DISCLAiMER: I don't own Inu-Yasha
JeniNeji Comments:
Sorry for the tardiness. Yeah, finals had me crying for weeks, however, it had all come to end! Until August that is…
Hope you enjoy this chapter. It took me almost a month to put everything together, because it's LONG. Enjoy. Thanks to my beta Jolee Flinch again! Wooho!
PEOPLE, THE INU NO TAISHO/IZAYOI ONESHOT STILL NEED REVIEWS, SO FAR LIKE 7 READERS HAVE ASKED FOR IT...MINIMUN OF 15 IF I AM TO MAKE IT.
YE ARE WARNED
Special thanks to:
Sparkillian: Sorry, I swear I usually update sooner. Hope you like this chapter.
Diablicum Vita Luna: I am most impressed! Thank you! For giving my story a chance, I hope you keep enjoying it!!!!
Fluffy & Kagome: Thanks for the review, tell me if you like this chapter best (God knows I've been working on it)
Sukiesamaru: Yey! I like that you like it...and yes, it may be a little predictable now...though I still have my doubts. Hope yo impress you on these next 2 chaps!
Snow cat demon: I am so pleased! And I know what you mean...I also hate the time jumps...but I guess they are better than writting 500 years of history...right?
Estelin: Geez....well I'll work harder so you will have the chaps sooner...I hope vacation helps. Yup.
Pandora-of-the-south: I love your cheerfulness, I swear. And well...tell you what, Naraku appears NOW! HAHAHA
Angelique-06: Sorry for making you skip your homework...I hope you have time this time to read in peace. Waiting for your awesome spanglish reviews! And pray tell me the story and the difficulties you have to make to be able to read...they are super, extra, ultra funny!
jazzinuluvsesshyxxoo: You are most welcome! Sorry...no preview this time...dont want to spoil the ending. I am evil...right? Forgive me?
DemonDeReves: You know...to be honest, I dont remember how much I spent thinking to merge the past and the present...at the beginning it was most...comfusing...but then it was like...2-3 chaps thinking up ahead and a blind knowledge about the endings I wanted for each part... I guess...something like that.
Myth Whisperer: Hi you back !!!! Hope you are doing much better and I horribly missed your review. I was puppy eyes like...no what happened? I was somewhat...concerned, so I'm glad you are all right, and I hope you like this chapter!!!
blueinugurl89: Nice, Im glad you are liking the story and my image of Inu no Taisho and Izayoi's relationship was most interesting.
When the Past is the Future…
Chapter 19
The future: My enemy, my ally
"Lady Kagome is back!"
The excited gossiping around the floors and halls of the palace alerted him of the return of his mate. Months had passed since he last saw her. Adrenaline filled his veins, his blood began to get warmer and his hand shook with his nervousness. He set aside the demonic feather pen. He knew he could write no more, and the tiredness he gathered from the entire scrolls that had yet to be written was enough to make his shoulder slump down.
"Lord Sesshomaru" said Jaken from behind the shogi door "Seems like Lady Kagome is on her way to the Castle" he informed with disdain. Jaken had disliked Kagome since the second his lord had marked her, he accused her of witchcraft, of stealing his demonic powers.
"I am aware" said Sesshomaru emotionless. "You are dismissed" he said to the flea demon.
"Yes, my Lord" he said and obediently left the hall.
Sesshomaru came to his feet and stared down to the path to the castle from his window. People were gathered around who he assumed must be Kagome. The warm feelings most of his people had for her were strange to him, for she was a miko, their born enemy, yet they embraced her with hope. And they embraced him not. What was that made them look at him differently? Had he been so cold?
Another thing came to his mind and he growled. Inu-Yasha was always waiting for her, as if he was infatuated with Kagome. He remembered once when Inu-Yasha had been just a pup, how he managed to fool the guards of his castle and reach Kagome's chamber. It had been remarkable, but at the same time infuriating. No one had detected an anomaly, for he was after all, a half-dog demon and the scent of dog demon was common on the castle. He had gone to Kagome's chambers to find her fast asleep, with the pup on her arms. The scene was an innocent one, both sound asleep, but to him, the scene was the presage of the bad things yet to come. Inu-Yasha had found her, and he was sure this was the first time they met, he had prevented them from meeting but still, fate was against him.
He paced his room once again. What was he to do? Kagome was his mate and he was not to give her away. In her new routine, she had left him alone for a long time, enough for him to understand that he missed her. He had always missed her presence, her scent, her voice. He wanted her as his mate, he wanted her to understand it was all right for them to be mated, but how could he show her? Did she feel the same?
A pounding on his heart made him stop. She was nearby. He took a deep breath and was going to go open the room when the shogi door came unexpectedly open.
"Good evening" said the cheerful voice of Kagome "I thought I should come to report my presence to my Lord" she added and bowed her head "After all, I am as always intruding on his castle"
Sesshomaru looked at her with a sharp gaze "You are welcome in my castle" he said somewhat confused as to why she brought such matters at a moment like this but caring little. "The mark you have on you will always prove so" he added and turned his back to Kagome, walking once again to his table filled with scrolls. He sat down and once again began to read the last paper he had been working on.
"A mark" she said as if absent-minded "Of course, how could I forget" she said sarcastically and sat at his side, looking past his arms to his scrolls.
He remained silent, as to prove her that she in no way affected him. "Voice reached me you spent some nights in the Wolf Demon's Den" said Sesshomaru with mild interest, but the truth was discovering such things irritated him. Koga had been declared the new leader of the Tribe and his infatuation with Kagome was still latent.
"Indeed" she said as she took one of the closed scrolls and began to read.
Sesshomaru began to write on a clean sheet of paper, waiting for her to explain herself, but she didn't. As he continued to write, he noticed her take another scroll and read it as well, and she began to separate them. He closed his eyes a moment and then opened them again. "Why did you go?" he asked.
"Hmm?" she asked as she took yet another scroll and began to read "You know I have been traveling, funding new temples to train new priestesses" she commented without paying much attention and then bit her lip in thought before placing the scroll on her hand into a new pile. "I must say I am very satisfied" she commented with a smile "There are now five temples open with excellent Masters" she finished and placed the scroll over another two.
Sesshomaru put his feather down and turned to her, eyes sharp. "I know what you have been doing" he said with a cold voice "I meant, why where you with the Wolves?" he asked, but the annoyance at having to repeat the question was clear on his icy glare.
"Oh." she exclaimed with her eyes still on the scroll "That" she said with a smile, as she read she began to bite her fingertip. "This is ridiculous. Such unimportant messages" she commented. "Makes me want to eat, you should have something to eat or drink here…will at least calm the stress" she said before throwing away the scroll and taking another. "I went to congratulate Koga on his succession" she said as if it was obvious "and catch up with old times" she said as if it was unimportant.
"I don't suffer from stress" said Sesshomaru defensively as he once again took his feather and continued to write.
"Of course" said Kagome as she took a quick glance at the multitude of unattended scrolls lying around the table "You are just lazy then" she said and once again focused on the scroll she had in her hands.
"I am not lazy" growled Sesshomaru as his golden eyes turned to her again "But I have many things to do that are far more important than reading this useless things" he said and tried his best to concentrate on the white sheet of half written paper in front of him, what was it about?
They both remained in silence for a while, reading and writing and Sesshomaru was thankful for the silence. The only thing that interrupted it was the sound of Kagome letting go of a scroll to take another. She was a fast reader, he hadn't noticed before.
"You look older" he commented as he took another scroll, his eyes never glancing her way.
"I do" she accepted it "Most people say I have become "beautiful"" she said and chuckled "Especially my maids, I think they missed me" she commented with a smile and let go of the scroll. She looked around and spotting a mirror walked to it.
A smile came to her face as she saw her reflection. She was older, she was taller and her body had become more feminine and her curves were easily noted on her current clothes. Her hair reached her hips, her lips were bigger and her nose was sharper. "I have wanted to grow for so long" she whispered with contentment "I thought I would never meet my older self" she finished.
Sesshomaru didn't turn to her, her words voiced emotions he didn't understand and he wasn't sure he wanted to. "The Jewel slows your aging" he commented "but the stench of mortality covers you, you are slowly dying" he told her as evenly as he could.
"What is the meaning of living?" she asked tiredly "I have nothing left to hold on to" she said full of regret, her hands came to her hair and she began to brush it with her fingers.
Sesshomaru felt his heart harden at her sharp words. He couldn't help but blink a few times, trying to smell the scent of lying but he couldn't. She meant and believed what she had just said. "Is this about Koga?" he asked strained.
"Koga has nothing to do with anything" she said defensively. "However, there is another matter I wish to discuss with you" she said, her voice going heated with anger.
Sesshomaru remained silent for a moment and let go of his writing feather. He turned to her, still seated on his cushion. "Is it?" he said challenging; her tone was enough to make him itchy.
"Yes" she said and stopped brushing her hair, but kept her back to him "I heard Izayoi perished while I was away" she began, her tone dry "and I also heard that you opposed for her burial on the Royal's family grounds" she finished, expecting a confirmation or a denial.
Sesshomaru looked at her and he felt his emotions disappear. He saw her tense shoulders and her fisted hands "You heard correctly" he said emotionless.
Kagome turned to him with wild eyes, filled with anger "Why would you do something like that?" she whispered through clenched teeth "Was it to hurt Inu-Yasha?" she hissed and her hands began to shake with controlled fury.
"She is not a dog demon" he said, his golden eyes cold, but with great anger beneath them. "She didn't deserve to be buried there" he finished.
Kagome's blue eyes were icy, the warm of them gone. She growled in frustration and then stomped towards Sesshomaru, her cold stare never leaving him. She stopped in front of him and knelt in front of him, not a respectful movement, she just allowed herself to fall to her knees in front of him and clutched his shirt "What about me?" she asked earning a surprised look from Sesshomaru "I do not deserve such honors either?" she asked with a venomous voice.
Sesshomaru took her wrists and pressed into them with anger "It's not the same" he growled. "You are his daughter, and my mate" he kept growling, his eyes boring into her.
"It's the same" she corrected with cold eyes "She was your Father's mate!" she cried in anger. "She was the mother of one of his heirs!" she yelled, trying to make him understand.
Sesshomaru growled as she named Inu-Yasha one of Inu no Taisho's heirs and turned her forcefully to the side and hovered over her, pinning her wrists to the floor, but more than that they were not touching, with the exception of Sesshomaru's long silver hair over her "He is no heir" he spat with such hatred that Kagome opened her mouth with disbelief. "He is a traitor to his blood" Sesshomaru said slowly, his golden eyes colder than anything she had seen before.
She felt her breath leave her, she couldn't believe the hatred with which he spoke of his only brother "Because he's a half-demon?" she asked, trying to understand his hatred.
"No" he whispered, his eyes searching inside her for something that would make her slip, he knew it, he knew her to have feelings for the half-breed. This was what was meant to be, she was meant to be for his half-brother, she was not meant to be his. But even if that was the truth, he will not allow it, he wanted her, and only her for his mate. No one has spent so long with him, no one knew him as she did, as only her status as Inu no Taisho's adopted daughter had allowed her to. He was no longer a demon, a demon without powers was nothing and a demon without his beast was nothing. He no longer cared about what anyone would think, he didn't care that he was Inu no Taisho's son and he needed to be perfect, he cared about nothing, and he wanted her to be his mate, no one else.
"Then why?" she asked in a voice barely a whisper. "Why do you do this?" she asked and turned her face away from him as tears began to fall from her eyes. She couldn't help it, she felt so confused, so sad. Inu-Yasha had been broken when he wasn't allowed to bury his mother with the remains of his father, and she couldn't bare the hatred Sesshomaru had for someone who shared his blood. Still, she hadn't wanted to cry, not in front of him.
"Do you not know?" he whispered with uncertainty, had the half-breed not told her? He felt her shake her head in a negative and he growled in displeasure; displeasure at himself for taking it out on her when she had been ignorant of the situation. He dug his nose on the crook on her neck and began to blow there. He felt her heart beating erratically, but he also felt her muscles relax with his attention.
"Sesshomaru?" Kagome whispered uncertain, she made an attempt to turn to him, but she couldn't.
He licked her neck and his mouth moved to her ear. "Forgive me" he said so slowly that Kagome would wonder if she had really heard him say anything, but before she could ask, Sesshomaru was leaving the room, leaving her lying on the floor with a blush covering her face and many questions on her mind.
Holding herself, she stood and walked down to the kitchens. Working with the scrolls served to open one's appetite.
"Thanks for the blood Kagome" said a tiny voice from her shoulder, the excitement and satisfaction obvious.
"Don't mention it" said Kagome tiredly as she kept walking through the paths of the city, intending to go outside the fort.
"I'm serious" said Myoga as he raised one of his four hands. "Your blood is exquisite" he exalted with a dramatic swirl of his arms.
"Where is he Myoga?" she asked with a frown on her face "Wasn't he supposed to be here already?"
"You know how Master Inu-Yasha is Kagome" he said tiredly as his eyes scanned the fort ahead "I guess he must be outside" he added and huffed tiredly.
Kagome shrugged and walked to the guards and with a look, they opened the gates silently. Kagome stepped outside, the cold night chilling her instantly, and her arms came around her to warm her body. She looked at the forest ahead and to the trees. There, the subtle presence of Inu-Yasha called out to her and so, she walked the few steps that separated them.
"Master Inu-Yasha!" exclaimed Myoga "I brought Kagome!" he announced and jumped from Kagome's shoulder and hurried forward.
Kagome kept her slow pace somewhat surprised at the old flea's behavior, but smiling still. The red haori of the Fire Rat, which so much resembled her own, became easily distinguished against the dark trees of the silent forest. An apologetic smile covered her lips as Inu-Yasha's defensive golden eyes found her.
"Kagome" he whispered with untold emotions. He moved towards her, his pace fast and calculated.
"Inu-Yasha" she greeted softly, stopping. Her eyes followed him as he came near and her hands instantly shot between them when he caught her on an embrace. "What are you doing, brother?" she asked, with unease "Release me" she asked as she tried to push him softly, but didn't try much, his sadness was clear to her.
"No" he whispered "Please Kagome, don't fear me" he said and he breathed in her scent. "You are the only one who treats me kindly."
"That's not true" she replied uncomfortably "and I don't fear you, it's just not proper, I am your brother's mate" she told him with a serious voice.
"Half-mate" he corrected in a bark, and released her from his embrace. He began to pace around the forest, his nerves and rage getting the best of him.
He was not good with emotions, that she knew, but she couldn't find the will to reprimand him, not even when he was little, he just reminded her so much of Inu no Taisho that she couldn't bare it. "You behave just like Father" she told him softly and with a small smile.
Inu-Yasha lowered his puppy ears, and stopped walking "Father?" he whispered and then fisted his hands to the sides "I hate him!"
Kagome felt her heart shrink at such frivolous words and her right hand came to her heart, to the place where the Shikon Jewel rested. Her breathing became ragged and her anger began to rise, "You don't mean that Inu-Yasha" she commented patiently.
"I do" he said, without turning to her. "He left mother alone and he left me alone" he spat with anger. "He was a terrible ruler and a terrible Father" he concluded and kicked a tree, not being able to control himself.
"That is not true!" cried Kagome and walked towards Inu-Yasha, her own hands fisted in anger. "Don't you dare speak like that about Father!" she ragged and fell to the humid grass, with her hand still on her heart. "You are such an immature pup" she reprimanded in anger.
Inu-Yasha turned to her, his golden eyes still and thoughtful. He looked so different from always, standing with so much presence, "Then you approve of all of his actions?" he asked neutrally.
"Yes" replied Kagome firmly, coming to her feet again. Her long black hair was being played by the soft and cold breeze of the night air and her fingers were shivering from both anger and cold.
"Even the one who made you Sesshomaru's mate?" he asked with distaste.
Kagome froze, the question so unexpected that she couldn't help herself. She looked down, the point he brought was a valid one, but he was wrong. "He was an exceptional father, and a good demon" she said softly. "Your mother was very happy when he lived" she commented with sadness.
Inu-Yasha sighed and walked towards Kagome, his feet barely making any sound as he came nearer, and then, she was once again cradled in his embrace. They were the same height, maybe he was an inch taller so the warmth he emanated effectively covered Kagome.
"Inu-Yasha?" she called "Why are you being so…serious?" she asked confused. "I have never seen you like this…are you still upset about your mother?" she asked and tried to rise her head, but he didn't allow it. "I ordered for her remains to be moved to Father's grave…I don't care what Sesshomaru says, I am your sister…"
"Why don't you leave him?" Inu-Yasha asked abruptly, effectively shutting her. She blinked a few times, trying to digest his question. "Are you still with him because Father said so?" he asked strained.
"Father didn't ask that" she cleared "And I…"
"Do you love him, Kagome?" Inu-Yasha cut in, pushing her back and making eye contact with her. "Do you?" he asked impatient.
"I…I don't know" she said after a few seconds, not knowing what to do or say. "But, I don't see why this is important right now Inu-Yasha" she commented sourly. "Stop talking about this" she ordered and broke free of his arms and began to walk back to town.
"Kagome" Inu-Yasha called, once and then again, while he followed her. "It is important, stop" he ordered, but like she refused to, he caught her left hand.
"Brother, you have no right" she accused angrily, "Leave me alone" she ordered and pulled her hand, but he didn't let go.
"I will not" he said stubbornly and pulled her softly, making her stumble a little closer to him, her blue eyes fuming in anger searched in his "and I have every right" he yelled "because I want you to mate me instead! Be mine Kagome, I love you" he said blushing madly. "Since I was little, I have loved you, Kagome…please, accept me instead of my brother"
Kagome was on the hot springs under the castle. Her black hair was wet and sticky on her neck and back, but she couldn't care about those things right now. How had it come to this? Inu-Yasha—her younger brother— asking her to mate him? She was mated to Sesshomaru, and though it was true that their relationship was null, she was not just going to turn away and mate their brother instead. What was it with dog demons and their irrational desire to mate?
Kagome took the cloth that rested on her knee and submerged it on the warm water and once again, she began to pass it all over herself, the action too simple to even be noted by her, it was just automatic.
The shogi door of the springs coming open startled her and she turned to see who dared, when a sudden authoritarian presence made itself known. She narrowed her eyes in discomfort and confusion, and then a tall figure, dressed in a white yukata came to her view. She crossed her arms to cover her chest, still glaring at the silver-haired demon. "What are you doing here?" she asked in anger.
"This is my castle" he said simply and walked to the corner of the hot springs, were a closet-like place had been set. He opened it and drew a white yukata, much similar to his own and took it with him as he began to walk to the warm waters and Kagome.
"How dare you?!" demanded Kagome, her mind was too awake yet was unable to make a coherent thought about the current situation…this was not Sesshomaru. "Have you lost your mind?" she blurted out in distress.
"No" said Sesshomaru and threw the white silken fabric to her. She caught it rapidly and covered herself as best she could to hide her nudity from him. She raised her blue eyes just in time to see Sesshomaru walking inside the hot spring, with his yukata still on. "I lost my patience" said Sesshomaru while he chose a corner and submerge himself under the warm liquid, his shoulders and face relaxing immediately. A second later, he opened hard golden eyes and stared at Kagome. "You have been here since sunset, and the stars came out hours ago, I was tired of waiting" he said somewhat irked by said fact.
"People need privacy sometimes" she shot back angrily, her face was red with embarrassment, she couldn't believe the nerve of him, he has never treated her with such disrespect…no wait, he had, but not to this extent. She turned to the side and to the door, her hands clenching and unclenching on the white yukata. "Close your eyes" she ordered and locked blue eyes to his golden ones "I'm going out" she explained, her face still reddish from embarrassment.
"Is his stench so hard to take off?" asked Sesshomaru with disdain. "Are you trying to hide the fact that you went to see the half-breed this afternoon?" he asked with a cold voice, yet underneath his heated anger, it was present, and she could see it.
Her eyes widened in disbelief. Disbelief at his sudden harshness and forwardness. She frowned and her eyes settled on the little waves on the water. "You knew" she said softly, her hands coming to her chest, trying to shrink into herself.
"I know everything that happens on my lands" said Sesshomaru with his almighty tone and posture. "That is why I am the ruler of the Western Lands" he said passively, his arms resting over a rock formation that made the wall that surrounded the hot springs. His eyes were still on Kagome, silently searching every inch of her, of her soul and her truth.
"I meant" Kagome tried again, her miserable eyes still looking at the water "Is that the reason you call him a traitor?" she asked, closing her eyes upset. What had Inu-Yasha been thinking? She was his brother's mate.
"Perhaps" said Sesshomaru neutrally, "I wouldn't know what you speak of" he denied it with ease.
"You are such a coward" Kagome whispered between clenched teeth. "I hate you because of that" she said and wrapped in the silken yukata, she stood. "I should really leave this place" she said with fury "you are a brute" she finished and assuring herself that her back and rear were covered turned to walk away.
"Why would it matter if you also leave me?" asked Sesshomaru coldly, making Kagome stop dead on her tracks. "A mate who has denied me for so many years?"
She could feel the drops of water running down her porcelain skin, tickling her all the way down. She could also feel the weight of her wet hair, but most of all, she could feel…guilt. She had been his mate for years and she had never dared mark him back. The truth was that she never asked for this: for this mating mark, for her father's death neither the constant sleep that stole her life from her. She didn't ask for a cold and silent mate who never tried to understand her feelings or show any sort of affection. She never asked to be no one's savior. She just wanted to be Kagome, to be the woman she has never been, responsibilities had taken the human life she could have lived. She was just a rock that had gotten stuck somewhere in the world. But to mark him back? That would be irreversible, she would be stuck with him no matter what, and the things needed to mark him back will undoubtedly stain her forever. She could just not give herself to him, not yet, not unless he loved her. Why would she give herself to someone who didn't love her when she had someone who loved her like no other?
"You have never wanted me" Kagome whispered with tense shoulders. "I don't know why you would suggest something like that" she said, her confusion evident.
"You want the half-breed, right?" he asked, coming to his feet with a rushing sound of the water falling from his clothes. "You dream with mating him, right?" he demanded an answer, his hand fisting in anger.
Kagome turned to Sesshomaru with a hurt expression "I desire no such thing!" she replied with anger. "You always think you know what I want and you are always wrong!" she said tired of his guesses "I don't dream with mating my younger brother any more than I dreamt with mating my older one" she said and walked towards him, her blue eyes holding a cold glare "What is it with you dog demons and forcing women to mate you?" she asked dangerously low.
Sesshomaru took her upper arm with blinding speed and pressed it in his anger. His golden eyes bore into her, never before had she seen him like that. "I have never forced you, I could have done it if I desired it" he growled and pushed her back, forcing her to walk back some steps to regain her balance.
"Don't manhandle me like that" she shot frustrated, tears coming to her eyes instantly at the rough treatment. She lowered her head, and immediately her sobs assaulted the entire bathhouse. "Why are you doing this?" she asked between sobs "I am human! Human! You hate humans!" she screamed frustrated. "Let me go, I don't want to be here, you don't want me, let me leave!" she begged, kneeling on the marble floor and resting her forehead against the marble, her body shaking with her sobs.
"No" it was Sesshomaru's simple reply. "Have you forgotten who you are?" he asked, and not receiving an answer, continued "You are the keeper of the Jewel, and you will not go to anyone other than me." At his words, her sobs intensified making his heart clench, since he could feel her emotions since the day her marked her. He walked towards her and knelt in front of her, his clawed hand coming to her dark hair "Only I can take care of you both" he whispered with a broken voice.
Kagome managed to silence her sobs, the change in him, in his voice too big to be ignored. A shiver passed trough her and she raised her teary face to him, only to find him with his head lowered and his eyes closed. "Sesshomaru?" she whispered concerned.
His eyes came open and his hand came to her cheek, and moved softly along the wet skin, caressing it with care. She could not express or come to understand the ticklish hot sensations that his hand brought to her head, but then, when his golden eyes settled on her, she felt her breathe leave her. The way he looked at her, the emptiness and warmth his eyes showed stunned her so that she could not move as she watch him come closer and closer to her…
His soft lips brushed her own in a simple and almost feather-like touch. And she could hardly feel anything. This was not supposed to be like this, it was supposed to be important, it was supposed to show how one felt towards another, not like this unfeeling touch.
"You need to sleep" said Sesshomaru softly, his voice coated with emotions she had never associated with him before, his hand slid slowly away from her face and he stood once again. His movements slow and somewhat shaky. "We will take the Jewel to the Exterminators in seven sunrises from now" he announced softly as he walked away from Kagome and once again came inside the water.
He allowed the hot water to relax his too tense muscles, the nervousness he was feeling at the moment was surreal to a demon such as him. Even if he was weakened and his beast had been chained, he was still a demon. He heard Kagome gasp behind him and heard her quick footsteps as she walked away, fully intending in escaping this place. He turned just in time to see her walking out the door, the sharp lines on her back seducing him more than what he thought possible.
It was something he had never understood. He, even when he lacked her mark, had wanted her for such a long time and she, with his mark had not yet indulged on the emotions he knew she was supposed to feel. Was something wrong? Why hadn't he tried something with her before? Why did he care?
He shook his head and rested his back against a boulder. The truth was that…he did care. And things would come to be different, better for them soon. He didn't know why, but something told him that very soon, she will be his. She will let him love her as he had wanted to do since the day she almost died in Midoriko's hands. Her soul had called towards his own, since that moment where all had been lost, her soul had resonated with his own daily, driving him insane with the promise of fulfillment. He would deny it no more, she was what his soul craved, she was his completion. But, was him hers?
Two days she had tried to begin the purifying rite she had to mate, but neither of those days had been easy enough for her to concentrate. Why did he kiss her?
Kagome once again entered the private shrine that her father, Inu no Taisho, had built for her years ago. She silently closed the shogi door behind her and walked to the wooden altar. She lowered her head and made a silent prayer and after putting some incense she finally sat in front of the altar.
The place was silent and the scent of the incense served to null her human senses a little and help her meditate. There was a strange and soft gust of wind, even when there was no window, a wind she had come to associate with the spirits.
She felt her heartbeat slow until it almost disappeared, and she knew that today, she had finally broken through the initial confusion these last days had caused her.
A broken laugher began to be heard all around her and she clutched the Jewel on her hands tighter.
"Welcome" said a mocking voice "I have missed you" it said and burst into laugher.
A sword cutting through wind stopped the laugher and instead a dying scream resounded.
But the laugher returned. "You can't kill me woman" it mocked. "We are here forever!" and more laugher.
More screams and then many more mouths reunited into laugher. The growls of displeasure of a single woman were heard and then more screaming. Then, everything became silent…
"Half a millennium and you still don't like us" said a nasty voice from all places. "It's useless Midoriko…why don't you just die?" it asked tiredly.
"Yeah" seconded another. "That way we would all be free" it mentioned and then, it began to take form "We can claim the Shikon Jewel at last" the short and skinny demon-man said as he stared with green eyes forward.
"Shut up, demon!" growled Midoriko before the laughter echoed.
While the woman killed the various taunting spirits, a lone one with the form of a child came to stand in the center of nothingness. "Hello, Kagome" it greeted softly, "do you want more memories?" it asked with a soft smile.
"No" cried Midoriko and ran to the spirit offering memories "Don't do it child" she begged as she tried to make the demon disappear. "You can't change the timeline any more than what you have, please Kagome, don't" she begged and kept chasing the child-demon.
"Yes" said Kagome hurriedly. "Show me more" she asked in pain, as if the need for memories consumed her.
The demon smiled at Midoriko with amused eyes "You see" it said "she wants to remember, you won't deny her, right?" it asked with innocence, an innocence that it was in real fact completely nonexistent.
"Kagome" whispered Midoriko, defeated.
As the demon walked towards her, she felt her mind drifting away from her but before it numbed away from her completely, a voice ushered her "Try to remember it this time".
Cold hands grabbed her upper arms and she felt her mind scream inside. Confusion mixed with a stab of pain on her back made her screech illogically and twist incessantly.
"Kagome" called Sesshomaru sternly and after receiving no answer he grabbed her thin body on his strong embrace. Seconds later, her violent trashing stopped and she lay still on his arms, like a lifeless doll. "Kagome" he called once again, this time softer, caring.
"I can't" she said brokenly "The Jewel, it will consume me" she repeated incoherently. "It killed her" she cried desperate. "Sesshomaru, don't let it, please don't let it do that to me" she cried and turned to face him, desperate blue eyes fixed on his.
Sesshomaru held her tighter "Kagome, you are all right, nothing's happened" he said forcefully, making her freeze for some seconds and then relax. The Jewel on the floor was glowing its innocent pink, shouting its purity to any eye. Sesshomaru pulled Kagome closer to him, holding her until her own foot found the strength to support her. "What did you see?" he asked.
Kagome turned confused blue eyes to him "See?" she asked with a frown "What do you mean?" she asked sheepishly.
Sesshomaru sighed and walked towards the Jewel. "You once told me the Jewel gave you dreams" he commented as he took the Jewel on his hand, looking at it carefully.
Kagome shook her hands as if to take something off and turned to him "I don't remember anything" she said in a low voice "but I feel…uneasy" she said with a little voice.
Sesshomaru turned to her, and walked closer. "We leave to the Exterminator's village tomorrow" he announced while he placed the Jewel in Kagome's hand, "be ready for a long and cold journey" Sesshomaru said and walked to the shrine's entrance.
"Sesshomaru" called Kagome and he stopped. He turned empty golden eyes to her, waiting. I'm scared. That's what she had wanted to say, but how could she say something like that? To him? "Thank you"
"There is nothing to thank me for" he said evenly and walked outside, leaving her shivering form alone on the huge shrine.
"Why can't I go with you milord?" asked Jaken brokenly. "You need someone to protect you" he said frustrated.
"Jaken" Sesshomaru threatened . "Are you implying that I cannot protect myself?" he asked fiercely.
"Of course not milord" cried Jaken terrified "Forgive me!" he begged.
Sesshomaru ignored the toad demon, yes, he had finally discovered that Jaken smelled more like a toad than a real flea demon, and he turned to Kagome's room. He walked silently along the halls until he reached Inu no Taisho's room. "Kagome, I am coming in" he warned and opened the shogi door.
She was folding a kimono silently and then placed it on a little bag carefully. She was dressed on her fire red haori and her long black hair was tied on a loose and low ponytail. "Are you ready?" he asked softly.
"I think I am" replied Kagome softly. "How many days until we reach the Exterminators?" she asked with a worried expression.
"If we go without means of travel, a week" he said "but if we take the dragon, two days" he informed and looked around the room, checking if she was forgetting anything. "We are taking the dragon" he finished.
"Is that so?" she asked tiredly. "I wonder why is that" she whispered as she took her bag and then her bow and pack of arrows. She then turned to Sesshomaru and began to make her way to him.
"It's faster" he said "and you are much too frail to fight" he informed and turned when she was close and walked into the hall.
Kagome stopped, her face serious. "Frail?" she asked with disdain, the word like poison for her mouth.
"You can't hide from me Kagome" he said, his back still to her "I know that your bones are becoming weaker, if this goes on like you intend to do, soon you will be unable to draw the string of your bow without breaking your wrist" he said sternly.
"You are wrong" she said bitterly "I will die when I hand this Jewel to the Exterminators" she announced "if I don't hand it over, it will kill me, like it did to Midoriko" she said with resignation, her eyes staring down at the floor.
"How do you know that?" asked Sesshomaru after what seemed like a minute, his voice was strained.
"The Jewel told me" she said evenly, shrugging her shoulders, though she knew he couldn't see the movement "The demon souls are growing strong with Midoriko's unaided miko energy" she finished and began to walk again, walking past Sesshomaru silently.
Sesshomaru only stared at her back, the resolve he once had to take Kagome and the Jewel safely to the Exterminators becoming a thin string that the wind will surely cut off once they walked outside, but still, he followed behind his half mate, wishing that she was wrong.
"Master Inu-Yasha" called Myoga excitedly. "There they are" he said, pointing forward under the trees with four tiny hands.
"Myoga" said Inu-Yasha stubbornly. "I have already taken in their scent, you needed not to yell" he said tiredly.
"Sorry, Master Inu-Yasha" the flea demon apologized and sat on the tree branch silently staring at the figures on the distance. Sesshomaru held Ah-Uh's reigns and Kagome was speaking to him, but he couldn't hear them, perhaps Inu-Yasha could. "Do you hear what they are saying?" asked Myoga.
"Shh" Inu-Yasha's dog ears move back and forth rhythmically.
Myoga scowled and then turned to the pair down again. He watched as Kagome walked towards Sesshomaru and this one caught her and leveled her up to Ah-Uh's back and then jumped in behind her, his arms cradling her safely so she wouldn't fall. After a moment, to verify they were tightly held Sesshomaru ordered the low dragon-demon to fly. A passing gust of wind hit them and they held tight to the tree and then sigh.
"Didn't he look our way?" asked Myoga concerned.
"Bah" expressed Inu-Yasha. "He is powerless, was just coincidence" he said and he stood and began to warm his arm's muscles.
"Master Inu-Yasha?" asked Myoga confused "What are you planning to do?" he asked with a little and frightened voice.
"What do you think?" asked Inu-Yasha with little patience "I am following them" he announced and began to stretch his legs.
"What?!" exclaimed Myoga with wild flying arms "Are you mad?"
"Of course not" said Inu-Yasha "I am taking the Shikon Jewel" he said and crossed his arms. "I will become a full demon" said Inu-Yasha and grinned "Then I am going to kill that bastard and have Kagome for myself" he said as if it was the greatest plan ever.
"…" Myoga couldn't say anything, the barbaric things Inu-Yasha was saying too much to handle, even to him, and soon enough, he fainted.
"Meh" said Inu-Yasha and smashed the flea demon "Coward" and with that last word, he departed, flying over the trees, following the scent of his despised half-brother.
"My Lord" the hushed voice of a young girl interrupted the dark room. "They are moving" she finished and walked slowly, her white kimono a big contrast against the darkness.
"Moving where?" asked a masculine voice, it sounded tired, and it held a cup with a red liquid.
"To the Exterminator's village" she replied monotonously.
"Well done, Kana" he said with a smile "Where is Kikyo?" he asked interested.
"On a village, a day away from the castle" she announced helpfully.
"Wonderful" he said letting go of the cup and coming to his feet, his long hair flying wildly around him as he stretched.
"There is a problem" she said softly. "Inu-Yasha is following" she said and her mirror showed an image of the young half-breed jumping from tree top to tree top "I don't think is wise to let him know your scent" she suggested.
Naraku stood still for some moment, thinking. "It won't be a problem" he finally said "he's too young to hold scents for too long unless he can take in the scent for days" he explained. "He's barely twenty years old" he reminded her patiently "Well, I'll be leaving, you been very helpful Kana, you may leave now" he said and walked out of the room to collect the things he will need.
"Sesshomaru?" asked Kagome softly, her hands crossed in front of her protectively "It's cold" she whined softly, not wanting to make him angry.
"Hmm" he replied distracted "We haven't reached the landing place yet" he announced, his gaze focused on the sky ahead.
"Can't we stop anyways?" she asked hopefully, turning to look to Sesshomaru.
"We are being followed" he announced coldly, his eyes still looking forward into the black and silent sky. His hands gripped Ah-Uh's reigns firmly and his hair waved with the unforgiving wind.
"It's only Inu-Yasha" said Kagome with a sigh. "Why can't you be more brotherly?" she asked with a tired voice, but then grinned "Of course" she said as if she remembered an important event. "You were never nice to me either" she said bitterly and she began to pet the dragon demon to distract herself.
After some minutes, Sesshomaru spoke with a hollow voice. "I treated Momo kindly" he said sincerely "and look what happened to her" he said disappointed "she became a shallow demoness who betrayed her clan" he finished, his voice becoming monotonous and unemotional.
"It was not because of you" Kagome said softly "she was upset about Mother" she explained reassuringly. "I do think Inu-Yasha needs a family, he's lonely" said Kagome sadly "I can't be there for him" she finished and her hands fisted clenching her gi "and I can't count on you for that" she reproached painfully.
"No" said Sesshomaru evenly "a demon must learn to be by himself. It's the law" he explained as if this was the normal thing, and it was. He also had to grow up on his own, to learn the rules of life, by himself.
"Why are you so cold?" asked Kagome, resigned that nothing would be able to make him change.
"Why are you human?" he asked to make his point. "We just are, there is no changing that" he said and looked down to the tree tops, searching for a place to land.
Kagome felt her heartbeat slowing as she noticed Sesshomaru was looking for a place to land and rest. The fire rat haori her father had given her had served as great protection, but it did nothing against the cold. Still, nothing could be as perfect.
Ah-Uh finally descended following Sesshomaru's orders. The forest was dark, and Kagome could hardly see anything. Ah-Uh walked a few steps under the dark and dense foliage, taking them to safety, or so she hoped. She placed her left hand over her heart, where the Shikon Jewel rested. The pulsing was even and she could feel the Jewel's purity. She turned to look from one side to the other, her blue eyes searching for shadows that didn't exist.
"There is nothing" said Sesshomaru, interrupting her thoughts "We are safe here" he said, though Kagome could feel the tense muscles of his chest "For now" he finished and Ah-Uh stopped walking and grunted something that only Sesshomaru could understand…maybe.
Sesshomaru slipped from the chair riding seat and turned back to Kagome. Without sound or warning, he pulled her leg down and she slipped from the chair and in his arms. Sesshomaru could easily carry her, even when she was dangling from his grip, and so she noticed that he wasn't as weak as everyone thought he was.
"You are losing weight" noted Sesshomaru as he helped her to her feet, and without warning he walked away.
Maybe he wasn't that strong then…Kagome fidgeted, not knowing where to go or what to do, but Ah-Uh's head, petting himself against her shoulder served to reassure her. "Thank you Ah-Uh" said Kagome with a smile she was sure the dragon demon could see. "You are always helpful" she finished and smiled apologetically, "I will take you to a field of very healthy green grass tomorrow, I promise" she said and patted his head. The sudden alarming presence of Sesshomaru behind her made her gasp, and soon, his clawed hands were gripping her shoulders tightly "Sesshomaru?"
"How do you know the dragon's name or that he likes the brilliant green grass?" Sesshomaru asked with authority, his voice leaving no room for argument or excuses.
Kagome opened her mouth to explain, but then no words came out. She couldn't say…she didn't know. "Didn't you call him by his name earlier?" she asked uncertain.
"No" Sesshomaru said flatly "His name is a secret I keep" he added to explain, "I dislike to repeat myself Kagome" he warned "How do you know his name?" he asked again.
"I don't know" Kagome said quickly "I swear I have no idea, please Sesshomaru, I don't know" she tried once and again and tried to free herself from his ruthless grip. "Please let go of me…you are hurting me" she said and the last part was said with ache.
Sesshomaru immediately let her go. Not only because she asked, but because he saw the narrowing of her eyes. "You are remembering" said Sesshomaru as he watched as Kagome caressed her sore shoulders.
"Remembering?" repeated Kagome, confused. Her eyes took on a glazed expression as she digested his comment. "You mean…what you mean?" she asked.
"You seem to be remembering your past" Sesshomaru explained with little patience "In the future" he finished and kept his golden eyes on her.
"Oh" said Kagome with a wicked smile "That time when you said I loved you?" she asked with narrow eyes. "Sesshomaru, you can't trick me" she said confident "I will never love any male, be human, half-demon or demon, if he doesn't love me back, and besides, I told you…my soul is being consumed…so you don't have to worry, I won't love anyone" she said and shrugged her shoulders as she turned and slowly walked to a tree to rest.
"You will not hand over the Jewel" Sesshomaru ordered and then turned, his long hair flying, and began to walk away.
"I will Sesshomaru" Kagome said loudly "Even if it's the last thing I do" she threatened "You can't stop me."
"It's Lord Sesshomaru for you" he said cruelly and disappeared onto the dark forest.
Kagome hissed in anger and crossed her arms over her chest "At least you keep me company Ah-Uh" she said saddened, "Of course I remember you…only you" she said and as the dragon demon settled at her side, she reclined against it and absorbed his warmth in exchange for a long session of petting.
Inu-Yasha never appeared, Kagome thought with some concern. There was no answer, Sesshomaru had encountered him while she slept. She raised her eyes and they settled on Sesshomaru's long hair as he walked before her. It was interesting, they way his hair shone from time to time when the sunlight reached it. She inspected him, but she couldn't see any flaw or injury that may prove his battle against Inu-Yasha, but how was it possible? Sesshomaru had lost his demon powers…
"We are almost there" said the cold voice of Sesshomaru "See that you remain close behind" he added with the same coldness.
"Yes my Lord" said Kagome sarcastically, even making a small nod with her head that she was sure he couldn't see.
"At least you are behaving like a mate should" Sesshomaru replied pleased. "I will remind you that some learn, even at the last moment" he finished as he opened up a path between the dense bushes.
"I am pleased to know that my Lord will remember his lowly mate" she replied with mirth "My tragic soul will be joyful as it burns in hell" she finished and she petted Ah-Uh's head.
"Why would my mate go to hell?" Sesshomaru asked, his answer not turning out as cold as he had intended, but he became puzzled.
"Because she mated a demon" said Kagome frankly "At least that what the priests say" she finished and shrugged her shoulders "At least father is in hell…so it's all right"
They walked in silence for a few minutes, the only sound coming from Ah-Uh's loud grunts. They stopped when the high forts of the Exterminator's Village greeted them. The wood was new and smelly, and it almost touched the clouds. It was a true masterpiece.
"We are finally here" said Kagome as she walked forward, pulling Ah-Uh's reigns. A watcher hit a bell, and soon enough, shouts invaded the once silent town. The main door began to be pulled from the inside and Kagome could now see the black uniformed Exterminators opening the door and children pouring from the opening with curious eyes.
"Mate" called Sesshomaru and she turned to him with a quizzical look. "You will not go to hell" he said, his eyes serious "You were never in my bed."
Kagome's blue eyes widened a moment and then settled on the grass below, then, she eyed Sesshomaru and then turned to keep walking towards the town of the Exterminators, all the way wondering if going to Heaven was a good thing or a bad thing…
The temple was silent and the warmth was comforting. Kagome had taken off her red haori and now had her white hakama and red gi tied down on her waist. She was sitting on a soft cushion and her hands were being warmed by a hot cup of tea.
"Is it good?" asked a man, dressed on a brown and white kimono. He also had a cup of tea on his hands.
"Of course" said Kagome with a pleased smile. "Besides, the nights here are so cold that it's just perfect. Please thank your wife for such a wonderful tea" she finished amiably.
"I surely will, she will be happy to hear you liked it" he said, pride full on his voice "My wife is an excellent woman, and she's very kind. That's the reason we fight demons off, we can't allow for such beautiful hearts to be extinguished by them" he said as he looked at his cup of tea. "Of course, there are some demons who are also exceptional" he added hastily "Inu no Taisho was unmatchable, though I am afraid that his older son didn't acquire such a trait" he said tiredly "We will have to hope the younger one did."
Kagome smiled uncomfortably "They are a difficult pair" she said softly "but they are honorable."
"Why are you giving up the Jewel of the Four Souls? The Jewel you were given to protect? The Jewel that saved you from death in exchange for Midoriko's life?" he asked severely.
Kagome's mouth dropped open a little, the tone of his voice making her feel such guilt she felt her heart shrink with pain. She opened her mouth once again, but the words wouldn't come out. She lowered her head, and her hair hid her from him, and she finally managed to speak, "I have lost my miko powers."
"Because you decided to mate a demon, that was expected" he said dismissively.
"I didn't decide to mate anyone" she clarified, but quickly continued "and you do not understand. I am a human, a human who has lived almost 500 hundred years, my soul can't keep up, my bones are shattering and my muscles are becoming weaker, it's time for me to let go of the Jewel and hand it over to someone who can protect it for real."
"Do you know that what you ask is immense" the elder said firmly. "You are sending all the demons there are into this town".
"I know" she said softly "but I came because you said you would take it, if you had denied me I would have kept it" Kagome explained regretfully.
"You know that if you give the Jewel, the chance that you will die, that time will consume you, it's very high, right?" the elder asked, his eyes fixed on her.
Kagome didn't even blink. "I am aware" she said without remorse "and I am willing to accept my fate" she said with a smile. "As I told you, my time has long come to an end".
"Are you not afraid of death?" he asked sincerely, his hands losing the tension they held.
"Not anymore" Kagome replied evenly "I guess, maybe, some demons feel the same…after so many centuries of living, one only wishes to rest" Kagome said, her eyes settled on the now empty cup of tea.
"What about Sesshomaru?" the elder asked "Is he all right with all this?"
"He has no right to argue" Kagome said hotly "We are not really mated" she explained softly.
"But you carry his aura" questioned the elder "and I have heard you carry his mark" he continued thinking he was being lied to.
"It's not important, I am tired of discussing my personal life with everyone" Kagome said tiredly. "Have you found my replacement yet?" asked Kagome moodily.
There was a silence that lasted a few second before the elder sighed "Yes, there is a young girl with immense miko powers" he said somewhat nervous, "Her name is Kikyo."
"Kikyo" repeated Kagome, the name rolling out of her tongue as if it was sweet honey "Kikyo."
"She's at the town at the bottom of these hills" the elder added "We will send for her tomorrow" he explained and came to his feet "Go to your…to Sesshomaru, he makes my people nervous" the elder asked with sharp eyes feeling outside "and have a good night".
"Of course" said Kagome with a smile "I will place the Jewel in the Temple" she let him know and after a quick bow of her head, she took her haori and walked out of the room.
"Will you leave the Jewel here?" asked Sesshomaru as Kagome walked towards the Temple on the Exterminators' Village.
"I will" said Kagome with confidence, but stopped walking and turned to Sesshomaru. "Sesshomaru, you just don't understand" Kagome said tiredly "I am dying Sesshomaru, will it be today, tomorrow or during the next demon attack, my life will end soon, you said it yourself, my bones are becoming weaker and I am not sure if I can still pull up the string of my bow, I can't keep the Jewel if I cannot protect it, I will be using the Jewel and I will be tainting it, I believe that's the reason of why I lost my miko powers…I have been tainting the Jewel" she finished and after taking some deep breaths, she continued toward the Temple.
"Then mate me" said Sesshomaru sharply, with a voice that was only a snarl away. "That way you will keep on living, my energy will supply for you".
Kagome remained frozen, never had she expected she was going to hear such words from him, the always cold demon, unless, he was still saying it rationally, thing that she didn't doubt. "Sesshomaru?" Kagome called in a whisper "are you so afraid of being left alone?" she asked as evenly as she could manage.
There was only silence, as she expected. He would never accept that he felt alone neither would he say that he didn't need her because she will just die. With a pained smile she continued to the Temple. "Mating you will not solve anything" Kagome said as she made distance between them "you are cursed and have no demonic energy to give, you are only a man with immortality" she finished and opened the doors of the Temple and stepped inside, leaving the doors open so Sesshomaru could watch if he desired to.
"Is that why you were thinking about Inu-Yasha?" asked Sesshomaru in a growl "because he can save you? Is he better than me?!" he snarled and followed her, but as soon as he neared the door, the Temple casted a barrier that prevented him from stepping inside "Answer me Kagome!" he demanded between growls.
"You are upsetting the villagers" Kagome admonished softly "Stop it."
"I care nothing for humans" Sesshomaru growled low. "I would as easily kill them all" he threatened coldly. "Answer me" he repeated and kept trying to enter the Temple.
Kagome ignored him and walked on her white socks to the shrine at the end of the Temple. Her steps were slow and measured, and her concentration was on the shrine and on purifying the Jewel for the next few hours. She slowly took off her necklace, taking her long hair out of it and took the Jewel on her hands. Her blue eyes settled on the plate of offerings and she bowed her head.
"Don't give it away!" demanded Sesshomaru from the entrance of the Temple "Answer me first, don't escape me again! Answer me!" his words were becoming wild and confusing.
Kagome paid him no heed and placed the Jewel on the plate and stepped back a few steps, waiting for anything. A gust of wind that will sweep her away because of her demon mark, her hands becoming old and age taking her away, her heart stopping its beat…but nothing happened. There was silence inside the Temple, Sesshomaru had stopped his tantrum against the barrier, also waiting for anything to happen.
Kagome turned and her blue eyes settled on Sesshomaru's wide golden ones. A thought crossed them both, she was still alive. Joy slowly filled Sesshomaru while dread settled on Kagome's heart. She fell to her knees and began to sob whole heartedly.
"Kagome, Kagome" called Sesshomaru but she paid him no attention, too heartbroken to even want to see him. She was supposed to be dead, her soul was supposed to have been ripped away, she was supposed to go to her Father, she was not supposed to remain alive, why?
"Your eyes also rain…as your sister's" said a monotonous voice, which was too familiar to Kagome's liking. Kagome raised her teary eyes and a demoness stood in front of her. She was child-like, her kimono and hair were white, but her eyes were dark and void-like. She held a mirror on her hands, an exact replica of the mirror that had served to seal Princess Kaguya so many years ago. But even when all those things were impressive, the most important one was, why was the demoness able to enter the Temple?
A voice resounded through the Temple and both Kagome and Sesshomaru went wide eyed "Magnificent indeed, she's soulless so she has no demon soul to be pushed out" Naraku's voice resounded in all the corners of the room. "You know what to do, Kanna" Naraku said and then chuckled "Come back to me afterwards" and then silence.
Kanna moved closer to Kagome, her steps short because of her short legs, and then she stopped. She raised her silver mirror and then light began to surround it.
"Kagome!" called Sesshomaru from the entrance "Run!" he yelled, but Kagome remained still, too surprised to do anything.
A second later a white aura was taken from Kagome and entered the mirror and a loud thud was heard when Kagome's soulless body fell to the wooden floor. Sesshomaru screamed wildly, the entrance still keeping him outside, and then he began to break through the wood of the walls; his hands began to bleed instantly. His eyes had turned red and they watched hatefully as the demoness turned away and walked through the wall…her aura disappearing from the face of the earth, leaving him to watch Kagome's lifeless body. He continued to break through the Temple, not knowing what else to do in order to break through the barrier, but soon enough, all the screaming and breaking noise brought the Exterminators to the site.
"Stop the demon!" the elder ordered the exterminators and a moment later, Sesshomaru's red eyes had left Kagome's corpse and were centered on the exterminator that had shot at him. Sesshomaru snarled, unforgiving, and jumped to the exterminator with all the intension of breaking him into pieces, but a second one brought him down with a pair of chains. Soon enough, all of them neared him and pinned him down with various weapons.
"What has happened to him?" asked one of the younger exterminators "Where is the miko?" he asked confused, watching as Sesshomaru remained possessed and trashing wildly.
"Elder!" cried another "The miko is down!" he reported and ran inside the Temple. He quickly turned Kagome's body and checked on her pulse for a few moments "She's alive" he whispered with a frown.
"Something happened when she gave the Jewel" the elder said saddened as he watched the pink Jewel over the offering plate, shinning with pink. "Let's take her to rest" the elder said and motioned for the exterminator to take her to the village.
"Do we kill the demon?" asked another exterminator, his mouth covered with the anti-poison mask.
The elder turned to the pinned Sesshomaru and he watched as his red eyes followed Kagome's body snarling dangerously. "No" he said "He's lost himself because she's down" he said with pity. "Let's see what we do with them" he finished and signaled for the exterminator to keep Sesshomaru pinned down.
"Are you ready?" asked Naraku covered on his baboon outfit, his red eyes on Kikyo.
"No" she said nervously "How can I trust you?" she asked. Lost, she looked between Naraku and the mirror in Kanna's possession.
"Well, it's up to you, would you trust your soul and body to a demon?" he asked suggestively and pleasured himself as he watch her shivering with disgust.
"Half-demon" Kikyo said with annoyance and she was warming herself with her arms "Will it work? Are you sure?"
"I don't have all night, Kikyo" Naraku said with a thin patience. "Take it or leave it" he pressed.
After a sigh, Kikyo straightened herself and took on a look of resolve "Do it" she said bravely.
"You remember our promise?" Naraku asked dangerously.
"Save a burned man named Onigumo" she said as if she was tired of repeating it, "I shall remember" she finished.
"Well done, my little miko" Naraku mocked "I then give you back your soul" he said and the very same light that had been taken from Kagome was transferred to Kikyo with an amazing push, making her fall back.
Kikyo's screams pierced the dark night and she dragged herself around the floor in pain. Her eyes watched Naraku in a pleading way, begging him with her tears to do something. After a short chuckle, he walked next to her and knelt and placed a hand over her chest. "Remember who was the one who saved you from this pain" he said to her ear and she felt his demon energy invade her forcefully and killing a part of her, the part that had possessed her and allowed her to live. She screamed even more, frightened beyond anything, not knowing what was going to happen when that part of her that had lived with her since she was born disappeared.
After so much screaming and worrying, she passed out, still sprawled on the floor. Her hair had come undone and it was covering her everywhere.
"Who would have thought that we would see Kikyo in such a denigrating moment?" commented Naraku to Kanna impressed "A shame that she hasn't yet grown in that edible woman, a few years more and she will be…tempting" he finished and walked away, leaving her unprotected body to the dark night.
Silence engulfed the Western Castle…
Concerned filled the Exterminators…
Yet determination filled them both. As they kept fighting against the ties of fate…She waited, by the lake. The aura of a half-demon neared, silent, but he was underestimating her. She was a great miko and her powers surpassed all of her equals.
The pounding of resolve alerted her and she turned just in time to dodge the frantic attack of the half-demon dressed in bloody red. He dashed again, but she rolled to the side, and with a flashing motion, she drew her bow and arrow and was pointing it at the half-demon's heart.
"Don't move." Kikyo's unforgiving voice ordered "Or I will kill you."
Inu-Yasha remained still, for the very first time, his golden eyes fell on her, on her features and her person. His hands fell to the sides, and his dog ears lowered in apology "Kagome?" he asked ashamed.
Kikyo's heart pounded nervously "Excuse me?" she asked horrified. "I am not Kagome" she corrected "My name is Kikyo."
Inu-Yasha's pointed ears once again moved, not recognizing her voice. He sniffed the air carefully, and he realized that in fact, she was not who he thought she was.
"Why are you after the Jewel, young half-demon?" Kikyo asked slowly, curiosity taking the best of her.
Inu-Yasha growled and his eyes became wild "I will take the Jewel and I will become a full-fledged demon and show everyone my worth!" he growled furiously. "Hand the Jewel, miko" he threatened.
"You will never defeat me, half-demon" Kikyo warned. "The next time I will surely shoot you half-ling"
"Don't call me that" Inu-Yasha growled "My name is Inu-Yasha!" he corrected furiously.
"Inu-Yasha" she said, "Get away from here…I have nothing against you, in fact, I think we are alike, but if you insist on coming after the Jewel, I will kill you."
"What can I have alike with a miko such as you?" he spat disrespectfully.
"Humanity" she replied quickly. "I kill beasts, not humans."
"When I become a full-fledged demon, I will come for your life" he growled and once again prepared to lunge at her.
"You will not kill me" she said with confidence "Actually, you will love me for not allowing you to turn into a full-fledged demon"
"You are mad" he snarled "Hand over the Jewel" he demanded and move closer to her.
Kikyo closed her eyes and let go of the bow and arrow and turned around, walking away from Inu-Yasha.
Inu-Yasha growled and tackled her to the floor, and then, he began to strangle her, but stopped wide eyed as he saw the determination in those chocolate brown eyes as they looked into him. His hands lost their grip and he hid himself with his hair.
"You look so much like her" he whispered "I loved her" he said with a constricted chest "but she wouldn't mate me" he finished broken-hearted.
"Will you accept me?" asked Kikyo "Will you use the Jewel to become a full human?" she asked "So I can be freed from this curse, I will become your woman and I will love you for as long as I live" she offered.
Inu-Yasha remained silent.
To be continued…
JeniNeji's note:
This chapter has 50 Microsoft Word pages. Sighs exhausted. I'm sorry for taking so long to post…my editor was very fast in fact, so I take all the blame. Still, I hope you like it. The next chapter is the end of Part II, hopefully. I may take some time (sorry) because it's going to be equally long…or longer. So cheers!
Review!!
JOLEE FINCH'S NOTES:
Can't wait to find out what will happen to Kagome!!!! It all took me by surprise, I had forgotten about Kikyo's soul. A small part of me was resigned, giving up already, but she cannot possibly die, not yet. .
Anyway, I would like to tell all those fanfic regulars to really wait, hehehe, because I'm not at the laptop as frequently as I am during the semester. I tend to be away from home for days and I can't be downloading documents on other people's computers. I will keep checking though!
Review. Now. Or else… seriously. Danke!
(Thanks!)