Chapter 17: What's Best
The next day, a private AgustaWestland helicopter began its decline adjacent to Sado Island's mountainside, the wind from the propellers picking up a barrage of leaves and sand as it professionally landed near the beach. Once settled, the doors of the copter flew open, and a highly claustrophobic Sesshomaru was the first to step out of the massive luxury chopper, Jaken and Ume following close behind him. Adjusting his shirt, the demon signaled the pilot to leave, waiting until he was a distance away before pulling the noise canceling plugs from his ears. Glancing behind him, he rolled his eyes at his servant who had fallen to the ground, the wind from the helicopter having forced his lightweight body to plunge to the earth. Waiting until the imp collected himself; Sesshomaru began to walk towards the mountain, where a staircase was revealed to be hidden amongst the forest.
He always hated this part of the journey to the Oracle. The woman had insisted on being separate from society, even after all these years. His hair pulled back into a low ponytail, the demon lord had dressed casually for this trip which was more like a hike after one cleared the first set of stairs. Already he could hear Ume panting heavily, her tiny but inactive body well out of shape. "This is why you don't eat pizza for every meal." he muttered to her unsympathetically.
"Ojiisama! That was mean!" she responded in between deep breaths.
"I only speak the truth." he said, starting up another group of stairs. Peeking down, he made sure his boots connected with the ground fully, ensuring that he wouldn't slip while he walked. "I should be the one short of breath, I'm much older than you and haven't even broken a sweat."
"Ojiisama…." she whined pathetically, wincing when she received a glare from him in response. He hated whining. "Can you carry me?"
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"Ojiisama, I'm tired…."
"I did not tell you to accompany me on this journey. I also told you ahead of time that I was not responsible for your exhaustion."
"Aww…" whimpering a little, Ume suddenly stopped walking, forcing Sesshomaru to turn and look at her.
"You are truly exhausted?" he stiffly asked.
A hopeful look in her eyes she nodded and collapsed in the middle of the path. Staring up at her uncle with her wavering brown eyes, Ume held out her hands to him, expecting to be helped.
Shaking his head once, Sesshomaru growled and relented, just like she knew he would. "Fine."
"Ojiisama put me down!" Ume cried from her position over her uncle's shoulder.
"No, I will carry you until we reach the Shinto, this is what you wanted remember?"
"You should be careful what you wish for." Jaken mocked from behind the pair, dutifully following his master along as they continued their hike up the mountainside.
"Oh shut up kappa!"
The voices already grating on his nerves, Sesshomaru commanded. "Ume, Jaken, enough."
The rest of the walk was surprisingly silent, Ume settling for reading from her perch while Jaken kept busy gazing at the scenery and admiring his Lord's stamina which was still high for his age.
Arriving at the Torii entrance gates to the shrine, Sesshomaru gently set Ume down before crossing, taking a deep breath as he entered onto the sacred ground. This shrine had been around as long as the Oracle had been immortal; a gift she claimed had been given to her by the gods.
He had only taken a few steps in when a voice caught his attention.
"Sesshomaru-sama...you've come back." There was no hint of surprise in the voice, he had been here enough that they could guess when he would return.
"Yes, Asuka...I need to speak with your mistress."
"She's inside."
"Is she accepting visitors?"
"Always for you Sesshomaru-sama." Another voice responded.
Curious, Ume peered over her uncle's shoulder and gasped when she saw the two human looking girls who stared up at the great lord. Both appeared no older than ten, yet their eyes held a certain maturity to them, suggesting they were wiser beyond their years. As if reading her mind, Sesshomaru said. "They are the shikigami of Hitomiko."
"Shikigami?"
"Familiars."
"Oh..."
"This way Sesshomaru-sama." Asuka said, pointing in the direction of the house.
"She will be with you shortly." the other shikigami said as they all began to walk.
While Asuka got them snacks and water, the other familiar floated about the receiving room, watering the plants and tidying up. Ume immediately tucked into her food, the imp, on the other hand, choosing to wait by the girl with a napkin in case she spilled as she always tended to do while eating. She had the table manners of her father after all.
Sesshomaru gently held onto his cup of green tea, twirling it around his palms while he waited for Hitomiko to appear. Feeling eyes on him he looked over at Ume, rolling his eyes when he saw her staring intently at his own bowl of grilled eel and rice. Silently he handed over his meal to the gluttonous girl who squealed in delight at the seconds she now had in hand. "Bottomless pit." He muttered under his breath.
The youngest child of Inuyasha and Kikyo, Ume Minamoto was the spitting image of her father, foregoing, of course, her sparkling brown eyes which she inherited from her mother. Her white hair pulled into her customary French braid, the girl eyed the two shikigami in the room curiously, ignoring the fact that her watching was causing her to spill white rice all over the front of her shirt.
Seeing how messy she was Sesshomaru couldn't help but ask, "Ume, how old are you again?"
"Two hundred thirty-four" She answered between mouthfuls of food.
"I meant in human years."
"Fourteen."
"Hn. And nobody bothered to teach you table manners?"
Looking up from her bowl, the girl narrowed her eyes playfully at her uncle. "My table manners are fine!"
"If you were a savage yes."
"Hey!"
"Sesshomaru-sama, honestly you're fighting with a twelve-year-old?"
Switching his eyes over to a previously unopened tatami screen, Sesshomaru blankly stared at the Oracle or more specific Hitomiko who offered him a smile full of hopefulness and calm. "We need to talk." He said immediately, ignoring the frown that marred her features after he spoke those words.
"Indeed, we do," she responded softly, going over to the three visitors. "You have questions about Kagome again right?"
"Yes and much much more."
Sending Ume and Jaken to wait outside, Sesshomaru explained the new developments to Hitomiko as best he could, without revealing too much of his feelings on the matter. Unfortunately, like always, she saw right through his defenses. "You sent Myoga to her against fates wishes?"
"She placed herself in a dangerous situation on purpose, she has no idea that youkai are targeting her specifically or even how long this has been going on for."
"From the moment that she transcended through time, youkai have been sprouting from the rips she caused in time. I already explained all of this to you. Her emotions seem to be what draw the stronger beings towards her, however."
"Emotions?"
"Yes, when she is suffering high levels of anxiety or pain, larger rips occur, leading to bigger and stronger demons appearing. They are attracted to what she was feeling when she first time jumped because it was what caused the largest build up of power."
"Hn. And that is why you wanted me to stay away from her until she finds the spell she used because I am the thing that causes her the most anxiety."
Pondering his words, Hitomiko frowned and said, "You've figured that out huh?"
"I realized it long ago. Otherwise, I doubt I would have heeded your warning."
"Sesshomaru-sama, I know it is hard to protect her from afar, especially with all the animosity left between you two, but if her emotions run too wild; you have already bared witness to that tragedy before."
Closing his eyes, the demon lord let out a breath of air. He had seen just how horrible the creatures that could come from one of the time rips she caused. It was almost as bad as...
Reading his mind, Hitomiko nodded and reassured him, "You are doing the right thing by keeping your distance, Sesshomaru-sama. Trust me, not only Kagome, but your entire pack will thank you for your strength in due time for this."
"When will she return to me?" He suddenly asked, revealing a crack in his deep-seated patience. "She cannot remember anything, our time together...and nothing of the book. How long must I continue to wait?"
"The records do not reveal specific dates my Lord," she said apologetically.
"Hn. Well, do they reveal anything about the book she needs to find?"
Hitomiko pondered his question. "I could only access the records for so long without risk of being refused…."
"But?" he probed lightly.
"But they did show me something I think may be relevant."
Seeing her remain silent, Sesshomaru resisted the urge to huff and instead asked what she wanted to hear, "What?"
"A name, a first name, but a name nonetheless. Akitoki."
"Akitoki?" narrowing his eyes at the clearly male name, the demon lord involuntarily twitched an eyebrow. "He is someone who is a part of her life?"
"I do not know Sesshomaru-sama, but when searching for information on Kagome, that is the name that appeared to me. My apologies but once again, the Akashic records will only allow me to delve so far…."
"Hn. I will look into it." he said, standing at last.
"I wish I could offer more comfort," she began only to be dismissed by a shake of his head.
"You have given me enough to work with over the centuries, comfort is something I do not expect from you or anyone else."
"Ah…" she was about to say more when he abruptly left the room, leaving Hitomiko alone to her thoughts. Closing her eyes, the woman let out a shudder as she recalled the piece of information she had been instructed to keep a secret. Why she could not warn him of the danger she did not know, but one thing was clear, something was coming for Kagome and whether or not even Sesshomaru had the strength to defend her; only time could tell.
A/N: The Akashic Records is basically a record of the universe which is said to be located in a different plane of the universe. In it all things that have occurred and will occur are said to be gathered there and only a few people can access it. It's pretty cool when I discovered it and just had to add it to this story. Please review -Theores