sprawled leisurely across the wooden boards, to the forgotten Tenseiga somewhat still wrapped in its binding, all the way to the breastplate armor now divided in two before her. Silent, she singled out and approached the parts that she knew her arms could carry, lowering herself on one knee before Sesshomaru's heirloom.
But as soon as her fingers made contact with the ancient sword, Kikyo felt a sudden, moderated pulse of power slowly pour into her, climbing from the very tips of her limb and through her arm like warm, comforting water, settling into her core and providing her with such unparalleled ease, that the priestess couldn't help but answer to its spellbinding invitation and soon wrap her entire palm around the dark hilt of the blade, lifting it slowly under her inspecting gaze as if waiting for the weapon to answer and explain its odd actions.
"What do you sense?" Sesshomaru's low voice snapped her out of her deep musings, and Kikyo simply inhaled, then turned her head over her shoulder, meeting with his sharp gold and cryptic mask of indifference.
"Same as last night." She answered, returning her eyes down to the weapon in her grip, "Somehow... I feel as though it is now attempting to communicate."
Sesshomaru kept his silence to her deduction, staring at the woman holding onto his father's old sword while the sound of chirping birds welcoming the early dawn compensated for their mutual silence, filling the room and the air between them.
Eventually, the daiyoukai huffed.
"Tenseiga is a rather talkative blade." He remarked through a bored tone, turning away and lifting his head, "It is best to get used to its chatter."
Noting the hint of humor laced into his words, Kikyo's lips tugged into a soft smile.
However, a part of the priestess couldn't help but still detain on the precise method which allowed her unplanned full-scale resurrection in the first place;
The process was graduate, that she had already noticed...
But how exactly was it that she now felt as if she was almost... linked to this particular, youkai blade before her?
Putting those musings aside for now, however, Kikyo resolved to simply proceed with her current task until its eventual completion while the morning sun moved further on its axis, all until Sesshomaru's appearance regained both its dignified and menacing qualities altogether. Properly clad with his armor and weapon now, Sesshomaru stepped out of the wooden hut with Kikyo following not far behind him, the crisp morning air greeting their features along the drifting layer of mist pooling at their ankles all prompting Kikyo to wrap the single layer of the burgundy kosode even tighter around herself. Silent, they stood beside each other like that for a few moments, the soft sunlight filtered into the forest clearing bathing their forms in its golden rays and faintly assisting in maintaining their warmth.
There was something in that moment, Kikyo noted, that suddenly filled her with an unquestionable notion of sadness.
Yet, she only raised her gaze to Sesshomaru beside her, observing the way in which the sun caught in his parted silver bangs and caressed his elegant features, illuminating his profile and shimmering in the brilliant gold of his eyes.
Eventually, the daiyoukai turned his head down at her, meeting with her deep brown.
"Rin and Kohaku shall be informed of the full weight of the situation." He soon spoke, and his words effortlessly grounded the priestess right back into reality, "Whether to stay with I, Sesshomaru, or choose the normalcy of a human village for the time being will be their decision to make."
Contemplating his plans, Kikyo's expression turned stern.
"Have Kohaku stay with you." She calmly instructed, "Naraku will follow after the essence of the pure Shikon Jewel shard still embedded at the back of his neck, it is best that boy remains close to you in order to potentially lure that scum from his pitiful hideout..." Tensing her shoulders, the priestess lowered her head with intent, "And when he'd least expect it, both of you must strike at him together."
Sesshomaru kept his silence to her words.
"You believe that boy to be capable enough, huh?" He tested, watching her closely.
And Kikyo's features gradually softened as she allowed herself to smile up at him.
"Yes, I have no doubt that his training with you had already significantly improved both his heart and his skills altogether."
Raising his chin to the unplanned and yet undeniable compliment hidden behind her answer, Sesshomaru maintained his gaze on the woman standing beside him.
Then, he simply placed his line of vision onto an unfocused spot in the depth of the misty forest ahead.
"His progress is undeniably connected to your ways of purification, as well," The daiyoukai stated as if countering her excessive humility, his tone very matter-of-fact, "Fear had not plagued his spirit for a very long time, now."
Hearing that, Kikyo released an amused breath into the air which turned into pale steam before her.
"I suppose that is true." She agreed, shifting her attention to the distance, just like him.
With that now settled between them, Sesshomaru quietly strode forward, crossing the grassy earth while the pale mist swayed away from his steps as he moved further from the priestess still left standing behind him.
However and just before her lover took his leave, Kikyo found herself overcome with the same notion from before, the idea of him parting away so suddenly yet inevitably, this strong and paralyzing longing, filling her now to the brim and as if overriding her actions without her consent;
"Stay safe, Sesshomaru." The words spilled from her lips with little control, causing him to momentarily halt his steps.
Then, he quietly turned his head over his left shoulder, finding her gaze through an unreadable expression.
Yet, the feelings which overflowed through his lover had no intention of subsiding, just yet.
"Naraku has a tendency of using lowly methods in order to spite others..." Kikyo steadily notified, the words as if pulled from her by an unnamed force, drifting to hover thickly in the air between them.
Sesshomaru merely turned on his heel, facing her fully as she continued;
"However, given the right chance... those same methods could also be used against him."
He said nothing as he now moved towards her, effortlessly covering the distance he created until he reached where she stood, his form towering over her own and his face a blank mask of indifference.
Yet, his clear, golden eyes burned her with an unspoken and secret conclusion, as if seeing right through any possible mask that she could possibly don before him.
"What is it that you truly wish to say, Kikyo?" Sesshomaru dared down at her, his intense gaze locked with hers.
Inhaling sharply under his scalding look, that quiet, unapologetic sureness embedded in his fierce golden eyes which she loved so much, Kikyo felt all of her walls crumble to pieces, scattering effortlessly at her feet.
And she could only breathe out while her line of vision unintentionally dipped to his lips, gradually allowing her expression to display the honest emotions which swirled so fiercely within her;
"It is simply that I am not sure... of when exactly I shall see you again..." The priestess finally admitted up at him, swallowing harshly as the slow and chilly wind picked up through their quiet area, flowing in their smooth, long locks of hair and as if building more weight into her confession before him.
Stilled and undeciphered, Sesshomaru kept his half-lidded eyes fixed down on her, drinking in the rare vulnerability that this woman worked so hard to conceal, once more appearing so visible in her features, accumulating in her rosy cheeks and in the way her mahogany eyes reflected nothing but his own image, her burning need for him to stay by her side striking through every piece of his armor and straight at his very core, causing heat to pile at the pit of his stomach and his sole clawed hand to twitch hungrily at his right side...
In this solitary life of his, he knew how rare she was; how her formidable spirit equalled his own, how her flame danced so confidently near his, how she could so effortlessly disarm him as a result, drawing him to her like a bee to the most sacred of flowers...
His Bellflower.
For all of her impressive power and wisdom, was this woman not aware of how much she had made him care? Of how she stood so proudly before the most complex issues lurking in his mind, untangling and discovering sense behind each and every single one of them until those parts of himself now reminded him of her, of how hard he now has to struggle in order to tame all of these new, dangerous needs and unplanned primal desires, lest they would overrun and swallow him whole, turn him into a fool until he could barely even recognize himself any longer?
"Maddening woman." Sesshomaru finally breathed, tensing his jaw and hurriedly snaking his sole arm around Kikyo's lithe waist, taking one step forward and pinning her body against the wooden wall not far behind her, then firmly seizing her lips, proceeding to kiss her harshly in order to properly transmit his invariable stance on the matter.
Unbridled, his passion poured into the priestess while his body pressed tightly against hers, sensing the heat rolling off of her in waves as Kikyo returned his sudden and urgent kiss, submitting to his attack and quickly sending her hands upwards, delicate fingers burying deep into his silky hair. Tasting the warmth of her breaths on his tongue, the daiyoukai closed his eyes and deepened the kiss even more, the hushed, yet unmistakable moans that soon escaped her along with that particular scent which she was emitting barely allowing him to restrain himself against the absurdity of her actions...
After pushing him away so pedantically before, was it this woman's torturing intention to actively ignite these flames within him, now?
Abruptly breaking the kiss using the very last bit of self-control he possessed within him, Sesshomaru let go and stepped away all at once as if recoiling from the fiercest of fires, leaving Kikyo utterly breathless in the process.
Then, he sharply turned on his heel, striding away from the panting woman left behind him.
"You will see I, Sesshomaru, again," He proclaimed between laboured breaths of his own, his stern attention placed at anywhere but her, "And when that time comes, Kikyo, I shall have you stand beside me as my life partner."
Before Kikyo could even fully process his unexpected proposal, Sesshomaru's form had already engulfed with a bright light as wind billowed harshly through the forest clearing, urging the priestess to lift one arm before her eyes in order to shield them from the residue of greenery flying through the air in every direction.
And once she could finally see before her again, Kikyo's expression crossed with shock to the sight of a colossal, silver inu youkai now standing proudly before her, rivalling the trees in height and bathed in the early morning rays, his rich fur glistening under the softness of the sun and his scarlet red eyes focused right on her, causing shivers to flow down her back, stealing her breath away.
Every single bird hushed, and both the priestess and the towering youkai held their stance for a long moment in complete stillness, gazes interlocked and their attention invariably fixed upon the other.
Eventually, the beast huffed loudly before her with a vicious grin full of sharp, deadly teeth, causing the ground beneath Kikyo's feet to tremble.
Satisfied with the awe-stricken look presented on his lover's face in response to the reveal of his true form, Sesshomaru's legs soon engulfed with mystical fog, allowing him to leap into the early morning sky as it smoothly carried him away, his massive being gliding elegantly through the air and shimmering under the rays of the sun while leaving a long trail of both formidable and enchanting youkai energy behind him, ultimately disappearing beyond the limits of her sight.
Calming herself, Kikyo's shoulders gradually eased while she let out the breath she did not even notice was held by her into the now vacant space, sending a fair hand to her chest in an attempt to control her still racing heart.
After a few moments, her expression regained its tranquil placidness once again.
'To think that for the longest time, I was perpetually concerned that demons may take me... and in the end one of them truly succeeded in that task, huh.' She humored and then sighed, shaking her head to the inu daiyoukai's outrageous boldness along with how every sensation of his lips and touch still persisted on her flesh, sweet and right as if those were always meant to decorate her skin.
This strict concept of normalcy which she had believed in for eighteen years... this previously instilled sense of home and belonging... perhaps it never really fit her to begin with.
And the more she remained in her spot with her back still supported by the wooden wall of the hut behind her, the more Kikyo felt herself slowly overcome by a pleasant surge of warmth while her mind replayed every single recent event and conversation, the feeling reaching through every part of her body and eventually granting her with another certain realization;
All of her life, she attempted to swim against the current, forcing through it, struggling to even breathe... perhaps all she needed to do was let go of her heavy heart in order to break the surface of the water and allow the new waves to guide her now, instead.
Perhaps, Kikyo discovered, ruin truly was the road to transformation, and all she ever needed was simply to be a little more selfish. A tad more greedy.
"Ohhh... Sesshomaru-sama, where have you gone to...?" Jaken croaked pathetically into the crisp and cold air, wrapping his short arms around himself as he sat leaned against the wooden beam of the narrow veranda surrounding the mansion.
His inquiry was left with none to answer it, dissolving into the misty atmosphere, and the imp-demon could only lower his tired vision from the early morning sky to the rest of his companions sitting under the lush trees of the garden ahead of him, mindlessly conversing about all kinds of foolish themes which most likely held very little interest to him, if any at all.
Slumping his shoulders, he soon felt the obvious possibility that he attempted to silence and bury deep into the very back of his mind once again rise for fresh air, causing his round, yellow eyes to narrow with displeasure.
The already familiar manner in which his master had ordered him to stay and remain awake for the night while he decided to venture out of the mountain and follow closer to the valley located at his base...
The same human village that now accommodated a certain, troublesome priestess.
Clicking his tongue, Jaken could only quietly accept his current situation, sighing heavily and resuming to begrudgingly follow after the children's conversation from his excluded position, the peacefulness of the scenery gradually applying more and more weight to his already heavy eyelids.
"Oh, Jaken-sama fell asleep again." Rin noted, stretching in her seat against the resting A-Un in order to peek over the thick bushes in his direction.
"It's fine." Kohaku replied with indifference, keeping his line of vision down and onto the few apples he was preparing for their breakfast, "There's no real need for him to stay awake now, anyway."
Nodding in agreement, Rin glanced back to her companion and resettled into her makeshift seat, watching him skilfully cut through the batch of fruits they had accumulated positioned to his right, then place their elongated pieces upon the large plate.
For some reason, the girl found herself almost captivated by the avid sureness in his actions and the way he arranged the meal so neatly before her, inviting a specific, old memory into her mind and a warm smile to decorate her features as a result.
"This reminds Rin of the time she had watched you catch fish in the river, Kohaku-kun." She said.
Hearing that, the boy momentarily halted his task, bringing his dark brown gaze upwards to meet with hers.
"That time, huh." He exhaled, recalling the specific night right after he chose to follow Kikyo and joined their group, the same one in which he had accidentally let his mind stray too far, burning their dinner in the process of his paralyzing self-pity.
Before those thoughts once again threatened to possibly seize him this time, however...
"Kohaku-kun, you became so much stronger." Rin beamed before him with pure happiness, the lightness in her voice as if purging any possible dark thought lurking in his mind.
Surprised, his eyes widened to her unexpected positive input.
"That's... exactly what Ane-ue said, too." He answered, sensing the weight in his chest disappear to the notion of more than one person acknowledging this certain change in him, now.
Smiling even wider, Rin nodded with excitement.
"Rin thinks your training with Sesshomaru-sama and Kikyo-sama helped a lot." The child further explained, "Even Jaken-sama thinks so, but he wouldn't admit it if you ask him."
Silence fell between them both while the soft wind brushed through the tops of the trees up above, sending their calm melody in the air and carrying the scent of wild garden flowers into their location, filling their lungs with comforting freshness.
However, at that moment and despite his new acknowledgement of his own progress, Kohaku found it hard to overlook a certain, realistic possibility hovering below the surface of his musings, one that he found he could not ignore if he truly wished to tackle the full situation at hand;
What part of his skills had actually improved solely thanks to him... and what part had improved simply as a result of the Shikon Jewel fragment embedded at the back of his neck, inevitably enhancing his power...?
His breath caught in his throat to the inability of giving himself a suitable enough answer, his limbs growing heavy as he kept his lengthy quiet before his companion, freckled features turning stern and his gaze eventually dropping to the portable knife held firmly in his right hand.
Puzzled, Rin stared at him, tilting her head slightly to the side.
"Kohaku-kun?" She encouraged, her expression crossed with a hint of worry to his sudden silence.
Yet, before she opted to try and further shake him out of his wordless trance, Kohaku breathed deeply and then exhaled his breath into the cold air before him, dark-clad shoulders rising and falling as if shaking off the unspoken tension they carried, allowing him to finally return his calm eyes to her.
Then, the boy allowed himself to smile kindly.
"I just... realized something, I suppose." He said, his voice surprisingly holding no trace of insecurity at all, "I cant really tell myself how far I've gotten, and that frankly scares me..." He admitted, releasing another heavy breath, "But even with that uncertainty, I think that as long as I have you to point it out to me, Rin... I'll be okay, somehow."
Rin said nothing for a few moments, processing his words.
And although she could not quite explain it, the girl soon felt heat climbing in her small face, prompting a single hand to rise upwards and block her following giggle.
"Rin is happy to hear that!" She answered cheerfully, filled with giddiness.
However, as soon as both children settled back into the peacefulness of their exchange...
A-Un abruptly straightened up in his position, blue eyes wide and both of his heads rising all at once as a loud buzzing sound shortly cloaked the area, echoing against the treetops and causing both Kohaku and Rin to jump to their feet with both alert and caution altogether.
"Such a lovely sentiment, Kohaku..." Naraku's voice rumbled darkly from somewhere unknown above them, tearing through their pleasant exchange with little remorse, "Let us test this new resolve of yours, shall we?"
Swallowing harshly, Kohaku's dark eyebrows lowered into a deep scowl, expression crossed with intent as he swiftly reached for his weapon of choice, quickly positioning himself before the small Rin and stepping backwards, all until placing their backs to the guarding safety of their two-headed scaly companion now standing firmly on all fours behind them, ready to assist in the upcoming confrontation, as well.
A/N:
My my, what a timing!
So, in truth, I wasn't quite sure how Kikyo's agreement to stay put instead of aiding Sesshomaru with Naraku's demise would be received, mostly because of previous conversations I've shared with some of you, my readers, overtime. There were wishes for her to join Sesshomaru in the final battle and fight alongside him (among many others), so I'm certainly glad to now read your positive feedback on the last chapter and its reveal. In my humble opinion, when it comes to Kikyo's character and all she'd been through, I felt as if a better, healthier solution for her would indeed be to let go of that obsession for revenge, instead of further indulging in it. There is more inner peace and agency, I believe, in her cleansing from Naraku's toxicity entirely and allowing herself to properly heal from him this way, and I can now finally tell you that this was actually my plan for her since the very beginning.
That, and the method that both Sesshomaru and her discovered in order to achieve the full-scale resurrection... that, however, is a mystery for another day ;)