Chapter Thirty-One – Return to me
Dark shadows lurked along the abandoned hallways that led to the Shikon Miko's former room. Whispers drifted as two maids chattered.
"Why did you choose to clean up the room now in the night?" one of the maids voiced.
"Well, you said you were busy in the morning!" the other informed.
Arriving at the ruined room, both maids sighed at the large mess that remained the same as the day of the explosion. They both grabbed their cleaning supplies and began to move away the pile of fallen wood. Suddenly one of the maids froze in her position causing the wood in her hand to clatter onto the floor.
"Psstt, Saki," the frozen maid called out to the other.
"What?" the one called 'Saki' grunted while busily cleaning up.
"Do you see what I see?" the maid said in a dreading tone.
Saki glanced to see her friend's face drained of color. Wondering what she was staring at in such horror, Saki followed her friend's gaze.
There, shining in the moonlight, a transparent figure stood before them. Paralyzed by terror, not even a single sound seemed to squeak past their throat. But as the figure reached out towards the two maids, their senses began to work. With a howling cry, both girls ran out of the room that now seemed to be haunted.
-Present-
"Lord Sesshomaru," he glanced to see the head servant bow before him. Motioning to continue, he heard, "There seems to be rumors of a ghost haunting Milady's former room…"
"Let Inuyasha deal with it," Sesshomaru voiced harshly. He could not be bothered by such ridiculous rumors. Hearing the door close, his fingers immediately found its way to his temple. Another week had passed since Kura's execution, and still there was no sign of improvement to Kagome's condition.
'Kagome,' a longing voice stirred. He glanced away from the pile of scrolls that filled his desk. Needing to see her, he stood up from his chair. But, the sudden movement caused his vision to blur for a mere second. He took a step back in balance. Disgusted by his own weakened state, a hand flew to cover his closed eyes.
Had he driven his body to the limits?
Or was it merely the cause of the dreading and worry for her?
He silently sighed. Already knowing the answer to the questions, his hand dropped away and headed for her room. However, the scent of his mother lingered inside as well causing a frown to cross his exhausted face. Passing the protection barrier, he stared at his mother who sat in front of her bed.
Unable to muster a stoic mask, he voiced weakly, "What is it, Mother?"
"Kura?" she asked faintly.
"Burned alive," he said darkly.
Inukimi closed her eyes sorrowfully for she knew humans could never understand nor accept the cruel side of the demon society. At least she could have prevented her son from receiving Kagome's fear. She whispered, "Perhaps you should have let me sentence her, Sesshomaru."
He was already aware of the meaning behind his mother's words. So, he voiced his answer emptily, "She would still have to one day face the cruel side I must be as the Western Lord."
Inukimi remained silent for she knew her son spoke the truth. She had always wondered what would have happened if Izayoi and her mate hadn't died as quickly as they did. Would their relationship have lasted? She doubted so. She knew her mate would have come back to her because the side of him that belonged to being the Lord of the West would have never been accepted by Izayoi. Human as she was, Izayoi would have learned to fear him. This, she knew, and caused her great pain to see that her mate would choose to die for the human who would never love him fully.
His eyes landed on her slumbering figure. Reminiscing the past, Sesshomaru said, "I once wished to see the beauty of the demon society that she saw…"
Inukimi snapped out of her daze to stare at her son with astonishment.
"…But only realized that I would only continue to crush the beauty she saw if she remained by my side. All would learn to fear her as well instead of the sincere respect she sought after."
Inukimi knew it was best for the Miko to stay out of the demon society, like Izayoi should have. Yet, her son would suffer greater without Kagome by his side. As a mother, she selfishly desired for her son's happiness. Inukimi said sternly, "It is not your fault! Do not dare leave her, Sesshomaru!"
An empty chuckle echoed in the room.
"Selfishness must run deep within our blood, Mother, for I do not plan to leave her."
Would he willingly drag her into his world where greedy and ambitious enemies surrounded them waiting for the chance to pounce?
He would willingly drag her into his world where everyone was nothing but superficial?
The moment she is known as the Lady of the Western Lands…
She would face…his world.
No matter how loving and kind she was, his world would remain the same.
This is what he realized with Kura.
This is what she must forgive, on top of his failure to protect her, on top of the cruel death of Kura.
So did he think she could forgive him; he who caged her?
"She will forgive you, son," her motherly tone rang with hope.
He would not believe so, he steeled his heart.
He would not believe until she told him so.
If she ever woke to tell him so.
-With Inuyasha-
"Do you really think Lady Kagome may never wake, Inuyasha?" Inari asked carefully. She looked to her beloved, who held a stiff expression. But, she knew well that he was trying to conceal his grief.
Inuyasha tensed at her question. Immediately reminded of the day he caught his brother's blood-shot eyes, he didn't think there was any other reason to break his brother enough to cry if there was a chance she might wake. Unable to utter the memory to a single soul, the weight of his heart grew burdensome. Feeling Inari wrap her arms around his neck, he leaned into her comforting embrace and accepted her warmth gratefully.
"Prince Inuyasha," a muffled voice resounded past the door to Inari's room. Pulling away from her embrace, Inuyasha walked towards the entrance. He opened to see the head servant bowed low before him, "What is it?"
"There seems to be rumors of a ghost haunting Milady's former room…and Lord Sesshomaru instructed for you to handle this situation."
A frown scrunched upon his face and he weakly echoed, "A ghost?"
Glancing back to see Inari playfully shoo him out of her room, he sent her an apologetic look before heading towards Kagome's former room. His clawed hand rested upon his Tetsusaiga while he neared the mess. He kicked the pile of wood aside to enter the burnt room. Scanning the room he found no signs of any ghosts. He wondered if they appeared during the night for it was still the afternoon.
Suddenly, in the corner of his eyes he spotted movement. Amber eyes latched on to the transparent figure that stood in the far corner of the room. The hand positioned over his Tetsusaiga fell away as he voiced with bewilderment, "Midoriko?"
There before him stood the Miko that created the Shikon no Tama. Long wavy hair spilled past her shoulders. A warrior's armor adorned her body. A cross like marking revealed on her forehead. The transparent figure looked identical to the statue of Midoriko in Sango's taijiya village.
Stunned, it took Inuyasha a few more minutes to realize that the transparent Miko was silently pointing at something. Inuyasha quickly refocused and noticed her pointing at the fallen Shikon no Tama shining beneath a pile of burnt wood. He picked up the Jewel and soon noticed the ghostly figure of the past walk out of the ruined room. Inuyasha had no choice but to silently follow her. Confusion clouded his eyes, he wondered why Midoriko chose to appear now.
Midoriko held up her hand towards the protection barrier around Kagome's room. It was then, did Inuyasha snap out of his daze and recognize where they were. Midoriko's figure disappeared inside Kagome's room and Inuyasha followed close behind. Entering Kagome's room, Inuyasha spotted Sesshomaru posed to strike Midoriko and his mother glaring at the intruder.
"Inuyasha, what is the meaning of this?" Sesshomaru snapped, not taking his eyes off the transparent figure.
"It's Midoriko. She must have come out from the Shikon no Tama," Inuyasha explained. He had an assumption of what was going on and shared, "I think…she might be able to heal Kagome."
Inukimi gasped, though Sesshomaru revealed no reaction. Instead, Midoriko walked past the tense Inuyoukai to reach Kagome's side. Faintly lifting her hand towards Inuyasha, she motioned for him to bring the Jewel. He gulped before nervously glancing for Sesshomaru's permission. Noting the stiff nod, Inuyasha went to position the glowing Shikon no Tama on top of Kagome's chest.
A tense silence filled the room.
No one dared to move; all but Midoriko.
"Using all that I am left of, she, who saved the world from evil, shall be granted to live once more." Midoriko's last words hushed. Her transparent figure formed into an orb as it floated into the Shikon no Tama. All eyes watched in amazement when the Shikon no Tama burst into a flame of light and dissolved into Kagome's chest.
Kagome's breath hitched for a second, causing Sesshomaru's heart to clench. The moment her breath released, golden eyes widened for her breathing quickened.
"….Ugh…." her voice cracked from the weeks they had been unused. Her expression scrunched with pain as she moved her sore muscles. Her eyes finally opened to reveal the ocean blue within them. With a mumble, she said, "I feel like crap."
Inuyasha stared at his friend with his mouth hanging wide open. He couldn't believe she had awakened. Not knowing how to react, he remained silent and shocked. Inukimi, on the other hand, secretly rejoiced with a relieved smile spreading across her face.
"You have come back to us, Miko," she said. Though she tried to control her voice to remain nonchalant, she failed terribly.
Pain was replaced with tenderness. Kagome's soft smile reassured her friends she was fine. But blue eyes searched for the one most important to her, and moved her gaze to see gold. Just as she was about to call out his name, he cut her off to speak in the most cold manner.
"You have finally awakened." Kagome stared into hollow dark eyes. Both confused and hurt by this cold treatment, her eyes pleaded for a reason.
"You have been asleep for three weeks," her heart lurched painfully at the iciness his tone held, "And Kura's crimes have already been trialed and executed."
Her eyes widened with dread as she whispered, "What…did you do…?"
Glazed with satisfaction, he answered, "She was rightfully burned alive with all to watch her turn into dust."
'No,' her mind screamed for her voice did not seem to work. Staring into his cold eyes, unknowingly her scent began to mix with growing fear. Her hand unconsciously trembled as it weakly reached to conceal a distressing cry. A sob slipped past her lips and seemed like her heart had wrenched into her hand.
She had seen for a mere second the innocent Kura who Ryou loved so dearly. The old Kura looked so beautiful and loving as she whispered the secrets of her heart to the Shikon no Tama. That moment made all Kura's corrupted deeds look forgivable. For that one moment, Kagome understood that Kura had become who she was because of one misunderstanding.
"Ryou," she choked out. The man who loved Kura for so many decades, she could not imagine the suffering torture he must be going through.
"Take me to Ryou," she pleaded past her tightened throat. Ryou must have seen Kura burn away. She knew he did for he would do so to never forget Kura.
A stoic voice informed her, "He has abandoned his title and position to live in the south."
With only the treacherous image of Ryou watching Kura burn alive, Kagome cried desperately, "Take me to Ryou!"
Emotional and irrational, Kagome only knew she had to see Ryou. In her state she did not even notice Sesshomaru's voice grow hollow when he ordered; "Bring her to Ryou, Inuyasha."
Inuyasha hesitated before snatching an outer haori to place around Kagome and picked her up in his arms. He quickly left the room with her, not wishing to see his brother's pained expression again.
Left alone with her son, Inukimi asked, "Are you sure you should let her go to Ryou? He speaks nothing but the truth. Perhaps the truth is not what she needs right now."
"She would not relent until she saw him anyways." Had the situation been different, humor would have flickered past his golden eyes for he knew her stubbornness. Yet, now his expression held only sorrow.
"And if she does not wish to return?" her voice strained with concern. There was a chance Kagome might not wish to return to the Western Castle, to him, if she heard Ryou's side of the story.
Turning to face the window, he observed Inuyasha's form carrying her out of the Western Gates. His expression hidden from all witnesses, his cold mask shattered to reveal searing agony. The moment she woke, he could not describe the relief and joy he felt. The moment he noticed her eyes searching for his, warmth soothed his suffered heart. The moment her fragile hand reached to call for his embrace, he knew…he would not tell her the truth if he touched her. So, even though he should not have told her of Kura's death right after she awoke, he did. He had to before he changed his mind and hide everything from her to never see her look at him with anything but love.
He expected her reaction to hurt. But, it seemed she had once again written off his calculations.
The scent of her fear…crushed him.
Not wishing for his mother to notice the shaking of his body, he struggled to regain his control. But soon, his struggle quickly ceased for he no longer cared. Still staring out the window, his gaze followed her carried figure until nothing but a memory of her was left behind.
If she would not return to his side, would he hunt for her? Chase her? Drag her back? Lock her up? The mist of darkness grew thick behind golden eyes.
"I never want to be the one that makes your eyes clouded with darkness." Her loving voice whispered as a reminder to his heart.
Golden eyes quickly cleared to unveil raw brokenness.
'Return to me.'
Author's Note: I was very encouraged to read the reviews for the previous chapter, thank you. *Bows* Also, I tend to update on Mondays (the answer to a guest reviewers question).
Thank you for reading,
Your reviews are cherished.