Blossoms in the Garden of the Moon
Chapter Four
We knew we had come across the area that we desired when we reached a large pulsing tree with pieces of multicolored fabric tied to its branches. My eyes catch two piece of bright chilly blue fabric fluttering in the wind; that are barely touched by time of decay yet. Kikyo and I pull out two pieces of fabric and pick a branch close to the bright blue ones. We knot our shreds of fabric right beside each other and watch in utter amazement as the fabric turns the same bright chilly blue before fluttering the same way as the other two have. We stare into the branches and two pieces of fabric the same color as ours catch our eyes near the top branch. They are tied side by side and their ends are long enough that they have been knotted together.
"We should go in and find the waterfall Sesshoumaru was taking about." Kikyo mutters and I nod and we walk away from the tree turning our back on the glaring pieces of bright fabric. We begin to feel a strong pull in a certain direction and follow it without really thinking our minds connecting on their own accord as our fingers lock around each other.
-3 months later-
Our travels for the last few miles until we reached the western castle were silent which was odd because with the two new people that joined Kikyo and I there was never any silence. We met Zenaku and Shinimi at the waterfalls where they were training and two more pieces of the puzzle clicked into place considering we had their new weapons in tow. That was a very unusual thing to happen to Kikyo and me but we tend to know not everything with us is normal.
"Kagome, how do you know where you are going?" Zenaku says with his hands behind his neck and his eyes closed as he walks beside us his throwing stars tucked into the pocket sewn into the front of his haori. Shinimi's fans are tucked into her sides and she walks with her hands folded into the sleeves of her kimono.
"I am actually wondering that as well Kagome." Kikyo murmurs squeezing my hand that is laced with hers. We had grown infinitely closer during our training with our two siblings. Yes through extensive inner research between the four of us we were able to unlock a few memories of a childhood together in a pristine white castle.
"I can feel him…his energy, I mean, it drowns his very lands and yet it surges from where ever he is and as I near it the surge becomes stronger and stronger." I murmur still feeling for the connection. Kikyo nods and Zenaku looks at me for a moment.
"I apologize for Shinimi and me being of no help but we have had yet to meet your friends and therefore we are unable to locate them." He says before shutting his eyes again and just listening to the sounds around him. Zenaku, like Kikyo and I, is gifted with a special ability as is Shinimi. Zenaku, once he has heard the sound of someone's soul can pinpoint them out of a million people. Likewise Shinimi only needs to touch someone with her aura once and she can find them.
"We are almost there the palace of the moon is right over this hill be prepared because it is likely the Lord has been awaiting our arrival." I say and they nod before we crest the hill looking down on the light grey palace sitting in the valley and glistening against the bright midday sun. I walk down the hill and the guards look at us as we approach. One jumps down and glares at us as we are not yet close enough to speak with.
We stop a few feet from him and his begin to growl roughly under his breath. "What have you a reason to be in the lands of the palace of the moon ningens?" The guard says and Zenaku moves to grab a throwing star I raise a soft hand before stepping forward and looking up at the guard who is taller than me but shorter than Sesshoumaru.
"I wish to see your lord and if you do not allow me such a luxury I will kill you here you stand before your lord has the chance." His eyes widen and then narrow before he growls roughly.
"Who are you filthy ningen?" Another guard says jumping down beside his fellow guard.
"Will you or will you not allow me entrance?" I snap aggressive from the wears of traveling. They draw and I pull out my double blades as Kikyo follows suit. The guards attack and Zenaku and Shinimi join in. We are just beginning the battle when a loud growl shakes the ground we're standing on and the gates are hurriedly opened. Sesshoumaru walks out his eyes narrowed and his mouth set in a snarl.
"Akitoki…Akihito…stand down!" He snaps roughly his beast vying for control. I sheath my weapons and walk forward unaffected by his obvious anger. I move until I am close enough that I am nearly touching him before I reach forward and grip his cheeks in my hands pulsing with a calming energy. He calms enough to be sensible and pulls away still keeping close to me. "Both of you should understand that after this day the Lady before you and any who accompany her by her word are allowed entrance to the palace of the moon seeing how she is now a Lady of the House of the West."
Their eyes widen and they fall to their knees bowing to me in shock at a ningen, as they put it earlier, being accepted as a lady of the house.
"Oh and boys never call me a ningen again you will refer to me by my name or the title I hold as miko am I perfectly clear. Next time I will simply kill you!" I say before following Sesshoumaru into the castle as Zenaku, Shinimi, and Kikyo follow behind me swiftly.
His claws run along the back of my hand showing how much he missed my presence.
"My brother has been an annoyance miko…" I laugh softly as we enter into a large living room where people are sitting in various states of activities. They drop their things and hug Kikyo and me welcoming us home.
"Who are you're friends wench?" Inuyasha sneers and I blink and notice a throwing star whirling toward the unsuspecting demon and pinning him to a wall.
"Half breed mind your language when speaking of our Aneki…I dislike your choice of words." Sesshoumaru raises an eyebrow and snickers under his breath.
"He is much quicker and less patient than myself Inuyasha…I advise you however to refrain from speaking of a Lady of the West so rudely it will not be tolerated whelp." Inuyasha nods stiffly and I raise a brow at the man standing before me starring down his younger brother.
"Zenny remove Inu-kun from the wall please." Kikyo says smiling at the glaring man. He nods disgruntled and opens his palm. The throwing stare returns and Inuyasha drops to the floor yelping when his butt hits it.
"You're lucky Kikyo-aneki has a soft spot for you!" He growls before looking to the chuckling taiyoukai. Sesshoumaru looks pointedly at my siblings before speaking.
"You three may rest here and I will have a servant show you your rooms however I need to speak with Kagome in my study…" His hand touches my back and he leads me away toward somewhere in his palace. I follow the lead of his heated hand in silence taking in the strong thrum of his calming power. We reach a set of double doors and he reaches forward and opens them only to lead me in at the same pace.
His warm hand leaves my back and he turn to shut the door clicking them locked with a simple gesture. I walk around a bit taking in the large room with dark colored wooden bookshelves filled to the brim with books and scrolls. A long desk sits back against windows and it is covered in paper work. Everything seems clean and organized but also a bit disheveled.
A hand grips mine and turns my toward them before lips brush against the top of my hand and move until my finger tips are touching his lips. A fang nips my pointer finger and blood drips onto his awaiting tongue before he soothes the wound with a gentle caress of his tongue. I giggle as his aura wisps impatiently around me before settling in with my own as he closes his eyes briefly in content.
"I missed you…" I murmur into the silence before grinning and reaching up to pat his cheek with my hand. His lips part and a soft nearly inaudible gasp leaves his lips. I drop my hand from his cheek and take a step away from him before speaking again. "What have you decided about your suitor?" His eyes follow me as I move to stare out the window.
"If you must know I have yet to decide…the only way to nullify the treaty is for one of us to find our soul mates or for the female to call it off." Sudden dread fills my system at the thought of him being with another woman. Was it because I was so taken to him? Would he and I continue to have the same relationship after he mated her?
I feel his fingers tighten as they land on my shoulder and he gaze out the window with me. "How can you tell when someone finds their soul mate?" My words cause him to sigh and nearly snort in disgust.
Without much thought I turn to lean against the window sill and stare up at him quizzically. "There is only one way to tell…if the female attacks the male it will not injure him. Typically if the reason for breaking a treaty is this factor it is tested so it isn't like we could lie…" He trails off and I growl lowly under my breath before walking form the room and toward the dojo. I begin training trying for the life of me to figure out how to help him. I do not want to help him because of the fact that I owe him but because of the fact that I am taken with him…no because if I had to be completely honest with myself I loved him.
This realization brings me to my rear and I just look wide eyed at the wall before curling my knees to my chest and falling into my own mind desperately searching for Lady Midoriko.
'Please Midoriko-sensei…I-I don't know what to do. I love him but its different this time…I can't ever be with him. Please I'm being you to tell me why all of this has to happen to me. Do the kami hate me that much?'
'Kagome-san please relax…perhaps there is something more that you are missing. Why is it that you love him so dearly?'
'Why do I have to…fine…I know somewhere inside of me that he is everything I've wished for in a man after everything with Inuyasha. He doesn't lie, he tells you exactly what he thinks and doesn't care whether it hurts or not. He believe cheating is dishonorable and his honor means everything. Despite other's opinion he's caring and loving toward Rin and sometimes even me. When I see him my heart flutters and butterflies enter my stomach…yeah I guess that's cheesy but true. If I listed everything else I'd be spending an eternity with you.'
Her soft laughter finds me as she touch my cheeks softly. Her fingers play over them before they find my hair and pull my head back so I'm looking at her. 'Child you're so very silly….surely there is a reason for these feelings. The kami did not wish to curse you with terrible luck. All love comes with struggle and if you feel that this is true I'm sure they will guide you as best as they can.'
As I'm about to reply my senses go on high alert informing me that someone was entering the dojo and my back was exposed to them at a lethal distance. Both were armed and had powerful auras. My instincts take over and I awaken from my mind only to turn and attack both with one blast of spiritual energy. My brother is sent flying into the walls severely burned and unconscious while Sesshoumaru is left standing with his chest shredded and yet no burns aside from his clothing. His eyes widen as he stares at me and I back away trembling slightly when I see that my brother is in fatal condition and Sesshoumaru is unharmed. My brother must have taken the brunt of the attack. Shinimi and Kikyo hurry in and stop when they see the horror written in my gaze and Zenaku lying deathly still on the ground. Shinimi drops to her knees and starts healing him while Kikyo hurries to my side. She places her hands on my shoulders and I try to slap away the touches. Other follow in behind one of which is a woman with deep fiery red hair, which falls to her waist in wild curls, and icy blue eyes. Her lips form a snarl as she stares at my trembling body and Sesshoumaru's obvious state of being attacked.
Kikyo brings my attention back to her when she harshly slaps me across the face and then grips my cheeks. "You must tell me what happened or Shinimi can't properly heal our brother!" I shakes and feel tears fall down my face as my eyes try to find my brother pain stricken face from behind her. I fail because she move to block my view. "Kagome…"
I jump at her harsh shout of my name and begin to stutter my reply. "I…I…I was talking with Lady Midoriko….they entered and my mind went on high alert because of their vast aura's…without thinking I followed my instinct because my back was exposed and if attacked would have taken a fatal blow! I…I didn't mean to hurt him….Zenaku must have taken the brunt of the attack because Sesshoumaru-sama wasn't hurt as badly…I swear I didn't mean to hurt him…" Kikyo slowly moves aside to show me an almost completely healed Zenaku, albeit still unconscious but still almost completely healed.
Sesshoumaru is still frozen on the spot and the woman is snarling lowly under her breath. "You have harmed my betrothed ningen…I'll kill you!" She lunges and I feel my eyes widen knowing with that speed that I won't be able to block her blow and that Kikyo and I will both be harmed. Before I can think to put up a barrier she is thrown back and a loud snarl shakes the walls at my back. Standing before me is Sesshoumaru. His claws are extended slightly and his hair whips around him. Those silver strands brush my cheeks and I almost reach forward to touch them. The snarls lower in volume as Sango, Miroku, and Inuyasha run in after feeling his aura spike so angrily. He controls himself and looks over his shoulder at me with pink tinged eyed.
His eyes speak volumes of what just occurred and I'm shocked by the forgiveness in that one simple gaze. His next words shock me further silencing any retort. "After the initial wave I pushed your brother away and took the full attack…" I bring a trembling hand to my lips in shock and feel my eyes widen realizing how powerful the attack truly must have been. His eyes close and he return his attention to the snarling woman who is slowly standing with the help of a guard. "You will refrain from attacking her or I will kill you. She is MINE." He shifts ever so slightly giving me a peak at the woman's face. Her eyes are wide with unbridled fury and they glare at him in true pain mixed with hatred.
"You little bitch you stole my mate…you better watch your back!" With that she storms away leaving the castle entirely. Sesshoumaru turns quickly to me and squat down to my level taking my face in his hands.
I part my lips and words seemingly fall from them in a vivid stream. "I attacked you and you took all of my attack…but…but…but….but you didn't get hurt and you are unharmed…does this mean…" His lips crashing into mine cut me off entirely and my hands reach up to grip his wrist tightly holding his hands to my cheeks but knowing full well he can pull away if he liked. The deep fire that begins burning in me signals just how strongly I do love him. Wait…if I didn't hurt him then does that mean we are soul mates…does that mean that I am indeed his? Wait, I am no bodies and he claimed me in front of everyone. He pulls away and takes a step back noticing the look in my eyes. His own eyes widen in fear as I point a shaking finger at him.
Inuyasha's voice floats across the dojo but doesn't deter my slow deliberate steps toward the slowly backing away taiyoukai. "What the hell…"
"You…you…I am property of no one!" His eyes narrow playfully and he stops and as I run into his arms circle around me waist. My finger lands soundlessly on his bare chest and then curls into my fist as I giggle softly. "However, if I must belong to someone I guess you're the best choice." His chuckles vibrate against my hand before his free hand lift to cup my cheek and his lips find mine in a sweet and endearing kiss that begins and ends all too quickly. With a small giggle I reach both hands up and pull his lips back to my own in a much longer kiss this time.