Disclaimer: I don't own Inu Yasha and co. I don't own any of the songs that I put into the story, except on cd's. But I do own Shiori, Miyu & Koshin Hakogami, Kil Kai-another snow demon from feudal times & Aisu-female snow demon from feudal times, they are all mine.
AN: " " is speaking,
' ' is thought
And thanks to those that read & review, especially to xxXGoddessXofXdeadXloveXxx, I'm glad you love the story so far. To NefCanuk, I think that the Ice Prince should thaw out more often, don't you? lol To cherryblossoms21, thank you, I hope you like this chapter too. And to Hanalie, here's the latest chapter & no I haven't abandoned this story. Karla sorry for the wait, and I appreciate the encouragement. Miss.N.I. I'm glad that you like my story and I hope you and all my readers enjoy this latest chapter. Just to let you guys know, I had my second little girl back in Feb and have been adjusting to life being a mother to an active toddler and a newborn. It's a busy, but rewarding role. So, sorry for the long delay, it's hard to get time on the puter to type. Thanks again. Hope I keep you all interested in this story. The reviews mean a lot. Enjoy!
Now on with the show.
Glossary:
youkai-demon
inu-youkai-dog demon
ningen-human
ookami-wolf demon
osuwari-sit
aisu-ice
Chapter 21: Going Home for a Little Talk
Shiori groaned and sat up. 'What am I doing?' she asked herself, looking at the sunrise coming over a nearby hill. 'I should be trying to block him, not kissing him! I haven't even tried to block him from my mind,' sighing heavily, she got out of her sleeping bag and stretched. 'I really need to put an end to this before I don't want it to.' She began getting ready for the day and getting breakfast. As she was rolling up her sleeping bag, everyone else was beginning to stir.
"Good morning," Kagome greeted with a yawn. "How did you sleep, Shiori?"
"I dreamed of him again," was all she said, not looking at anyone.
Kagome just smiled reassuringly to her cousin. "So, have you thought of any ideas on why this could be happening?"
"What do you mean, 'why this could be happening'?" Shiori asked, not looking at Kagome, going through her pack.
"Well, I have been talking to Miroku and we think that maybe there is a reason for Sesshomaru being in your dreams," Kagome stated, watching her cousin's face for any change. She was waiting for her cousin to see what she thought of this theory.
Shiori suddenly stopped. She just sat there, just staring into her bag as if she were mesmerized. She was deep in thought. 'Is there a reason for Sesshomaru and myself being together? There can't be.' She stayed very still, trying to think of any reason for her and the Ice Prince to be brought together. Then, out of the blue, another question emerged: 'Who would want us together?' This question caused her to snap her head up and stare straight into her cousin's eyes, who had been on Shiori in concern.
"I think I may have an idea why," she said softly, a little shocked. "A very unsettling idea," she gritted out, just as softly.
Kagome saw the fear and anger in her cousin's ice blue orbs and it slowly dawned on her what Shiori was saying. "It can't be? She wouldn't! She couldn't!"
"What are you talking about," Inu Yasha asked, glancing from one girl to the other. "Who wouldn't do what?"
Miroku, sitting down next to Kagome, asked the Guardian, "You know who could be making you dream of Lord Sesshomaru and him of you?"
"I have a very good idea, but I need to go home first and talk to someone, someone who was in the same situation," Shiori answered as she began to pack up her bag to get ready to head back to the well.
"I'll go with you," Kagome said, getting up to get her backpack, "I don't know if you can go through the well without me."
"Wait a minute," Inu Yasha began, "You're going home? Now! What the hell for?"
Sighing, Kagome turned to him, "Were you not paying attention? There may be someone who can tell us what is going on and they are back home, in my time. We can't just let this go. This is why she came with me, to find a way to get Sesshomaru out of her head. I'm going to take her home so we can find out what is going on and how to stop it. I don't want to fight with you, Inu Yasha, so please don't start one."
Inu Yasha just stood there, watching Kagome pack. He so wanted to tell her why he didn't like it when she left him, but he was afraid of sounding weak. And, when he was afraid that she wouldn't come back, he would just say something stupid to piss her off. This time, he stayed quiet until Kagome and Shiori were ready to go. He walked to Kagome and he could tell that she was tensing up, waiting for a fight. He just said, quietly, "I'll take you to the well, if you want."
Kagome was surprised, but she smiled. "Thank you, Inu Yasha. That will help us get there faster."
"Well, then get on my back and we'll get going," he turned around so she could climb onto his back. When she was settled, he turned to the rest of the inu-group and saw that everyone was ready to go. "I guess the rest of you are going, too?"
"I think we could rest at Kaede's until they come back, don't you," Miroku commented. "And, besides, we can leave as soon as Kagome and Shiori get back. See, no wasted time."
"Feh, whatever." He turned his head towards Shiori before asking, "You ready to go?"
Shiori closed her eyes and changed form, shook her wings to settle her feathers and nodded. "Let's go. The sooner we get home the sooner I can confirm what I think may be happening here." With that she took to the air, followed closely by Miroku, Sango and Shippou on Kirara, and Kagome on Inu Yasha's back. The band traveled back to Inu Yasha's Forest in contemplative silence, each lost in their own thoughts regarding Shiori's problem.
Everyone was so lost in thought they almost didn't detect the Siamyosho following them. But Shiori felt a little tickle of awareness letting her know that something was not right. She stopped midair to hover and turned around. That's when she spotted the hell wasp closing in on them. The rest of the inu-group, noticing Shiori's action, turned and saw the hell wasp.
"Damn it," Inu Yasha growled out, stopping on the top of a nearby tree. "That damned Naraku is spying on us again. Why can't he just come out so we can get this over with?"
"Because that's not his way, Inu Yasha," Miroku said calmly.
"Well, it's damned annoying," the hanyou griped, still holding onto Kagome's legs to keep her from falling.
"What do we do now," Kagome asked, "I don't want him to know about my home."
"Leave the bug to me," Shiori said. She waited till the wasp was a little closer and then let loose a blast of ice, which froze the wasp into a block of solid ice. The wasp fell straight to the forest floor below and only stopped when it broke against a large boulder. The waspsicle shattered into countless tiny pieces, destroying it.
"Now, that is how you take care of annoying little bugs," Shiori said with a smile. "Let's get going."
At the Western Palace:
Sesshomaru was waking up, but unlike Shiori, he had a smirk on his face. 'I wonder how that would be in reality?' he asked himself. He was laying in bed thinking about the dream he just had when there was a knock at his door. "Come."
In stepped his loyal toadie, Jaken. He noticed the slightly amused look on his master's face and thought, 'This can't be good for anyone.'
Without looking at his retainer, Sesshomaru demanded, "What is, Jaken?"
Jaken gulped and inched his way into the room, but staying close to the door just in case he needed to make a speedy getaway. "It's Lord Kil Kai, Lord Sesshomaru. He is getting ready to leave."
"This does not concern this Sesshomaru. Why do you think that this couldn't wait till I was up?"
"He said," Jaken gulped again, "that he was going to join a young female youkai by the name of Shiori." This caught the demon lord's attention so much that Jaken jumped when Sesshomaru turned his head.
"He did, did he? Did he say why?" he asked with quiet menace, losing the battle to keep his voice neutral.
"Um, no, milord. He did not. But he is sending his guards back to his palace, he even tried to send Lady Aisu. She politely refused. She will be traveling with him," Jaken finished, the whole time making his way back to the door. By the time he had finished, he was at the door, ready to run through it.
Sesshomaru sat staring off in the distance, thinking. 'I know he is interested in the little Guardian hanyou, so I guess I should not be surprised that he would want to travel with her. And because there is a mystery surrounding that female, I'll have to join him. I need to find out why she is in his dreams. Maybe there is a spell at work here.' With that thought, he got up and began to get ready for his confrontation his little announcement will cause.
"Jaken, let Kil Kai know that I will be joining him. I won't be long."
"Yes, milord, do you wish for Rin and myself to join you?" he asked bowing low, grateful that he was still allowed to breathe.
Sesshomaru was thoughtful for a heartbeat, then answered, "Yes, have Rin readied to leave."
Jaken bowed low and scurried out of the room to do as his lord commanded. Sesshomaru dressed and put his two swords through his obi at his waist. He walked out of his chambers and down to front doors of the palace where Kil Kai and Aisu were standing by with Rin.
Rin was chatting ninety miles an hour about flowers, playing games with Jaken and Ah-Un. Kil Kai was smiling down at the little chatter box playing attention to what she was saying. Aisu was watching the two with little expression on her face, but amusement in her eyes. She, like everyone else that came across the little girl, fell under her spell.
"And, she was great! She took that evil bear on all by herself," Rin said, telling Aisu about Shiori fighting the bear demon. "She even made it go 'poof.' She was protecting us."
"She sounds wonderful, little Rin, and I think you like her," Aisu said, with a small smile, seeing the signs of hero worship in the little girl's eyes.
"Oh, she is and I've decided that I want to be just like her someday. I want to be a Guardian," Rin proclaimed proudly.
"Well, unless you have a Guardian in the family, you can't be one," Aisu stated gently.
Rin's smile fell slightly, "What do you mean?"
Sesshomaru answered, "It means, Rin, that unless the power is in your blood, you can't be a Guardian. Shiori is one because her mother is and so were a few of her ancestors."
Rin looked down at her feet, thinking then looked up, "What if I find the goddess who created Guardians, mikos and houshis and ask her to make me one? Do you think then I could be a Guardian?"
"I don't know, Rin, the Kami can do anything they like, I just don't know if they would grant you your request," Kil Kai replied gently.
Rin looked determined, as only a child can, "Well, I won't know until I ask the Goddess. I want to see Shiori and ask her how to talk to her goddess."
"You will get your chance to talk to Shiori, we are going to see her," Sesshomaru said, watching Kil Kai's face.
Kil Kai did not look surprised, nor too happy, but these lands were Sesshomaru's and he had no say. He just nodded his head in acknowledgement. "We will leave when you are ready, Lord Sesshomaru."
Sesshomaru, wearing his emotionless mask, coolly stated, "We are ready to leave."
Aisu, Rin and Jaken watched the interaction between the two males and came to the same decision. They were both after the woman named Shiori. Aisu, unlike Rin, did not know who this creature was and was curious to find out. She will admit to herself that she was a bit jealous, but she knew where Kil Kai's affections lay and they were never with her. As far as she knew. So, she decided to go with him to meet this Shiori and find out more about her. From what little she was able to find out, she knew that Shiori was a Guardian and rumored to be a hanyou as well. The exact demon that she was, was still a debate in the gossip mill of the palace. She did not deal in gossip, but she was curious.
"So, do you have any idea where to look for her?" Kil Kai asked, walking out of the palace a little behind Sesshomaru.
Without looking at the Northern lord, he answered calmly, "I do, she would be with my half-brother's pack, and they would be close to Inu Yasha's Forest, when they are not looking for ways to kill Naraku."
Kil Kai and the rest said nothing as they got underway to Inu Yasha's Forest to hopefully meet up with the young Guardian.
At Kaede's Village:
"Well, back so soon?" Kaede asked, walking back from the field where the herbs were grown for village use.
"I have to go back to my time to talk to someone. I may have an idea as to why the Western Lord and I have been meeting in our dreams," Shiori stated in greeting.
Kaede was curious, "What have ye discovered, child?"
"Please, let me talk to someone back home first. I want to find out for sure if what I'm thinking is true or not. I promise to let you know what I've found out as soon as I get back."
"And, I'm going back with her," Kagome said, "We don't know if the well will let her go back on her own or not."
"Understandable, no one knows what the magic is that went into the building of that well. And," she started looking at the rest of the Inu-group, "I assume that the rest of ye are going to be staying? Ye are more than welcome to stay and keep an old woman company."
"We are most grateful, Lady Kaede," Miroku replied.
"Well, we had better get going to the bone eater's well and head back," Kagome turned to Inu Yasha, "And, we won't be gone long. Maybe overnight, depends, but no longer than that, okay, Inu Yasha?"
Inu Yasha was already feeling depressed about Kagome leaving, but instead of shooting off his mouth and angering her, he nodded his head. "Okay, we'll be here. And I'll come get you if you haven't returned by tomorrow afternoon." He was calm on the outside, but a bundle of nerves on the inside, fearing that she wouldn't come back. He was always like this whenever she went home.
Kagome and everyone else was stunned at Inu Yasha's behavior. Usually, he says something rude and he and Kagome fight. Then the fight is ended with him being sat into a crater. This was a different Inu Yasha.
Even Shippou thought so. "Okay, where is Inu Yasha and what have you done with him?"
"Can it, pip squeak, I can behave myself every now and then. I just thought that I would be nice, okay?" he snared at the little kitsune.
"Thank you, Inu Yasha," Kagome said softly, making him snap his head around to stare at her. "Would you like to walk with us to the bone eater's well?"
He only nodded his head and began walking with her.
Shiori smiled and waved at the rest of the group, who were beginning to get settled in to wait for Kagome and Shiori to return. Shiori noticed that the two didn't say a word, but that the silence was not strained. 'Ah, young love,' she thought, 'Well, good luck to the both of you.'
The three reached the well, each lost in their own thoughts. Inu Yasha still was not happy about Kagome leaving again. He always felt a little empty inside.
Kagome smiled at him. "Well, Inu Yasha, we'll be back no later than tomorrow. Do you think you can stay out of trouble till then?" she teased.
Inu Yasha's only answer was, "Feh. Do you think you can stay out of trouble?"
"Of course I can."
"Feh." Then he tensed and his hand went to his sword.
Kagome and Shiori stepped up on top the well, and held hands. Without a backward glance, both women jumped in and in a bright, blue flash they were gone.
Inu Yasha stood by the well, looking down as if he could still Kagome for a few more heart beats. Then he turned around and walked quietly back to the others. As he was walking back, he caught the smell of clay and magic, 'Kikyou,' he thought. 'What is she doing here?' He changed direction and began to follow the scent back towards the Goshinboku tree. That was were he found her, with her soul skimmers flying around her.
"What are you doing here, Kikyou?" he asked wearily.
She just looked at him for a couple of heartbeats in total silence. "I came to find out how you coming along with finding an end to Naraku?"
He crossed his arms and said, bitting, "We'd be doing much better if you hadn't stolen Kagome's chunk and given it to Naraku. What do you really want, Kikyou?"
"I wanted to see you, Inu Yasha," she said, moving away from the tree. "I want to know which one of us you will choose. Will it be me or my reincarnation? You were mine first, if you recall."
Inu Yasha was quiet, watching Kikyou coming closer to him, but before she was an arm's length away, he moved away from her.
This stopped the dead miko in her tracks, staring at him. "Why do you recoil from me, Inu Yasha? You use to come to me without a second thought. You used to leave that reincarnation of mine to come to me. What has changed?"
"I have. I have realized that you and I can't be together, Kikyou. We were wronged by Naraku, but that time has passed. And, if we had really loved each other for who we were, not what, Naraku would not have been able to make us hate each other. We didn't trust each other, and he used that against us. I'm sorry but I have made my decision," he said with all honesty. "My heart belongs to another, Kikyou. I'm sorry."
"So, you have chosen my reincarnation? Why? She is not a force to be reckoned with. She is helpless, weak. You need someone strong, not a liability," Kikyou said, with no emotion, as if she was quoting cold, hard fact.
"But, you're wrong, she is a force to reckon with. She's strong. She has stayed by me through everything. Her strength may not be easily seen, but it's there and you would do well to remember that," Inu Yasha proclaimed. "She is my choice, I want her by my side. Goodbye, Kikyou." He walked wide around her and back into the forest. Little did he know, was that he had an audience, waiting for him, who lucky for him, heard the whole conversation.
He was walking away from the undead miko, when his nose told him he was not alone. "Come out,I know you're there," he growled, watching a clump of bushes.
The bushes shook and out walked Miroku, as calm as ever.
"Why were you following me?"
"When you left, I noticed the soul catchers and wanted to find out what was going on," Miroku began. "I was worried that something bad was going to happen. I am very proud of you, Inu Yasha, for making a decision."
Inu Yasha 'humphed,' and began walking back to the village. "Yeah, well, I am too, but I still feel a little . . ." he stopped at a loss for what to say, but Miroku continued for him.
"Yea, I can understand, my friend. It can be hard to let one woman go for another, but I think you did the right thing."
"What in picking Kagome or in finally making a choice," Inu Yasha asked, pretty sure he knew which way his friend would answer.
"Both," Miroku answered. "Don't misunderstand, I was hoping you would pick our lovely Kagome, but I am truly glad that you made your decision. And, now you have to let Kagome know of your decision and why you made it." Then he put his hand to his chin, thoughtfully, "Though, you may have a bit of a time trying to convince her that you chose Kagome for herself and not because she is Kikyou's reincarnation. Are you up to the challenge?"
Without hesitating, Inu Yasha answered, "I'll face anything to let her know that my decision was because of her, not Kikyou. I want Kagome, just her." With that he walked over to a tree that grew close to Kaede's hut and jumped onto a high branch. There he settled himself in to wait for his Kagome to return. 'My Kagome?' he thought, then with determination, 'Yes, my Kagome.' With that thought, he let a small smile grace his lips as he thought about Kagome.
Back in the Present at the Higurashi Shrine:
"We're home," Kagome chirped as she climbed out of the well in the shrine.
"Now, let's go get some answers," Shiori said, having landed quietly on the rim of the well. She stepped down and followed Kagome up the steps inside the little shrine. They heard voices on the other side of the door and stopped to wait.
Kagome sighed, "What is Hojo doing here?"
"Who's Hojo?" Shiori asked in a whisper.
"He's a sweet guy from school that does not understand that I don't want to go out with him. I mean, he's really nice and not pushy, but he just doesn't get it."
"Poor guy."
After a few minutes, they could hear Hojo walking away. The two stepped out, finding their grandfather standing with a small bundle in his hands. "Well, I'm glad to see you two back. Did you have fun?" grandpa asked with a bright smile.
"Not exactly," Shiori answered, smiling back. "I need to make a phone call home."
"That won't be necessary, my dear, your parents are here."
"What? When?" she asked, puzzled.
"They arrived this morning, saying something about needing to see you. Well, we told them that you were not here and explained to them what you two were doing. They were not surprised at all, strange," grandpa said, stroking his goatee.
"Why am I not surprised," Shiori muttered.
"What, dear?" grandpa asked.
"Nothing, grandpa, I think I need to go to the house. Thanks." She turned and walked to the house. Kagome followed close behind and they both entered the house to the sound of conversation. They followed the voices to the den and found the family together.
"Shiori, how's the feudal era?" Miyu Hakogami asked, standing up with a smile.
"It's been very interesting, Mom. But you knew that's where I would be going when you sent me here," Shiori answered.
"Hai, it was. I know you want to talk about something, please, sit down and let's talk," Miyu gestured to the cushion close to her.
"I'll get more tea," Kagome's mom said, getting up to head to the kitchen. "Kagome, dear, would you help me with the tea."
Kagome caught the hint and followed her mother out of the room.
"So, tell us what has been happening," Koshin Hakogami asked.
"I'm sure that Mom has told you about my dreams," Shiori began.
"Yes, she has, baby. What did you find out in the past related to him?"
Shiori took a deep breath and gave a short version of what has been going on. "I ended up meeting the man of my dreams, so to speak. But, instead of being a prince, he's a real toad."
"That bad, huh?" Koshin said sympathetically.
"He's arrogant, condescending, cold and a total pain in the ass! Why, by the Goddess, would I have to dream about him!"
Koshin looked over at Miyu, who returned his look, completely understanding the unspoken message. This did not go unnoticed by their oldest.
"Spill it, what do you two know that I don't?" she asked, looking from one parent to the other.
Miyu took a deep breath and let it out slowly, knowing full well that her proud, head strong daughter was not going to like what she had to say. "We know what is happening and we have a very good idea as to why," she began. "The same thing happened with us, little one. We were chosen for each other, only we didn't realize it at the time."
"You have been matched to this 'Ice Prince' by none other than the Goddess herself," Koshin added, "As to the why, we can only guess that he is powerful enough that she matched you two together."
Shiori sat in silence, digesting what her parents had just said. This is what she had been fearing was the reason behind her dreaming of Sesshomaru and then having to meet him. She closed her eyes and groaned in aggravation. "Why him?" she seemed to ask the air, "Why that insufferable prick? Why not someone I could at least get along with? Hell, why even bother with me? Why not one of my sisters?"
"No one really knows why She makes the choices She does, little one," Koshin said, "But, She has very good reasons."
"I'm sure you could thaw him out, baby, given time," Miyu added, earning her a glare from both daughter and husband. "Oh, come now, Koshin, did you think that she would not ever have a lover or a mate? I knew she would some day."
"That's because you are her mother," he grumbled, "I'm her father and I don't like knowing my baby girl having boyfriends, let alone lovers. In my opinion, no man, which ever breed, is good enough for her." He finished, crossing his arms over his chest, showing he was done with the matter.
"And that is your right as a father to feel that way, but I beg to differ, I believe there is one man out there worthy of our daughter, if only a little bit," Miyu said with a mischievous smile. This got a smile from Shiori in return. "Maybe the Goddess has found him for her?"
"I don't know about that," Koshin grumbled.
"Oh, I don't think I did that bad when I chose you for Miyu," She,the Goddess appeared in the den, smiling. "After all, I do have taste."
"Meaning no disrespect, milady, but what were you thinking!" Shiori asked, a little frantic. "Why him? Why now?"
The Goddess smiled indulgently down on Shiori, "Because he is your match, little one, and you are his. It's obvious, you know."
"Are you nuts, milady! We'd end up killing each other. He's cold as ice and twice as deadly."
"Do you fear him?" the Goddess asked knowingly.
"Of course not! Why would I be afraid of him? I'm just as deadly as he is."
"Then, I don't see the problem, little one. You see, there is much more to him than what he lets others see. And the same goes for you," She said, "You were made for each other. That is why you were dreaming of him. That is why he dreams of you now. He wants you, he just doesn't realize it, yet. And as for 'why now,' you will need each other in the coming weeks."
"With the battle of Naraku," Shiori stated calmly, "But, why have us matched? I'm sure he has some reason of his own to go after Naraku and help us along the way."
"He does have his reasons, child, but his quarrel with his brother could keep him from joining with your group. He needs a more personal reason. One that will allow him to overlook the petty squabble between him and his brother."
Shiori was silent, lost in thought, while Kagome and her mother came back into the room with tea. Shiori accepted a cup and gazed down into the hot liquid, when she remember something terrible. "Milady, I'm sure you're aware of Naraku's search for the Hell's Gate Jewel?"
"I am, he must not succeed," She answered, taking a sip of hot jasmine tea. "If he gains full control of the Hell's Gate, then the world is doomed."
"I remember the legend," Koshin said, "but, the gate was sealed forever and the jewel destroyed."
"It was destroyed, and at a very high price," the Goddess added sadly, glancing out of the corner of her eye at Shiori, who caught the look.
"Who destroyed the jewel and sealed the gate, milady," Miyu asked, sensing that she would not like the answer.
"A very powerful Guardian, who gave their life to save the world,"said the Goddess, now avoiding Shiori's eyes. "It happened in the Feudal Era, specifically the time that Kagome is traveling to. You will find out who the Guardian is after you meet my past self, until then, I can not tell you."
"So, when we get back, we need to go and find you in the past?" Kagome asked, which even saying out loud still sounded strange to her. You'd think she would be used to strange things by now.
"Yes, it is important that you do so," She said.
"But what about the remaining shards? Don't we still have to find them?"
"You will along the way, and there is one more thing," She began, "You must, also,bring the child that travels with the Western Lord."
"Rin?" Shiori asked, "But why?" She couldn't understand why the Goddess had such an interest in sweet little Rin.
"She must be trained for she is a Guardian," this caused the two cousins to be stunned into silence.
AN:And, I will end this chapter there,just a little cliffie for the next chapter. And again, I'm so sorry that it has taken so long for me to update. I hope you like this chapter. LOL I hope this chapter is enjoyed by my loyal readers. How do you guys like it so far? Please read & review. Or I won't write any more! just kidding, please review.
I would like to thank my wonderful editor, ninjawarrior4life, my bro. glad you like it.
And thanks to everyone who has been reading this story from the beginning when I first started posting it. And to those who read and like it.
THX to all my readers.
