Chapter 5
Three Years Later
Kagome chuckled, pressing her forehead against the stallions. Alastar, her trusty steed. He playfully batted his muzzle against her, stomping his front hoof against the ground and kicking up dirt. The spoiled horse that he was, he was demanding more attention. It didn't matter that she already had her hands tangled in his thick white mane. He didn't care that she had been rubbing his neck and kissing the white fur between his white eyes. He was spoiled. He would want more no matter what she gave him. However, she wouldn't change a thing.
He was huge, just over seven feet tall, starting from his head all the way to his front hooves. They called him a Gypsy Vanner crossed with Appaloosa. She didn't know much about horse breeds, but she didn't really care. He was gorgeous, dappled silver on dark grey with splashes of pure white. His mane was long and flowing, falling past his shoulder. She spent time caring for it daily. The same went for his tail, which just dragged on the ground. She hasn't seen a horse that was anywhere as beautiful as he was. She may be biased, but he didn't care as long as he still got attention.
He was feisty and playful. She learned quickly that she was going to keep him. A lord had gifted both him and Calthal to her and Miroku. They had been overseas on one of their many adventures when they had saved a lord's estate from being destroyed. As a thanks, Kagome and Miroku received the lord's most prized horses. Kagome was only too happy to take Alastar from the man's hands.
Within a few years, she had decided she wasn't going to be able to let Alastar go. So, she gave him her reiki, enough to extend his lifespan to match hers. He was still the same mortal horse he had been a hundred years ago. The only side effect that she hadn't expected was Alastar having a deeper consciousness than any other horse that wasn't demonic. He could understand emotions and complex instructions. He knew things, saw things that others didn't. He wasn't just any normal horse. He was smart, thought for himself. He was strange compared to others, and she loved him even more because of it. For a hundred years he had been loyal to her, and she hoped he wouldn't go anywhere any time soon. He was her best friend.
"You're perfect, you know that?" She smiled, running her small hands over his thick neck. He was an entire two feet taller than her, but that put her at the perfect height to wrap her arms around his neck and hug him. Something that was a favorite of his.
His back foot stomped on the ground, tail flicking. Ears going back, he was her alert system. He could sense things before she did. He wasn't agitated or threatened, just curious, but it wasn't about her. Because of that, she knew something was coming, but it wasn't dangerous.
Turning towards the only entrance to the meadow she visited often, she waited. The breeze blew around her, carrying the scent of the forest. Thick trees kept her meadow hidden from the world. The grass was thick on the ground and a perfect lush green. Any time she had the chance to, she was stopping in her meadow to relax. This was her home. She, Miroku, and Sango spent their time traveling, sometimes separating to go their own way before meeting up somewhere else. Somehow, she always found herself back in this meadow. She had spent days there before.
The sound of a nicker caught Kagome's attention, and she raised a brow. Alastar's head was over her shoulder, just as curious as she was. Slowly, almost hesitantly, another horse stepped into the meadow with them. It was a beauty. Black in color with a striking bright blue electric pattern running over her neck and down her back. Her eyes were a matching blue, and just as piercing. She was demonic.
"Hello." Kagome held out a hand in a peaceful offering, and the horse trotted forward, not stopping until her muzzle was in reach of Kagome's hand. Scratching between the horse's eyes, Kagome smiled, noting how soft her fur was. Curious, Kagome ran her fingers through the light blue hair on the horse. As old as Kagome was, she could count on one hand the amount of times she came across a demonic horse. Not once had she been able to touch one. They were rare, almost extinct.
"You're beautiful." Kagome murmured. She felt a nudge at her shoulder, bringing a smirk to her lips as Alastar headbutted her in jealousy. Reaching back, she turned so she could scratch beneath their jaws. Their tails flicked in happiness, their heads hanging as much as they dared without losing her touch. Kagome looked at the female, seeing a leather band hanging around her neck, a gold medallion dangling from the front. Picking it up, Kagome recognized the West emblem. "Ahh. You're a royal horse. That's why you are so spoiled. Are you Touga's? Izayoi's?"
"She's mine." Another voice had Kagome jumping, eyes wide as she looked up to the sky. Sesshomaru was floating in the sky on a soft looking cloud, eyes narrowed as his gaze was glued to Kagome's hand, the one that was currently touching his horse.
"Well. At least you take care of her." Kagome murmured, giving the horse one last pat. If the horse wasn't so healthy, Kagome would wonder if Sesshomaru took care of her properly. Perhaps the stable hands cared for the female. It could explain how someone like Sesshomaru had such a kind horse like the one nudging at Kagome's limp hand. "What is her name?"
"None of your concern. Why are you here?" Landing on the ground, Sesshomaru snapped his fingers softly. The female horse nickered, trotting over to him and brushing her muzzle against his hand. He didn't reach up to pet her.
"I come here often." Kagome shrugged her shoulders, her good mood ruined. For years she had been going to see InuYasha every three months. She had grown close to Touga, Izayoi, and their little son. She did run into Sesshomaru often, but other than insults sent her way and scathing glares, they hadn't had much interaction. This was the most they had talked in three years, and it wasn't going well. "I find this place relaxing. It's peaceful here, you know?" She was trying to be civil with him, even if she thought it wouldn't work. "I can spend days here and not even realize how much time has passed."
"I see. You favor this place?" Looking around with a scowl on his lips, he scoffed. "Perhaps then, I should destroy it. A flick of my wrist, and my poison would eat away any foliage you see. What you cherish would be gone, dead."
Kagome swallowed, then looked down towards the ground. That statement alone told her more about the male standing across from her than anything else did. With a tired sigh, she turned to Alastar, patting his upper leg. He knelt down on his front knees, and she climbed onto his back. He was too tall to climb normally, and when they weren't at war, she rode him bareback. When he stood back to his full height, she steered him to face Sesshomaru. "The fact that you are willing to destroy something so innocent and pure just to spite me speaks on your character more than anything else you have ever done. Your hatred is leading you down a path you may not be able to come back from." Turning from Sesshomaru, she began to trot away. "Don't forget, Sesshomaru, all things living are connected. If you destroy this meadow, you hurt others, and potentially yourself. There are no actions without consequences." She didn't look back as she left, but she felt his eyes on her until she turned Alastar out of the grove and left his sight.
…
Kagome appeared in the courtyard of the Western shiro. As soon as she did, InuYasha ran into her arms, giggling in glee. She spun him around, holding him out and laughing right along with him. He was three now in human years and growing as strong as ever. There had been no more complications, much to Izayoi and Touga's relief.
"Dear Kagome." Touga drawled, pulling both of them into a hug. They both squeaked as he lifted them from the ground, felt his chuckle before he set Kagome to her feet. "How have you been?"
"Good. I just left from Miroku and Sango. They are going south for a bit. I'm going to meet them a few days from now." Setting InuYasha to his feet, Kagome knelt to his level. "That means you have my attention for four full days. What are we going to do first?"
"Alastar!" InuYasha yelled, and Kagome patted his head. "I let Alastar go for a run. He will be here later tonight. I'll let you ride him then. Until then, how about we find something else to do?"
"Kagome, before you play with InuYasha, can I ask a favor of you? Izayoi is sick. We believe it is a cold, but it is happening more often." Touga's eyes flashed with a tortured acceptance, and Kagome straightened, tense. Touga confirmed her fears. "She is aging, and the bouts of sickness are coming more frequently. She is only in her thirties, but her family genetics…" Touga trailed off, unable to say anymore.
"Take me to her." Kagome motioned for InuYasha to run off with his nanny, and he did, dragging the other woman off to the gardens. Together and in heavy silence, Kagome and Touga made their way to his rooms.
Kagome entered first, seeing Izayoi laying in bed, breathing heavily. She was wheezing, breath heavy and painful. This was more than a cold. It was a disease. Gently Kagome sat on the bed, grabbing Izayoi's hand. She knew what she needed to do in that moment, and she mentally prepared herself for it.
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes. Inside of her she could feel the enormous ball of energy. It was condensed down, locked away to fit inside of her. It was her reiki. Grabbing a hold of it, she grabbed a piece, twisting it until she tore the chunk from herself. She cried out in agony, tears springing to her eyes and falling from behind closed eyelids. She felt a hand on her shoulder, heard Touga's worried voice, but she ignored him.
Gritting her teeth through the pain, she pushed her reiki through her palm, and into Izayoi's. There it settled, spreading through her body to seep into every fiber of Izayoi's being. Immediately, Izayoi's health cleared up, her breathing returning to normal. Kagome let go of Izayoi, standing to her feet as her stomach lurched. She barely had time to make it to the bin in the corner of the room before she was vomiting her lunch from earlier.
"Kagome?" Izayoi's voice was soft and soothing, her hands holding back Kagome's hair. When Kagome fell to her side, panting in agony and exhaustion, she could see both Touga and Izayoi looking down at her in worried confusion.
"What did you do, Kagome?" Touga placed a large hand under the nap of Kagome's neck, lifting her head from the floor. Kagome smiled at Izayoi, a dribble of blood running from Kagome's nose.
"I'll be okay by tomorrow." Her voice was weak, vision blurring as it darkened around the edges. "I gave Izayoi a piece of my reiki. She won't age or die from disease." She saw Touga and Izayoi share a look of shocked awe before relief flooded their faces. She would forever remain the thirty-six year old woman that she was now.
"Kagome." Izayoi let out a sob, grabbing a cloth and cleaning Kagome's face of the blood and tears. "You have done so much for us. We can never repay you for everything you have done."
"I don't expect anything in return." Kagome whispered, body going limp as she felt her consciousness fading quickly.
"You have taken care of us many times, Kagome. Let us take care of you now. It is the least we can do." Touga gently lifted Kagome from the floor, holding her to his chest. "You rest now, Kagome. We will keep you safe and comfortable. Tomorrow, we will find another way to thank you properly." Touga watched as her eyes slipped shut, a tender smile on his face. Izayoi stood by his side, her hand brushing Kagome's bangs out of her face. "Our dear daughter, we will always keep you safe. You need only but to ask."
...
So, Sesshomaru seemed cold to Nakoa in this chapter, but he's not. He adores her, but he didn't want to show that side of himself in front of Kagome. Also, there is about three or four more chapters before Sesshomaru's pulls his head out of his ass, and yes, things are going to get worse. Just bare with me. As always, Thank you to Didithereaper for editing. And thank you to my readers, your reviews keep me going, even when I'm exhausted. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.
