Author's Note:
Crap! I'm so sorry! Work and life has been so hectic lately so writing this second chapter has been a horrendous effort for me!
Double crap because I forgot to mention a few things when I wrote my first author's note. (Forgive me, it's been awhile and I was excited.)
First, this fic takes place after the events of the entire series including the Final Act. Now it's been awhile since I've seen it all the way through so I'm having to brush up on things as I go. If I make any glaring mistakes with the timeline or details from the Final Act, pleaaaaase let me know! I'd greatly appreciate it!
Second, if you you think this is going to be a love-fest between canon characters then you'd better guess again. As a matter of fact, this fic is probably going to stay in the darker spectrum even if it doesn't seem like it at all just yet.
Third, I do not have a beta reader. I have two in mind but they are just as busy as I am with work and such. (I mean come on; one of them is my roommate and we work at the same hectic place!) So, I apologize profusely but there will be mistakes and plot issues occasionally. If I have some pointed out to me or find them myself, I will fix them in their original chapters and post notes about them in the newest chapters if needed.
So, after that insanely long author's note, here's chapter two! It make be a little slow at first but just stick with me on this! I have my reasons!
Here goes nothing! Hope you enjoy it
-
"Stay with me?" His voice is almost a whisper but she hears it and smiles as she runs the fingers of one hand through his hair.
"Forever." She feels him smirk against her collarbone.
"Forever."
-
Catalyst
Chapter Two
Eyes snap open and Kagome can see the early morning sun shining in from behind the handmade curtains she'd just hung a few days prior. Birds are singing and she can hear that it's another breezy day outside. With a stretch, she rolls over to hide in the blankets for a moment before the memories from the night before come back. Abruptly she snaps up in the bed, her wild morning hair flying everywhere with the motion and her cheeks flaming as red as her hakama that are laying on the floor nearby. Disbelievingly, she reaches over without looking to the other side of the makeshift bed but feels disappointed when it's empty and cold. With a sigh she looks over but her disappointment fades minutely when she sees the small slip of paper laying there. She quickly reaches down and has to brush her hair from her face to read it.
"Had to leave before dawn. I'll be back in two days, not three, and you better not leave the village.
Be safe.
If you're wondering, I stayed all night."
The last line is far below the others and scribbled so much more messily, as though he'd blurted it out before losing courage, and Kagome smiles know that he'd probably done just that. The disappointment lingers but only because she didn't get to tell him goodbye.
"You better be home in three days Inuyasha, or I'm leaving this village no matter what Miroku tries to keep me here." Her whisper seems loud in the tiny, empty house and she sighs before getting up for the day with another stretch. She quickly dresses in her miko garb and grabs her small backpack she made herself with the help of Kaede and Sango by copying the stitching on her old backpack. As she walks through the front door she grabs her bow and quiver leaning against the wall and puts them across her back as well before stepping into the early morning sun.
Heading for the village she tries to think of the chores she can do that day and how to keep herself busy, but her mind keeps wandering to the night before and the faint blush won't leave her cheeks.
'Knock it off Kagome. It's not like we did...well, that. Although if it's anything like the protection marking...' She shuts the thought down with a furious shake of her head and a huff. She begins walking toward the village again and she can hear the sounds of the village ahead of her now. For a moment she debates staying out in the woods all day away from the hectic life of the village but frowns when she realizes that Inuyasha will skin her alive with his shouting when he gets home if he hears that she went out on her own into the woods, even this close to home.
'It's not like I'm incapable of taking care of myself and youkai don't really come here since we all settled down here. But, he did swallow his pride and give me this mark for my protection so I guess the least I can do is behave for now.' She picks up the pace as she realizes that keeping busy should be her focus and in a few more minutes she's coming upon Kaede's hut at the base of the shrine stairs.
Without stopping she begins to climb the steps, knowing all too well that Kaede is up at the shrine and has been since dawn broke. The sun is already warm on her back as she climbs the stairs and she adjusts her small back pack with a wince when she realizes she forgot to add water to her bottle that's sloshing in the pack.
'I'll find a moment to sneak down to the stream later. A quick dash into the woods won't be a big deal.' Another part of her reminds her that there's a perfectly good well in the village but she quickly shuts that part down as she comes to the top of the stairs and sees Kaede sweeping.
"Good morning child. Did ye sleep well?" Kagome smiles and walks over to a nearby tree to lay down her things.
"I did, thank you. Did you see Inuyasha leave this morning?" The older woman shakes her head with a knowing smile.
"Nay child but I was not up so early as he. I trust he left before the sun even began to rise above the hills. The trip to that village is nearly a whole day for a human such as us so even for a hanyou like Inuyasha it is still rather long if he wants to be back in two days." Kagome smiles at the humor in Kaede's voice and knows the older woman can't resist teasing her pupil when the chance arises.
"Yes well we'll see if he really does make it back in two days. Three days is much more realistic." Kaede laughs heartily and shakes her head before going back to sweeping. Kagome grabs the extra broom and quickly joins her. They continue on in silence for a time, enjoying the sounds of the waking village from below and the birds singing but the silence is broken when they hear loud foot steps coming up the shrine stairs.
"Kagome-sama!" Kagome stops and turns to face the stairs with a small frown.
'Already thinking I've skipped town eh?' Miroku comes to the top of the stairs and she can see he's left the girls at home with Sango. He walks up to them with an innocent smile plastered on her face and Kagome instantly knows she's right.
"Good morning to you Miroku. Where might be those twins of yours? They hardly let you leave their sight." Miroku laughs and comes to stand before them.
"Ah yes, my little princesses. Sango wanted to mend their kimonos before they went out today and insisted that they have a full meal before running out the door." There's laughter in his voice and despite her light irritation, Kagome laughs and shakes her head at the thought of the twin fits they both threw for their mother.
"Poor Sango. If you keep spoiling those girls it's only going to get worse as they grow." Miroku laughs again but shrugs.
"I can't help it! They could ask me to tear the moon from the sky and I would die trying before I would disappoint them." Kagome rolls her eyes but smiles before going over to her pack to retrieve her half full water bottle.
"Well, since you came all this way, how can I help you Miroku? I know better than to believe you just came up here to enjoy our company." She doesn't notice the knowing look between Miroke and Kaede as she drinks some of her water and she gives the nearly empty bottle a scowl before turning around.
"I apologize! I nearly forgot! Sango wanted me to ask you if you'd like some help working on your house today. She knows you've been anxious to make the inside nicer and she's going to let the girls play with Shippo and Rin outside today." Kagome quirks a brow, interested despite knowing that he's just trying to keep her distracted.
"Actually, I hadn't even though about working on the house. It'd probably be a good idea since I won't have Inuyasha around to be in my way all the time." Miroku shakes his head.
"Yes he does have a tendency to be underfoot almost as bad as a child, doesn't he?" Kagome gives him a small smirk.
"I think you would be too if you were him. He's never had a chance to see what happens when people make a home or to be involved. It...makes him happy." They all stand in silence for a moment in slight wonder at her words.
"I hadn't thought of it that way Kagome-sama. Maybe I should make more opportunities to help out and help Inuyasha enjoy such a thing." She nods as she picks up her back and bow before turning to Kaede.
"Do you mind if I go back to the house Kaede? We're pretty ahead on things last I checked." The older woman waves her off.
"Go along child. This old woman can handle a little sweeping and tending to flowers." Kagome nods and heads for the stairs, Miroku following after he shares another gaze with Kaede. This time though Kagome notices and has to force herself from turning fully around.
'They think they're so sneaky. Maybe a trip down to the stream would be a good idea.'
-
A few hours later finds Kagome sitting outside the house with Sango having a light lunch. The children are all playing in the shade in front of the house, the clearing the perfect size for play without having to worry about losing the smaller children in any brush. Some of the village children have joined them to enjoy Rin's company and the laughter is contagious as they watch. Sango's youngest child, Ichiro, naps unaware in a small bed made of various blankets next to his mother.
"Kagome?" The younger girl blinks and looks over as she pops a bit of her rice ball in her mouth.
"Hmm?"
"Would you mind if I lay Ichiro down in your room? I'm afraid the other children may wake him and if he doesn't have a long mid day nap..." Kagome waves her off as she looks back to the children.
"Go ahead. I know he'll keep you and Miroku up half the night if he doesn't get a good nap." Sango nods and reaches for the tiny boy before going into the house.
Kagome watches the children and enjoys the moment of peace. Since the morning had begun they'd finished making curtains for all the windows in the house, found most of the wood they would need to make a Western styled bed, and even found enough extra wood to make more furniture. They'd begun organizing the wood to build the furniture when Kagome's lack of breakfast had caught up with her and they'd retired for a time to the shaded clearing in front of the house.
'Hopefully the bed will be done soon. I miss the bed's from back home.' A swift ache hits her and Kagome sighs when homesickness nags at her. When she'd returned from her time, she wordlessly made the decision to not try the well again and no one had ever questioned her silence. They all knew as well as she did that she could always go forward in time without the jewel shards but since the jewel was gone there was no telling what would happen if she tried to go home to visit and then try to return back to the Feudal era.
'Sometimes, I really miss mama's cooking. Heck, I even miss Souta's whining when he'd lose at a video game.' Melancholoy sweeps down on her further and she tries to focus on the children playing, not noticing the figure walking into the clearing.
'He's probably so big now. I wonder if he has a girlfriend? Or if he...'
"Kagome-sama?" With a start she sits up and looks over to see Miroku staring at her curiously.
"Yes?" Miroku studies her for a moment before coming over to sit next to her. She watches him curiously when she sees the serious look come across his face.
"You were thinking about your family, weren't you?" Kagome bites her lip and looks back to children. It takes her a few moments but she swallows and finally responds.
"Yes, I was. How did you know?" Miroku smiles softly.
"You always get the same look on your face when your mind goes to them. I'm sure they are well Kagome-sama and that they think of you all the time." Blinking away tears, she looks back to the children and stands.
"I know, I'm sure of that too Miroku." She watches the children for another moment before she turns back to Miroku, a thoughtful look on her face that makes him cock his head again.
"What is it Kagome-sama?" His voice is concerned and she feels somewhat bad before responding.
"Do you think you could keep an eye on the children for a moment? I'd like to go refill my water bottle at the stream." Miroku frowns and immediately sits up higher.
"Kagome-sama, I don't think you should wander from..." She shakes her head and pointedly looks away, knowing that anyone could catch her in a lie if they just studied her face.
"I'll be fine. Really. I'll take my bow and arrows. I just...need a moment to myself right now." Miroku catches the hint and sighs. He sits there for a moment debating before he nods and relaxes back.
"Alright, but don't be gone long or I'll come after you with all the children and make it a game to see who can find you first." Abruptly, Kagome has a vision in her mind of hounds chasing a fox through the woods and laughs.
"I promise I won't be gone long and that I won't tell Inuyasha you went back on your word." Miroku looks over at her with a quirked brow.
"You better not, or I'll tell him how you sneak off after sweeping at the shrine almost every day." Kagome blushes but nods, not knowing that anyone knew she'd been doing that. Without another word she turns and heads towards the small trail leading into the woods just beyond the back of the house.
Quickly enough, the sounds of the children fade and all she can hear are the singing birds again and the faint sound of the stream ahead. The walk itself isn't very far at all and she frowns at how protective they all are of her. She comes upon the stream soon enough and refills her water bottle before taking a seat on her favorite rock that's always in the shade. Staring out across the trickling water she can feeling the homesickness creeping back in and realizes that maybe she hadn't lied to Miroku after all.
'It's not like I'm unhappy here. It's just...sometimes it's so different here.' She frowns when she remembers how some of the village men would look at her when she'd go off on Inuyasha or Miroku for doing something idiotic; so scandalized that a woman would raise her voice at men in such a way. She could often ignore the stares but sometimes they would sneak up on her, as well as the quickly hushed words when she would walk around the corner of a hut. The village men and women were often scandalized by what came from her mouth, what she wore, and sometimes even offended by the games she played with the children.
'It's easier when Inuyasha is here.' Sighing, Kagome takes another sip of water. She'd come to realize that she understood Inuyasha a great deal more since making the Feudal era her permanent home. She often felt like she was alone on an alien planet, surrounded by people who didn't understand her or want to understand her despite all she did for them and how hard she tried to make relationships with them. More than once she could envision a younger, less angry Inuyasha coming into human villages seeking shelter and friendship. She could understand his desperation and loneliness much more than she ever could before, but she had yet to decide if that was a good thing. Looking up at the sky, she huffs dejectedly to blow her bangs from her face.
'Come home soon Inuyasha.' She looks back down and is just about to leave her spot on the rock when she feels a pulse of youki somewhere nearby. Pausing for a moment, she quickly straightens back up and tries to act normal as she discretely sends out a wave of her own power. Quickly finding the trail, she almost sags in relief when she realizes she knows this youki all too well.
'Well, at least the youki doesn't feel irritable or dangerous right now.' She takes another sip of her water, not trusting her voice with out it, before calling out in the general direction she felt the trail of youki coming from.
"You know, you could just come out and say 'hello' instead of lurking out there in the woods Sesshoumaru-sama." As she finishes speaking, another pulse of youki flows through the air and this time she can feel annoyance in it. Smirking lightly, she sits a little straighter on the rock.
'There, that might teach you to sneak up on poor girls jerk!' At the edge of the stream he seems to melt from the treeline. His pristine white clothes dazzle her eyes for a moment along with his silver hair and she squints against the glaring sunlight. He's dressed the same as always and despite all the time that's passed since the defeat of Naraku and the events leading up to that, she's still struck by the thought of how powerful he looks now with both arms and the Bakusaiga at his hip. His usual bored expression is fixed in place and distantly she wonders if she could handle seeing any other expression other than his typical bored one or the ruthless killer. Knowing he won't be the one to speak first she gives him a soft smile before breaking the silence.
"Good day to you Sesshoumaru-sama. I didn't think we would see you again for a few days." So slightly that she almost misses it, Sesshoumaru nods.
"I have come to get Rin." His voice isn't very loud but the low baritone carries across the space to her easily.
'Well I could've guessed that on my own Captain Obvious.'
"I see. Well, while I'd love for her to stay longer I'll certainly go back and tell her to ready herself to leave." He simply watches her quietly and the fixed gaze begins to give her goosebumps when she realizes the only times they've held eye contact like this before were usually times where he was trying to kill her or saving her from being killed.
"Let the girl be for a while longer. It will be some time before she is able to come back here" At this, Kagome quirks a brow at him in curiosity.
"Oh? Why is that, if I may ask?" She tries to keep her tone light, but her curiosity was never a trait she's been able to hide well. Wordlessly, Sesshoumaru steps closer with a few quick glances around them and another, stronger pulse of his youki. She frowns slightly when she realizes he's making sure that there's no one nearby and the old fear of the taiyoukai sneaks in for a just a moment.
'If he was going to kill you, he would've done it any one of the many times before now when he'd brought Rin here.' Stopping only a few feet from her, Sesshoumaru finishes his surveying of the area and glances at her from the corner of his eye.
"I will answer your question only so that you may tell the kit why Rin will no longer be here as often." Nodding, Kagome leans forward with attentiveness. The silence holds for a few more moments before he continues, looking off to the horizon as he does so.
"There have been rumors that there is a power rising and we have had numerous incidents along the borders of the Western territories." Fidgeting a bit at the sudden chill down her spine, Kagome frowns.
"I had thought that your lands were peaceful since you'd taken up residence there once again." She can see him clench his jaw and there's a slight twitch of his brow before he speaks.
"As had my subjects and myself until my scouts began to report back about strange occurrences, particularly in the most northern parts of the territory."
"Wait, isn't Edo considered part of the northern tip of your territory?" Sesshoumaru nods again, this time a little more noticeably.
"Yes, and the incidents that have been occurring have all been within a few days travel from here. Each occurrence draws ever closer to this village." The chill down her spine becomes stronger and she fights the urge to visibly shiver.
"I understand now. You're keeping her from here for her safety." She makes it a statement and watches his expression for a confirmation. Seeing the tightening of his jaw once more, she knows that she's right even before he speaks.
"Inuyasha is well aware of all this. When he returns, he will be leading all of you to the center of the Western territories." Kagome blinks owlishly for a moment before she frowns again.
"Inuyasha agreed to that? I highly doubt that. He's the type of person to dig in his heals and stay put even if he has to fight to do so. Why would he suddenly agree to leave? Especially to be closer to the older sibling he can't stand most the time? No offense meant but it's pretty obvious that you two still aren't going to be the best of friends or anything." Throughout her nervous babbling, Sesshoumaru's eyes flick back to her from the corner of his vision.
"I have told Inuyasha what my scouts have told me and that is that whatever is attacking the other villages and travelers is not a normal youkai or even a youkai pack. The survivors of these attacks all spoke of the same shadowy figures." Suddenly, the chill in her spin spreads to her chest and Kagome absentmindedly grips the front of her haori with a small gasp.
"Shadows? But that's..."
"Inuyasha knows what he may face when he arrives in this village he was summoned to, and that is why you remain here." Kagome swallows slowly around the sudden lump in her throat, trying to find words in the jumbled mess of her thoughts.
'He knew that this was more than just a regular cry for help. He should have brought me with him!'
"Miko." Kagome's head snaps up at Sesshoumaru's voice and she looks up to see him looking off with narrowed eyes.
"What?"
"Do you not hear it?" Kagome straightens up and pauses to listen. She sits for a few moments and just before she's about to ask him what he's talking about she faintly hears the tolling of a bell in the distance.
"The village!" Kagome jumps from the rock and barely manages to land upright before setting off at a run, leaving behind her pack with only her bow and arrows strung across her back. She knows Sesshoumaru has taken flight and she glimpses his form overheard as he soars over the trees. Suddenly, a thought occurs to her.
"Sesshoumaru! That bell means youkai! We have to keep the children safe!" She shouts up at him and thinks she sees a nod before he's moving faster and suddenly out of her sight. Huffing at youkai speed, she keeps running back towards the clearing and her home.
"Kagome! Sesshoumaru-sama just stopped here and warned us to go inside!" Coming into the clearing she sees Sango standing in the doorway of the house and is relieved to see all the children inside behind her. She runs up to the other girl and stops to catch her breath.
"What's going on? The bells..."
"I'm not sure! Miroku ran off at the first toll! I wanted to follow but..." Sango's sentence is cut off when Ichiro lets out a wail.
"It's alright! I'll go help. Just stay here with the children and keep them inside okay?" Sango nods and turns to go back into the house. Kagome takes a deep breath and takes off again but behind her she hears Sango call for her again. She pauses at the edge of the clearing to see Sango leaning out of the doorway.
"When you get to the village, go to our house! My katana is in the bedroom with my armor!" With a quick nod, Kagome takes off at a sprint.
'What's going on? We've never had a youkai attack since the fall of Naraku. The one time Inuyasha leaves by himself and we're suddenly under attack? Something isn't right.' Pushing herself harder she races through the forest, wincing when branches smack at her limbs and catch in her hair. Soon enough she begins to hear the noises of the village and bites her lip as she breaks free of the tree line.
Ahead of her the men of the village shout out various orders to each other, each one armed with whatever was nearby when the attack began. Amidst the chaos she sees Kaede on her horse heading towards the south side of the village, her own bow and quivers strung across her back. A terrible roar erupts from the direction Kaede is headed and Kagome recognizes the the power of Sesshoumaru's youki ahead of her. She quickly comes upon Sango and Miroku's house and ducks into the darkness of the main room before bolting to the back. When she enters the bedroom she immediately drops to her knees before a heavy chest tucked back in the corner and throws open the lid. Inside lays Sango's armor, slayer supplies, and her katana. Without a thought Kagome scoops it and the poison mask from the chest and quickly shoves the katana into the ties at her waist. Pausing a moment longer she ties two of the ropes for the mask around her neck leaving the mask to hang there before leaving the house. As she comes back outside she sees most of the villagers have moved on and another roar erupts into the air.
'As happy as I am to have sword with me, it'd really help if I'd taken the time to learn how to use one!' The bitter thought makes her frown as she runs and she can feel an ache starting in her side.
"Kagome-sama!" Up ahead of her Miroku stands at the edge of what was once the village square, his staff in his hands.
"What's going on Miroku?!" She comes to stop beside him and pulls out her bow with an arrow ready in the same breath.
"I'm not sure! It's an oni but it's...well it's absolutely senseless! I haven't seen something like this since Sounga raised those dead ones!" A chill runs down her spine at his words and Kagome remembers the viciousness of those creatures as she also has the sense that this isn't as it seems.
"But it can't be Sounga! It was banished!" Another roar explodes into the air and distantly, Kagome realizes she can hear a strange screeching as well. Miroku looks ahead of them with a frown and grips his staff.
"I do not know what is going on, but we cannot delay. We have to at least drive it back from the village." Kagome nods in affirmation and they both set off at a run towards the sounds of battle. Keeping an arrow at the ready, Kagome races along after Miroku as they round a corner and come into view of the disaster in their home.
"Oh Kami..." Her breathless words are so faint that even the taiyoukai ahead of them wouldn't be able to catch them in all the chaos. The oni towers over the village, it's eyes red with hellish intent and it's skin practically dripping from it's body. The foul odor is enough to make almost everyone nearby clasp some form of fabric to their face and Kagome is amazed that the smell hasn't effected the taiyoukai slashing away at the monstrosity. Sesshoumaru springs from a nearby roof as she watches, his claws lashing out with his whip and she's struck by the realization that Bakusaiga is still at his hip.
'He doesn't want to risk injuring the humans. A wave of Bakusaiga's energy thrust in the wrong direction could tear half the villagers apart in seconds.' The whip strikes the oni's shoulder and it roars out in pain, swiping at the taiyoukai who simply leaps away with deadly speed. The oni struggles to follow his movement and the jerking movements of it's limbs has Kagome thinking.
'It's just like the oni Sounga controlled and it's most certainly dead. But the way it's moving...that's more like Kagura's work.' Flashes of twitching, jerky corpses approaching her and the rest of the group come back to her and she realizes the oni is moving in the same fashion. Without a word, Kagome dashes forward into the fray as she realizes what's really going on.
"Kagome-sama!" She ignores Miroku's frantic shout and instead comes to a stop only feet from the oni as she knocks back an arrow, aiming for it's head.
"Sesshoumaru! It's being controlled! This is just a distraction!" Sesshoumaru glances down at the miko as she lets loose the arrow with a shout. The arrow streaks up to oni's face, leaving a trail of swirling pink light that makes even his skin prickle. The arrow strikes the oni in the forehead and it cries out in pain, causing all the humans to cover their ears in protest. Frowning at the abuse on his sensitive ears, he lands gracefully next to the miko who's already pulling up another arrow.
"I am already aware of the oni being controlled miko. What makes you think it is a distraction?" His tone is bored and Kagome huffs at him as she holds her position, watching the oni claw at it's face while more of it's rotting flesh falls away.
"Call it intuition!" She lets loose another arrow, this time hitting it in the neck, and frowns when she realizes that while the arrows are causing the oni to deteriorate quicker they are not purifying him as intended.
'Something's not right about this.' Sesshoumaru leaps back into the air towards the oni's head, swiping out with his claws again, and Kagome readies another arrow as her mind flies through everything she's learned since the start of her adventure. She's so absorbed in her thoughts that she doesn't notice the oni swing an arm wildly, striking the taiyoukai in his chest and sending him flying into a house.
'The only two energies not effected by a miko's ki are those of a normal human or of another miko. But that doesn't make any sense! Why would...'
"Kagome-sama!" Kagome blinks and looks over at Miroku, seeing him run forward with terror in his eyes as he focuses behind her. She spins around and a strangled gasp rips from her throat when she sees that the oni is now fixated on her, it's mouth open in a grotesque grin, and Sesshoumaru is nowhere in immediate sight.
"Kagome-sama run!" Shock locks her legs and she stares up at the oni as it opens it's mouth and roars down at her. Suddenly, a streak of white appears to her right and she sees Sesshoumaru leap up from the ruins of a house with his sword now in hand.
'The oni...it threw Sesshoumaru like a ragdoll...'
"Miko! The mark!" Suddenly, Kagome realizes just how far Sesshoumaru was thrown and she looks back at the oni now reaching towards her as it rushes forward. But she remembers the taiyoukai's words in her fear and shoves her right hand under her haori. As her fingertips come to rest against the jagged indigo slashes there, she lets out a cry that seems to ripple through the air.
"Inuyasha help me!" Despite the ripple that seems to pour from her the oni keeps coming and before any of them can reach her Kagome is in the oni's giant, clawed grasp.