Chapter 2
Dawn found the two standing outside of Kaede's hut with the remainder of the group standing with them in the cool morning air. Mattaki stood to the side, letting the others say goodbye to their long-time companion in peace.
Sango cried as Kagome pulled her into a hug. "Are you sure you won't come with us?" she asked, missing her best friend already.
Kagome sighed as she hugged Sango back, then pulled away a little to meet her liquid gaze. "You know I can't, Sango," she almost whispered. "I... I have to go out and see if I can find a place for myself. We both know I shouldn't be here, but since I am..." she trailed off, and Sango nodded on a sob.
"I know," she whispered back. "But I'm going to miss you so much," she sniffed.
"It's not like I'm going back to my future world and will never see you again, Sango. I'll come around to visit every so often – after all, I have to make sure that lecherous monk makes an honest woman out of you," she giggled wetly as Miroku tried to look innocent and instead only managed to look like more of the lecher he truly was.
Sango let go her hold on Kagome to smack Miroku as his hand started towards her and laughed too, though her laughter was still marred by tears. Miroku stepped forward and hugged Kagome as well, keeping his hands in respectful places as the big inuyoukai standing beside her narrowed his eyes warningly.
"I will miss you as well, Kagome-sama. I wish that things had turned out differently; but they did not and we must now move forward with what we have been given," he said. "I know that your ki does not always answer your call, so I have written a stack of sutra that you can easily charge – it is the same principal as your arrows, and when you pick a sutra and hold it for more than three seconds your ki will automatically charge it. It is not much, but I did what I could and they will help you in a pinch where your arrows are not appropriate."
Kagome nodded shakily as she took the sutra and put some of them in a pocket that was easily reachable, and the rest in her pack – there were a lot of them, and she knew this was not only a costly gift – ink and paper was expensive in this era – but one that had taken him some time to complete. She was totally touched.
"Thank you, Miroku," she hiccuped, a watery smile directed at him. "I'm going to miss you, you pervert. Take care of Sango – no," she said, looking at them both, "Take care of each other."
They both nodded solemnly, and Kagome looked over and met Kaede's wise old eye. With a sob she threw herself into the old woman's arms and held her tightly. Kaede had become a grandmother to her, and she would miss the comfort of arms holding her in her sorrow. "I'm going to really miss you, Kaede," she whispered sadly. "But I'll be back to see you, because I could never forget you and just leave."
Kaede simply nodded; hugging the girl she also saw as family, she said, "I will sorely miss ye, too, Kagome. But I understand why ye feel ye must go. I will look forward to seeing ye again, my child."
She squeezed the older woman once more, and then stepped away. "Thank you, Kaede."
Kaede simply nodded again, and then Kagome looked down at the very quiet Shippo, who was looking at the ground and running his toy top through nervous fingers.
"Shippo?"
He looked up as she addressed him, and she was startled to see a small smile on his mischievous face. She held out her arms to him, and he hopped into them immediately.
"Are you sure you don't want to go with me?" she asked, her voice muffled as she hugged him to her.
He nodded, his smile fading as he looked at her. "Yeah. I have to get strong before I come back and travel with you." He looked with suspicion at Mattaki for a moment, then back at her. "That way I can protect you. But anyway," he said, his smile coming back, "I have something for you." He pulled out one of his acorns and showed it to her. "This acorn is special. Keep it with you always, and I'll always be able to find you no matter where you are. Don't let anyone take it from you, k?"
She smiled back at him as she put it in its own little pouch in her bag, her heart lightened a little with his gift. "So... when you take a break from your training, you'll come visit me?"
He grinned, then hopped down from her arms. "Yup! So I'll see you soon, K'gome."
Feeling a bit better Kagome smiled one last time at everyone, then shouldered her pack and turned to follow the road out of the village; looking back over her shoulder she smiled and waved one last time, then turned her eyes back to look forward as her feet followed the road as it disappeared into the horizon.
It reminded her of one of her favorite poems – from the Lord of the Rings.
The Road goes ever on and on
Out from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
Let others follow it who can!
The last part of it, though... about weary feet finding their rest at an inn... well, I won't be doing that. Since I don't have any money and all, I'll be sleeping outside. Which reminds me...
"Mattaki-sama?"
The daiyoukai glanced at her. "Yes?"
"It's summer right now, of course, but fall and winter will come. Do you know of any good places – maybe a cave with some hot springs and a source of drinking water nearby that we could winter in?" she asked, blushing a little, though she didn't know why.
He cocked his head at her for a moment, wondering at the blush. "First, please call me Mattaki. There is no need for formality between us, is there? After all, we will be together for a very long time, little miko, ne?"
She looked at him carefully, wanting to make sure he meant it, and then smiled softly and nodded. "Hai. But only if you call me Kagome."
"Agreed. Now, as to your question, I do remember a few places like that, but there is no need unless you really want to live in a cave. I have an estate that we could be more than comfortable in during the cold months."
Looking startled, she looked up at him with wide eyes. "Truly? After so long, would it still exist?" she asked.
"Oh, yes. It is bespelled. When I am not there the estate and the shadow servants both sleep. They are hidden away, and neither thieves nor time can do it any damage. I am not without money, either. In fact, I think that we should head there first so that I may gather some coin in case it is needed."
"Oh, no! I couldn't ask you to spend your money on me, Mattaki! Especially as you're already stuck spending all your time with me," she said guiltily. "I wouldn't feel right imposing on you any more than I already am."
Smiling into the freshening morning breeze, he lifted his head and scented the air. It had been so long since he'd been able to do so! "You know," he said, his voice full of his pleasure, "it has been so long since I've been able to enjoy even this simple joy of breathing in the softly-scented morning air." After a moment, he looked back down at her. "I do not begrudge this vow of my son's that I have agreed to take up. It has allowed me to live again – how could I be anything but grateful for that chance? It is a small thing to be tied to you as your protector to gain life once more in all its glory. And truly, I am pleased not to be alone – to have a companion that I know I will not lose to time or anything else. So do not feel badly, Kagome. And accept that I will use my money in any way I choose – including for you."
She really wanted to argue with him about that but she just couldn't; the look of contentment in his eyes as he enjoyed the morning was so captivating, and she could never deny him whatever he wanted to do. It was, after all, because of her that he was here and not dead, true – but it was also because of her that he was here and trapped. He wasn't really free, and that made a lot of difference in her mind.
In the end, it wasn't as though he'd made that oath to her of his own free will. He was merely being forced to take over the vow his son had tossed aside, and that was a guilt that she would probably never completely get over.
The least she could do is give him his way in anything that she could.
But she had to smile as she watched him, his silver locks shining with such brilliance in the bright morning sunlight and his golden eyes dancing with pleasure as he just enjoyed the day simply for what it was. She had the feeling traveling with him was going to be very different than it had been with his son.
And then something occurred to her, and she felt even more guilty. "Ah... Mattaki?" she said in a small voice, and he looked down at her questioningly. "I am so sorry – I didn't even think to ask you what you wanted to do. Is there something that you would rather do than just travel around? Perhaps... you would like to see Sesshoumaru?"
He chuckled almost merrily at her. "As for Sesshoumaru, he will find me when he chooses to. And I don't mind traveling around – it has been centuries since I roamed freely across the earth. It is good to be free to do so again."
Her brow furrowed. "Well... is there any particular place you wish to go?" she asked.
"No, not really. Wherever the road takes us is fine with me." Then it was his turn to frown. "But... it occurs to this one that I definitely need to return to my estate – I need a sword. As your protector I'm going to need one, especially as we are traveling and could run into anything."
Kagome eyed him, surprised. "Oh! You know, I hadn't even noticed that you didn't have one. What about armor? I mean, I never see Sesshoumaru without his armor, and you probably had some too, way back when, ne?"
Chuckling as he nodded down at her, he said, "Yes... I also have armor stored there. Do not worry, Kagome, we will have everything we need as we wander." She is so innocent, watching the world around her all wide-eyed with wonder. He scowled inwardly, then. But her eyes are shadowed now. Because of Inuyasha. He taught her pain, and that one of my blood did such a thing angers me. It is fortunate for him that I cannot get my claws into him.
It was beyond him how someone could look into those liquid blue eyes and deliberately harm her. Or forget her for some other female. Already, barely knowing her as he did he felt a protectiveness towards her that very few people had ever brought out in him. He knew that even without that vow, had he just met her in some other way he still would have chosen to protect her.
A comfortable silence fell as both walked at an easy pace, feeling no need to rush as they were not in any hurry. For Kagome especially, it almost felt odd to be traveling without an angry hanyou screaming at them all to hurry the hell up.
But much, much more pleasant for all its strangeness.
It took them three days at their easy pace to reach his hidden estate, and once they stood in what looked to be an empty meadow Mattaki seemed to perk up some, obviously happy to reach their destination.
Kagome was behind him and so did not see what he did, but he'd certainly done something because all of a sudden the air in front of them began to shimmer, and slowly a traditional Japanese shiro began to appear before them. It took but a few moments for it to phase into sight, and then with a sigh, Mattaki smiled at her.
"Welcome to my home, Kagome," he stated, satisfaction simply oozing from him. She couldn't help but smile back at him.
The gate in the hei swung open and Mattaki entered with no hesitation, Kagome following him just slightly cautiously. She didn't want to anger anything that might be protecting this place. Triggering its defensive systems would probably be a very bad thing for her.
When they reached the steps of the palace proper several odd-looking beings stood waiting and Mattaki wasted no time in addressing them, giving orders as though he'd only just left his home a few days before – and not centuries ago.
He turned to her and gestured at one of the servants. "Follow Satoshi here, my dear, and he will show you a room and then take you to the baths so that you can refresh yourself. I hope you don't mind if we stay here for a day or so?"
She shook her head, still looking around in appreciation. The palace was beautiful. "No. It's not like I have anyplace to be," she said, that statement seeming to pull her back to the here and now and saddening her aura a little.
Mattaki watched her for a moment with a sharp eye and then nodded, letting it go. Now was not the time. "Well then, after you have relaxed and refreshed yourself he will escort you to the dining room for dinner. It's rather easy to get lost here, if you aren't familiar with the place. If you wish to explore, I will escort you after dinner."
"Thanks, Mattaki," she smiled shyly, and then turned to follow the designated servant. He watched her go, and then turned to the other servants still awaiting his word. "Send Hana to her as a maidservant," he said, and one of the beings standing there nodded and disappeared to do his bidding.
Striding confidently into his home he looked around, happy to be seeing it once again. It had been, after all, a very, very long time.
At the time he'd still been Lord of the West he'd built this place to get away from the main palace and Sesshoumaru's mother – or anyone else that wanted to bother him. This was also where he'd loved and lived with his hime, his sweet wife. The funny thing was that he felt more at home here than he did his main palace – and he'd been born there and lived most of his life there, as well.
But that was really his place of business, so to speak. There he was the Western Lord, with all the responsibilities that went with the title. Here he was simply the Lord, and there was little responsibility to worry over. It was where he could simply be himself, rather than the Inu no Taisho.
He wondered as he walked, taking a small tour of his palace just to refresh his own memories of the place, what Kagome thought of it. He really hoped she liked it, because he hoped to be able to convince her to call his home hers, as well.
While the armory here wasn't as big as the one at the main yamashiro it was impressive enough, with many different weapons. While none of them were of the caliber of say, Tessaiga or Tenseiga, they were strong and would serve him well. And he also had extras of his armor here, as well. All in all he would now be attired with at least marginal suitability as Kagome's protector. Anyone seeing him would think twice about attacking.
And since that was the purpose of the whole thing he was more than pleased – although he decided that as soon as he had the chance he would have Totosai create him a new sword. Plain steel just wasn't going to cut it – not after he was used to so much more, because these blades, while good enough for small-time combat, wouldn't be able to be a channel for his youki.
Once he had taken care of his immediate weapons needs he carried the chosen sword and armor back to his suite of rooms and smiled with a deep happy inhale of the scents in the palace.
It instantly relaxed him and he decided a nice soak would be a welcome thing so, setting aside his armor and swords atop a low tansu he headed for the bathing room, confident that Kagome should have been done by that time and back in her rooms.
He found out just how wrong he was as he entered the steamy room and stopped dead, his mind emptying of any thought as he stared at the very naked young woman sleeping in the hot water. He honestly tried to turn and leave, but he simply couldn't – he was spellbound.
She was beautiful.
Delicately molded limbs floated easily in the water as her hair wrapped around her and drifted in the pool. She was slender but not skinny, her body curving where it ought and flat in all the right places – like her belly. She didn't appear to have an ounce of fat on her except in awfully tempting areas – like her full, rounded, high-set breasts, or what he could see of her rear end. Her legs were long and slender and at their apex, a tiny, well-groomed thatch of black curls.
He began to sweat, just a little, and decided it was a good time to get out of that room. He'd never intended to violate her privacy in such a manner, but he couldn't help himself as he froze at the sight of something so beautiful. Perhaps he should find a willing female and settle his male needs before they once again left on their journeying? It had been over two hundred years since he'd had a female...
But he dismissed that thought almost as soon as it appeared – taking out frustrated desires towards one woman on another was really not very honorable. For some reason, seeing what he had had caused him to think of his sexual needs for the first time in centuries – which meant that she was the one he desired.
It was not really surprising. They were constantly in each other's company and she was a beautiful young woman, full of life and glowing with health even though her light was dimmed with grief for now. It was really, now that he'd thought about it, only a matter of time before he began desiring her, since she was everything that had always appealed to him in a female form.
Finding her maidservant he sent her in to wake Kagome from the bath, and then once it was clear took himself in to enjoy a nice soak in the heated waters. The memory of what he'd seen, though, kept interrupting his relaxation and he finally sighed in annoyance. It wasn't as though he could just have her, since she was just beginning to get over his son and what he'd done to her heart.
It seemed he was in for a long haul, but conversely he knew that eventually he would be able to have her. After all, they would be companions for basically eternity and he knew she found him attractive – he'd scented that the very first day he'd met her. So it was only a matter of time. He winced as he shifted in the water, adjusting himself to sit more comfortably. But it was promising to be a very painful wait.
He sighed. Nothing ever comes easy, does it?
They ended up staying at his estate for three days as Kagome just took advantage of having a roof over her head and easily accessible hot water. It had been some time since she'd been able to simply relax and not have to worry about peeping monks or bad-tempered hanyou when she bathed, and she'd soaked for hours each day they were there, storing up the experience to look back on once they'd left.
The last day there Mattaki had pulled her aside and asked her where she wanted to go when they left the next day. It wasn't something she'd really thought about, since she'd spent the last three years of her life wandering feudal Japan in a haphazard manner with no real destination in mind.
Something occurred to her then, and she frowned. "Mt. Hakurei," she said, tapping her lip thoughtfully. "Now that Naraku's gone, I want to make sure that no one can bring him or any part of him back."
Mattaki frowned as well. "What does Mt. Hakurei have to do with that? Is it not a holy mountain? I would not be able to go there, which means I would not be able to protect you. I like not that idea."
A little puzzled as to why he seemed so... upset at the thought of her being outside his care, since they'd only been together for a little over two weeks all told, she forced her mind to concentrate on his question. She could ponder on his odd reaction later.
"Mt. Hakurei isn't a holy place anymore," she said regretfully. "Naraku hid there after his body was destroyed so that he could regenerate in safety. When he was forced from the mountain there was a great deal of his... I don't know... flesh, for lack of a better word, left behind. I want to make sure that no one can get to that place, because even though the mountain collapsed into itself after Naraku left, there could still be... open ways into the heart of the mountain."
His brow shot up into his bangs as she spoke, and it poked at a sore spot in her heart – he looked so like Inuyasha at that point it hurt. But as she watched him, it became quite clear that he was nothing like his youngest son – and for that she couldn't be more grateful. He was also a great deal more handsome... no, she thought, not handsome. Beautiful. Like Sesshoumaru, but at least to her eyes, more so.
Whatever similarities he carried to his sons in looks, however, it was perfectly clear that he was nothing like them in personality – he was his own youkai.
Kagome smiled when she came to that realization, because she wanted no reminders of Inuyasha. She needed time to heal before she faced any part of that past.
It was a good thing she had that time.
She was pulled back from her thoughts as Mattaki spoke to her, waving a hand in front of her face. "Oh, I'm sorry, Mattaki," she blushed, "I'm afraid my thoughts wandered."
From the hint of scent she'd thrown out he suspected he knew where her thoughts had wandered, and he'd be lying if he said he minded. But that was not his point at this time, and so he pushed such thoughts away.
"That relieves my mind," he said. "Still, that also means that there will be many dangers there that did not exist before. I have often found that a once holy place that has been defiled seems to draw more darkness once it has fallen than other places that were never protected by the kami in the first place. We will have to be very careful."
"I know," she nodded. "Especially as any place that Naraku stayed for any length of time ended up drenched in an evil aura."
He was silent for a moment and then said slowly, "Still, while I understand your need to make certain the place is safe, I feel the need to make it clear that if there is a place that I cannot go then you will not go, either. If you are outside of my care I cannot fulfill the vow I have taken up. I hope you will not fight me on this, Kagome."
Confusion clouded her eyes as she looked at him, wondering why he was so adamantly opposed to her basically being out of his sight. Surely he was taking this protection thing a little too far?
Noting her confusion he said, "If I allowed you to leave me behind to go into danger in places that I could not follow, then I would be forsaking my vow as much as Inuyasha did."
"But... but it's not really your vow, Mattaki," she replied. "You just got stuck with picking it up thanks to Inuyasha running off with Kikyou."
"Perhaps it began that way, Kagome, but it is no longer Inuyasha's discarded vow that I am fulfilling. I chose to protect you for myself several days ago, because I realized that even without Inuyasha's vow holding me here, had I simply met you on my own, I would have chosen to protect you," he responded, to Kagome's astonishment. "So do not fear that I am held here against my will, little miko – I am here by choice, and Inuyasha's forsaken vow has nothing to do with it any longer."
Not knowing what to say to that declaration at all, Kagome, flustered, tried to find her footing without falling flat on her face though it wasn't working too well as she blushed and stammered her way through her next sentence. "W-well, it s-should be okay, then," she stuttered, her blush deepening to scalding as she realized how stupid she sounded. "I mean, there's n-nothing there that should be a problem for you." She cringed, knowing how bad she'd sounded; peeking up at him through her lashes only made her blush more as she caught laughter in his eyes.
Choosing not to make matters worse Mattaki simply let it go, though it was quite difficult not to tease her. Instead, he offered to walk with her in the gardens for a little exercise outside in the open air. Still trying to find her footing, Kagome nodded without looking at him, the thought that if she kept her eyes off of his too-gorgeous face, she wouldn't be flustered any longer making sure she kept her eyes glued to the ground.
I shouldn't be thinking like that at all, she scolded herself. It's bad enough he's stuck with me instead of being with his wife in the afterlife. He doesn't need me noticing his good looks and acting like a love-struck puppy. But it makes me wonder... how did someone like him create Sesshoumaru – and Inuyasha?
She just couldn't understand how a male with his panache had created two sons who were not anything like their father at all. Sesshoumaru and his coldness, nothing at all like his father's warm personality, and Inuyasha, socially awkward and always angry, as unlike his sire as it was possible to be.
True, Inuyasha hadn't grown up around his father, but environment only explained some of it.
"Tell me, Kagome... what is it that you hope to find on this journey?" he asked, and Kagome snapped out of her thoughts in an instant as she wondered what he meant.
"Find?" she asked. "I'm not sure I understand."
He could almost hear her puzzlement, so he expounded on his question. "Why did you leave the village?" he asked gently, watching her carefully though she didn't realize he was.
"Oh." Her brow cleared, though a sad look passed over her face. "I get it. I left because I just don't belong there. I never really did. But now I have no real ties there except Kaede, and she'll not last too much longer," she said, her aura becoming depressed. "And I could never live in the slayer's village with Sango and Miroku – it... I don't know... reeks of death and despair. Agony. They may not feel it but I do, and I could never be happy there. So... I suppose this journey is to find a place to belong – if I even can."
He nodded thoughtfully, looking at the ground as they walked. "I see. And have you any thoughts on where you might find your 'place to belong'?"
She shook her head. "No. I keep wondering if I even can belong anywhere in this time. If I hadn't had to destroy the well to keep Naraku or anyone else from getting through it... I would have just gone home. But... that's not an option anymore, and home is five hundred years away from where I am."
He nodded as they walked, letting the fresh air and sunshine do its job. "It is certainly a difficult thing to deal with," he agreed. "There are no easy answers. But I think that you will find what you are looking for – once you stop thinking about it and just let the answer come to you."
She eyed him suspiciously, wondering what he was getting at, then shrugged lightly and simply nodded. "Probably," she said lightly, lifting her little face to the sun and closing her eyes.
With her eyes closed, she had no idea that his own gaze was pinned on her while a faint question lay deep within those golden eyes. She was a puzzle in some ways, and he wanted to find the answers. There was something about her that was drawing him in, and since he wasn't fighting it, it wouldn't be long until he was obsessed.
There were worse things he could be obsessed about, he figured, and so when the thought occurred to him he simply shrugged his shoulders and ignored the warning chime that his sub-conscious gave off.
After a few minutes of silence he asked, "Do you mind if we take a slight detour on the way to Mt. Hakurei? I find that I am in need of a sword that is a little more than just a sword, if you take my meaning."
She shook her head with a small smile. "No... I daresay Totosai will be very glad to see you, as will Myouga, who I am sure is enjoying the free meals he can get from Momo – and the significant lack of danger that hovers near Totosai." She let out a small laugh; he was captivated at the delicate sound as for one moment true amusement pushed back the sorrow, grief, and melancholy she had been surrounded by since he'd met her. He stared at her, intrigued by this glimpse into her as she was before his son had damaged her, and hoped that he could help her heal until she was that way again.
After a moment of surveying her, he answered. "Yes, Myouga always was a coward, and Totosai as well. Surprising, since he isn't exactly powerless. Still, it will be good to see my old friends again."
By that time they had circled the entire garden and were once more nearing the doors into the shiro; Mattaki led her inside and to her door with a smile. "I will leave you here to ready yourself for the journey tomorrow, and will see you at first light?"
She nodded and slid her door open before stepping inside. "Goodnight, Mattaki," she said softly, and he inclined his head.
"Goodnight, little priestess," he replied, then turned and headed for his own rooms as she slid her door closed once more.
It would be an early start and he wanted to be well rested, for he had a very good idea that the true journey that they would be embarking on was one that would be taken through her heart – and those kinds of journeys were always the longest...
And most difficult.
~oOo~
Looking up at the mountain that Totosai called home, Kagome wrinkled her nose as the smell of the place penetrated her thoughts. The mountain was noisome and steams and fires burst through the thin crust in varying places, releasing poison into the air. It was not a place that a simple human girl could go.
Before she could ask her companion how they were to get to Totosai, the low 'moo' of Momo broke the loud silence and she shielded her face with her hands as Totosai, cross-legged atop the three-eyed beast, almost dropped his huge hammer at the sight of his guest.
"M-master?" he called out as the cow plunged to the ground and landed with jarring impact. He blinked those huge eyes several times, obviously thinking he was seeing things, but when Mattaki shook his head and began to grin he slid off his ride and bowed low, astonished, but very happy. "I never expected to see you again, master," he sighed after a moment, eyeing Kagome. "And you, miko... where are Inuyasha and your other friends?"
He must have realized from the look on her face that was a long and painful story, and cleared his throat apologetically. "I didn't mean to bring up bad memories... did they not make it out of a battle with that half-breed spider you all were chasing?"
Her voice caught in her throat as she tried to answer; Mattaki, seeing this, intervened. "Come, old friend, and sit with us. I will explain. Where is Myouga, or do you know?" he asked as they all sat down, Kagome throwing the daiyoukai a thankful glance at his tactful intervention of Totosai's questioning.
"Probably napping somewhere in Momo's fur, master," he answered, slapping the cow on the rear; his action startled a burst of youki from the animal, and within moments a tiny sharp cry was heard as the nomi in question jumped from his hideout in the cow's thick fur and landed hard in surprise as he took in just who he was facing.
After a good ten minutes of listening to the old flea moan and cry of his joy at once more seeing his master, they settled down and Mattaki told their tale in its entirety, leaving Kagome to simply listen and mourn in peace.
Myouga sighed once he'd heard of his charge's actions in abandoning Kagome for a shadow of his past. "It is not really surprising," he said sadly, looking at Kagome with regret. "Master Inuyasha could not see beyond his past to notice his future; he was simply incapable of moving on from the anguish he felt over his first love. I am saddened, but I am not surprised. I am sorry, Kagome-sama."
Unable to speak around the lump in her throat Kagome simply nodded, the misery in her eyes clear to all. In deference to her grief they moved on and soon Mattaki was speaking to the swordsmith of his need for another blade, one capable of channeling his vast power. That subject perked Totosai right up – he hadn't had a decent commission in ages.
He whipped out his pliers from somewhere – Kagome never could figure out where he hid half those things – and grinned gleefully, but before he could tell his former Lord to open up Mattaki simply pulled a fang himself and handed it over to the very disappointed swordsmith.
"How long will this take?" he asked, inwardly laughing at his old friend's disgruntlement, the question perking the old man up as he studied the fang he'd been given and nodded as though it was speaking to him.
"Yes, yes, perhaps... that could work, ah-" he glanced up at a patiently waiting Mattaki, "-give me two days. This tooth is so much stronger than the ones I had to work with for Tessaiga and Tenseiga that it will not only be stronger, but take less time to create. It's quite eager to be used," he grinned, tucking the tooth away somewhere. "Though I've gotta ask – since Inuyasha apparently doesn't exist on this plane anymore, why don't you just go get Tessaiga? I can feel it, about two day's travel from here."
Mattaki blinked, obviously surprised, as Kagome paled. "Tessaiga?" he asked. Then he thought about it and nodded. "I understand. Tessaiga repudiated Inuyasha when he abrogated his vow to protect the living woman and remained behind when he descended to hell. But how will I find it?"
"Ah, as to that, I'll lead you to it when I'm done with this one," Totosai said, indicating the fang he'd tucked into his clothes. He met Mattaki's gaze, and when he agreed the swordmaker said, "Well, the sooner begun, the sooner finished! I'll see you in two days. You gonna wait here?"
Mattaki looked around the small glade, finding it adequate; there was water and shelter to be had, though the fumes were a bit annoying when the breeze would shift that direction. He glanced at Kagome and found her eyes were miles away but the fumes did not seem to be bothering her, so he nodded at his old friend, who promptly took off back towards his home to begin work.
Not surprisingly, Myouga chose to stay and visit with someone he'd never thought to see again; while he was saddened that Inuyasha had done what he'd done, he couldn't say he was unhappy with the result. Of course, seeing Kagome in such a state was difficult; she was a sweet girl and deserved much better treatment than what his hanyou charge had given her.
But he wasn't blind to the fact that she would, in the end, receive that 'much better'; it was only a matter of time before the two that were bound together by a vow became bound in much closer ways. They would be together forever, after all, and as they were already attracted to each other - he was very good at picking up the little signals that the big people missed – love would soon follow. He couldn't say the idea displeased him. Kagome was a sweet, loving young woman with a heart as big as creation, and Mattaki was an honorable, strong and protective inuyoukai that was very capable of love, as he'd shown with Izayoi.
He was pretty sure the kami had known just what they were doing when they'd chosen to resurrect his old friend. Although it did occur to him to wonder what would happen when Sesshoumaru's mother decided to make an appearance. Satori was a wild card... and while her deliverance of an heir, a male-child to Mattaki had been a political necessity and nothing more, she was a hime in her own right, and very... conscious of social standing. Kagome, on the other hand, didn't think much of the caste system of the time. It would be an interesting meeting.
The two days passed quickly for Mattaki and Myouga, though not so quickly for Kagome; she didn't mind, however, finding herself floating in a limbo where time didn't really matter anymore. She could move as fast or as slow as she wanted, and it changed absolutely nothing. She moved outside time's influence, now.
It came to her as a peculiar thought, a realization; she was no longer tied to time, and therefore she needed to stop thinking of time as humans did. Humans, because they lived such short lives, needed to break time down into manageable portions – portions that they could number and understand. But someone who had no day of death did not need to do that – they could see time as it really was... something without beginning or end, an endless flow of days and nights that waved millions of humans 'years' away as though they were mere minutes.
"I must measure time as though I were the earth, rather than as though I were one that lived upon it," she sighed quietly to herself as she watched the small stream rush endlessly past her over the stones in its bed. "I don't need to worry about what day it is, or month, or year. Or even century. Because in truth, it doesn't matter. When you are as I now am, time... does not really exist. It truly has no meaning anymore."
Mattaki just watched her, saying nothing.
She was beginning to see that her life was totally different than what she would have expected as a simple human. Her life force was different and she could never go back to the way things had been.
Humanity no longer knew her as one of its daughters, instead she was claimed by the kami. It was a difficult adjustment.
Pleased with his new sword, Mattaki enjoyed testing it as Totosai, Myouga, and Kagome watched him; he was a Master with a sword, and as much as she had always thought Sesshoumaru was the most gifted with a blade, now she knew just how wrong she was. In this way at least, he had still not managed to best his father.
Finally, the fourth day after they had first arrived they departed, Myouga surprisingly choosing to go with them. It seemed that his confidence in his master was such that he did not fear even going into combat with him.
To Kagome, that said quite a lot.
It was strange traveling with the daiyoukai and the – normally – cowardly flea and Totosai, compared to her days spent traveling with Inuyasha and her friends. There was more peace and quiet, which suited her needs perfectly at this time... she needed it so that she could grieve and begin to adjust to her new life.
There was also conversation if she so desired as she found quite by accident that the former Lord of the West was a gifted conversationalist; they covered diverse topics and not once was she bored. Myouga and Totosai mostly just listened during those talks, or more accurately debates, though when she tired of those the flea would pipe up with interesting tales culled from centuries of living.
While it was different and she was the only female, surprisingly, she wasn't lonely at all – there was just something about Mattaki that was truly larger-than-life, and it just wasn't possible to be lonely with him around.
That didn't mean that she didn't miss the old days, the fights and the laughter and the battles. But as time passed she found herself adapting more and more to her new companions, and her mood eased just that much more as they headed in the direction that Totosai indicated Tessaiga was in.
It was on a day like any other that she took her first steps on the path to recovery; the day when Sesshoumaru finally appeared before his father. In his words hid a surprise that shook her up and made her start thinking, made her see...
He had simply appeared out of the forest ahead of them, Mattaki evincing no surprise at his presence, and truly, Kagome wasn't surprised, either – he had always had a commanding youki, one that could be felt far before he was seen.
Silver and gold just like his father, he approached at his usual pace and stopped when he felt like it; his eyes studied his sire and then moved to Kagome, and she could almost hear the questions.
It made her yearn for the day when she would never have to speak of her situation again.
"Father. It is a... surprise to see you again. And traveling with the miko, no less. This is a story I find I would like to hear."
In short order they were seated and Mattaki began speaking, once more taking the burden of telling on himself so that she would not have to. It was something she was very grateful for.
Sesshoumaru's countenance had darkened as the story unfolded, and when Mattaki finally fell silent he spoke, his voice cold. "It is no surprise to this one that the whelp dishonored himself so." He looked at Kagome, then. "Human or no, you deserved much better than his behavior towards you, were worthy of much more than he could give." As Kagome blinked in stunned silence, he turned back to his father. "So now you are bound to the miko by his vow." Something entered his gaze then, and he said, "But somehow, I do not think this is any great chore for you. You live again and are bound to an attractive, honorable and powerful female, though she is untrained, and are free to wander wherever you both choose. This one believes this is more providence than punishment for you."
Mattaki chuckled, fully aware of the stunned look on Kagome's face. "Perhaps."
With nothing further to say Sesshoumaru stood and nodded at his father, held Kagome's gaze for several seconds, then turned and disappeared back into the trees, having completely ignored Myouga's presence entirely – which suited the little nomi just fine.
But the things he'd said about her stuck in her mind, spinning inside her until she was almost dizzy – Sesshoumaru considered her attractive, honorable, and... powerful? She passed time with no notice as she considered his words, for Sesshoumaru to say such things meant that they were truth as he saw them. He was no liar, no matter what else he was.
And as the days passed her shoulders lightened little by little as she began to believe his words – at least partially. It was Inuyasha's loss that they were not together, not hers. He'd made the wrong choice, and too bad, so sad for him. It still hurt, yes...
… but not quite so much now.
As those days passed, a little more of Kagome began to peek out of bruised eyes day by day, and Mattaki watched, content to let time heal her wounds.
What was uncovered as her grief slowly dissipated was an extraordinary woman, intelligent, beautiful, and graceful with a gentle, loyal heart.
A woman he could most definitely learn to love.
~oOo~
A/N: There's something I need to say here. For Kate, unsigned - A review is a way to communicate with the author something meaningful about the story – even something as simple as, "I loved the chapter, can't wait for the next." But leaving the exact same sentence every time, "Put up the next chapter and hurry", is not a review. It's a demand. I don't get paid to write this story or any others, and I do have a real life that isn't particularly easy at times. This story and Splinter'd Realities have an update schedule – Splinter'd Realities is posted once a week on Saturdays, and this story will be updated once a week on Wednesdays. And no more. So a constant exhortation to put up the next chapter and hurry won't make a bit of difference to the posting schedule.
Amber