A/N: Woah! I know it's been a long time, and I have no excuse I know. Even if I did, none of them would be good enough. I want to send out thanks to ShadowNightGirl-1999 for being blunt and kicking my butt into finishing this chapter. I hope you guys enjoy it. I will try to update again really soon! I'm sooo sorry it took me literally years to update it. It breaks my heart. Well here it is.
Chapter Seventeen: To leave you
Kagome stood and walked around the gardens, passing by several royals. Each of them gave her a slight bow before continuing on their way. But Kagome paid little attention to them as she passed. Slowly she travelled behind the castle and came to a small creek. 'I did not know this was here,' Kagome admitted to herself. The water was clear and calm. Koi swam around in the water, their brilliant colors capturing Kagome's eyes. The colors played off the water and she smiled to herself. She had come to the palace bitter and cold, traits she had learned from all the fighting she did, but now she had emotions again. Her heart lifted as she thought of how much she had changed back into the person she used to be. She had cried, many times, more that she would have liked to admit, she had been angry and sad and jealous. She was glad that she still had emotions, not matter how small there were at this point.
With a sigh she laid beside the creek. Glad to be alone and to let the waters calm her. She was still upset that Sesshoumaru had gotten mad at her for defending him, but she brushed it off as male pride. If she was going to be his mate than he was going to have to suck it up and let her be herself. Her heart jumped slightly at the thought of once more being at his side. No more running from him like she had forced herself to do for two years. She needed to trust him now. He would not do anything to hurt her. Gakuto said that things would have to wait a few years. She smiled again. In a few years she could become stronger if she trained under Sesshoumaru. A frown crossed her face. She knew that Kyouko was not one for the Palace life and she could not just plan to stay here under Sesshoumaru's roof. A sigh came from her mouth and she looked up at the blue sky. She could not let Kyouko leave, he was like a brother to hear, and yet to keep him would almost seem cruel. 'I could easily just ask him what he wants to do.' She admitted, and yet part of her was scared at the answer he would give her. Scolding herself she sat up and stared into the water. Kyouko was no longer a small boy. He was old enough to make his own decisions. With that she nodded and stood, walking back to the Palace. Where she thought Kyouko might be.
She found him eventually, but he wasn't in the palace. She found him in the dojo sparing with a young boy whom she had never met. He heard her enter, but his attention was on his opponent. They had been going at it for near an hour already but he refused to give up. The boy across from him narrowed his gaze and lunged at him profusely. A new energy rose in him with knowledge that Lady Kagome was watching him. He blocked the one coming attacks and waiting patiently for there to be an opening. He saw one, but soon it closed. He could almost feel Kagome's brows furrow together in frustration. Mentally he kicked himself and continued to be on the defence. 'Patience can sometimes be the only factor that wins a fight.' Kagome had told him when they had been alone traveling the world. Finally he saw it, an opening that was big enough for him to take. With a swing of his blade he had his blade and his opponents throat. The sound of clapping broke through his thoughts and he looked and smiled at Kagome. "Lady Kagome, I am pleased that you are here." He said politely and the boy beside him bowed towards her.
"Lady Kagome." He said, his voice was bold as he stood up straighter. Kagome nodded to him and looked him over. He was slightly taller that Kyouko who, even at his young age, stood 5"4. "Kyouko, who is your young friend." Kagome asked, not taking her eyes off the boy.
"I am Haru, Son of Ayumu of the south." He replied without hesitation. The boy was human, around 14-15 years of age. He had shorter blonde curly hair that complimented his bright blue eyes.
"You're human." Kagome said, slightly shocked. She didn't think that humans were invited to such things. His reaction to her words surprised her and he tightened his jaw and glared at her. It was obvious that he was often bothered about being human. She gave him her brightest smile. "I am glad to have you hear. And I want to personally welcome you to the West." She said, bowing to him slightly. The boy's tension melted away and he smiled.
"It is a blessing to be here Lady Kagome. Kyouko had told me many stories about you." He continued, his smile not fading.
"Did he tell you I was scary and mean?" The boys face looked at her in shock before Kyouko burst into laughter.
"She is joking with you Haru." The boy began to laugh as Kyouko laughed with him. Kagome stared at the two and laughed along, not noticing when the two boys stopped, shocked the soft sound of her laughter. 'She rarely laughed when she was with me. It seems that this place really has changed her.' "So Lady Kagome, why did you search for me?" Kyouko asked, bringing Kagome back to the situation.
She stopped laughing, but her smile stayed. "I need to speak with you Kyouko, alone." The boy just nodded and bid Haru farewell and Kyouko and Kagome walked around slowly.
"I was thinking Kyouko, I am probably going to stay here a little while, and I know this isn't the life for you, so I just wanted to say that you don't need to stay if you don't want to." Kagome blurted out.
Kyouko looked at her in horror. "Lady Kagome I would never leave you—"
"Kyouko." Kagome interrupted, "Look at me." Both of them stopped moving and Kyouko stared at the ground, unwilling to face his Lady. "Kyouko, please." Slowly his head rose and he stared into her sad blue eyes. "I am not saying that you need to leave me. I am saying that you have the freedom to come and go as you wish. I am safe now, protected by Lord Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha. I am not alone anymore." Kagome sighed and placed a hand on her close friends shoulder. "I just don't want you to feel like you have to stay here with me. If you feel uncomfortable here you can leave, you just need to tell me."
Kyouko nodded. He didn't want to nod. He wanted to shake his head and tell her she was silly for asking him to leave her, but he knew she was right. This was not the place for him, it never was, and yet he couldn't just leave her. He felt two arms embrace him and he returned the hug, but his mind was elsewhere. He should be angry and pushing her away but he couldn't. She had always known what was best for him and what needed to happen. He frowned. She knew him better than he knew himself.
She left him alone to think about things, but his mind seemed to refuse to work. For a long time he stood there unmoving. To leave would mean that he would have no one to turn to, no one to walk beside and to talk with. He would be alone and might even come face to face with Naraku himself. He shuddered at the thought. But if he was alone maybe he could convince Saito to come with them. To tell her that she could trust Lady Kagome and that she was a strong warrior. But would Saito even listen to him? What if she did not recognize him? He shook his head. Sitting around here he could do nothing to help, but if he left maybe, just maybe, he could help bring down Naraku and then Lady Kagome wouldn't have to do it by herself. He felt himself tense before spinning around and going to find Kagome.
Kagome was sitting in Sesshoumaru's study. Her original intention was to find Sesshoumaru and talk to him about what had happened early, maybe lay down some boundries and such, but to her surprise he had not been in his study. She had turned around with every thought of leaving as soon as she realized that he was not here, but something about the room had calmed her and brought her peace. Her feet had glided over to the bug bay window where she was now standing and staring out of. In front of her here was the gardens, stretched out before her in ever color of the rainbow. 'That was no doubt Rin's idea.' Kagome mused to herself. She let herself smile as she thought of the little girl. Rin was young, a year or two younger than Kyouko. For a minute she let herself play with the idea that they would fall in love and get married, the thought allowing her smile to grow.
"What is so amusing Kagome?" Sesshoumaru asked her, his voice smooth and charming. Kagome leaned back, knowing that he would be behind her. She felt her skin press into his and she looked up at him, her bright pink eyes showing her contentment.
Without letting her smile fade she replied. "I was just thinking about the story of love." She said in a whisper.
Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow and leaned his face down towards hers. "And who is this story about?" A small giggle left her mouth and she shook her head to signal that she was not telling. A playful growl came from his throat and Kagome spun around, facing her pretend mate with a playful smirk of her own. With a speed that no longer caught her off guard his hand brushed against her face and he tilted her chin for a kiss.
The kiss was soft, too soft for Kagome, but Sesshoumaru was determined to keep it a game between them. Kagome broke off the kiss, pulling away from his hold on her chin before giving him a sarcastic glare. He returned with a glare of his own and pulled her into his arms. "I am sorry." He whispered into her ear. She looked up at him quizzically, urging him to explain. "For the way I acted this morning. You had a right to defend yourself."
"I also have a right to defend my mate." Kagome said seriously. She looked up at him, her eyes gazing into his golden ones. "Is it not right for me to defend your honour?"
Sesshoumaru merely nodded before looked towards the door. "Your ward is looking for you."
With a nod Kagome left him and opened to door, spotting Kyouko a short distance away. He greeted her with a nod and a strong hug and Kagome closed her eyes, knowing what he had decided. "You will have to tell Rin." She whispered to him sadly.
"I know." He said calmly before backing away. "I will try to find Saito, and convince her that you are trustworthy. I can't just sit here and do nothing to help."
Kagome looked at the young boy. He would soon her turning fourteen, in only a few months time, would he be alive to see his eighteen birthday without her there to defend him? She felt tears welling up inside, but she pushed them back. "You have served me well Kyouko. I could not have asked for a better friend." She told him truthfully. "Please stay well, and make sure you stop by plenty so I know that you are ok."
"I cannot promise anything Lady Kagome." There was a seriousness in his voice that made Kagome nod in respect to his choice of words. Footsteps came from behind her and she knew that Sesshoumaru had been listening to the entire conversation. In highest respect Kyouko have a low bow before straightening. "It had been great being in your household Lord Sesshoumaru. Please take care of Lady Kagome while I am gone."
Sesshoumaru nodded and held out his hand, revealing a long katana in a black sheath with golden embroideries. "It was my first sword." Sesshoumaru stated. "May it honour you."
With wide eyes Kyouko took it and bowed again in thanks, then turned his attention back to Kagome. "It has been a privilege serving you Lady Kagome. I will miss you." Kagome nodded slightly in response. "I must be leaving now." Kyouko whispered before he turned around and walked down the hall to Rin's room.
Without a word Kagome turned around and pressed her cheek against Sesshoumaru's silk Haori and let the tears she had been holding back cascade down her cheeks. 'I never thought you'd leave me. Kyouko.'