THE MIRROR OF SOULS by Silver Moon Inuyoukai
Disclaimer: Thank you Rumiko Takahashi for your genius. I am not getting any money for making this story. But if Takahashi-san would will me something I wouldn't mind if it's Sesshoumaru.
AN: Sorry for neglecting this story for a long time. I've not felt well for a long time and depression set in after a series of loses in my life.
1. I dedicate this chapter to my dearly departed friend Shirley Abella [DOD March 2019]. Thank you for giving me a literal and figurative hiding place because I've been living in a mind that fights to survive but with a body that tries to die. I will miss you, my friend. Rest in peace.
MIRROR OF SOULS
CHAPTER 38
INTRUDER
Previously from Chapter 37-
"I believe lord Rylanion did not put lady Kagome in the dark dimension, my lord."
"What does it mean?"
"I was about to pull Kagome-sama in here when she was taken. That is the reason I..." Then Kagami suddenly gasped. Though the entity is not a youkai nor an elemental and barely holding a semi-humanoid shape he could still feel its emotion. The entity became distraught as it opened its hand and produced a shimmering ovoid. "My lord, we need to act quickly...Kagome-sama...!"
Sesshoumaru became tense at the words. "What of the miko?" In response to his question, Kagami stiffly swept her hand and a vision opened….
*{O}*
Western Lands: The Crescent Moon Palace
"What is it, Sango?" Miroku scooted over to his wife in concern.
"I suddenly felt…uh, I don't know," her hand shook over her slightly heaving chest as if clutching at her heart. Miroku raised a brow at Sango's pale face. "I suddenly have this bad feeling…."
"Is there something wrong, Sango-sama?" Lord Takuma leaned over with a small knot of worry on his forehead.
"Uh…" the taiji-ya leader shook her head, taking a quick sip of tea to wet her dry throat, "I'm just worried for Kagome, my lord."
"If there's one thing I have learned during our years of searching for Naraku is to trust in your 'bad feelings', my love." Her worry affected him when he took her cold hand in his and began rubbing some warmth in them.
"My wife is the reason I am alive because of that or," the monk shook his head ruefully, "of Inuyasha's constant yelling at me to 'Stay alive, monk!' People chuckled at his mimicry of Inuyasha's voice.
The northern lord sighed, nodding in agreement. "I am also worried. The last short note I got from Sesshoumaru was weeks ago. Their group arrived when snow was beginning to cover the ground." Takuma stroked his chin. "It took more than six days for the messenger to come back. That means, at this time, it is now in the middle of hard winter." He hissed softly in frustration. "I'm not sure how cold winter is in that territory."
"Has no one has ever tried to travel that far, my lord?" All eyes turned to Jiro; who spoke for the first time since they finished the first meal.
"Gods, no! Only demented people travel there. And it's true. No one wants to get frostbite…"
"What ish 'frostite'?" Kanta lisped.
"Frostbite, little one." Takuma smiled at the little youkai. "It's not a pleasant thing. Your fingers and toes freeze up and fall off.' He continued on after the gasps of horror. "No one's interested in a land where part of it is in perpetual winter."
"Perpetual winter…" Mizuta shuddered.
"Do you know of anyone who could travel fast, my lord?" Miroku kept his wife's hand in his.
"That was also my thought; find a youkai as fast as Sesshoumaru but…" he leaned back shaking his head.
"But what, my lord?," Kohaku butted in; almost out of his seat.
"Kohaku," Sango frowned at her brother's actions, "a youkai like lord Sesshoumaru or someone like him, which is rare, cannot just be summoned and made to go on a journey like an ordinary messenger!" she admonished the boy's lack of decorum,
"But we must do something!" Kohaku suddenly blurted from his corner, quite distraught. "I have never gotten this kind of message before. Aneue [sister], Rin might be…"
"Your concern is noted. However, she is now capable of defending herself from anyone," The northern lord's tone went hard, "Even from you!" Takuma pursed his lips, regretting his own outburst. That being said the entire company fell silent.
"I…," wide-eyed Kohaku pointed at himself. "I, my lord?"
"Uh…what does he mean?" Mizuta butted in.
"Rin almost died at your hands,' with cold eyes Takuma pointed at the boy and then to his sister. "Both of you were willing to sacrifice her for your own desire for revenge."
"But…but I was…" the boy lamely began then trailed off.
"Please don't blame my brother, my lord." Sango was quick to jump in his defense. "He didn't know what he was doing."
"And what is your defense for yourself, Taiji-ya no shirei-kan (commander of the taiji-ya)?" The northern lord smirked when Sango twitched at being addressed so formally. "How do you plead for your own actions during the battle with Naraku?"
"I…" though she gulped softly the northern lord sensed it was not from fear, it was something else. "Yes," Takuma was impressed at her steady gaze. "I was willing to sacrifice even Rin's life..."
"Sister!" the boy gasped.
"Calm yourself, Kokahu." Miroku let him go after his brother-in law nodded. "She can handle this."
"When I lost my family I…I wanted so badly to kill Naraku…" The long forgotten feelings and memories came crawling out of the grave she had left them in. The breath she took was shaky. "I want revenge so much….I had waited a long time."
"He could've died as well." Eyes hard, Takuma shifted his eyes to the young warrior.
"Yes." She nodded her agreement. "I was willing to die. We were all willing to die just to destroy Naraku." Miroku looked at Takuma and nodded. Kohaku nodded with his head down. "Even Kagome. We all know the stakes."
"He would've killed you." She nodded at the 'he' Takuma mentioned, her face pale.
"I never expected anything less from Lord Sesshoumaru. I told him my life is in his hands after we end Naraku."
Rin's godfather pondered her words as he looked at the demon slayer. Takuma never got the back story from anyone of them especially from his taciturn friend but he had a talk from a fellow neko like him who was in the thick of it.
Looking back he pondered if the adage was really true about curious cats.
Dimly, Sango could feel Miroku's warm hand in hers, offering his comfort. "I have been waiting a long time to repay my debt, my lord. He only needs to say the word." The hand that held hers jerked at her words but her husband remained quiet, head down.
"I admire your courage, Shirei-kan." The northern lord crossed his arms with a rustle of silk. "My old friend, as violent as we all know him, ironically, admires honor above all. He spares your life because of you and the miko."
"Kagome and I?" The husband and wife exchanged shocked looks at Takuma's nod. "But why do you…."
"You are friends." He shrugged. "He has a debt of gratitude to pay for the time he leaves Rin with the miko. Back then, I knew that whenever Sesshoumaru suddenly appeared in court it would mean Rin would be in the miko's custody; his daughter is safe and in good hands and he could concentrate on the serious matters of ruling the realm."
Takuma could easily understand how Rin would praise the disappeared miko to the highest heavens. He himself admired the holy woman for taking care of an orphan fox kit. And if his friend is that confident to leave his little girl to her for days then she must be undoubtedly an exceptional human being.
"And my goddaughter only has praise for you during her training in your camp." He chuckled, "Honestly the hero worship of my goddaughter to you sometimes made me so jealous." He thought Sesshoumaru mad for letting the person who almost sacrificed his daughter's life to teach her the art of warfare. But all he got from him was a cryptic, "this is her recompense.'
"Ah! My ears hurt, father…" Kanta dropped the bowl and grabbed his ears.
"Kanta!" Mizuta gasped.
"What the…?" Suddenly they all grabbed their ears when a shrill whine filled the room.
'Intruder!" Jiro shouted.
"What in gods…!" The northern lord hissed, claws extended at the orb floating above their heads. Everyone scrambled up and quickly gathered around the glowing object.
"What is that?" Kohaku gasped, taking a step back as the orb descended slowly in the middle of the room.
~{}~O~{}~