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Disclaimer: No own InuYasha et cetera et cetera.

WARNING: I am an OC re-user! XD You know, one of the authors that has a set of pointless OCs that they use in every story? Yeah, that's me. They mean very little to the story, I just like not having to think up new people. Huzah! XP And, just like in HPHPTF, the name Kougaiji and his looks are property of Minekura-sensei. ((My favorite 'OC' source…I steal names and sometimes looks from Saiyuki, and give them my own personality. Bwahahaha, I'm so terribly uncreative))

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Jizen Kaerizaku

Before I Can Return

Chapter 2 - Apparition: Death Has a Sense of Humor

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"Rin-chan!" Kagome screeched, holding more tightly onto the teenaged girl. The girl laughed sweetly and tugged Ah-Un's reigns to slow its decent, making Kagome breathe a sigh of relief. Her spirits had lightened considerably when Kagome had told her they would go to visit her beloved Sesshoumaru-sama that day, and hearing her laughter again brought up Kagome's mood as well.

Ah-Un seemed happy as well, much more playful that usual. After Sesshoumaru's untimely demise at Naraku's hands, the beast had refused anyone but Rin and Kagome near it, even Jaken had been shunned. Speaking of Jaken, Kagome glanced down to be sure the small urn was still in place beside her legs. Rin had decided it would be the greatest honor to her caretaker to scatter his ashes at Sesshoumaru's grave, so his faithful retainer could be near him once more.

They broke through the low clouds that had formed through the morning and set down a few minutes from the gravesite, because they could not be airborne and travel through the barrier. They un-muzzled Ah-Un in case of resistance and plodded on. It was a smart thing to have the royal gravesites in a barrier, since there was no chance of some quack like Ursuai deciding to resurrect a powerful being, but it also made it rather difficult for two ningen women to cross within, even if every guard in the West knew who the Shikon Miko and Lady Rin were.

Rin, of course for following Sesshoumaru for five years before his demise, and Kagome because she had spent time there with the Lord and Rin and after his death had effectively fried half the court after some…trouble. Sesshoumaru had made it clear that he wished his most trusted General to take over in his stead, but the court had appointed his Uncle instead, the one person Sesshoumaru had been vehement against.

But, even with chicken-fried-youkai littering the meeting hall, she hadn't gotten her way, but the impression had been made nonetheless. That only made the resistance against her more wary, if not frightened, but resistance still. She only hoped the guards on duty that day would be amicable ones, and not some of the stick-up-the-asses she'd put up with in the past.

"Oh!" Rin cried once they got in sight of the barrier.

"What is it, hun?"

"Kougaiji-kun is on guard today, so we won't be rushed like last year."

"Thank goodness," I breathed. Kougaiji, a tan red-haired youkai, had been Rin's personal guard, and held much affection for the woman-child. Ah-Un bellowed in greeting, pulling both guards' attention.

"Who goes?" a rather young blonde guard called, scowling at his own attempt at menacingly at the approaching duo.

"Stand down, baka," Kougaiji said loudly enough for them to hear, "Unless you're afraid of ningen girls?"

"I heard that, Kou!" Kagome called, laughing lightly.

"I'm sure you did."

Rin stuck out her tongue before leaping off the dragon mount and running to glomp Kougaiji, making the fire elemental smile. She chattered, "I am glad it is you on guard today, Kougaiji-kun, I have missed you!"

"You've gotten very tall, Rin-sama, you are growing quickly."

"Well, duh," she borrowed from Kagome's vocabulary, "I'm fourteen summers now."

He laughed lightly, "Pardon, m'lady."

Kagome walked up casually, smiling over at the pair, "Hey Kou. Pretty lucky its you today."

"Come to visit my lord, Kagome-sama?"

"Knock that off. And of course. Five years now."

The red-head sighed and leaned against his spear, "It's a pity. The lands are falling to ruin without him."

The young guard gasped, and Kagome raised an eyebrow, "And you are?"

Kou waved a hand, "A new recruit. He's loyal to Neikanhi. Those of us who worked during Sesshoumaru-sama's reign know the difference between a real leader and a pretender."

"You won't get in trouble for saying all this?" Rin asked in concern.

"He won't tell, now will you Jakusotsu?"

"N-No sir!"

"Good. Anyway, friends, go on in. Mustn't keep our lord waiting."

Kagome smiled and took Rin's hand, entering once the incantation to open a doorway had been said. The royal graveyard was less about the remains of the dead, and more of their spirit. It was not rare to see a discontent, angry soul wandering the area. Thankfully, Sesshoumaru had accepted his fate and crossed over, but they spoke to him from his memorial nonetheless. Rin dashed off to pick flowers and Kagome settled on her knees beside the imported marble and smiled.

"Konnichiha, Sesshoumaru, I hope all is peaceful for you. Five years, huh? I hope its going by faster for you than us. Rin's getting very big, and she thinks of you all the time. I must apologize now, but Rin plans to spread Jaken's ashes here…you aren't allowed to get away from him even in the afterlife," the miko giggled a bit sadly and sighed.

"Not much has changed, but according to Kougaiji your uncle isn't taking good care of your lands. Sorry I couldn't do more to stop him. But your memory lives on in all who were under your service, so don't be too annoyed. I'm sure I'm not helping much, though, am I? I am sorry we cannot come to you more often, but with the politics as they are now…" she let out her breath in a whoosh of air and scowled, "Damn youkai, you lot are all alike. Stupid arrogant bastards. At lease you were a likable bastard. Its always the good ones that are lost, huh?"

"Kagome-chan, Rin brought many beautiful flowers," the young girl cheered as she sprinted to the miko's side. She always slipped back into third person when she was near Sesshoumaru's grave, and her maturity decreased as well. Not that it mattered, she was always adorable.

Kagome gave her a smile and stood, "You can have your Sesshoumaru-sama to yourself now, I will leave you to it."

"Thank you," she said in a bit more melancholy of a voice than before.

Kagome walked through the vast graveyard for the first time; usually she just stayed near the entrance once she was done with her greeting. She walked for quite a while before coming up on a name she recognized and smiled, kneeling before it.

"Good day, Inu-no-Taisho. I was here visiting your son and happened upon your place. Since I've been to your real gravesite, I know this is nothing more than a memorial stone, but what's to hurt by greeting? My name is Kagome, I am the best friend of your youngest son and former…oh I guess we were nearly friends…with your oldest. At least as close to friends as the mighty Sesshoumaru allowed himself to have."

"Well, it was a pleasure to meet you, and it is unfortunate I could never meet you in life. Myouga-jii-chan said you and InuYasha were rather alike, and it would have done him good to have met you…maybe you could have made him less ornery. Then again, he would have probably rebelled and turned out just about the same," she smiled, leaning back on her hands and looking up to the blue skies above her, "He's a good man, though. I'm sure you are proud of him. Stay well, my lord."

She rose and smiled, wandering away again and catching sight of Rin chattering a mile a minute as she sprinkled Jaken's ashes across the grass in front of the marble headstone. Kagome smiled fondly and continued walking amongst the graves, only to stop rather suddenly as a translucent mass of smoke appeared in front of her. It was vaguely humanoid in proportion but with no defining qualities, unlike most of the spirits which were more like grey copies of themselves in life. She knew it could not harm her and watched as it seemed to tilt its head in contemplation of her, making her shift on her feet and blush.

"Y-yes?" she said, trying to make the pink of her cheeks tone down.

She was only mildly surprised when it responded; it took a lot to surprise a time-traveler, "Nothing, my dear, I was just admiring beauty when I saw it," a deep bass said with an amused tone.

The response itself was surprising and sent blood rushing to her cheeks. Usually the spirits were either so depressed they would not answer at all and just bemoaned anything and everything, or they would shout at you to get out of their way and grumble to themselves angrily. This one was not only making conversation but was very complimentary.

"T-thank you," she stammered, pressing her hands to her cheeks to cool them, "I am sorry to have disturbed you."

"Oh you didn't," he (definitely a he, Kagome noted) said, chuckling pleasantly, "Here to visit the most recently lost Lord, I see?" a wispy arm motioned over her shoulder where Rin was hugging Sesshoumaru's stone, and Kagome laughed lightly as she watched, "Yes. The young girl was like a daughter to him, and we come here every year to pay our respects. We weren't exactly close, per se, but we got along near the end."

"It is always tragic to lose friendship, no matter how rough or new it may be," the spirit said sagely, brushing against her as he passed and making the miko shiver.

"Yes, I agree. If it is not terribly rude of me to ask…why are you here? You are the first spirit I have found who was not holding a grudge or wailing loudly…you seem rather out of place."

She got the impression he was smiling at her, "I don't really know, actually. I was at rest for a very long time…and then I suddenly was not anymore. I have been here for a few years now just wondering what exactly I was brought out for."

Kagome's brow furrowed, "That is strange. If you would like, I could ask a friend of mine, she is a miko, on such things. Perhaps she could help you?"

Another rumbling chuckle, "The idea of a human wishing to help me is a strange one. It would be nice to get out of here though…I've considered leaving several times before but I always stayed because I had nowhere to venture. Would you mind if I accompanied you, then?"

Kagome found herself flushing slightly and smiling, "If you wish, that would be fine, my lord. As long as a lowly untrained miko like myself is not terrible company to you."

"No, I think not. Its rare to see a human as open as you are, and seemingly intelligent. I believe we will get along well."

"It will be nice to hold real conversation again. I only hope Kaede-baa-chan can help you."

"Even if not, it will be worth it to get out of this dreary graveyard. For some reason you are the first person to have been able to see me at all."

Kagome blinked rapidly, "I wonder why that is? Perhaps because of my spiritual powers? I doubt many humans come through this place, after all, let alone miko or houshi."

"I will have to assume so, then."

For some reason that didn't even stem from his inability to harm her (being incorporeal and all) she felt completely comfortable with her new companion as they began to stroll back towards the waiting Rin.

"Oh, where are my manners!" the spirit suddenly said, bowing at the waist quickly, "I am Mattaki, formerly Lord of the Western Lands. It is a pleasure to meet you, young miko."

Another blush stole across her cheeks and she bowed back, "I am Kagome, it is a pleasure to meet you, Mattaki-sama. May I ask how long ago you were Lord?"

He tilted his head as they arrived where Rin was waiting, "I'm not sure, really. Time is much different on the next plane, so it could have been a century or a millennium and I wouldn't know any differently."

"No matter then," she smiled, and finally noticed the way that Rin was gawking, "What is it, Rin-chan?"

"Wh-what is that?"

Kagome blinked and looked where she was staring, seeing the smoky form of her newest friend, "Oh, you can see him, then?" they had discovered Rin had a small amount of spiritual energy, though not enough to summon a hama-no-ya, it was enough for sutra or blessings. This almost confirmed her theory on why she could hear Mattaki when no one had been able to prior.

"Uhh, yes…"

"I wonder if she can hear me, though…"

Rin jumped and looked at him hard, blinking rapidly.

"I think she can hear you then, Mattaki-sama."

"Not much, just a whisper, like someone's breathing in my ear."

"I can see how that would be weird. Are you all done spreading Jaken's ashes now, Rin-chan?"

The girl shook herself out of the strange mood the spirit had put her in and grinned up at the miko, "Hai!" the young teen waved back to the memorial, "Goodbye Sesshoumaru-sama! Rin will see you soon!"

Kagome laughed and nodded to her ghostly companion, and all three exited the kekai. The blonde guard was spooked by their sudden reappearance, but Kougaiji just smiled, "Have a good time, my lady?" he asked Rin with a kind smile.

"Yes, Kougaiji-kun! I spread Jaken-sama's ashes so that he could be with my Sesshoumaru-sama again. I think that would have made Jaken-sama very happy, don't you?"

The redhead smiled widely, "Yes, I'm sure it would have, my lady. You two should be going, though, guard duty is changing soon and I don't want you to get any problems."

"Thank you as always, Kou," Kagome said with a smile and hugged the youkai, "Remember, if you need anything at all, you should not hesitate to come to Edo. You will be welcomed there."

"It is a pleasure to serve, Lady Kagome."

The blonde guard was visibly restraining himself from saying whatever was on the tip of his tongue as the two ningen women got onto Ah-Un, an unseen spirit floating behind them as they took off into the sky.

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A/N: Just to let you all know, this story is NOT all that well written…it doesn't flow well, and it is pointless. I wrote this months ago (summer I think) and never posted it because it was shite…but I was going through my old oneshots and stuff I never put up and dredged out a few things (A Saiyuki twoshot and this) and decided to post them anyway. Those of you who have read anything else from me though…this is WAY subpar. So, you don't have to point that out. ;