It has now been five days since the encounter with Tanuki and Kagura. There was still no sign of Naraku and I only had a week left to free Kagura. This is taking to long. By the time I find his castle, Kagura will be gone. I sighed.
I leaned back on the tree and closed my eyes. Jaken was running around trying to catch Rin. It was amazing how much energy she still had despite the fact that we have been traveling for five days. I had to admit, she was pretty strong for a human child. I shook my head.
I decided to go for a walk. Rin and Jaken were beginning to give me a headache anyway. I stood up and walked near Jaken. " I'll be back. Watch Rin while I'm gone."
I turned away into the forest.
I was walking for about 10 minutes when I began to hear humming. I followed the noise and it led me to a lake with three ducks swimming in it. I also saw the Wind Sorceress sitting beside the lake with a piece of bread on her left side and a tray of paints on her right. She picked up the bread, broke off a piece and threw it to the ducks in the water. Then she grabbed the paintbrush and made a black line onto the paper in her lap.
I walked near her. " Kagura, what are you doing here?"
She looked back at me, both started and surprised to see me. I guess she wasn't expecting to see me. " Sesshoumaru, I-I'm here because Naraku didn't suspect what I was up to last night and let me out for two hours. I came here to relax. I'm so stressed out I thought I should use the time to calm down a little bit."
" Your painting"
" Yeah. It's a hobby. Do you want to see it?"
" If you wish me to see it."
Kagura's POV
I hand him the picture. He scanned it with his eyes. " It's not much."
" It's amazing. You have a wonderful talent. So your not as worthless as you let yourself seem."
My eyes widened. Ok. Did Sesshoumaru just compliment me? He thinks I'm not worthless. Something seems so different about him. I wonder why he's being so nice to me all of a sudden. " Thank you. No ones ever complimented me before."
" Is that why you're so unconfident with yourself?"
I nodded slowly. I looked down at the grassy floor. " Maybe, if somebody, anybody, had given me just a little bit of encouragement through out my horrible excuse for a life, I wouldn't look at myself as worthless. I know that nobody's life is perfect, but….nothing is as bad as being forced to be a slave." Damn it. I was crying again. In front of Sesshoumaru. No wonder why he thinks I'm weak. I'm always crying in front of him.
I felt a hand on my face. I lifted my eyes from the ground to his face. He wiped the tear rolling down my cheek. " Your not worthless Kagura. So stop saying that you are. You hide yourself from the rest of the world and that's why you never get the encouragement that you desire."
" I can't go to any one else. You and Rin are the only ones who trust me. Not even that frog thing that follows you trusts me. I would be alone if it wasn't for you, so I owe you for that." I smiled. It was something I rarely did, but Sesshoumaru could be the exception. I feel free when I'm with him. Free and happy.
" Kagura, do you want to go see Rin?"
" No. I don't have time. Here, give her the painting for me."
" You don't want it?"
" Heh. I lied about you and Rin being the only people that trust me. Sometimes I would go to a village and paint pictures for the children of the village. They love it and I enjoy it. They are so lucky and it makes me wish I could be free just like them. Always smiling and always happy. Running free like nothing will ever happen. I can't live like that though. I'm living in hell with Naraku. Give that to Rin. I'm sure she'll like it."
" Alright. Be careful, Kagura. I'll free you soon enough."
I smiled and hopped onto my feather. " Remember what I told you when I stood at your castle that one night. About Naraku. Take care Sesshoumaru. I hope to see you soon. Say hi to Rin for me."
With all that done, I flew away back to Naraku's castle.
Sesshoumaru's POV
I have got to stop acting that way around her. She's starting to break me. I can't allow that to happen. It happened once when I decided to care for that human child, but I can't allow it to happen twice with Kagura.
I looked down at Kagura's painting. She really did have an extraordinary talent. It's to bad she didn't have anyone to share it with. Of course she has the village children, but I'm sure their parents don't want them hanging around a demon. Especially one that is associated with a demon like Naraku. Kagura didn't have a good life, but I don't think that should make her give up that easily. That should make her stronger. It worked for me. I guess we really are different.
I walked back to camp. Rin and Jaken were still playing tag. Rin was the first to notice that I was back. " Hello, Sesshoumaru-sama. Watch ya got there?"
I assumed she was talking about Kagura's painting. I handed it to her. " oooo it's so pretty. Where did you get it?"
" Kagura painted it for you."
" Really? You saw her? Is she still here? Or did Naraku make her leave again?"
" She left. She's says hi though."
" I wish I could thank her. It really is pretty. We'll see her again and then I'll thank her." Rin said happily. She was so sure that Kagura would live. I gave my word to Kagura and I plan to keep it. She will be free and I will help her.
It was getting dark and Jaken and Rin were cooking fish over the fire. Rin had the painting in her lap and was admiring it. " Sesshoumaru-sama, when Kagura is free, where will she stay?"
Rin had a point. I don't even thing Kagura knew what she planned to do after she was freed. " I don't know. I guess she will do as she wishes."
The fish was finally done cooking. Rin and Jaken were eating and I stared up at the moon. I wonder what my half-brother is doing. I haven't seen him in awhile. Maybe when I get to Naraku's castle I'll see him. Kagura did say something about me and him working together to kill Naraku. She also mentioned Tenseiga and Tetsusaiga working together to destroy Naraku's heart. I should listen to her, but how would I get Inuyasha to help me?. This is going to be harder than I thought.
7 days left
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Author's note:
YAY! Another chapter. I'm so happy. And now for the sad news. I'm going away for Spring break and won't be able to update. I promise when I come back, I will update like crazy. Well if any fans of my fanfic live in North Carolina, I will be seeing you around. Until then, Sayonara. Gomen, that you have to wait so long for my fanfic.
Next time in Destiny Meets Death:
Two days pass and Sesshoumaru encounters Kagura again. She tells him that it's ok if he doesn't find Naraku's castle in time and that she's glad that he's trying for her. Sesshoumaru begins to feel sorry for her and decides to stay and talk with her for a while. They begin pouring out secrets that no one else knows about them. With all this confessing lead to love? Or will something interrupt them? Find out next time in Chapter 7: One night with Sesshoumaru.
Dragongoth