so chapter 12, sweet. Sorry for the long wait-so heh let's get this done, yes?
Disclaimer: i own nothing as per usual. the only thing that belongs to me is my imagination and my own made up characters
Chapter 12: Troubles and Explanations
"Okay so what did we learn?" Kagome asked looking at the two dripping wet children.
"That Jaken's no fun" Shippo murmured under his breath.
"Shippo" the young miko said disapprovingly.
Both the kitsune and girl sighed before answering simultaneously. "We shouldn't play around with the two-headed staff near the pond."
"You shouldn't play with it at all. Now go get yourselves cleaned up, it's almost time for dinner."
Rin and Shippo nodded before following Tsume out of the gardens. Even though the two got in trouble they couldn't help smiling. It was easy swiping the staff from Jaken and their 'keep-away' game was too fun. Until they both slipped into the pond of course, due to the little green demon taking away the staff forcefully.
Kagome sighed and looked at her kimono, more specifically the mud stains on the bottom. She had to pull the two kids out of the pond when they fell in, kneeling at the edge all the while doing so. Shrugging her shoulders she walked back to her room to gather the needed essentials for her bath. Walking alone in the halls, she couldn't help feel the icy chill going down her spine. Someone was watching her, but when she turned around no one was there. Shaking off the feeling she went into her room. Mizuki was there just waking from her nap.
"Hello sweetie." Kagome said softly, picking the pup up into her arms. "Would you like a bath with mommy?"
"Oi, where are you taking us?" Inuyasha asked.
Sesshomaru simply glanced at the hanyou and continued walking. "If you have not realize it by now there is no point in telling you."
Before Inuyasha could make a rude comment Miroku spoke out. "If you don't mind me asking, are we heading back to the Western palace?"
"Yes" was the simple answer. After a while he spoke again. "What you wish to discuss deals with the miko and the pup. It is only wise that she is there when you explain."
The monk nodded and the rest of the journey went on in silence. It didn't take much longer for them to reach the palace, maybe before sunset. Hayate met them at the gate and gave a small bow.
"Any troubles while I was away?" Sesshomaru asked walking by the tori.
"None mi-lord."
"Hn. Where is the miko?"
"Last I saw her she was heading towards her room."
"Go get her and bring her to my study."
Hayate nodded and went off to get Kagome.
When he was gone, the daiyoukai turned to the others and signal for them to follow him.
Kagome sighed as she rested her head at the edge of the hot spring. A girl could get use to this, though she didn't completely enjoy it. She missed travelling with her companions and she felt too pampered at the palace.
The little bundle in her arms twitched in the warm water. She smiled at her daughter and proceeded to wash the little bit of soap from the inu-pup's hair. When she was done, she took them both out of the water and dried off. Wrapping the large towel around her body she dressed the pup first. She placed her in a dark green hakama with a green flower patterned haori.
Putting the young inu on the soft towel, she began to dress herself. It was an simple light blue kimono with white petal patterns. As she was arranging the inner kimono, she once again felt as if she was being watched. This time she didn't feel an icy chill. No, whoever this was had a darker more vile feel. Shivering she turned her head and saw something across the spring, standing in the corner of the room. Blue eyes met dark bleeding red. Kagome took in the appearance of her visitor and her eyes widen in unimaginable terror. The creature was the same from her nightmare and from the event in the library. It took a step forward and she couldn't help but let out a panicked scream.
In an instant, Hayate barge into the room and took in the situation. Kagome was on the ground holding Mizuki, and staring wide-eyed at a dark deformed creature that had no aura, but smelt like death. Acting quickly, he pulled out his sword and flung it across the room, embedding it into the creatures scull. When the body slumped to the ground, he immediately approached the shaking miko.
"Kagome" he called out, touching the young girl's arm- bringing her out of her shock.
Kagome turned and looked into the tori's worried, grey eyes. She held onto the youkai as silent tears stream down her cheeks. "Thank you Hayate-san".
Hayate only nodded as he pick the girl off the floor. He turned when he heard the many footsteps approaching.
"What happened?!" Inuyasha all but demanded as he was the first to rush in. He immediately covered his nose when the strong rotting scent of death reached him. "What the hell is that thing?" he asked taking notice of the corpse in the corner.
Even Sesshomaru had to block his nose from the vile stench as he examined the body. "Hayate take the miko out and have Tsume tend to her. Then I want you to bring her to my study."
"Yes, mi-lord." Hayate bowed and left with the young miko.
"If you don't mind I'll go with her" Sango said, looking to the daiyoukai for a response.
He simple nodded then led the other two out. He would have to get a guard to remove the body from the palace. It puzzled him that such a thing could exist. And the fact it was in his domain angered him greatly.
"What happened?" Tsume asked worriedly as she looked at Kagome's slightly paled face when they entered the room.
"She was almost attacked by this thing" Hayate said placing the girl unto her bed.
"Thing?"
"I don't know what it was but the odor was unbearable."
"It... it was from my nightmare." Kagome said shakily.
"What nightmare?" Sango asked entering the room and sitting next to her friend.
"It's best if the explanation was given on the way to Lord Sesshomaru's study. There are prying ears about it seems." Hayate suggested walking towards the door.
"What do you mean?" Tsume asked.
"It's nothing, forget it." He replied but his mind was elsewhere. Someone from the east section was prying around, he could sense them. "I will wait you outside." He said to Kagome before leaving.
When Hayate was out of the room Tsume took Mizuki out of Kagome's arms and placed her in Sango's. "Come now Kagome I'll help you fix your kimono."
The miko nodded slightly and got up for the demoness. "Oh by the way Tsume this is Sango. Sango meet Tsume." She said silently. The other two females nodded and smiled at each other, though their gaze fell worriedly on their miko friend.
"Are you going to be alright Kagome?" Sango asked.
"Yeah I just need some time that's all," she replied smiling gratefully at Tsume when she finished fixing the kimono. "We better get going I feel like we have a lot to talk about."
"Will you be taking Mizuki with you?" Tsume asked.
Kagome shook her head. "No. Would you mind if you kept her with you and...um, also, Shippo and Rin. I just feel nervous suddenly."
Tsume smiled and nodded understandably. "Yes. I shall entertain the young ones in Rin's room until they are called for dinner."
"Thank you Tsume." With her nerves settled Kagome exited the room with Sango to the waiting tori. As Hayate led them to Sesshomaru's study, Kagome explained her dream and the creature she saw to the taijiya. When she was through, they were in front the door of their destination. Upon entering they could hear Sesshomaru explaining the story of Katsurou to the other two.
"I still don't get what any of this have to do with Kagome." Inuyasha said, crossing his arms in front his chest with a frown.
Hayate sighed and closed the door behind them once they were inside. "I may know why. If I may" he said looking at Sesshomaru. The daiyoukai nodded for him to continue. "According to history Katsurou was sealed by monks and priests. The only way for him to be free was if someone pure would undo the sealing."
"But if a person is pure then they would never release something evil." Sango said.
"That's not really the point," Miroku interrupted, his mind deep in thought. "Kagome is a priestess, by nature she is pure."
"But Kagome would never-"
"There are many ways to break a seal." Miroku added, his words holding an ominous feeling.
"So then the creatures that I keep seeing-" Kagome said.
"I believe they think you're the one they need. No doubt in my mind they are evil spirits taken solid form."
"But in my dreams they never get me. It was Mizuki Katsurou had taken."
"Well she's still a pup." Hayate said his voice becoming serious. "As a pup she's still innocent and untainted by the evil and horrors of the world. In other words-"
"She can also be used to undo the seal." Sesshomaru said his eyes flashing momentarily. This was getting more troublesome by the day.
"But as long as she stays here they won't get her right?" Kagome asked silently, her voice breaking at the end.
"I don't know about that" Inuyasha said solemnly. "We ran into someone that might pose a problem."
"Who?"
"Meichiko."
'The witch that served Katsurou! She is still alive.' Kagome thought. Her crestfallen face was noticed by all within the room.
"Hn. That's enough for tonight." Sesshomaru said getting up from his seat. "We will discuss what actions to take tomorrow."
"What do we do now?" Inuyasha asked.
"For now we head for the dinning hall. Dinner should be served soon. Afterwards I'll have some servants escort you to rooms for the night."
"You're going to let us stay the night?" the hanyou asked a bit skeptical by his brother's proposal.
"Would you have preferred sleeping outside? You should be grateful for my hospitality." the daiyoukai said heading out the room. The rest of them accepted the kind gesture and followed behind.
"Lord Sesshomaru there is something else that I must tell you" Hayate said quietly.
"I already know of the snoops from the east Hayate. Just be sure to never let the miko roam about on her own."
"Of course" Hayate replied following the group to the dinning hall.
Meichiko was in awe. The spirits of her master Katsurou's servants were physically alive. The old witch had hidden herself in the shadows of the palace walls, hidden from the view of even the daiyoukai. At first she wanted to see the infamous miko of the Shikon but now she was too mesmerized by the body in the bathing chamber. 'This further proves the return of my master. Hehehe the world will be his to conquer.'
She grinned in thought as she followed the daiyoukai, hanyou and monk away from the area. Unfortunately she could not risk following them any further to the study. With a scowl she lingered in the shadows when two figures caught her attention. They were two youkai's sneaking out to the east part of the palace. Intrigued she decided to follow them until they stopped in front another.
"It's no use. She is with Hayate and a demon slayer." The bear youkai said to the snake.
"A demon slayer?" the snake hissed in anger.
"Yes. Also it seems that Lord Sesshomaru has allowed his half-breed brother and a monk within the palace walls."
This made the snake even more angry. "Disgrace our race with humans and half-breed scum?! It seems our lord is becoming weak."
"Weak he might seem but I won't go against him." the boar said.
"We won't have to. We must get rid of the miko without him or that bird knowing."
Meichiko smiled dangerously. Seems there was treachery in this safe haven. These three could be of much use to her.
I am so sorry for not updating for months. Ugh! I always hated when a story is good but the author never updates at a reasonable time-and Now I'm doing it! Well hopefully this makes up for it. and since it's summer vacation for me you can expect Chapter 13 to be updated quicker...like a week (give or take a few days) please review :)