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Kagome awoke to darkness, her surroundings strange to her senses. Where was she? What had happened? Slowly it began to come back to her. Screaming for Sesshoumaru, fighting like mad to talk to him, breaking down at his feet—and he had half carried half dragged her here. He had given her Inuyasha's haori from her bag. Now it was night, the light of the stars barely illuminating the windows behind her. Pressing her cool hands to her face she groaned silently. Her eyes were swollen and her skin was hot to the touch. How long had she been asleep? When had she even gone to bed? Getting to her feet she winced as her muscles protested and her stomach churned. When was the last time she'd eaten?
Fear gripped her chest when she reached the door. There wasn't much time left. Sliding the door back so suddenly that it snapped back and almost hit her she ran into the hall. Instinctively she began to use her miko powers to seek out Sesshoumaru. The third floor. Now just to get there. Climbing the first set of stairs she found herself on the second floor. To her right was a walkway that crossed over the main hall where she had broken down. To her left were three more corridors. Where did she go? Cautiously she headed out to the walkway, following her gut.
Nearly an hour later, after several wrong turns and stair cases that had led her up to different towers she was on the third floor. What she assumed was the third floor at least. Quietly she made her way down the only hall. Sesshoumaru's palace was so enormous she couldn't possibly begin to fathom how she would make her way back to her room. Several doors were on either side of her yet neither seemed to draw her in. But there was one at the end of the hall. Reaching out she went to slide back the heavy oak frame of the door.
"Is there a reason you dare to intrude upon my chambers when I've been so gracious as to give you a room of your own rather than have you sleep at my gate?" Kagome could feel the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end as a chill ran down her spine.
"Forgive me Sesshoumaru-sama. I did not know these were your chambers." She bowed mid-turn. Any action she could perform that would gain his respect she would do.
"You should be resting. We leave first thing in the morning." The glow of his eyes in the dark hall was almost unsettling. They were so cold.
"Leave for where?" He was heading down the hall, away from his room. She followed.
"Edo, I assume that is why you are here in the first place." Glancing at her over his shoulder he raised a brow. "Or is there some other reason?" At the base of the stairs he paused, meeting her gaze. Forcing her fear aside she descended the last steps to stand sheepishly before him. He was so tall.
"I came to ask a favor." There was a long silence.
"What sort of favor might this be?" The cold way in which he treated her assured her he was still the same heartless youkai he had been when he'd first met him. The fact that he had allowed her to stay and hadn't given her to the dogs already was startling. There was no polite way around it. How was she supposed to ask him?
"I need you to use Tensaiga to bring Inuyasha back. You're the only one who can do it." So much for subtleties. Sesshoumaru didn't respond immediately. Instead he seemed to take her in, analyzing every little detail of her with his eyes. Self-consciously she shifted her weight, daring to meet his gaze.
"We leave at dawn. I suggest you get some food then return to bed." As he went to continue on his way she began to protest that she wasn't hungry. Her stomach seemed to have other plans as it loudly voiced its agreement with Sesshoumaru's suggestion.
"Miss?" A small, female demon stood beside her at barely knee height. She had a cat's tail and ears to match, her nose resembling a cat's as well.
"Yes?" Glancing back down the hall she noted that Sesshoumaru had disappeared.
"I am to take you to your chambers and give you a warm meal. Please follow me." She was polite enough but there were definite undertones of hostility in her body language.
By the time she was back in her room, her stomach full, she was exhausted once again. With a heavy heart she laid back down on the mattress, playing with the fabric of Inuyasha's haori. There were no more tears left to cry. Not tonight at least. Tomorrow she would head back to Kaede's. Hopefully she would at least make the burial. Closing her eyes she attempted to clear her mind in order to sleep. But her mind had other plans. For the rest of the night she was tortured by memories and awful imaginings of his death. Of the suffering he had endured.
The door to Kagome's room opened silently. Tears and whimpers escaped the sleeping miko as she tossed and turned. After a few moments the door slid shut as silently as it had been opened.
Sesshoumaru was true to his word. By sunrise they were on their way, the castle fading quickly behind them. Kagome road the two-headed dragon, Ah-Un, with Jaken. Rin road on Sesshoumaru's youki cloud, which she still couldn't quite figure out, up ahead. He had not spoken to her at all, not even so much as glanced her way. Several times during the day they paused to take a break and allow the dragon time to relax. She wasn't sure if it was in her head but it seemed as if the trip back was taking much less time than her trip there had.
That night when they stopped, Sesshoumaru disappeared. Rin explained that he often did such things and not to worry. That they would be safe no matter what. Jaken's mouth didn't seem to stop either. He was constantly grumbling about how she had interrupted important business and taken their Lord from his post. As she was setting up her sleeping bags for her and Rin she couldn't help but catch his words. The little toad demon was across the campsite on the other side of the fire, sitting against the base of a tree.
"Sesshoumaru-sama was gone long enough what with that disgraceful hanyou Naraku. No thanks to you we have to return to that wretched place and clean up yet another mess left by his filthy hanyou brother. Honestly, this place would be so much better without such dishonorable creatures." The little demon's cries filled the clearing as Kagome kicked burning embers in his direction.
"You're one to talk you disgusting, pathetic excuse for a youkai. At least Inuyasha wasn't a sniveling, ankle biting pile of skin like you!" Jaken stood angrily, his staff in hand.
"I'm not the one about to be six feet under the surface of the earth now am I?" Rage boiled in her veins. Frantically she began to pick up stones and pebbles, throwing them as hard as she could at the hideous little being before her. He squealed in pain, as each stone held a tiny bit of her miko power. Her hand suddenly stopped mid-throw, held back almost painfully by her wrist.
"That is quite enough. Go to sleep." Releasing her wrist he moved to sit beside Rin's resting place. Poor Rin had hidden under the covers when Kagome had lost her temper.
"You heard him ningen. Go to bed." His mocking, sneering voice grated against her nerves. Just as she was about to turn around and start beating upon him once more Sesshoumaru spoke.
"I said enough, Jaken. Sleep." That was perhaps the closest she had ever come to hearing him yell. It was obvious that the demon lord was agitated. Stiffly Kagome laid down to yet another restless night. Sesshoumaru eyed her several times in her sleep as she moaned and whimpered.
It was the dawn of their third day on the road when Edo came into view. The thick fog of misery was still evident upon the flourishing village. Although the sun was shining the village still seemed dark. Sesshoumaru instructed for them to land far from Edo. Jaken was to remain with Ah-Un as he escorted Rin and Kagome into the village. However, he first wanted them to change into more appropriate clothing. Rin went off on her own, calling behind her that no one follow her. Sesshoumaru eyed Kagome down, a slightly disgusted look upon his face as he moved to undo his obi.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Gathering her things she ran off slightly to the left of where Rin had gone. Kagome returned several minutes later in her old high school uniform. It was what she had met Inuyasha in and it seemed fitting that she say goodbye in it. Rin emerged about the same time in a blood red kimono with gold stitched phoenixes flying up from the hem. The sash she wore matched the gold stitching, as did the sticks which held her long hair up in a bun. Rin smiled bashfully at her, smoothing out the front of the kimono.
"Is this alright Kagome-san?" She looked so grown up with her hair pulled up in such a manner.
"It's perfect Rin. Come, I'm sure Sesshoumaru is waiting for us." Together they returned to see Sesshoumaru waiting at the top of the hill.
Kagome marveled at his appearance. He'd traded in his traditional kimono for a dark blue one with silver dragons in the stitching. It was much more elegant than Rin's, as the detail in the dragons themselves was greater. His hair was pulled back at the base of his neck, bound once more halfway down. The only pieces left unbound were on either side of his face, just in front of his ears. His swords hung gracefully at his hip, bound by a silver obi. Raising an eyebrow at her choice in clothing he proceeded to extend his hand towards Edo.
"Lead the way." Nodding she swallowed the lump in her throat before setting out to complete the last leg of her journey.
The people of the village gasped and whispered amongst themselves as Kagome led the demon lord through the streets. They all knew him as Inuyasha's ruthless older brother, the one who had abandoned him as a child. To see him in their midst must have been alarming. Kagome found she could barely contain herself as she reached the fence around Kaede's property. Forcing herself not to run she made her way up the walkway, noting how Sesshoumaru refused to take one step inside the fence. That's when she remembered that Kaede had placed charms around her hut to keep demons away. It didn't matter.
"Kaede-sama?" The flap opened to reveal a very tired Kaede. "I'm back! And I brought Sesshoumaru-sama with me! We can bring Inuyasha back now." Her smile was bright. Inuyasha would be back within the hour. She'd be able to hug him, tell him how sorry she was and tell him she loved him. Kaede sighed heavily.
"Follow me child." Confused, Kagome followed the old woman out past her gates and down the path to the forest.
They walked in silence, Rin and Sesshoumaru several feet behind them. Kaede constantly glanced back at him, mistrust flashing in her eyes. Had he not helped slay Naraku? And he was here, ready to bring Inuyasha back. Her stomach filled with butterflies as they walked, excitement and anticipation building in her bones. She wanted to run ahead, to beg them to hurry so she could see her beloved Inuyasha again. Soon the Goshinboku was in view and she felt her heart pulsing in her chest. What did Kaede want to show her? Where was Inuyasha?
They stopped at the foot of the tree, Kaede stepping back a few feet. Sadly she pointed up to the tree. Kagome's smile slowly faded as she turned to look. A cross with a wreath of flowers was pinned to the bark. Her gaze dropped beneath it to find a mound of dirt, freshly moved. More flowers lay atop it, covering most of the grave. Furiously she turned to Kaede.
"No! You were supposed to wait!" She pointed to Sesshoumaru. "He can bring him back!" Shaking her head Kaede sighed.
"I tried telling you before, dear. He can not bring Inuyasha back."
"Yes he can! Tensaiga can do it! Isn't that right, Sesshoumaru-sama? You can do it!" Her voice was pitching, ready to break at any moment. Desperately she turned to him. "That's why you came with me. To bring him back." Tears filled her eyes, threatening to fall.
"He already has, Kagome."
"What?" She was lost. What did she mean? Inuyasha was dead now, that was it. That was why they were having this argument.
"The first time was when Sesshoumaru-sama arrived at the battle site. Naraku had used Kohaku to distract the others and was able to break Inuyasha's neck. Although his ability to heal was rapid, it wasn't good enough. Sesshoumaru brought him back then. At the end of the battle the wounds he had established were too great. There was nothing left to do but wait and see if he would pull through. Unfortunately his demon half wasn't as strong as it could have been, and he died. I am sorry Kagome-sama. There is nothing more to be done."
"You're lying. I'll bring him back!" Dropping to her knees she began to use her hands to pull away the dirt. Frantically she dug, throwing the dirt on either side of her. It was all a lie. It had to be. Sesshoumaru could use Tensaiga and bring him back. He just had to!
"Miko." She dared not stop moving, not now. "Miko." His voice was more commanding this time. But still, she couldn't stop. If she did it would be admitting defeat.
"You can bring him back! We just have to pull him up and he'll be back." She turned to him then, once more prepared to beg. "Can't you?" He was quiet, staring at her a long moment.
"He is gone. There is nothing more to be done." Her helplessness consumed her, turning into resentment and frustration. Getting to her feet she lunged at Sesshoumaru.
"Liar!" Vainly she began to pound upon his chest. "Why are you here if you can't do anything? You're still the same vindictive, heartless beast here to laugh at his misfortunes! You'll never change!" As she pushed and hit him she suddenly found his arm wrapped around her, pressing her against his body. Once more Kagome broke into tears. Her sobs echoed throughout the trees, despairing and laden with grief.
"Let us go, miko." Turning, with her still against his side, he led her away from that place. Rin stood momentarily with Kaede, gazing upon the slightly disturbed grave. Kneeling she replaced the dirt, forming it neatly back into the mound. Dusting off her hands she turned to Kaede and bowed.
"He was a good person. I am sorry for you loss." With that she trotted off to rejoin her lord.
Jaken squinted and frowned as he beheld the figures cresting the hill. His lord still had the miko with him. She was filthy, her knees and arms covered in dirt. When they had reached him he ran to Sesshoumaru. Kagome continued on to Ah-Un, dejected and grief-stricken. Her eyes were dark and void of all emotion, her body limp and hollow. Rin followed her, helping her into the saddle the dragon wore.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, I was under the impression the ningen would be left here after respects were paid." Moving past the little toad, Sesshoumaru took Rin's hand in his own.
"She will be joining us in the West. Rin could use a caretaker while the aftereffects of the war are taken care of. After all, you cannot watch her all day. Unless of course you desire to?" Fumbling, Jaken moved to take Ah-Un's reins.
"N-no milord."
"There shall be no more discussion on this topic. The miko shall be Rin's caretaker in my absences."
Kagome allowed his words to sink in. She was to move to the Western lands. She was to care for Rin, be her nanny. What about Edo? What about home, her mother and Souta? But in all those places she would think of him. She would think of all the memories they had created in those places. In the West there were none. There was only solitude.