Sango: the author wishes to apologize for the late update.
A1969: yeah, Writer's Block just attacked, now I know what that feels like.
Miroku: do you want to know what I feel like-?
Sango: -hits him on the head- you pervert!
A1969: er…let them resolve their issues, anyway, I don't own the show! And I wanna thank all those who reviewed! Your reviews just gave me inspiration. Oh, and I apologize for using "Adolfa Hitler" won't happen again. And as I've re-read this story, there seems to be slight confusion about what sword Sesshoumaru uses, yes, yes, careless, I know. Forgive me, but form now on, Sesshoumaru uses Bakusaiga and Tenseiga, no more Tokijin, Tokijin is cheap.
Chapter Nine: An Explanation and a Demoness
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Naraku slammed Hakudoshi to the wall using one of his tentacles. Kagura, who thought that Hakudoshi was an eternal pest, could do nothing but look smug despite the fact that they were conspiring against Naraku together.
"You fool, Hakudoshi," Naraku snarled through gritted teeth. "You told me Midoriko's reincarnation was dead!"
"I didn't know…that…Sesshoumaru…tended to her…to her injuries!" Hakudoshi gasped as Naraku's tentacle wrapped itself slowly around his throat. Naraku squeezed and took savage pleasure in watching Hakudoshi struggle for the smallest breath. Satisfied that he made an impression upon his incarnate, he let go of the boy who fell to the floor, panting and clutching his throat.
He turned to Kagura. "Tell me what you saw during your battle with Clara," he said. He had asked Kagura to tell her about Midoriko suddenly appearing and that annoyed Kagura since she had to tell the story for what? Five, ten times?
"I told you," Kagura said with a slight tint of annoyance in her voice. "Midoriko just appeared out of thin air. One moment, it was that brat Clara and then the next thing I know, Midoriko's glaring up at me as if she wanted to kill me…she probably wanted to, of course."
Naraku returned to his corner to brood and skulk. His thoughts strayed to the priestess Clara. How could he kill Midoriko's reincarnation? He summoned Kanna and, feeling bored and in the need for more information as to his enemy's weaknesses, he looked into her mirror.
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Clara climbed out of the well with a bit of difficulty. She sighed as she waited for Kagome. While she did, she went to the door of well shrine and slid it open. Her eyes adjusted to the brightness and she looked around at the Higurashi shrine. The modern day smell immediately filled her senses and it was then that she realized that she preferred the fresh, forest smell of Feudal Japan.
"Oomph!" Kagome tossed her backpack over the well with much difficulty. It was heavy.
"Let me help you with that," Clara said as she hoisted Kagome to her feet.
"Thanks," the miko said with a sigh as she shrugged her backpack over her shoulders. "Anyway, you nervous?"
"Yeah," Clara said as they stepped out of the well shrine. "I mean…I've been gone for nearly a month and I don't know what my mother will say…whether or not, she will believe me…you know how she is." Clara nervously fingered the half of the Shikon no Tama at her neck and sighed. She had been thinking about what she should say to her mother, what reason she would give. She decided that she would tell her the truth.
Kagome knocked nervously on the door. A few voices could be heard from within, a muffled scuffle about who would answer the door. The door slid slowly open to reveal Souta. The moment he saw who was with Kagome, his eyes widened in shock and relief.
"Mom!" he called out behind him. "Nee-chan's back and guess who's with her!"
"What's all the noise about, Souta?" Mrs. Higurashi came out of the kitchen smelling of sushi and steak. "What's…oh!" When she saw who was with Kagome, a shocked look came into her eyes. "You're Clara Rose, aren't you?"
Clara nodded, not knowing what was going on.
"You're mother and the police were looking for you," Mrs. Higurashi said as she made way for Kagome and Clara. "They came here because someone said that they saw you here before you disappeared…The police came looking and when they couldn't find any evidence of foul play, you're mother left her number and told me to call her should something turn up…" She gave Clara a meaningful look. "You know, she was heart broken to learn that you had vanished…I would be too if Kagome had disappeared speaking of which"-she gave Clara a 'look'-"judging by your clothes…you've been in the Feudal Era, haven't you?"
Clara looked down at the miko garb she wore and nodded sheepishly at Mrs. Higurashi. "Kagome…you and your friend have some lunch while I call her mother."
Kagome and Clara sat down at the kitchen table. "You're mom's nice," the young woman commented. "I wish my mom were as nice as yours."
"You heard my mom," Kagome said as she helped herself to some rice. "She said your mom was heartbroken."
Clara was silent, not even touching the steak and sushi that Kagome had placed before her. She sighed. Her mother missed her? That was a first. So you're only concerned when I'm missing, huh? You aren't concerned when I'm sick…aren't concerned when I cry…but you're concerned when I'm missing? What a great mom you are..
"I just came off the phone with your mother," Mrs. Higurashi came into the kitchen followed by Souta and Grandpa.
Clara was silent.
"So this is the one the police have been hunting down," Grandpa said. "The Feudal Era, hm? Seems a lot of people are connected to it." His eyes widened. "Come Souta! Let us trace back our family tree and see if we have any connections to it as well!" With that, the old man dragged Souta from the table just as he was about to swallow a piece of steak.
Mrs. Higurashi turned her attention to Clara and Kagome. Clara was sipping a glass of iced tea, her pinky sticking out, a sign of class. "You know, your mother wanted everything hushed up," Mrs. Higurashi said softly.
Clara gave her a puzzled look. "Hushed up?"
"Yes," Mrs. Higurashi confirmed. "You're mother didn't want the police hunt to be made public. She took all sorts of measures to keep it quiet."
Clara stared moodily at her bowl. "She doesn't want her image ruined…it would for her stupid company." She pushed her bowl away and kindly refused to eat another bite.
A soft knock was suddenly heard at the door.
Clara tensed, rightfully guessing who was knocking. "I think you and your mother can talk here in the kitchen," Mrs. Higurashi offered. "Come Kagome."
"No!" Clara said, holding on to Kagome for dear life. "I'd rather Kagome was here with me…she can help me explain where I've been."
Mrs. Higurashi nodded then bustled off to invite their guest in. Clara listened attentively. She and Kagome could hear voices talking, both female. Clara was chewing her lower lip, a habit she had developed when she was nervous.
The door to the kitchen slid open and a woman accompanied Mrs. Higurashi inside. Kagome's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Clara's mother was beautiful. Her features indicated that she had once been a model. Her daughter seemed to have inherited her beauty, height and demeanor. Unlike Clara, however, Mrs. Rose had a head filled with golden locks and her eyes were-at the moment-filled with anger and relief.
It seemed that Alexis Rose was holding off her anger due to the fact that the Higurashis were present. "Clara," she said with unfeigned relief, anger hiding just beneath the surface. "I was worried about you! Where have you been, young lady? Didn't you know how worried I was?" This time, there was anger in her voice.
Clara stood up. "Mom…I can explain," she said hurriedly. Her mother gave her a stern look then glanced at Kagome.
"Explain then."
"I think you should take a seat, Mrs. Rose," Mrs. Higurashi said. "I think that this is going to be a long explanation."
Alexis gave Mrs. Higurashi a look. "You know something about this?" she asked.
"A little," she admitted as Mrs. Rose sat down and looked at her daughter.
"Very well, then Clara, explain."
Clara glanced at Kagome as though for support. Kagome nodded. "Well," Clara began. "A few weeks ago, I heard that Kagome was sick. I wanted to visit her so that's what I did." She looked at her mother but Alexis only tilted her head slightly to one side, an indication that she should go on. "Well…When I visited, Kagome's grandpa said that she was…possessed by demons." Alexis's eyebrows shut up. She was about to open her mouth to say something but Clara beat her to it.
"Please let me finish," Clara implored. "What you're going to hear might sound crazy and downright outrageous but it's going to be the truth."
Alexis narrowed her eyes slightly and Kagome could feel tension rise between mother and daughter. "Anyway," Clara went on, "I was about to leave when I saw this guy waving at me from the well shrine. I approached him and"-she glanced at Kagome to see whether or not she should tell about the Feudal Era to which the miko gave a small nod-"he told me that Kagome was…in Feudal Japan."
Alexis's eyes widened in surprise. "What!" she said. "Feudal Era? Sengoku Jidai? That's-"
"Mom," Clara implored. "Please…don't interrupt."
Alexis pursed her lips and said no more but allowed her child to continue. "The Feudal Era," Clara repeated slowly. "Well…it was then that he told me to go into the well…which I did. When I came out…I was surprised to find that I was no longer in modern day Japan…but in Feudal Japan." She paused for a moment as if struggling to remember what had happened. "Well…I got lost…and I ran into a little girl named Rin. She told me that I was dressed like Kagome…I asked her if she knew where Kagome was and she said no. I turned to leave just then, I heard her scream."
Clara closed her eyes, knowing that her mother wouldn't believe what she was about to say next. "I ran back to help her and saw that she was surrounded by…demons."
Alexis's eyes widened. "What-!"
"Mom," Clara said heavily, through gritted teeth. "Let-me-finish."
Alexis scowled but said no more. "Anyway," Clara continued. Kagome leaned in to hear her better. She had never heard about Clara's saving Rin. "When I ran up to her, the demons scattered. When they did, the little girl looked behind me and called out to…another demon…his name's Sesshoumaru and he doesn't look like the other demons I scared off. He looked human with silver hair, golden eyes and…" Clara's cheeks went a slight tinge of pink as she realized that a rather dreamy tone had come to her voice. She cleared her voice and Kagome noticed her discomfort.
"Anyway, after he arrived, Inuyasha and Kagome came," she said. "Inuyasha is a half-demon; half-human. When they arrived, Sesshoumaru left. It was then that Inuyasha and Kagome told me that I'm Midoriko's reincarnation."
"Who?"
"Midoriko was a powerful priestess…she…was so powerful that minor demons fled before her, which was I managed to scare off the demons earlier," she said calmly. "Then a priestess named Kikyou took me away to train me. She said that she had to train because we had a common enemy…a demon named Naraku…Kikyou was feared by Naraku but now that she's dying, they had to look for Midoriko's reincarnation…me."
Clara finished and looked at her mother who was looking at her with a blank expression on her face. There was a look in her eyes that reminded Clara of the look Sesshoumaru had once given her. Alexis stood up. "We are going home this instant, young lady, and you are seeing a doctor," she said.
"Mom!" Clara said angrily. "Don't you believe me?"
"No, I don't," Alexis said bluntly. "Your story is…crazy, you have clearly addled your brains somewhere. Lucky for you, I have called off the police hunt, now come home with me this instant."
Clara rose to resist but her mother grabbed her wrist and her hold was about as hard to break as iron. Kagome stood up but her own mother gave her a look. "Come, Clara, you're seeing a doctor…now," with that, Alexis Rose dragged her daughter off despite Clara's loud protests.
When they had left, Kagome looked at her mother with dismay. "I pity Clara," she said.
Mrs. Higgurashi nodded. "Yes…they don't seem to get along well with her mother."
Kagome walked up to her mother and hugged her. "I'm just lucky that you and I get along, though," she said.
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"Master Jaken, will you play with me?" Rin asked innocently and with a touch of sweetness hoping that these elements combined would persuade the reluctant toad. She was walking beside Ah-Un was utterly bored.
"No." The elements didn't work.
Rin pouted. "Please?"
"No!"
"You're no fun at all! I wish Lady Clara was back…at least she listens to me," Rin said indignantly.
Jaken scoffed and rolled his big eyes. A few feet ahead of them, Sesshoumaru couldn't help but overhear their conversation which, secretly, amused him. True, ever since the priestess had left, Rin had been even more restless and-there was no other word for it-pesky. She had even asked him, the great Sesshoumaru, if he would be so kind as to tell her a story! He had been on the verge of denying her request when Jaken had saved him and said that Lord Sesshoumaru didn't have time for stories.
He stopped in his tracks.
A scent reached his nose.
The scent was in front of them.
Behind them, Jaken and Rin stopped in their tracks as well. Jaken, of course, nearly bumped into him. He ignored Jaken and focused his attention on the woman before him. She had golden brown hair that was tied into a tight ponytail on her head. Her skin was the color of ivory-pale and flawless. Her eyes were green flecked with silver and there were two black stripes on her neck that contrasted perfectly against her pale skin. She wore a blue kimono with flared sleeves that reached up to her knees. The sleeves of her kimono were decorated with silver leaves and a dagger was strapped to her forearm.
Sesshoumaru knew her. "Riyara," he said quietly, giving the female demoness a glare.
She chuckled at him, a malicious glint in her eyes. "Lord Sesshoumaru," she said with mock respect. "What a long time it has been, has it not?"
Sesshoumaru looked dangerously at Riyara. She was Menomaru's younger sister who had-on many an occasion-tried to kill him in revenge for what his brother and her father had done to her family but, of course, she was weaker than Menomaru and she-when Sesshoumaru was about to kill her-hastily fled for her life.
"Who are you, you whelp?" Jaken screeched, defending his lord's honor.
Riyara chuckled as if she had just seen something amusing. "What's this? A toad and…a human?" She raised her perfectly shaped eyebrows at him. "I expected the reincarnation of Midoriko to be a young woman…not a little girl."
Sesshoumaru looked at her. "Midoriko's reincarnation?"
"Oh don't play dumb with me," she said with a smirk. "I'm here seeking out the girl rumored to be that terrible priestess's reincarnation…of course there is only one reason why I wish to seek her out."
"You, like so many other worthless demons, are seeking out the Shikon Jewel which she has," Sesshoumaru said.
"Tut, tut, tut," she said with a shake of the head. "Sesshoumaru, Sesshoumaru, you think me worthless? That…hurts." She placed a mock sad look on her face.
"Master Jaken," Rin said, whispering to Jaken. "Is just me…or…is she…strange?"
"Those who know that they're about to die by Lord Sesshoumaru's hand always act strange!" Jaken declared, thus silencing Rin.
Riyara's eyes scanned the entire group and she only saw how all too clearly how the demon lord before her silently placed a hand on the hilt of his sword, Bakusaiga. She smiled. Amused. "So, will tell me where Midoriko's reincarnation is? Or…do I have to look for her myself?" she asked, placing a hand on her hip.
"What is your true purpose in seeking her out?" Sesshoumaru asked.
Riyara pretended to think. "It's a secret, I'm afraid."
"Hn." Sesshoumaru glanced at Jaken. "Leave."
"Y-yes, milord!" Jaken hastily mounted Ah-Un and together with Rin, they sped off. Rin glanced worriedly at her adopted father. He only sent her away when there was any real danger around. Jaken too looked back at his lord. When Sesshoumaru told them to "leave" they usually took refuge either in the Western Lands or with Sesshoumaru's mother. But the former was too far away and the latter was nearer so they usually ended up going to Sesshoumaru's mother, Hayomi.
"Touching," Riyara said. "You don't want the little girl to get hurt, how…like your father."
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at her then, without warning, he charged towards her, drawing out Bakusaiga as he did so. Riyara was quick to act. She hurriedly took out her dagger just as Sesshoumaru brought his own sword down at her. Their weapons clashed, causing sparks to fly. Riyara pulled away, jumped into the air and sent a blast of violet energy at the demon lord, who jumped back to avoid the attack.
"I see you've improved," Sesshoumaru said.
"I see you haven't," Riyara countered. She sent another blast of energy at him and this time, it was in the form of needles that rained down on him. Sesshoumaru sent a dragon strike at her which dispelled her attack and knocked her backwards. She landed on her feet, graceful as a cat, despite the fact that she was, like her dead brother, a moth.
"Scratch that," the demoness said. "You have improved."
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at her. "You are weak," he said quietly. "You attack me as though you were still a child."
Riyara narrowed her eyes at him. "A child…huh?"
She held out her dagger and pointed it at him. It pulsed with energy and then lightning erupted from the tip of the dagger and quickly enveloped Sesshoumaru in a dangerous spiral. Riyara smirked, thinking him dead. "I am no child, Sesshoumaru," she said under her breath.
Her eyes widened.
Blue light erupted from the column of lightning. Her attack was dispelled and the lightning vanished to reveal Sesshoumaru staring coldly at her. "Fool." He put Bakusaiga away and drew out Tenseiga. "Meidou Zangetsuha!" Riyara's eyes widened as Sesshoumaru cut open a pathway to hell. So this was Sesshoumaru's dangerous attack-the one that his father, Lord Inutaisho, had stolen from Shishinki all those years ago.
Not wanting to be sucked into hell, Riyara quickly fled just as Sesshoumaru sent another imperfect Meidou at her-imperfect but deadly.
Damn, Riyara thought as she heard Sesshoumaru chase after her. It looks like that mutt has no intention of letting me live this time!
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Kagome gingerly climbed out of the well and sighed-a long suffering sigh. Clara was not with her. How on earth was she going to explain to Kikyou that Alexis had snatched her child away? Kagome looked around the clearing. There was no Inuyasha waiting grumpily for her. No muttered complaints about her being too long, no inquiries about Ramen, no growls and swears that he'd never let her go back to her time again.
She knew that Inuyasha was off somewhere with Kikyou. It makes sense, Kagome thought with a sigh as she continued to sit at the edge of the well. He'd want to spend every moment with her now that she's…
Kagome let her train of thought go unfinished. Kikyou dying was something she could not digest. She found that she, too, was saddened about the prospect of loosing Kikyou. A long time ago, she would have been-she cursed herself-glad that she would be out of the way but now, no. She didn't like it. She also felt partly responsible for not being able to help Kikyou.
Sighing, she trekked out of the clearing and into Kaede's village.
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Riyara continued to run without so much as a backward glance. Sesshoumaru was still following her, running, catching up. She suddenly stopped and swept up a cloud of dust into the air.
Sesshoumaru stopped in his tracks. He wasn't expecting such a dirty trick from Riyara, but it had worked. The cloud of dust had distracted him, earning Riyara a few seconds head start which, in demon terms, was a few minutes ahead.
Satisfied that she had distracted her opponent, Riyara continued to run. She jumped over a few trees in hopes of getting away from him. Her hearing, however, told her otherwise. Faster. The word brushed against her mind and sent her running even more. Usually, when she tried to kill him in the past, Sesshoumaru just always let her go; reminding her that she was at his mercy. This time, it seemed that his mercy had run out. Beyond a wall of trees, she could make out a clearing where a teenage girl was climbing out of a well.
Riyara stopped in her tracks. The girl sat down on the edge of the well and began-by the looks of her-to think. Her gaze strayed to the well. The girl had obviously come out from it, so did that mean that it led somewhere? Just as she was about to send an attack at the girl, the strange girl stood up and left.
Lucky for you, I have no time to spare. Riyara burst through the trees and made a mad dash for the well. She paused, then without hesitating, jumped in.
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Sesshoumaru followed Riyara's scent and soon found himself in a clearing. Riyara was nowhere to be seen. He frowned. He followed Riyara's scent which ended at a well. He looked down. There was nothing at the bottom. Where had she gone? Did she, perhaps, jump into the well then fly off to confuse him? No, she couldn't have done that. If she had, her scent would have been in the air.
His frown deepened as he turned to leave. Oh well, he had other opportunities to kill her. She would be back soon enough.
He stopped in his tracks.
The man known was Takeshi was standing in front of him yet again. He had snuck up on him yet again. How Takeshi did that, Sesshoumaru would never know and it bothered him to the point that he unsheathed Bakusaiga and pointed it at him. "You again," Sesshoumaru said, annoyed. "What is your purpose in following this Sesshoumaru?"
A small amused smile crept up Takeshi's face. Amusement. This demon was amused at him? That only made him even more angry. "Following you? No, I was not following you…I was following you and Riyara."
The demon lord gave him a narrow eyed look. "You have seen Riyara? Where is she, tell me otherwise, you shall die."
"Tsk, tsk," Takeshi said. "Truly, your manners leave much to be desired."
The final straw. Sesshoumaru ran towards Takeshi, intent on running Bakusaiga through him. Takeshi's eyebrows shut up not in surprise but in amusement. He held out a hand and just as Sesshoumaru brought down Bakusaiga on him, a barrier formed between them. "Lord Sesshoumaru," Takeshi said silkily. "I didn't expect you to be this…aggressive. I didn't answer your one little question and you attack. Yes, you behave like a lord, indeed."
Sesshoumaru didn't lower Bakusaiga. "While you hide behind barriers…the true sign of cowardice," the demon lord retorted.
Takeshi raised his eyebrows at Sesshoumaru. "Fortunately for you," he said. "I'm the forgiving type…Lord Sesshoumaru." He dispelled the barrier. "I shall tell you how to get to Riyara. She jumped into the well."
Sesshoumaru suppressed the mad urge to use Bakusaiga. "Fool," he hissed. "There is nothing at the bottom of the well."
"Really, now?" Takeshi said, amused. "Nothing at the bottom? Well, Lord Sesshoumaru, if you want to get her, this what you must do. Not far from here is a village where you will find the priestess Kagome. Tell her that Riyara jumped into the well, and…" His voice trailed off and he frowned. "You must hurry, though. Riyara seeks out the Sacred Jewel in order to revive Menomaru and her father whose bodies she brought back from the grave by using her black magic."
Sesshoumaru glared at him. "So you are saying that where Riyara is, the priestess Clara is there as well?"
Takeshi turned his back on him and walked off. Sesshoumaru, once again, suppressed the mad urge to kill him. He glanced at the well. How on earth was Kagome going to help him? Where was Riyara? Was she indeed in the same place as Clara?
He hated to take advice from others. Bur for the sake of killing off Riyara, he would do just that. He glanced at the well once more then made his way to Kaede's village, where Kagome was.
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A1969: finally, I can update.
Miroku: took you long enough.
A1969: I thought I already explained why it took me so long to update?
Miroku: hm…whatever.
A1969: Sango, he's at it again!
Sango: Miroku…
A1969: you guys really have issues. Anyway please, please, please, please, please review!