The sunset filtered through the forest leaves in rays of green, peppered through with yellow streaks as the leaves started to change color. The strange group of Taiyoukai, Miko, and children were walking beneath in the trees in companionable chatter. The kids were lost in their own world, sitting upon Ah-Un and annoying Jaken with harmless little jokes.
The mikos arms were crossed in frustration as she looked away from Sesshomaru uncomfortably. He has just asked where exactly her village lay, as they were close to Edo at the moment. She bit her lip, trying to think of a response.
"I...I don't actually live near Edo. I live in it."
His eyebrows immediately drew together in anger. Did she think this Sesshomaru a fool? He could tell that the average village did not share any of her odd traits, or out of place scent. A scent of curious metals. "Do not think to lie to this Sesshomaru, Miko."
She gave him an apologetic look, her sapphire eyes wide and troubled. "I'm not lying. I live in the same place...but a different time."
Sesshomaru stilled for a brief moment, too shocked to continue walking. He wanted to repudiate such a preposterous notion. No being could travel through time regularly such as she claimed.
Although...he hated to admit, but it would explain her unique scent, odd manor of dress and her extremely forward habits. He couldn't scent any deceit from the woman either.
"Explain." His voice was laced with hints of curiosity, his golden eyes narrowing a bit as her sapphire orbs flooded with relief.
"Well, see I live on old shrine grounds, and one day my cat got away from me, into the old well house. I followed him in there, and was looking into the well when...I fell in it." Her cheeks tinted pink with embarrassment.
"But anyways, when I was in the well, that horrible youkai mistress centipede came after me! She wanted the Shikon no tama, which was within me." Sesshomarus eyebrows raised, and he held up a hand to halt her.
"Where do you mean the cursed Jewel was?"
She bit her lip, obviously the memory wasn't a good one. "It was in my stomach, and got torn out by her. We landed on the bottom of the well, and I used what I know to be my Miko powers to blast her away from me. When I climbed out of the well, I wasn't in the well house. I was in Inuyasha's forest..."
She took a deep breath and looked up into Sesshomarus impassive golden eyes, hoping that he believed her. "500 years in the past." She finished softly.
The demon felt his indignation swell with such a ridiculous story. But, he could not sense any deceit in the woman's words.
"I...I know that it's hard to fathom. But I travel home regularly through the well." She peeked up at the quiet demon, noticing that his eyes were closed off, deep in through.
"Who can travel through this well, besides yourself, Miko?" She bit her lip thoughtfully at that.
"Generally just Inuyasha and me."
His eyebrows drew together moodily. Sesshomaru did not relish the idea of the half Breed being able to accomplish anything that he himself could not.
"Although...I suppose that anyone holding part of the Shikon no tama could come through, I always have the Jewel on me when I go through the well."
His gaze flicked to her quickly. "Tell me about your time, Miko."
Her azure eyes lightened happily, scent swelling with nostalgia. "My mom, grandpa and brother live on our shrine. It's secluded from the rest of the city. The city is like an extremely large village, with many people striving to make it all work. Although..." She looked up at him worriedly, this next bit of information always made her uncomfortable. "In my time...I have not ever sensed a demon."
The taiyoukais eyes sharpened with disbelief, and a tint of anger. "Ridiculous. They must be concealing themselves from you. Miko are our natural enemies, after all."
She nodded, relieved that the imperious demon hadn't gotten offended at her words. His reasoning also made quite a bit of sense. "Yes, that could be true. I suppose that I'm not home enough to ever really look for them now. I've been hunting the jewel shards for so long that here feels like home." She finished softly.
Sesshomaru tilted his head to the side curiously. "Which era do you prefer, Miko?"
Her eyes clouded over with guilt as she spoke, and were cast downwards. "Here." She whispered. "I love my family, but...my life is here. The Sengoku Jidai is my true home now." Kagome felt her heart twist with pain at that revelation. She felt very guilty for burdening her family, then not knowing when, or if, she would return home. But the woman couldn't deny the pull she felt towards the brutal lands in the past. The creatures of magic, her friends. She loved the adventure too much to give it up.
He nodded, agreeing with the woman. Strange as she was among the humans here, he couldn't deny that she had carved out quite the niche among them. Rumors of a benevolent Miko, one with a tolerance for youkai had spread throughout his lands. Some spoke of her with distaste, but that was mainly the mortals. The youkai population was in awe, and many wished to meet the young woman to see if it was true.
Her recent revelations about the past confused him. He had thought that the humans were growing more passive, their squabbles turning inwards as they ignored harmless demons, unless provoked.
But she hadn't sensed any youkai in the future.
What did this mean? Did the attitudes of the humans or demons change? Were his species truly gone? He hoped that they were merely hiding, as he had guessed. But without journeying to the far away era, he could not be sure. Only time would tell.
A few hours later, the group entered the small village by the well. Many heads were turned at the unusual group of demons and humans, but one glance from Sesshomarus icy golden eyes quelled the whispers. Kagome shot a glare up at the imperious demon.
"You don't need to scare them," she said in a reprimanding manor.
He merely sniffed, looking down his nose at the woman. "They have better tasks than spreading rumors about this Sesshomaru."
The woman gave him a bemused look, rolling her eyes at his almost childish actions. "Suuuure." She said jokingly. Focusing ahead of them, she missed his growl of warning at her antics.
A wizened figure stepped into view, wearing the traditional red and white of the priestesses. The white hair was bound back in a pony tail, and a worn eyepatch was on one side of the old woman's face. Kagome's face spilt into a grin as she caught sight of her, running over for a hug.
"Kaede! It's been too long!" She said happily as they embraced.
"Ye speaks the truth, child. How has one gotten along lately?" She asked congenially. Kagome merely shrugged, about to respond when the older woman's eye caught sight of the taiyoukai.
"What brings ye to our humble village, Sesshomaru-sama?" She asked guardedly.
He inclined his head to the younger woman, watching the exchange with curious azure eyes. She hadn't known that Kaede would be so respectful to the feared demon lord, but supposed it made sense, as they lived in his land.
"The Miko is traveling with this Sesshomaru." He said cooly, expecting the shocked gasp that Kaede let out. She turned quickly to Kagome, confusion evident on her face.
"It seems much has passed since we last spoke, child. Enlightened me over tea?" She asked.
Kagome nodded, a small frown slipping onto her lips. "Of course. You don't mind, do you Sesshomaru?" She turned to the taiyoukai, meeting his Amber eyes with her inquisitive ones.
He merely blinked, and waved a hand dismissively. "I shall return within an hour, Miko." He said, and turned to follow after the children, who had already disappeared into the woods to play.
Kagome nodded briefly, and then follower Kaede into her modest hut. She sat down on the wooden floor, cross legged, as the older woman put on a pot of water for some tea.
"What events have partaken since we last spoke, child? What has happened to Inuyasha?" The older mikos voice was gentle, she could tell that the subject was sensitive.
Kagome folded her hands in her lap, but twisted her fingers together nervously. "We-well when I came back through the well a few weeks ago, I found Inyuasha and Kikyou...embracing. They...they're mates now, I suppose." She looked up at Kaedes gasp of shock, but continued to speak.
"I ran away from him, and almost fell onto Sesshomaru. He...he's been letting me travel with him. I don't want to be near Inuyasha, after he betrayed me like that."
Kaede cleared her throat, starting to pour the tea. "I hope you are taking care child, the lord isn't known for his kindness."
Kagome frowned at her. "He's been perfectly nice to me. Actually, much more helpful that Inu-Baka ever was, he's helping me train. And he didn't throw a tantrum when I asked to go home!" She laughed briefly at the shocked expression on the mikos face.
"Well, I shall trust your judgement Kagome. But do not forget his reputation." Kagome nodded wearily.
"I must say, Inuyasha's actions shock me greatly. I did not know that he still desired my sister, even in her undead form."
Kagome's eyes were down age again, looking into the mug of hot tea that Kaede had given her. "Yeah...he wants her more than ever. Kaede...he told me that I belong in further." Her eyes grew clouded with emotions, her voice rough with indecision. "But how can that be true, if I feel most at home here? Am I supposed to leave after the Shikon is complete? Just forgot about my life here?"
Kaede laid a hand on the troubled mikos shoulder. Her voice was kind and understanding, eye shining with compassion. "Do not fret about what has not yet come. Ye will find your fate in due time Kagome. Until then, you must live happily."
Kagome nodded at her, a hesitant smile forming on her lips. "Thanks Kaede." She said softly. "I suppose that I better not keep Sesshomaru waiting."
Kaede nodded as the younger woman scrambled out of the hut, walking after where she had seen the imperious taiyoukai disappear at. She had a knowing gleam in her eye as she thought of those two traveling together. She had always been sure that the foolhardy hanyou wouldn't be the best match for the compassionate Miko. She was eager to see what happened between her and the icy lord on this new journey.
/WLITS
Kagome took a breath as she stood in front of the bone eaters well.
The children were sleeping a nearby clearing, guarded closely by Ah-Un, and reluctantly by Jaken. Sesshomaru stood by the woman's side, giving her a curious glance as she started into the innocuous looking well. He looked more ethereal than ever, the silver moonlight shining on his long hair, and making his amber eyes glow in the dark.
The miko took a deep breath, and swung one leg over the wooden edge.
"Woman." Sesshomarus deep voice rumbled out, startling her. Her eyes snapped up to his. "You are sure that no demonic presence has ever been felt in the future?"
She shook her head sadly. "None that I've ever felt before. There was an incident with a shard, but it wasn't an independent youkai."
The western lord growled at her softly. "Impossible. I refuse to believe that my superior species have died off."
Her eyes narrowed at him slightly, but she did feel a flash of sympathy. "Well there isn't any proof otherwise Sesshomaru."
He sniffed at her, looking away. He was torn. On the one hand, how would humans ever rise up and defeat the youkai? It was a preposterous notion. But he couldn't deny the nagging feeling of doubt. If only he could see for himself...
The tai's eyes snapped up to woman, waiting patiently for his response. "Woman. Allow this Sesshomaru to accompany you."
Her eyes stretched wide open, azure becoming an inky midnight in the scant lighting. "I...I don't think that's a good idea. What if we do something that messes up the timeline?"
Sesshomaru huffed at her, his eyes narrowing imperceptibly. "This Sesshomaru will not contact any youkai he senses. I merely wish to make certain their presence..." Or lack ther of, his mind supplies.
Kagome took a deep breath, before extending her hand. "Oh...okay."
He gave her offered appendage a confused look.
"You need to hold it to go through the well." Her voice was a bit amused. He almost sighed, but carefully enveloped her tiny fingers within his grip. She tugged on his hand, looking up into his eyes.
"Ready?" He nodded, feeling a bit wary of smirk on her mouth, before the woman jumped down into the well, dragging him down with it.
/OHHHHH a cliffy! Haha what will our favorite lord do in the future? PLEASE REVIEW they give me a lot of inspiration! And thank you for reading!