Chapter Thirteen
Minako Miharu: Thank you, I'm glad you could almost "hear" Kagome speaking her tale. Here is a longer chapter for you, enjoy.
stand alone complex: Glad you liked it, enjoy chapter thirteen
EnvyKitty: I would have to say: yes, Kagura's mate was a wind youkai, though where you would find another wind youkai, don't ask me; don't ask me how an incarnation of Naraku's had a child either, it just happened. : ) Here is the next update, leave me another review to tell me if you liked it or not
EternalAffliction: I'm glad I could get you into the fic enough to make you want to cry. (not that making you cry is a good thing…) Yes, Kagura had a baby, I guess the characters wanted to throw another little twist in there…Here is your update! Enjoy.
iNuQTpIe: Thank you, I would like to hold you to that, leave me another review, and you will make me happy.
lil-kag0m3: Well, I hope you enjoy reading this next chapter as well, I wait for your review…hopefully. A little preview, a pairing is revealed in this chapter for you, enjoy.
Kalei: Yeah…the whole dying thing…you shall find out more next chapter, and you shall find out about Koga in this one…oh, and a little preview for you, a pairing is revealed… YES! Leave me a review, and let me know what you think!
Angela: Yes, here is almost twice as long chapter thirteen for you, enjoy, can't wait to hear from you again!
Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns all of her characters, and I own all of mine. Ok?
AN: OK, just as a quick correction that I need to go back into chapter twelve and fix, Kagura is dying from the INSIDE, not outside, that is why no one knows what is truly wrong with her… but you guys shall find out a little later, so please forgive me for that little mistake, anywho, on with the fic.
Koga tightened his grip on the Miko lying against his shoulder and child now sitting in his lap on the futon. He could smell the pain on Kagome, and the sadness on Mayoka. When he had heard the woman retelling a shortened version of her past, he had waited patiently out of sight, but of course Kagome had sensed his presence, and called to him. She had said she was alright, but her scent gave away her lie.
His lips lowered to kiss her temple and rub his cheek into her hair. His eyes lowered as a small hand took his clawed one and held it carefully. Mayoka's head lifted from his chest so she could lock stares with him. She smiled softly. He returned the gesture. His eyes narrowed as he turned to look at the door, footsteps reaching his ears.
"Kagome-chan, Koga-sama, dinner is done, if you will join us in the main room." Rin bowed slightly. Koga nodded silently, for Kagome didn't move to reply. The girl bowed again before leaving. His eyes lowered to the Miko's vacant eyes. She trembled slightly, probably reliving her now dug up memories.
"Kagome, come on, time to get up." He shook her lightly. Mayoka had crawled off of his leg when Rin had first appeared. The Miko blinked and lifted her head off the ouji's shoulder.
"Ok," she stood on the floor, standing next to Hokori. Her hand rested lightly on the Neko's head. Koga motioned for Mayoka and Hokori to take the lead, leaving he and Kagome to talk quietly on the way.
"If Sessho-maru gets too rough while you're 'training', let me know and I'll kick his ass." He whispered into her ear. She laughed softly behind her hand.
"I'm sure everything will be fine."
He stepped in front of her, his front to her, as he grabbed her upper arms, effectively stopping her. "I can't stay here." His voice was rough. She tried to force a smile.
"I know. Go back to your pack, I'm sure they need you." She replied. The two just stared at each other until Mayoka's voice entered their heads.
"Kagome-san, Koga? Are you coming?"
The youkai lowered his hands and he and the Miko began to walk again. "Kagome-san?" Koga snickered.
"Oh give it a rest." She slapped his shoulder, but there was humor in her voice
((Across A Land))
"Did you see how fast that thing was!" Kyouko exclaimer in a hushed tone.
"Yeah, and Sensei took it out like it was nothing!" Hana agreed. Shippo shook his head slowly, a smile on his face as Kibou and Kai added in their own wonder at Sango's abilities. All of the 'kids' had their arms filled with sticks and kindling for the fire now keeping their guests warm, as they made their way back to Sango and Miroku's hut.
A tall, dark figure stood just outside the hut door as they approached. The humans didn't pay any attention, continuing their excited chattering. The kitsune slowed down slightly, catching the Houshi's scent. "Thank you for getting extra wood, but our visitors are sleeping, if you could please keep it down." Miroku announced his presence.
The younger humans had jumped in surprise, running noisily into each other. The youkai sighed as she continued to walk. "I do believe it is time for us to head to bed anyway." He pushed his way silently into the hut, set his load onto the pile just to the left of the entrance, and left again. Shippo stopped at Miroku's side, his arms crossed over his chest.
The other kids lowered their head and quietly followed their elder. While they were inside, Miroku knelt at Shippo's side. "Thanks," the Houshi said with a smile. The kit returned the smile.
"No problem, those four need time to cool off after today." The youkai stopped talking as Kyouko, Hana, Kibou, and Kai came out of the hut again. "Call if you need anything, if not, we shall see you in the morning." Shippo walked off, the youngest four humans following. Their footsteps were the only sound that betrayed their presence.
"Shippo-kun, who is that woman?" Hana asked as they settled in for the night. The youkai was silent as the humans turned to him.
"That is no true woman." He finally replied.
"Not a true woman?" Kibou echoed.
"Yes, Kagura is a 'shadow'. She is an incarnation of Naraku."
"Naraku? You mean the…" Kyouko breathed.
"The very same." Shippo said with a nod.
"Na—ra—ku?" Kai tried it out.
"Yes, a very evil youkai—or technically a hanyou."
"Will you tell us, Shippo-kun?" The youngest asked.
"I can only tell you what I know…" The youkai took a deep breath and let it out slowly before beginning to live memories of the time everyone was still together, and everything was normal.
((Across A Land))
He lay on the bed, stretched out slightly on his side, just as he had been when she first saw him. His eyes were closed, their golden hue hidden. The youkai Lord knew she was there, his sensitive hearing and smell telling him.
Rin carefully closed the door, the small click echoing loudly in her ears. Her brown eyes slowly turned to flow over him again. "Sessho-maru-sama…" She whispered as she moved to his bedside. She climbed slowly onto the cloth, and then halfway onto him, resting her head on his chest. His one clawed hand began to stroke through her raven hair.
"What is it, Koi?" His breath blew past her head. Her face buried deeper into his clothes, her arms wrapped around his chest.
"Nothing, I just wanted to be with you." She smiled as she lifted her face to his, kissing his lips softly. His claws moved to scratch her back as she chewed on his lower lip.
"Rin?" The youkai asked against her lips.
"My Lord…" Her eyes were closed as she spoke. His hand made its way around to her front, slipping into her kimono. "Why…did you…send your…brother away…?" She panted as his fingers shot lava into her veins. His motion stopped at her words.
"What?" His voice came out sharply. Rin's head lifted, her stare locking with his.
"You upset Kagome, and don't tell me you didn't know that sending Inu-Yasha away from here without letting them meet would anger her." She gave the youkai Lord a look.
"I did it because she was not ready to face him." He turned his gaze away. "I do not need to explain myself to you, Rin."
"Gomen, Sessho-maru-sama, you are right, forgive my—" His sudden kiss stopped her words.
"Do not talk, I need to get Kagome up in an hour, I do not want to waste the little time I have." A rare grin lit up his features as he pulled her close. Rin bowed her head slightly in response, not allowing a word to escape her lips as her Lord commanded.
((Across A Land))
He roared to the almost full moon, his claws flexed, reaching for the creamy white orb. It had begun to rain, instantly soaking him through to his bones. His breath panted out of his mouth as blood dripped from his claws and chin. His human heart was nowhere even close to being in control of what his body did, and he didn't really care.
What have I done…? He cringed as his brother's sharp words replayed over and over in front of him.
I told you that bitch was no different from the others.
But she was…
Not anymore.
This is your fault. Anger boiled in his veins as a new fire lit in his soul. I will make this right.
Don't fool yourself, human, you could never defeat me.
Watch me. His bloody eyes faded slowly, flickering their normal gold. The jagged purple stripes melted slowly into his tan skin as the human heart took over. His head filled with laughter as a greater pressure push him back.
You stupid human, I am stronger, I will always win.
NO! He screamed as once again he was locked away, loosing all control of his body, and returning to the darkness.
((Across A Land))
Koga's eyes opened slightly as Sessho-maru's scent reached him. A low growl passed his lips as he got to his feet, moving to the still closed door of Kagome's bedroom. "What is it?" The ouji hissed through the wood.
"Wake the Miko. It is time for her training." The youkai Lord's cold voice returned.
"What training at his hour?" Koga barked back.
"My training, wolf. Open this door."
The ouji opened his mouth to reply, but a hand on his arm stopped him. His eyes turned to a now wide awake Miko.
"Don't worry about it, Koga, he always wakes me up at his time." She smiled softly as she opened the door around the ouji. "Hello Sessho-maru." She addressed the youkai Lord. He only stared silently at her. Kagome turned back to her friend. "Please go home, Koga. Your pack needs you to be their leader again."
"But, Kagome—"
"I will be fine." She smiled softly again as her hand rested lightly on the ouji's cheek. "Take Mayoka too, she seems to like you." She added as his hand came to rest over hers.
"I'm not going anywhere." A small voice broke into their conversation. Koga and Kagome turned to the girl in question.
"Mayoka—" The Miko moved forward, reaching for the child.
"No, Kagome-san, I am staying by your side. You saved my life, I owe you that much."
"It's dangerous for you to stay here." The woman knelt in front of the girl, Kagome's hands on Mayoka's shoulders.
"I don't care."
"Mayoka—"
"You can stay with me, Mayoka." Koga cut in. The females turned to the ouji.
"Thank you, Koga, but I want to stay here." The child turned back to look at the Miko.
"Go with Koga, he and his pack will take good care of you." Kagome pressed. Mayoka's mouth opened to argue.
"Enough of this." Sessho-maru's voice stopped all argument. Three sets of eyes turned to the youkai Lord. "Let the child stay, she can help Rin. Now come Miko."
Kagome glanced from Sessho-maru to Koga and then to Mayoka. Her gaze slowly turned back to the ouji. "Koga…" She pulled her friend into a hug. "Thank you."
"You're my woman, I'd do anything for you." They pulled apart, a joking smile on his face. "Send word if you need me."
"I will." She kissed his cheek.
"Now, Miko." Sessho-maru cut in again.
"I'm coming." Kagome moved out of the room. "Be good, Mayoka." She called from down the hall.
"I will, Kagome-san!"
The two youkai stared silently at each other before Sessho-maru turned away to follow Kagome down the hall. Koga's eyes followed the white form until it entered a door on the right.
"Go back to bed, Mayoka." The ouji finally said. The child silently did as told, curling back into the bed Hokori's legs made for her. Koga continued to stare at the dark hallway until he was sure the younger girl was asleep.
He forced his legs to move back to the futon. Kagome would be alright, it was his pack that needed him now. He would leave in the morning, allowing the Miko to move on.
((Across A Land))
"You need work on controlling your Miko powers." Sessho-maru's voice echoed in the darkness.
"I can control my power." Kagome snapped back. She began to build up the energy she knew was hidden in her body. The blue light that outlined her began to lighten the dark room. "What would have like me to do?" She asked as her power roared inside her chest.
"Stop glowing."
"What?" Her eyes widened in surprise. He was instantly in front of her.
"Stop glowing, you give away both your strength and location." His glare reinforced his command. Kagome quickly released her hold on her energy, the light fading back into darkness. Her breath was the only sound as she pulled in lungfulls of air.
"Sessho-maru?" The woman whispered.
"Start off small. Get familiar with gathering only what power you need. Practice not giving off any light, and slowly your capacity to control the visibility of your aura will grow." The youkai Lord's voice was soft.
Kagome carefully did as told, gathering a small amount of power into her chest. A faint blue halo grew around her, and she quickly released some of the energy.
"Good, now hold it as you fight, be ready to use any of your strengths at any second." Sessho-maru counted to five as the Miko nodded, before jumping forward, starting her physical training.
((Across A Land))
Sango stood in the doorway of her hut silently. The Taijiya's dark eyes stared at her lover as he covered Kagura and Aijou with a blanket as they slept. He quietly got to his feet, turning to look at the Taijiya. "Are you tired?" He asked as he wrapped her in a hug. She returned his embrace, nodding into his shoulder.
"It's been a long day." Sango pulled back slightly. "You go get some sleep, I'll stay here with these two."
"It's alright, I'll take first watch."
"I've already slept today." The Taijiya lied. "Go on, I'll wake you in a few hours, ok?"
"Fine, but only two hours, come get me in two hours." The Houshi pulled her close again. "Are you sure you're alright?" He whispered into her ear."
"Yes, of course." She smiled as she pushed back. "Good night, sleep well." She placed a kiss on his cheek. He grabbed the back of her neck with one hand, pulling her lips to his. Fire instantly erupted in her stomach. She allowed him entrance when he asked.
"Two hours." Miroku panted as they broke apart. Sango only nodded in reply. He kissed her softly again. "Good night, my love."
AN: Ok, please don't kill me for putting Sessho-maru and Rin together! I don't know why they decided that is what they wanted, because in all honesty, Kagome and Sessho-maru were supposed to be together, but then things switched, and the characters decided they didn't want that. I couldn't get the picture of Rin going to talk to Sessho-maru in the middle of the night and them doing (cough) well, you know, out of my head. OK, I do believe I've rambled enough in this chapter, so I will stop now. Please leave me a review, I will even take flames for this chapter… just take it easy on me please…
Always,
Myst