Sesshomaru gazed at the headstones of those of his brother's pack—his pack. The Demon Slayer and her chosen mate, the perverted monk, Miroku.
He had kept them alive as long as he could. Making sure they had enough to eat, a sturdy hut to sleep in, healers to care for them if they got sick, and placed Inuyasha's forest under his protection to warn lesser demons away.
And yet…they were only human. Regardless of their strength, time was an enemy he could not fight. And so he watched them die from old age. First the monk, and then a year later, the Slayer. After their passing, he commissioned a headstone for the miko. The Slayer's brother died honorably in battle during his fifty-fifth year of life with the fire-cat, Kirara, perishing at his side. Then…Rin. She lived the longest at the age of ninety-two. Demons lesser than he, praised him for keeping his human 'pet' alive for so long.
He refused to make a monument for his brother. There was still a chance Inuyasha was alive. Until he saw his brother's body, or the scouts he'd sent back brought news of Inuyasha's demise, he would not tempt fate by placing a headstone with his name on it.
The decision to mark a resting place for the miko had especially been hard. She had been…special. However, humans only lived so long. Placing a headstone for her, next to the monk and Slayer, had been the only comfort he had been able to give Shippo and Rin.
She had earned his admiration. Many demons from all around came to pay their respects. The only miko who protected demons. Who took a young fox-kit as if he was one of her own. Protected him. Loved him.
Strange miko, indeed.
Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kagome had become part of his pack long before he had joined their group to defeat Naraku. Now the young fox-kit was the only surviving member of his pack, and every year since Rin died eight years ago, on the anniversary of her death, Shippo would disappear for two months. He had allowed the kit his space to morn, just as he had needed it. He had given Shippo a date in which he needed to be back to the village. However, the kit never returned. He should have been here waiting for him.
"We will continue to keep watch for Shippo, my lord. The moment we know something; we will send word immediately."
Sesshomaru spared a glance to the Slayer and monk's great, great grandson. With a barely noticeable nod to the young man, he turned away and walked silently into the forest. His yoki swirling dangerously around him once he was out of sight of the humans.
Shippo had grown considerably in the last hundred years, but he was still a child—his child. Woe to any who may have harmed his kit.
Shippo raced through the forest. Stopping every so often to scent the wind and listen, making sure he was not being pursued. This was the first time he'd left the safety of Sesshomaru's territory, but he wasn't scared. Having been trained by the Western Lord, there wasn't much that could send him screaming.
But, as an officially announced member of Sesshomaru's pack, crossing into the Southern territory without an invite was an offence that could get him killed or worse…held hostage until Sesshomaru paid—but, more like kill—to get him back. Even so, he wasn't about to turn back from his set course.
He didn't care if he was just dreaming, if it was wishful thinking, or because another year passed since Rin died. He had smelt her, had scented her reiki in the wind. No priestess smelled the same, and even though the holy power was not exactly like hers, it had been close enough to send his heart racing and his feet running.
He had been on his way back to wait for Sesshomaru—should have been at the village yesterday waiting—, having been wandering the edges of the Western territories for the past two months. Staying in the village without Rin…it was still too much. Sango and Miroku's children's children, and their children were there for him, but they weren't pack. Once Rin died, it had severed the last remaining connection he had with that place. It was then that a gust of wind from the south hit him, and with it, the scent of her reiki.
He knew it couldn't possibly be Kagome. She was human, and would have died not long after Sango and Miroku, but he needed to see for his own eyes. He needed to meet the human female that carried the scent that was so similar—if not a bit darker—than the girl he had once called "mother".
There was never any proof that Kagome had died. She and Inuyasha had disappeared after Kagome had made her wish, and the jewel had disappeared along with them. Any number of things could have happened to them. The woman he was chasing after, she could be Inuyasha and Kagome's child, and maybe that's why it didn't smell exactly like Kagome. Maybe the darkness within the scent was that of Inuyasha's blood—demon blood.
He didn't care one way or the other. He just wanted to find something—someone! Rin's death had been hard, but the day Sesshomaru erected that headstone with Kagome's name on it… Shippo had fallen into a dark place that day. Maybe he was being stupid, and running off like he had would lead him to nothing but heartbreak. But, he couldn't stop. Not now. Maybe not ever. He just wanted someone from his original pack next to him once again.