A/N: No, I didn't forget this story. I was just too into my own life .; sorry people tear but yeah…crap happens and this is the result. Sorry for the super long wait. Here's Chapter 9, enjoy yourselves.
Disclaimer: Don't own, won't own, never will own Sesshoumaru cries Oh, and I don't own Inuyasha (the series), either…nuuuuu TT
Chapter 9: Oh, the Irony (pun intended)
It's been two months. Two months and a week since Kagome disappeared, a month since Shippo disappeared. Inuyasha sighed. Was he wrong in taking Kikyo as a mate? If you asked him a month ago, he'd have said no. However, he wasn't so sure anymore. He still loves Kikyo, but she's changed. She wasn't the same person he knew over fifty years ago. Shaking his head of all of these thoughts, he looked down from the tree he was sitting on. Sango and Miroku had definitely gotten closer since the disappearances. Sango has also gotten more emotional.
"Alright, everyone. We're moving on." Half-heartedly, Inuyasha marched on ahead with Sango and Miroku following behind. Kirara walked behind her mistress, faithfully as always. Kikyo is walking right next to Inuyasha. A soft rustle was heard. On alert, Inuyasha drew Tetsusaiga as Kikyo drew her bow. Sango readied her Hiraikotsu while Miroku clenched his staff tightly. Kirara mewed. "Want to buy a flower? Only one yen."
A little girl, probably no older than seven in human years, walked out. In her arm is a basket of multicolored flowers. Her peculiar bow rested on her back, along with her quiver of covered arrows. Everyone but Kikyo relaxed a bit, seeing how this little girl could do no harm to them. Kikyo kept her arrows aimed at the girl. "Kikyo, what are you doing?" Kikyo looked at Inuyasha, before returning her glance at the little girl. "She's not human." "What?!"
Shinitami coughed slightly. He was born without healing abilities because Naraku wanted to experiment. He cursed, before he was wracked with another fit of coughs. He was sitting in a damp cell, his arms chained above him, but his legs do not touch the floor because he isn't tall enough. Shinitami shivered. It's cold in here… The sound of footsteps echoed down the hall. A shadowed figure appeared before the bars. The squeaking of the gates indicated that that person is coming in. "Shinitami." "What do you want, Kanna?" The pale girl brought in a large bucket of water with a cloth, before reaching up and twisting the wheels to allow Shinitami move a certain distance (It's like a pulley system). "Clean yourself up, then wait. Kagura has a healer for you." She left to give him privacy. Shinitami watched as Kanna left. "What a strange person…"
Everything was silent. Too silent. The forest around them seemed to have a veil of suspense surrounding it. Only the light sound of the taunting string broke this unearthly silence. "What do you mean she's not human, Kikyo-sama?" Miroku asked. "Her aura is unlike any human's." The group looked back and forth between the harmless looking girl and Kikyo. "Would you like to buy a flower?" The girl asked again. Kikyo narrowed her eyes, before she shifted her aim. A pair of glowing eyes appeared within the shadows of the forest. A low, menacing growl filled the air. "What's that?" Sango asked, a bit unnerved by all of this.
Kikyo stayed silent. She doesn't know what it was. It has an unusual aura. Heck, she doesn't even know what the girl was. Normally, the person's aura caresses and engulfs their whole being. However, the girl's aura twists and twirls around her body like ivy vines climbing a dead tree. The unknown's aura blended with the shadows of the forest. How strange…Kikyo was intrigued, but she will not say it. She lowered her bow. The growling stopped.
The girl stared at them. She frowned, shook her head, and looked into the shadows. The shadowy figure walked toward her and revealed itself to be a black wolf. Its fur seemed to be made of the night sky itself. Its blue and green eyes scanned the group menacingly, although it didn't do anything. The girl patted its head. "Let's go, Akira. They don't seem to be interested in the flowers." With that, the girl walked back into the bushes, the jingling of her earrings fading with each step she took. The wolf, Akira, gave them one last menacing look before it too disappeared into the forest. Inuyasha blinked. "What a strange little girl…" Kikyo frowned. "That was no little girl. That was a-…hmm…" "A what, Kikyo-sama? A demon child? We all know that that was no demon child. She doesn't have the demon aura…but what was she?" "Ah who cares? She delayed us for long enough…Let's go!"
Nishihana hummed as she prepared Kagome's afternoon tea. Lucky for her, Juriana had presorted all of the herbs for her. To top it all, she even wrote a small note with tips on them. Hurray! She smiled. It was nice of the head healer to do all of this. Her smile turned into a frown. What did she do now? Is Juriana alright? After all, Juriana is someone she looks up to. The potty mouthed healer is her role model…if Nishimori got word of this he'll never let her hear the end of it…
Kagome sighed. So far, her day was a drag. Nothing happened. No loud mouthed healer insulting the lord, no corny jokes from the said healer, no drug laced tea, and no nothing. The day just dragged on and on and on. She looked out her window, the orangey red colors of the sunset setting behind the mountains in the distance. "What a beautiful sight…" If only I had someone beautiful to enjoy it with…someone like…Sess-wait…what the HELL am I thinking?
Shaking her head, Kagome sighed. She closed her eyes, then opened them again only to look wistfully at the sunset. "Sesshoumaru…" She whispered. She walked to her balcony and leaned on the rails. The small koi pond under it reflected the colors of the sunset. Very vaguely she could see koi darting about. In the far distance, she could hear Rin and Shippo playing tag around the castle. Taking a deep breath, Kagome stood and changed into another kimono, one that is of the blue color. Its phoenix dragon design told tales of wars and peace, of yin and yang. She donned it with the help of a servant before heading toward the children.
"Kagome-chan! We missed you." Two bundles of something crashed into her legs, nearly tripping her. Kagome giggled and rubbed them both affectionately on their heads. "Well, what have you two been doing all afternoon?" "We played tag, and picked flowers, and went into the woods, and played Jakenball—" "—and picked more flowers, and then watched Jaken-sama try to fly, and and and…" By now, Rin and Shippo were out of breath, and Kagome couldn't help but give a hearty laugh. "Sounds like you had fun. Next time you do, I want to join." Rin and Shippo nodded, before running back toward where they came from, much to the dismay of Jaken.
Sesshoumaru glared at the thing in front of him. This all was a fault of this thing, and now, this thing will pay. A sword slid out of its sheath, before it went through something. A light thud resounded off the floor, as Sesshoumaru resheathed Toukijin and admired his handiwork. The offender is now cut in half, sap slowly goosing out of its trunk. Sesshoumaru glared, before turning around to take the life of another very innocent tree…
Kyo was on break, fortunately. Most of his ring is gone, leaving only the gem itself. However, he could tell that one of them are in doubt, since he could still faintly see the outline of half of the ring's band. He shrugged to himself, before slipping the ring into his back pocket. Emotions…Soon, the more powerful ones will be invoked, and the lines between love and lust will blur. What will happen from there?
A very familiar scent began to blow toward his direction. Kyo's eyes narrowed. This time, it isn't putting him to sleep, rather, it's as if the scent is telling him something. He slowly pulled the covering off the blade of his scythe. Juriana called his weapon "that Damn Curved Thing." She couldn't find another name for it, and it soon caught on, starting with Miouri and slowing spreading via Ryu until it reached himself. Kyo chuckled lightly before shaking his head. Now's not the time to be pondering past memories, rather, what's that scent? Cautiously, like a tiger stalking his prey, Kyo set off…
Kagome walked back toward the library and picked up the scroll she was reading last time. She found her place and continued from there, unaware that there was someone behind her until too late. "Still reading?" She screamed, dropping the scroll yet again. Sesshoumaru winced at the sudden high pitched noise, andglared at her. Kagome quickly stood and apologized. "I'm sorry, Sesshoumaru. I didn't know you were there, and I thought…" she trialed off. Sesshoumaru nodded.
She stared at him, wondering what's behind those beautiful golden eyes of his. They're always so guarded, always harsh, and always with indifference…If only I am like that…I won't be weak anymore… "You think yourself as weak?" Kagome started with a flinch. She didn't expect him to speak. "Well…yes…" She watched as he walked closer, before taking her petite right hand into his larger one. She blushed as she watched him give her hand a light caress. "Mou…your hands are so soft…" Kagome blushed harder. She was sure she looked like a giant tomato now. Sesshoumaru gave her this strange look, before finishing his thoughts. "You've never held a sword before, have you?" "Err…no…" Sesshoumaru sighed. This could take a long while…
He's been hunting for over an hour, and still no sign of whatever created that scent. Kyo nearly growled in frustration, but his eyes caught a small movement in the growing shadows of the forest. Quickly and silently, he chased after the thing until he came upon a clearing. A young girl kneeled by a larger but also more lithe figure, running her fingers softly against the older being's face. What he was chasing before, a black wolf, walked toward the girl and laid down next to her, waiting for her next command. Kyo looked from the wolf, to the girl. Something was familiar about her, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what. The girl looked at him, then motioned for him to come closer. Seeing that the girl was unarmed, Kyo set his scythe down and approached cautiously. As he neared them, the wolf stood up. The girl then stood up, then together with the wolf, they walked back toward the forest, the air scenting of roses. What…?!
He turned to leave, almost forgetting about the body on the ground. Turning back around so that he faced the body, he searched for a face. He didn't find one; it was a wooden figure of someone. However it looks like someone he know…
The clouds flew overhead and dissipated the light. Something in the grass glittered. Kyo eyed it carefully and reached for it. He picked up an emerald necklace. "Looks familiar…"
Kyo lifted it gingerly to his nose and gave it a whiff. The scent of a warm spring day with a tint of roses was present. He looked at it carefully and realized where he has last seen this necklace. Juriana always wore it. "Is she dead…" He looked around. The lithe figure was still lacking a face, but it appeared to be made of pine. "What the…"
Kyo looked around the area more, but was unable to find a body. "I must report her as missing," he stated to himself as he leapt away from the area. Unbeknownst to him, the black wolf slinked back toward the wooden figure and took something from it.
Inside, a green flame flickered, before slowly sliding itself up the dead tree…
Ryu knew even before he came back that things were going to be solemn. He alerted Sesshoumaru of this, and ran toward the gates. He stood there, waiting for Kyo to return with the bad news…Miouri didn't know what to expect. Something was off, very off. She set her lesson plans aside and stood, ready to see what was giving her this weird feeling…
All of the servants rushed around, ushering those too young to their beds (ignoring their protests, pleas, and whines) and ran toward the gates. The aura of a mysterious tension filled the air, threatening to break into something horrible at any given second.
Kagome yawned. She is sore from the practice. It shouldn't be a surprise that Sesshoumaru went that hard on her. After all, a perfect specimen requires perfect actions. She turned around and headed into her room. She sighed and closed the doors, before she headed toward the bed. So tired… She yawned once more, but something got her in mid-yawn. Her heart seemed to twitch. Kagome hissed in pain. Her breathing grew a bit faster as her heart seemed to tear…Finally, it stopped, but the girl was no longer in the world of the conscious. Her ragged breathing echoed in her room…
Kyo entered the yard, his mouth set into a grim line. Sesshoumaru stood in the middle, waiting. Kyo bowed. "She's gone. I found her necklace lying a few miles north of here, but I cannot find her body" "Who's she?" Sesshoumaru didn't say anything. Half the courtyard turned to look at Miouri, whose normally flushed cheeks were pale.
Some of the servants looked at Miouri with pity. The twins were close, like two peas in a pod. Of course, they argue a lot, but it's mostly for the heck of it. Kyo stayed silent, debating what he should and should not say. Finally deciding on not saying anything, he walked over to Miouri and handed her the necklace. The girl looked at it, then slowly pocketed it. "Oh…" She turned around, head bent, not looking at anyone. Her only began to turn the corner when she broke into a sprint. The echoing sound of shoji doors closing harshly against its guard bounced back and forth between the empty halls…
A small smile played upon her lips, unseen by any mortal eyes. "Hehehe…Let them think what they want. They won't find the truth here! The legacy shall continue, with no missing pieces. Hehehehehe!"
AN: I should end it here…Just to be mean xD…dodges rotten tomatoes D fine I'll continue…BUT ONLY BECAUSE YOU PEOPLE DESERVE IT!!
Rin frowned. Her beloved Kagome sama hasn't arrived for dinner yet. She turned her head toward Shippo, who expressed the same worry as she did. "Ne, Shippo chan, Rin is worried about Kagome nee-chan." Shippo turned his head to Rin and nodded. It's unusual for Kagome to be late; usually she's the one who has to drag them in for dinner. "Lets go check on her, then." Together, they snuck out of the dining room and headed silently toward Kagome's room.
On their way there, Shippo pondered his life so far. It's relatively short compared to those of the more mature demons like Sesshoumaru, but it's longer than that of humans. His thoughts traveled to that of Kagome and Inuyasha. This whole episode started because of Inuyasha unable to control his feelings. Can he be faulted with that? "We're here!" Shippo looked up. Sure enough, in front of them is Kagome's room. Badup…badup…badup… Their hearts thudded in their chests heavily, as though something dreadful would happen if they were to open the doors. Rin and Shippo glanced at the door nervously, then at each other. "Ne, Shippo kun, do you think Kagome sama is in there…?" Shippo nodded grimly. "On three?" Rin nodded. They held each other's hands.
"One…Two…Three…GO!" Together, Rin and Shippo slid the shoji doors to Kagome's room open. They glanced inside, dreading the worse. It was pitched dark in there. "Rin don't see Kagome sama in here…" "Wait, Rin. I hear her breathing…" Gathering a small amount of his kitsune bi at his fingers, Shippo formed a small fireball. The light from this lit up the room just enough for Shippo to see Kagome. She was slumped on the floor. His sensitive hearing picked up on her haggard breathing. "Kagome sama?" Rin asked quietly, almost afraid of what's happening. Rin walked up to Kagome's prone form, ready to give her a poke…
"I FOUND THE CHILDREN! OH THANK KAMI SAMA YOU TWO WEREN'T CARRIED OFF BY THE SHADOWS, I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW…" Screaming, Rin and Shippo turned around to see "Anee san," their caretaker. Anee san was about to pick up the two when Kagome caught her eyes. Looking at her, Anee san screamed (at first glance, Kagome does look dead), which startled Rin and Shippo. Before you know it, all three of them were screaming. Tears fell from Rin's face. "RIN IS SCARED. SESSHOUMARU SAMA!" She cried, running out of the room to search blindly in panic for her beloved Sesshoumaru sama. Shippo stopped screaming, and started to run toward Kagome. "KAA SAN!" However, Anee san stopped him. "Shippo…she's hurt. We'll let Sesshoumaru sama to take care of this, okay?"
Shippo felt his eyes burn, but he nodded at Anee san. "Now that's a good boy," she said. "Lets go get you some dinner…" With that, Anee san held Shippo by the hands and led him back toward his neglected dinner.
Sesshoumaru himself was out on patrol. He was nearly finished when he heard Rin's screams. He ran back and only stepped foot through the door when Rin barged right into him, crying herself silly. "Sesshoumaru sama…sob Kagome sama hic…Kagome sama is…hic sob She's…" Rin could hardly make out words. She was crying too hard to be able to speak. Placing one hand on her head gently, Sesshoumaru waited for Rin to finish crying first. After a while, Rin had stopped sobbing, but she was still too upset to say anything. "Haze." Rin and Shippo's "Anee san" came and bowed. "Yes?" "Take Rin to her room." "Hai." Anee, or Haze, took Rin by the hand gently and led her away. Sesshoumaru headed toward where he had housed Kagome.
Miouri set Juriana's emerald pendant near her charm bracelet. The jewels on each one seemed to glow faintly. "Nee san, what do you think you are doing?!" An echoed laugh is heard. "Dear imouto," it mocked, "I am doing what is right. By taking myself out of the picture, he will have to help her. I'm sorry, Lori, but there is no other choice. With me there, he'll just ask me to heal her again and again. He needs to know that--" "No, he will get to it, eventually." The voice gave a sigh. "You know, Lori, we both know that with me temporarily out of the picture, it's more likely that he will tend to her himself. Don't worry. I'll come back when I'm needed." "No, you just want to stay with your beloved." Miouri sneered, knowing that this was part of the reason.
"…You don't know my past, imouto. Stay out of foreign territory and stay with what you are familiar with. Besides, we both know that he's in this position because of me." There was silence. "You will see, Lori. You'll see. Soon, though. The elements will call for a union, we both know that…the day when the sun and the moon cry for each other, when the stars hide themselves away from this absurd world…the elements will call for a union." With that, the voice faded away. The emerald pendant faded away into nothing, back to its rightful key. "Juriana nee chan! I still have questions. Please, come back!" Silence greeted her…
Kyo and Ryo were about to knock on Miouri's door when they heard the tutor's cries for her sister. They looked at each other, each understanding. That special connection that the twins is like a curse. Until one of them dies, they will never truly be rid of the other. To suddenly lose that connection…well, it must be devastating. Sighing, they knocked, knowing that they need another "talk."
Sesshoumaru stood in front of Kagome's room. The darkness loomed at him, but his keen eyes could see the contents within the room perfectly. Kagome laid on the floor, her breathing calmed a lot but still a bit shaky. Sesshoumaru strided over to her and lifted her effortlessly. He placed her onto her futon and pulled the cover over her. "What has happened to your person? You're healthy one minute and sick the next…"
Sesshoumaru reached out and gently brushed Kagome's bangs out of her face. She looked so peaceful as she laid there. The moonlight did wonders to soften up the tones of her skin. Sesshoumaru caught himself before he sighed and left the room in a blur of white and white.
A/N: I'll get started on chapter 10 asap ; I realized I spent 8 chapters introducing the characters and the plot xx what a waste I'm sorry dear readers, if there's anyone left at all because of my prolonged absence…T-T