Chapter Thirty-Three –Reasons Revealed

A stiff scent of wood faintly coated the air. Single lines of carpentered logs skillfully stacked on top of each other to create the inside walls. The ceiling elegantly carved with detailed drawings, which left no space uncovered. Simple furniture furnished the single room making the small hut appear larger than imagined.

"You should return, Lady Kagome," a hoarse voice said worriedly.

Her wandering eyes paused.

She could not return yet.

Pretending to be busy with her observations, Kagome avoided Ryou's stare and said sternly, "I am staying."

"What!?" Inuyasha blurted out. Her nonchalant expression did not match the unrecovered hints of redness that remained from their recent episode. She repeated, "I am staying here for the night. You can return if you want, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha slapped a hand over his eyes. Her actions were outrageous. Half of him worried about his brothers reactions, but the other half of him knew it was best for Kagome to stay with Ryou's for now. Grunting unpleasantly, he said, "Fine, but I'm staying with you."

Ryou stood, still red faced himself, with his eyebrow raised, "How kind of you to invite yourselves."

Kagome sent him a silly grin as she plopped down in one corner of his hut. Her stubbornness fully displayed by the way she made herself at home. Releasing a defeated sigh, Ryou said, "I won't allow a lady to sleep on the bare floor. Come."

Slightly hesitant, Kagome stared at Ryou's demanding expression and obediently followed behind him. She watched him take out a thick futon and set it up for her.

Thankful.

Apologetic.

Guilty.

Fearful.

She felt so many mixed emotions towards Ryou.

She could not leave…because…

"Sleep," Ryou said after catching her distraught expression.

"…Goodnight," she whispered.

##

Days led quickly into weeks. It was hard to remember the details of what she did every passing day. But, she knew most of her time was spent assisting Ryou with the additional room being built to his hut. She also began planting a garden that would heal his land.

Healthy green covered the once torn ground.

The heavenly scent of nature drifted thickly in the air.

Signs of flower sprouts scattered across in all directions.

Her calm figure, dressed in a faded pink kimono bought from the near village, stood over the baby flowers while sprinkling water drops. A loving smile adorned her face as she stared at the growing lilies. She hoped a silly dream for the lilies to heal Ryou's heart just as they had done the same to the injured land.

'Two weeks and three days,' her heart rumbled.

Once again, her peace disturbed.

Her eyes hardened and her smile faltered.

Though she could fool others, she could not fool her heart.

Her heart kept track of the days that passed; always conscious of the time.

"I never knew lilies held such a calming scent," she heard a low voice say. Breaking away from her thoughts, she turned to see Ryou standing behind her and sent him a bright smile. His calm expression held a hint of tenderness causing her heavy heart to faintly lighten. She had noticed Ryou slowly returning to his former self as she spent more days with him. Nodding in agreement, she replied, "They calm me all the time."

Settling for a comfortable silence to rest between the two, Kagome continued to water the flowers as Ryou watched her. Her feature remained care-free, but Ryou knew there was more beneath her appearance. He had not noticed anything during the first few days. However, after the first week of her stay had passed he began to see her anxious expression slip whenever she gazed towards the west. Her appetite decreased, even though she tried to hide it by forcing herself to eat more.

Her antsy behavior? Probably triggered by the realization of what Lord Sesshomaru had done.

Her avoidance to return to the Western Castle? He assumed it was because she needed time away.

But, Lady Kagome needed to decide whether to stay or leave Lord Sesshomaru soon. She is bound to encounter many more hardships and cruel decisions in the future. It was best to make a firm decision now than sway in the near future. As an ally and friend, he would help her choose.

"I wonder why you continue to prolong your stay here, Lady Kagome," Ryou asked innocently to hide his hidden intent. Eyeing her figure faintly stiffen, she responded, "I thought I should help you settle, Ryou."

His head shook at her answer and said, "You cannot fool me."

The splash of water drops ceased, letting her grasp around the pot of water to tighten. Spotting her dilemma, Ryou voiced calmly, "I do not blame nor hate Lord Sesshomaru for Kura's execution, Lady Kagome."

Her eyes widened at the shocking words he spoke. Soon her gaze held disbelief.

"I don't," he confirmed firmly and continued, "either way, she would have died; by Lord Sesshomaru's punishment or by killing herself in the end."

Needing to move away from her intense gaze, Ryou walked towards the forest. He sensed Kagome following closely behind him. Knowing she could hear everything, he explained, "Kura finally realized the burdens of her corruption and broke down in guilt. Both she and I knew that her crimes would not go unpunished. In fact, she wanted to receive a fair punishment for her evil deeds. She told me she could not live with the guilt and would rather die to at least die guiltless."

Kagome had waited for this day; the day Ryou told her the burdens on his heart. And the day had finally come. Kagome didn't dare make a sound as she listened carefully to Ryou's words.

"You know, she looked at peace even though she was engulfed by flames. Her smile finally rid of all hidden intent and evilness; she smiled till her very end," his voice grew wistful.

A rushing wind swirled between the two figures. The rustle of branches and leaves stirred through the neighbouring trees. With the breeze passing through the hollow clearing, it created a howling echo, almost sounding like a mourning cry.

"Baka onna," a loving tone hollowed, "she smiled even though she was probably in so much pain."

Then silence.

His footsteps continued while she followed.

His face hidden from her sight as she could only guess what kind of expression he held.

Finally his voice returned to its calming tone, "Lord Sesshomaru perhaps holds the most guilt, Lady Kagome."

Her footsteps missed a beat.

"As a Lord, his failure to protect you probably must have driven him mad. You see, raised as a Lord, once something or someone is chosen to be protected they must not fail. Never."

He witnessed the guilt that tormented Lord Sesshomaru. He saw the defeat in those golden eyes. It was the first for anyone to see Lord Sesshomaru torn by such destructive emotions. And Ryou experienced it first hand while trying to protect Kura in prison.

"When Lord Sesshomaru failed in protecting you, Lady Kagome, he probably could not visit you until Kura was at least punished. He knows you might not forgive him, and perhaps he does not wish you to forgive him, Lady Kagome."

"Do not forgive me…" his voice she had heard in her white prison. So that was what he meant by those words. Kagome felt her heart tighten.

"Unable to forgive him; this would be his punishment for failing to protect you, unless he chose to let you go. But surprisingly, he has doomed himself to have a mate that hates him for the rest of eternity instead."

'Lady Kagome, you must decide now.'

He heard her halt and followed to do the same with his back still facing her. A dry chuckle sounded, "You will hate him more someday if you do not already, and definitely come to fear him like the rest of the demon society," Ryou taunted.

'Whether to stay or to leave.'

Hearing only silence, he continued, "As a 'Sho' rank and 'Hime', perhaps you were lucky to find so many ranks to respect you. But as the Lady of the Western Lands, you will never find anyone with pure intentions. Your kind and compassionate heart would be easily stepped all over on if handed to any demon freely. You'd never be happy by his side nor find anything beautiful anymore."

'Will you continue to fear what Lord Sesshomaru had done for you?'

He silently tested, "You'd best not remain by his side, Lady Kagome. I never regretted my decision to reject the Daiyoukai rank that would have placed Kura and I in the same situation as you."

'Or will you stay by his side and fight?'

Feeling that he had successfully driven her into a corner to make a choice, Ryou turned to finally face her to assess her decision.

But…

What he saw made him freeze.

Her hands on her waist, she wore an enraged scowl.

His breath hitched in his throat.

Blue eyes hardened with defiance; not a tint of fear or confusion.

A cold chill crawled down his spine.

Her aura thrashed wildly in violent waves.

For the first time, Ryou faced her true wrath.

"I will never hate nor fear him, Ryou," her voice boomed fiercely causing him to take a step back.

"I knew of the different world I may enter the moment he asked me to be his mate, and I am no coward to escape his side. I am a bit…no…VERY offended that you thought I prolonged my stay here because of those reasons."

"Eh?" A dumbfounded expression remained on his face. He had been wrong?

"I don't know how you came up with this conclusion, but I never gave you hints of such feelings, Ryou!" Kagome seethed angrily.

He had thought she was avoiding Lord Sesshomaru. He thought she would be afraid of the demon society by now. But, that wasn't it? He was sure any normal human would fear the decision Lord Sesshomaru laid. Both confused and very lost, Ryou asked, "You are not afraid of his cruel decision?"

Her anger faded instantly and exhaled a long, loud sigh. The journey to gather the Shikon shards and defeat Naraku had taught her the harsh reality. To live in this era it was to kill or be killed. Then, to be a Lord in this time…? She already knew.

"He is a Lord, this I understand. So, I do not hate nor fear him for sentencing Kura's punishment or the future decisions he will have to make…but it does not mean I like it," Kagome said grudgingly. With a small painful smile, she continued softly, "That is why if you had said you hated and blamed Sesshomaru for Kura's death…I was going to convince you to turn those feelings towards me…because I know that he did it for me."

Sorrow sunk into his shocked expression as he wondered if things would have been different had Kura just trusted and understood him like Lady Kagome did towards Lord Sesshomaru.

Though a Lord's cruelty goes against everything she believed in, she would accept all of him.

Though she would always be hurt by his position, causing her tears like she cried for Kura, she would still love him.

She chose to do more by sharing the burdens of his decisions he must make as a Lord.

She was…amazing.

After a long pause and after digesting the new found information, one question still remained unanswered. Wearing a baffled expression, Ryou asked, "Then, why have you not returned to the Western Castle?"

Releasing another exhausted sigh, Kagome said, "I came running to you like a mad woman the moment I heard of Kura's death because you are a dear friend, Ryou."

Truth dawned upon the bewildered leader.

"And this dear friend has lost the love of his life; their love which I had a glimpse of. How could I stay still? How could I not cry? How could I not feel guilt?"

Warmth swelled into the heart he no longer thought existed.

"And I witnessed this dear friend choose to stand unmoving when a crowd of lower ranked demons posed to strike him down!"

The agony in her voice reached him.

"This dear friend chose to quicken his death!"

The reason he abandoned his position and title, she already seemed to know.

"HOW COULD I LEAVE HIM?" The painful image of Ryou remaining still as lower ranked demons sped to attack him still burned into her mind. She still felt the traumatizing fear coursing through her, due to the experience during the first week where she could not rest nor be off guard for even a second. She had to stay alert for any signs of attack because…Ryou would not defend himself.

She had waited, telling herself she could not leave yet.

Not until she knew he had the will to strike his enemies back.

Sorrow thickly laced within her voice, "I WILL NOT leave him until I know he has the will to live again."

'Ah,' he had been utterly defeated by this woman. She was nothing like Kura. She was much stronger than Kura. He knew that if he had taken the Daiyoukai rank, Kura would have fallen prey to the burdens of the dark world that came along with the position. And he foolishly thought Lady Kagome would be the same.

'Ah, so the reason for her unstable state…' Ryou thought.

She had probably intended on visiting him briefly before she returned to Lord Sesshomaru's side, but his suicidal intentions must have chained her to stay for his sake. She was not able to even send Inuyasha back to the Castle for they had encountered many attacks during their stay. And the attacks were always sudden causing Inuyasha to refuse leaving Kagome's side. He whispered, "You should return to him."

She must be worried for she said she left the Castle without speaking to Sesshomaru. Noticing her doubtfulness, he stressed, "You must return, Lady Kagome."

He was not fully healed, no. But he was healed enough to have the will to live again.

##

Soon, nightfall settled over the sky. The faint music of crickets drifted within the dimmed forest. His body already aware of the direction to his hut, Ryou allowed his attention to focus upon the Miko who lay asleep in his arms.

'What a mysterious creature.'

She, who remained fearless, chose to fight the dark world she may encounter.

She, who knew the cruelty of a Lord, yet was still willing to stand by Lord Sesshomaru's side.

Perhaps there was no other being perfect enough to become the Lady of the Western Lands.

Perhaps his Lord already knew of this.

Reaching the hut, Ryou carefully slid open the entrance and spotted Inuyasha resting against the door to the room built for Kagome. He knew Inuyasha was still awake even though his eyes remained closed. Walking past him, Ryou gently placed the woman in his arms down onto the futon already spread out.

Slowly fumbling with the covers, he lifted the blanket to her neck. A shimmer of moonlight peeked through the tiny cracks of the hut, giving the room an odd glow. His gaze lingered on her as a touch of tenderness slipped through. Ever so careful as to not wake her, his fingers found its way against her soft cheek.

A long sigh breathed out from the slumbering Miko causing Ryou to flinch away. Shaking away the odd emotion he felt at the impulse of her touch, he walked out of the room.

"I'd be careful around her if I were you," Inuyasha said in warning, though his eyes remained shut. Ryou glanced at him in the corner of his eyes before letting out a half-hearted scoff, "Don't worry, I don't think I'll ever have the strength to fall in love again."

"You will fall in love again," Inuyasha said in a distant, yet knowing tone. He was able to fall in love again, so he knew Ryou could too. But a frown grew after his amber eyes fluttered open, "I just hope it's not Kagome," he murmured to himself.

Not catching Inuyasha's last words, Ryou asked, "Did you already know Lady Kagome's reason for prolonging her stay here?"

"Why else do you think I stayed silent?" Inuyasha grumbled. He knew the moment Kagome saw Ryou defenseless and life-threatened, she wouldn't be able to leave him alone.

"And her restlessness during her stay here was because she also needed to return to Lord Sesshomaru?" Ryou asked for confirmation. Inuyasha's frown deepened while he nodded.

Ryou released nervous chuckle before saying, "I thought she stayed to avoid Lord Sesshomaru because she realized how cruel he was."

Inuyasha folded his arms and voiced seriously, "I am sure Sesshomaru thinks the same. Well, I thought so too, at first. But, Kagome would never run away like that."

She was the type to accept a challenge to fight the 'Sho' leader to protect the 'Tsu' ranks replaced leader. She was the type to fearlessly bring out the hidden beauties of the demon society and rid the corruption she saw. She was the type to willing mate a friend and aim for the 'Hime' title just because he was looked down upon the demon society. She went so far as to deny her own feelings to keep such a promise. So, for the one she loved most, she was the type to do more…much more.

"She just isn't the type to do that," Inuyasha echoed softly, "rather she'll probably fight and challenge whatever is in her way for the ones she holds dear."

"…and she will definitely shine…" Ryou added.

Nodding, Inuyasha finished, "She'll never give up."

Silence took over as the two digested the new light they saw within this mysterious creature they befriended.

"You should come back to the demon society. She will need you," Inuyasha requested.

"Perhaps…"

For so long he lived to satisfy Kura's corrupted ways.

He did not mind continuing such underhanded ways if it meant protecting her; Lady Kagome.

"Perhaps."

He knew of the new threat brewing.

No longer will he remain quiet for the one most important.

To be continued…

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