-Disclaimer: InuYasha is the property of Rumiko Takahashi
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Okay so, this is un-proof read and I finished writing the chapter with a temperature so if it is a major suckfest…blame it on the fever!
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-To Come To Me
-Chapter VII
-Reunions
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Sesshomaru pushed through the rice paper covered screens into the bright sunny front room. As expected, the Inu Yokai matriarch sat regally in her chair by the large window that over looked the courtyard he had passed through a few moments before with his traveling party. As was also expected she turned from the window as soon as his scent filled the air around her.
" Sesshomaru," She smiled "I noted your arrival and had hoped you would come to visit directly."
"Does this Sesshomaru not always come directly Obaasan?" he stifled his grin, it was an old game, perfected over time. The aristocratic blood demanding that they remain cold and distant until they were positive their were no servants about.
Part of being a successful ruler was the fearsome mystique, it was so crucial it be instilled upon your subjects, that aspect was far too important to risk on such inane sentimentalities as showing affection for ones grandparent.
Now quite sure they were alone Sesshomaru stepped closer to the old woman. She was nearing her one and a half millennial birthday in the coming summer, yet she still barely looked old enough to be a grandmother. She had the same white silver moonlight hair as her daughter and grandson, the same features that marked her as a pure InuYokai, but that was where the similarities ended.
Her eyes flashed silver white, a perfect match to her hair, as were the three slashes on her cheeks and the crescent on her forehead, and all of her body marking's, even her claws were beautifully silver tinged. Nagoyaka-chikara was the rarest and most stunning of all InuYokai, the last of the northern silver white albino InuYokai pack that had come to Japan from far to the north in the ice lands. It was from this tribe that Sesshomaru had inherited his ice cold demeanor, though not from his grandmother, but from his great-grandfather.
She smiled warmly at her grandson, her pride and joy , her eyes glowed almost iridescent silver in the sunshine beaming through the window.
"Bah, dispense with the formalities child, there are no servants about this day."
Layers of ice melted from Sesshomaru's face and he quickly approached the woman, pulling off his armor, and then fell to his knees in front of her. He allowed her to pull him into her arms and gently stroke his hair while he rested his head on her shoulder.
"I have missed you Obaasan Yaka."
"I've missed you as well my sweet Sesshomy." he finally pulled away, getting to his feet and pulled a chair over to sit so they could see one another. She smiled at his slight grimace at the use of the childhood pet name. But no matter how old he got, he was always her sweet Sesshomy, just as she was always his Obaasan Yaka.
"I noticed when you arrived that your party has grown by another human Sesshomy, is this one to eat?"
Sesshomaru looked up suddenly, his face turning pink, then he laughed out loud. "Mother put you up to that didn't she."
Yaka laughed and nodded. "Of course, the guards noticed you from some distance back and you know your mother."
"Of course, you and she are the only two creatures in all the world that can bring color to my face, she inherited the ability from my obaasan Yaka." Sesshomaru grinned.
"So, tell me then Sesshomy, are either of these human girls a potential mate? Now that your travels are complete all of the western lands waits to see who their mistress will be."
"Obaasan, Rin is only a child."
"She will age."
"A child I care for as a father cares for his own child."
"And the other?"
"Kagome is…"
"You sound as if you are very informal with her."
"She is my…friend."
"She is also very pretty. It would be easy for friendship to grow under the right circumstances. Sesshomaru, you realize that you would face a great deal of opposition should you chose a human to mate. Of course, you remember what happened to Izayoi and her boy, That poor sweet, sweet girl." her eyes took on a look of sadness.
"Her 'boy' is doing very well for himself from what I see" Sesshomaru couldn't stop the twinge of anger that raged at the thought of InuYasha and his treatment of Kagome.
"I see." Yaka was surprised by the emotion on his face at the mention of InuYasha and the girl. Sesshomaru was usually much better at hiding things, even from her
"Tell me Sesshomaru, why do you travel with a woman who smells as if she is meant for your fathers other son?"
"He does not deserve her. Were it left to him she would be dead now."
"This is not your judgment to make young one."
"I make no judgments Obaasan. You know the stories I have told you of his dead miko revived with evil magic, once more she found them together, but this time she took her own life, I am the one who gave it back to her. After, I swore I would not let them hurt her like that again."
"Lord Sesshomaru, did you learn nothing from your lesson with the children in hell?"
"What?"
"YOU have not the power to give back life."
"Obaasan…"
"You have only the power Tensaiga allows you to wrench from it."
She looked at him with sharp eyes, he squirmed as she scrutinized him. Then another thought dawned on her.
"Sesshomy, you said you suddenly became fiercely protective, you couldn't stand watching the girl suffer I imagine."
Sesshomaru nodded "It just came from no where and wrapped around me, like I was being choked."
"Sesshomy, is it truly this girl you are trying to save? Or are you trying to save another through her?"
"Another? Who would I possibly be…"
'Sesshomaru!! …I can't… anymore'
'You have to,…just another minute…'
'Sesshomaru!'
"You think I'm trying to save her?" Sesshomaru stood up and picked up his armor, his fists clenched as he stomped to the entry.
"You have lost your mind. She has been dead for four hundred years and you still wish to see me punished? No one is permitted to speak of her in this Sesshomaru's presence, no one, including senile elderly yokai bitches."
Sesshomaru woke the others and told them that their plans had changed, they would be leaving that moment.
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Kagome was tired, they had traveled through the night and then all day down the coast with very few stops. Something was really bothering Sesshomaru and had been since he had woken them the night before and told them he had decided that they had to leave at once.
He had accepted no protests, no pleading to just stay until dawn, not even from Kagome. What had scared Kagome into action wasn't that he glared at her, but that he looked at her and his eyes were full of pain and guilt. She had never seen his eyes without his cocky condescendence and arrogance, somehow it was scarier than his fiercest glare.
He had refused to camp for the night, but did concede to riding on ah un behind Kagome so he could support her while Kagome support Rin, that way the two humans could at least get some sleep.
Kagome had attempted to talk to him during the day several times but she quickly discovered he was a lot more like InuYasha than she had ever imagined, actually, he was more like InuYasha than even InuYasha was.
When they finally came to a stop and Sesshomaru said they would stop for the night Kagome realized that they had traveled far enough that they could reach Kaede's village by late afternoon. She wanted to see her family, she had school work to pick up by now, probably a couple tests to take too.
It wasn't just that though, she missed her friends, Sango, Kaede and Miroku and Kirara and specially Shippo.
'Yes, I miss InuYasha too…but I'm still so confused where he is concerned….'
Rin and Jaken slept and Kagome sat staring into the fire. Sesshomaru seemed to be out of sight somewhere, yet she sensed his aura nearby.
"We will be reaching your village late tomorrow" Sesshomaru stepped out of the tree "Will you wish to go back?"
"I should visit my family, they have been worried, and I think I am finally ready to talk to them about what happened."
Sesshomaru nodded and knelt near her.
"Rin and Jaken will miss you." he quirked the corner of his lips into a grin.
"Liar, Jaken will hoot and holler for joy so loud they will hear him on the mainland."
"Rin will miss you."
"Only Rin? What about my BFF?"
"This Sesshomaru will miss you too." He took her hand and kissed it, formally and very stiff, like he had been in the beginning, then he smiled. "Baka."
Kagome got onto her knees so she was eye level with him, then rested her forehead on his.
"I don't know what's going on, or what happened at the palace, I just know something hurt you and I'm really worried about you. Please talk to me before I go. Let me help."
Sesshomaru swallowed hard and Kagome heard the gulp in his throat.
"This Sesshomaru never speaks of her Kagome."
"You loved her didn't you."
Sesshomaru was quiet for so long that Kagome didn't think he was going to answer.
"Se…."
" I loved her too much. When I lost her it almost drove me to madness."
Sesshomaru's mood shifted, his eyes took on the battle ready look that Kagome was more familiar with.
"He has come for you…" Sesshomaru whispered, getting to his feet in time to see InuYasha, a speck of red on the horizon, begin to come closer.
"I don't know if I am ready for this…" Kagome wiped at her face.
"Kagome!" InuYasha's yelling began to reach her ears and she walked out to meet him half way.
Sesshomaru grit his teeth and leaned against a tree as he watched Kagome pulled into the hanyou's arms.
"One wrong move bastard, and you will eat your testicles."
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InuYasha had caught Kagome's scent somewhere along the coast and had been tracking it all day. He knew he had to be getting closer and he got excited when the smell of ramen and fire began to sting his nostrils. There was only one person who could possibly have that combination.
He began yelling even before he knew it was possible for her weaker human ears to hear him, when she did finally look up he nearly stumbled and fell on his face.
"Great timing baka kuso, right in front of Kagome and Sesshomaru."
Kagome began to walk towards him and he ran even faster, only slowing when he was within feet of her so he wouldn't knock her on her butt on the ground and hurt her.
"InuYasha…what are you doing here?" Her voice was sad and confused, still like it had been the morning she left.
He took her hands in his. "I need to be near you Kagome, even if it means being near Sesshomaru too."
Kagome glanced up at him skeptically, she gasped at the sincerity in his eyes.
"You really mean that."
InuYasha nodded and wiped away a tear that had fallen down her cheek.
"Impossible, You and Sesshomaru would kill each other." she grinned a little, shaking her head.
"Well, that would solve one of your problems." he tried to laugh it off, but Kagome looked at him sadly, her hand going to his cheek.
"That's not funny InuYasha."
He nuzzled his cheek into her hand, breathing in her scent.
"I miss you so much Kagome. When I think that it was almost forever…if Sesshomaru hadn't been in the area…"
He took a deep breath and dragged her roughly into his arms, burying his hands in her hair to press her cheek to his.
"Why didn't you kill me instead? Why did you hurt yourself? Don't you know how important you are, how special, how beautiful…?"
"I could never hurt you InuYasha" Kagome cried, her arms wrapped around him and clutched at his back, fists clenched in his hair.
"Don't you get it? Nothing could hurt me worse than losing you…"
"But…Kikyo…" Kagome gasped, freezing in his arms.
"Kikyo has nothing to do with us anymore Kagome…she never did."
"No InuYasha." Kagome shoved away from him "She has everything to do with us."
InuYasha turned in the direction that Kagome was glaring. Kikyo stood behind him, surrounded by her Shinidamachu.
When he turned back around Kagome had begun to run back towards Sesshomaru.
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Sesshomaru had spotted the Shinidamachu and instantly began running in the direction of Kagome. He caught her and held her while she sobbed, a minute later InuYasha arrive on her heels.
"Kagome…I don't know why she's here, I don't want her here! I sure as hell didn't invite her."
Kikyo was lowered into the clearing by her Shinidamachu and she alighted on the ground.
"Both of you leave this instant, you shall be dead by the sunrise if not."
"I'm not leaving without Kagome." InuYasha's face was full of rage and he turned on Kikyo "What the FUCK are you doing here bitch? I told you to stay away?"
"InuYasha" Kikyo began "I need to see…"
"You always need something Kikyo" Kagome sniffled pulling away from Sesshomaru and stepping up to Kikyo "What is it this time? Hmm? Do you need to see me die again? Your gonna have a long fucking wait."
Kikyo's Shinidamachu wrapped around Kagome and Sesshomaru and InuYasha both leapt forward, but they were too late. Kagome and Kikyo were lifted high into the air inside a protective barrier.
"Kikyo, if you fucking hurt her, I will kill you myself bitch!" InuYasha screamed, surprising Sesshomaru into silence.
Neither gave chase, there was no need, Kagome and Kikyo only hovered in the air above, roughly three hundred yards up.
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Kikyo looked at Kagome and shook her head, frustrated that she had to resort to such underhanded schemes, but this girl had a temper, as did her protectors below. While it boded well for the girls future, it certainly wasn't helping matters now, and there were more pressing matters at hand.
"Kikyo, please just let me go, you can have him, as mad as I am right now I'd even pack a nice lunch for him before you take him to hell."
Kikyo smirked, she had to appreciate the girls fire.
"Nobody is going to hell Kagome, but I had no choice but to do this, you were behaving irrationally."
"Well, excuse me! Why can't I even have one moment, one nice moment with InuYasha without you coming along to drag him away and ruining everything?"
"Kagome, I did not come for InuYasha, I came to speak with you."
"You are needed in the village …as soon as possible. Kaede is dying. "
-
Kagome rested her cheek on InuYasha's back, not attempting to hold back her tears. Judging by the occasional sniffle she heard she guessed InuYasha was trying, and failing. She was so exhausted, this was two nights in a row now of traveling with hardly any sleep. It couldn't be helped though, they had to make it back in time, they just had to.
Kikyo had lowered the barrier and the Shinidamachu let Kagome lose, but before the yelling could start up again Kagome shushed them.
"Kaede collapsed this morning, she is very weak and she has been asking for Kagome…for InuYasha as well. Kagome I came to get you because I knew InuYasha would never come with me."
"InuYasha, do you think we'll make it in time…before she…."
"I'll get you there in time Kagome, I know you can't trust me in anything else, But I promise I will get you there in time."
InuYasha rubbed his thumbs over her knees and gave them a gentle squeeze. His heart raged in his chest. So many feelings, so many emotions.
Happiness, Kagome was with him, riding his back. She was such a perfect fit, she belonged there.
Worry, he was worried about Kaede and he worried about the show of affection between his brother and Kagome. Not just when she was upset, but as they were leaving too. The little nudges and hair tugs. She never did those things with Miroku or Sango, not even Shippo. It had only been him…but now it was Sesshomaru too.
But the thing that lay the heaviest on his heart was guilt. Kaede collapsed hours after chasing him around the clearing with that axe. She had overdone it and ….it was because of him.
Kaede was dying because of him.
-
Sesshomaru stared at the blue black sky, a million stars sparkled above, he could have possibly felt more lonely.
Kagome and InuYasha had left hours before, and he was already so sick of the quiet he was sorely tempted to wake Rin.
Sesshomaru couldn't deny a little lingering regret that he'd never had the chance to tear into InuYasha. It was always good for working out aggression.
However even Sesshomaru had to admit that the old miko being on the brink of death overrode all else. But he swore if he ever saw the look on Kagome's face again like he saw tonight…even if it was a misunderstanding, and even if the clay jar did have a legitimate reason for being there, Sesshomaru would destroy her on the spot.
InuYasha had made his choice perfectly clear tonight as well. He had chosen Kagome.
Perhaps the boy wasn't the fucking baka kuso he usually came off as.
Sesshomaru supposed he should go back up the coast and return to the palace. He hated being angry with Obaasan, but what was she thinking…bringing her up…after all this time…
No one had dared to speak of her around him in centuries.
Sesshomaru dismissed the thoughts and lay down, determined he would find sleep this night. Instead he found the image of two women burned on his brain, one alive…the other lost centuries before.
Her name slipped off his lips of its own accord, a sad and lonely sigh that had been growing for centuries in his silence...
"Cassayah"
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Cassayah Pronounced Cass eye ahh
Chapter VIII Preview
InuYasha and Kagome Return to the Village
Sesshomaru, Rin and Jaken return to the palace
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Sorry this chapter took so long to get up. I have ……
1. Had the electricity go out
2. Been sicker than a dog
3. Been a little busy with paying bills
4 REALLY REALLY Been sicker than a dog
5. I must confess a tad bit of mental block as well.
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