A1969: geez, I feel pretty bad here. It's been ages since I last updated.
Miroku: more like eons.
A1969: I feel so bad, I don't even feel like making a retort to that.
Sango: aw, come on. It's only been...like...thirty...days? Or more?
A1969: crap, that's a month! Argh! And my vacation's coming to a close, dammit.
Sango: have you been hanging out with Inuyasha lately?
A1969: no...anyway, thanks to those who reviewed the previous chapter! And to show my appreciation, and to make up for the fact that it's been millenniums since I last updated, enjoy this longer-than-usual chapter!
Chapter Forty-Two: A Plea, A Reprimand and A Nuptial
XoXoXo
"She's been like this for the past two weeks now, Lady Shinsuke," Chihiro said.
She and Lady Shinsuke were in the garden, watching Helen as she sat underneath the Cherry Blossom tree, on the stone bench, her eyes fixed on the lake in front of her. The sun was just setting, and the trees cast long, inky shadows on the ground. High above, the sound of geese flying overhead echoed throughout the sky.
Lady Shinsuke frowned. Both she and Chihiro were watching Helen from afar, underneath a Japanese cypress. The tree's lemon like scent permeated the air, supposedly comforting, but Lady Shinsuke could not be comforted. Her child was miserable, therefore she was troubled.
"With only a week to go before the wedding, too," Chihiro muttered. "Might it be cold feet, milady?"
Lady Shinsuke sighed. "I can only guess," she said softly. She had a sneaking suspicion that, as always, it had something to do with none other than Sesshoumaru. Again.
"You may go, Chihiro," Lady Shinsuke said, turning to her maid.
"Milady." Chihiro bowed then left.
Lady Shinsuke turned her attention back to Helen and sighed. She quietly made her way towards the young woman, passing through a row of cedar and pine trees as she did so. At the sound of her tread, Helen slowly turned her head towards her. Lady Shinsuke inwardly frowned. She had never, in all her three thousand years of living, seen that kind of look in anyone's eyes before.
"Helen," Lady Shinsuke said, as she approached. "May I sit?" She indicated to the stone bench.
Helen sighed then nodded, her eyes returning to the lake. They were both silent for a moment, admiring the coming sunset. The clouds burst with gold, pink and fiery orange. High above, several herons flew quietly, their wings cutting softly through the cool air.
"Is something the matter, Helen?" Lady Shinsuke asked.
Helen turned to her. She didn't want to talk about it...it hurt too much. Her conversation with Sesshoumaru two weeks ago didn't do her any good. Several times she had berated herself for lying to him, and several times she had asked herself why it was that he so easily believed her lie. She was usually a horrid liar.
And now, her mother was asking how she was.
Helen sighed, but didn't answer. Her eyes had shadows under them, the result of two weeks' tossing and turning restlessly in bed, getting little or no sleep. Her hair had lost its golden lustre and her eyes were more gray than silver.
"Helen...is it cold feet?"
Cold feet...
Her...wedding was only a week away. Seven days. So yeah, part of it—a miniscule part—was due to cold feet. And the major part was because of Sesshoumaru...
Why had she lied to him? For her own good, of course...Or so she told herself.
"It's the marriage isn't it?"
Helen was still silent. Two weeks ago, preparations had been made for her...wedding. She shuddered at the word. It was a horrid word that seemed to pierce through her, filling her with dread and despair.
"Or...maybe it's because of Sesshoumaru?"
Lady Shinsuke had hit the bull's eye.
Helen slowly looked up at her, the sound of his name alone enough to make her feel desultory.
"I...don't want to talk about it," she muttered, her eyes returning to the lake.
Lady Shinsuke was silent. "You can tell me anything," she went on. "For instance, you can tell me that my nose is out of proportion with my face, or that my lips are too big—but, of course, you'd only be lying."
Helen turned to her, a small smile on her lips. "It's...well...yeah...you guessed right—it's...him."
"You can always back down," Lady Shinsuke pointed out. "You needn't put yourself through this."
"What I'm doing is right," Helen said, irked. Really, how many times had they all insisted—without even being subtle—that she jilt Toshimaru? It was starting to get more amusing than annoying, really.
"Oh?" Lady Shinsuke arched an eyebrow at her. "You think what you're doing is right, now, do you? You think that making yourself suffer restlessly is good? I hear you at night, Helen—you talk in your sleep."
Helen's eyebrows shot up in surprise. She never used to talk in her sleep...before, anyway. "Do I?" she asked.
Lady Shinsuke sighed and nodded. "I hear you," she said quietly. "And I'm not the only one who hears you, too—the servants hear you, anyone with good hearing hears you. You talk in your sleep."
"What do I say?" Helen already had a sneaking suspicion that she knew the answer.
Lady Shinsuke was silent for a moment, her eyes on the lake, and then she turned her gaze to Helen. "You call out to him...to Sesshoumaru."
Helen felt a blush spread across her cheeks. She didn't know if she should be pleased or embarrassed. After all, she was calling out the name of the cousin of the man she was supposed to marry.
She couldn't think of a proper response to her mother. "Helen," Lady Shinsuke continued, her voice pleading. "For your sake, as well as mine, I suggest you stop what you're doing! You're obviously making yourself unhappy, and I can't stand it. Everyone knows you love Sesshoumaru, even Toshimaru knows! I'm sure he'll understand if you back down."
Helen's eyes widened. "Toshimaru...knows?" she asked, feeling appalled. Really, had she been that obvious?
She sighed and shook her head. "I can't, Mother," she said quietly. "I can't hurt Toshimaru. Besides...Sesshoumaru is...let's just say he's...unstable."
"What do you mean?"
Helen bit her lower lip. She wasn't really used to sharing her boy troubles with her mother from the present era, how much more her demoness mother?
"Well...one moment, he acts as if he cares, then the next, he's...cold," Helen muttered. She didn't want to talk about it—it was just too painful for her.
Lady Shinsuke nodded quietly. "That's just how he is," she said. "He normally gets what he wants, and Takeida's never seen him this stubborn before. Even she's appalled. But...I'm sure he'll change. Eventually."
Helen had had enough. She didn't want to hear it—the possibility of being together with him. It hurt more than anything.
"Well," Helen said, as she stood up. "I'm afraid I can't wait for him to change eventually." The emphasis on the last word was compounded with desperation, sadness and anger. "I only have a week left—he can't change in a week now, can he?" Without saying anything else, Helen stomped off.
Lady Shinsuke sighed and let Helen's disrespect slide. Pre-wedding jitters, she decided. But no, Helen was going to ruin herself. She couldn't let that happen now, could she? No...she had to do something about it.
XoXoXo
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN YOU HAVE TO GO?!" Inuyasha roared, looming menacingly over Kagome.
They were all in the clearing of the Bone Eater's well. And, as usual, Kagome needed to return home.
"Inuyasha," Kagome said, sighing. "I just need to restock on some medical supplies, and take a test. A very important test!"
"No, no, no!" Inuyasha bellowed. "We've had one too many delays already! We're not wasting any more time!" He glared at her.
Kagome frowned. "Inuyasha, it's very important to me," she pleaded.
Miroku and the others were watching all this with fascination. "Don't you think Inuyasha's being a little too...violent?" Sango asked, one arm draped carelessly over Kohaku's shoulders.
Miroku sighed and looked up at the darkening sky. "I can't really blame him," the monk said slowly. "It's been a while since we've come across Naraku. More than a while, even." He was silent for a moment. "But then again...we can't find any trace of him, seeing as he's gotten rid of his scent and aura."
"Sis," Kohaku suddenly spoke up. Sango looked at him, an affectionate smile on her face. "I think Naraku's plotting something."
"He's always plotting something," Shippou pointed out, sighing.
"The problem is," Miroku went on. "We don't know what he's plotting. It doesn't seem to involve Kikyou for one thing—she's been quiet, too, now that I look at it."
"Don't you think we should be doing our own plotting?" Sango asked.
Miroku looked thoughtful. "Hey, Inuyasha!" he called out to the enraged hanyou, who was losing a shouting match with Kagome.
"Shuddup!" Inuyasha roared, aggravated. He turned to Kagome. "You can't go back now, not when—" He was silenced by a pebble that flew at his temple. He turned, furious, at Miroku. "WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT FOR?!"
"I'm trying to tell you that you should let Kagome go back to her country," Miroku said calmly, walking over to where Inuyasha and Kagome were.
"Thank you!" Kagome said, smiling at the monk.
"No!" Inuyasha snapped. "That'll just delay our search for Naraku."
"And how do you propose to find Naraku without his scent or aura to go by?" Miroku arched an eyebrow at him. "Listen, Inuyasha—Naraku's plotting something. Why don't we do the same? Let's make use of Kagome's English, shall we? That way Naraku won't find out about whatever it is we're plotting."
Inuyasha glared at him. He hated English. "Oh yeah? And what do you suppose we plot, hm?"
Miroku rolled his eyes. "I don't know." Inuyasha looked incredulous. "That's why we need to go to Kaede's and...well...and do some plotting."
"You hear, that Kagome?" Inuyasha asked, turning his attention to Miroku. "You can't go back—we gotta do some plotting, so—DAMMIT!"
Kagome, much to Inuyasha's outrage, had already left.
XoXoXo
Kagome climbed out of the well in her era. She sighed. Inuyasha was going to be mad, she was sure of it. But it couldn't be helped. Her upcoming test amounted to a quarter of her final grade, after all. It was every girl for herself.
He'll get over it, she thought as she climbed the steps that led to the well and out of the well shrine. She slid the door closed behind her. Although...he might not get over it soon.
She smiled to herself, as though amused, and looked up at the darkening sky. The wind felt cool against her skin, and she heard it rustling the leaves of the Sacred Tree.
"Sis!" She turned her attention to Souta, who was running towards her, waving excitedly.
"Hey, Souta!" Kagome greeted, as Souta stopped right in front of her.
"You'll never guess who's here!" Souta said excitedly. He looked at her and frowned, disappointed. "Helen isn't with you?"
Kagome shook her head. "No, she's busy." Preparing for her doom, she added, as an afterthought. "So, who's here?" she asked as she and Souta traipsed back to the house. "And why're you so excited?"
Souta beamed up at her again. "Too bad Helen-nee-chan isn't here," he said, sighing. "I think you'll have to go get her tomorrow."
Kagome raised her eyebrows at him as they stopped at the door to the house. "Souta," she said. "Who's here?"
Souta only grinned, and slid open the door. "You'll see! C'mon, they're waiting in the living room!" He was so excited, it looked as though he was about to explode.
They? Kagome thought. Who are 'they'?
Kagome took off her shoes as she entered the house. She glanced around, her eyebrows raised, for there, in the hallway that led to the living room and kitchen, stood three suitcases. Suitcases?
Curious now, Kagome followed Souta to the living room. Souta was practically bouncing with each step he took, causing the wooden boards to creak beneath their feet. They both stopped at the door to the living room. It was closed, but Kagome could hear lively voices talking inside. Two, she recognized as her Mother's and Grandfather's; one, a feminine voice, was familiar, but she couldn't place it; the third, a male voice, was totally unrecognizable.
Souta slid the door open and stepped into the living room. "Evening!" he greeted, excited, as both he and Kagome entered the living room.
Kagome stopped in her tracks, her eyebrows rising. There, seated on the floor on two new cushions, was her aunt, Helen's human mother. And a man she didn't recognize. He was Caucasian with dark brown hair and gentle green eyes. He was middle-aged and somewhat lanky, but very attractive. He was sitting next to her Aunt Hsia, smiling. In front of them were Kagome's Mother and Grandfather, and between them, on the low wooden table, was a tray of tea and biscuits.
"Kagome!" her own mother greeted, as she stood up from her own cushion on the floor.
"Mama!" Kagome greeted, giving her mother a short hug. She pulled away from her Mother then hesitantly turned to the two guests.
"Kagome, I'm sure you remember your Aunt Hsia?" her mother asked.
Kagome nodded. "Hey, Aunt H.," she greeted.
Her aunt smiled at her then stood up to envelop her in her arms. "Kagome, it's been so long!" she exclaimed, holding the miko at arm's length to get a better look at her. "My, how you've grown!"
"Kagome, where's Helen?" her mother asked, looking around for the said violinist.
"Er..." She glanced hesitantly at her aunt's companion. "She's...staying over at Eri's place tonight," she lied. "She didn't know you'd be here, Aunt H."
Hsia nodded and didn't say anything more. Kagome had a sneaking suspicion that her aunt knew about the Feudal era...but did her companion know, too?
"Aunt H., I'm so happy to see you again!" Kagome exclaimed, unexpectedly drawing her aunt into another hug. "I'll explain everything," she whispered into the older woman's ear. "There's a lot you need to know." Her aunt nodded her head infinitesimally when they pulled away, to show that she understood.
"Oh, how rude of me!" Her aunt turned to the man who had accompanied her. He stood up and smiled warmly at Kagome. "Kagome, this is Robert Blake, my fiancée!" There was a flush in her cheeks.
Kagome's eyes widened in surprise and astonishment. "Your...fiancée?" she asked.
Robert smiled at her, and shook her hand. His hand was big and warm, Kagome couldn't help but notice.
"Hi," Robert greeted, nodding. "Kagome, correct? Hsia told me so much about you and your family." His Japanese was perfectly flawless.
Kagome felt herself go numb. Did her aunt tell him about the Feudal Era, too? But, looking at her Aunt, that didn't seem to be the case.
"Hi," Kagome said, smiling.
"Kagome, your aunt and her fiancée came by to see how Helen was doing," her mother interrupted.
She looked at her aunt. "Helen might be over tomorrow," she said carefully.
Her aunt nodded. "I'll wait."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kagome sighed and shut her geometry book shut, groaning as she did so. Urgh...the people who invented geometry must have been messed up, she decided, as she leaned her head on her arms, feeling her forehead graze against the sleeve of her pink pyjamas. Her eyes fell on the pink alarm clock on her desk—ten p.m.
She sighed and closed her eyes for a bit. After dinner, her Mother, Grandfather and their guests had retreated to the living room to continue talking over cups of coffee. She could hear their muffled voices and laughter coming from downstairs.
She bit her lip and lifted her head off her desk. Her aunt and her fiancée were staying in the last guest room, next to her own. She frowned slightly, wishing that Inuyasha wouldn't show up tonight, lest her aunt's fiancée grow suspicious.
Fiancée...
Kagome was very happy for her aunt, truth be told. It was just funny how her aunt and her daughter were both getting married. Hm...she hadn't thought to ask as to when the wedding would be—might it be on the same day as Helen's, next week? No, that would be too much of a coincidence...
The voices downstairs suddenly grew quiet. She heard feet shuffling as everyone made their way to bed.
Time to hit the hay, she thought as she pushed back her chair and stretched. Test tomorrow...then I have to go back to the Feudal Era and get Helen...that is...if she's not too busy with wedding plans of her own...
Sighing, she snatched her alarm clock, set the alarm for a quarter to six and placed it carefully on her bedside table. Her eyes fell on the closed window. She hesitated then opened the window, allowing the soft breeze to blow into her room and make her curtains dance. If Inuyasha was going to come tonight, which she doubted he would, it was best if he went into her room directly.
She looked out at the sky, at the half-moon, and sighed.
"Kagome?"
Kagome gave a start and spun around. Her aunt was standing in the doorway, looking hesitant.
"Aunt H.," she greeted.
Her aunt came into the room, and carefully closed the door behind her. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" she asked.
"No," Kagome said, shaking her head. She motioned to her bed. "Sit down. You're here to talk about Helen, right?"
Her Aunt nodded. "Yes," she affirmed. "During her brief return to America, she told me about...the Feudal Era." She looked up at her niece. "She also said that she...wasn't human?" There was a tiny catch in her voice as she said this.
Helen told her that much? "Yes," Kagome said, as she sat down on the bed. "She's in the Feudal Era right now, actually...and...she's...different..."
Her aunt raised an eyebrow. "Different?"
Kagome let out a breath. "Yeah," she said, lowering her voice. "The last time you saw her...you saw her as a human..."
Hsia's eyes widened. "So now...she isn't human anymore?" For a brief instant, she wondered if her adopted daughter looked like something from a horror movie. She hastily pushed the thought away.
"Yes," Kagome said slowly. "And no, she doesn't look like a monster, if that's what you're thinking. But she is...different...very different."
"How different?"
"Physically, she's changed," Kagome said. "But, aside from that, she's still Helen..."
"I'm glad," Hsia said, smiling. "Do you think it's possible for me to see her?"
"I'm not sure," Kagome said, frowning slightly. "To get to the Feudal Era, one has to go through the Bone Eater's well. So far, the only ones who've come and gone are me and several others, Helen included. But maybe it was because she was a demon that she was able to go through the well."
Hsia sighed. "I'll ask her to come, though," Kagome said. "If she isn't...busy..."
"Busy?"
Kagome paused, hesitating, then sighed. "Aunt H...it's a long story, but, in short, Helen's...she's...getting married..."
Her aunt blinked, then...
"MARRIED?!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening. "Before college?! But, why, Kagome? Oh, she's marrying that Sesshoumaru person, isn't she? I'm going to teach that young man a lesson he'll—"
Kagome shook her head. "No...Sesshoumaru's the one she loves, but..." She sighed for what seemed like the umpteenth time that day. "It's a long story. Aunt H., she's going to make herself miserable, but she's not backing out of the wedding..."
"I won't ask for details," her aunt said. "Did her demoness of a mother...?"
"No. Lady Shinsuke tried talking her out of it, actually." She frowned. "Aunt H...I was hoping that, when I bring Helen here tomorrow, you'd help me convince her to back out of it. She hasn't got that much time..."
"When will...?"
"Next week," Kagome said. "Oh, she's going to be so miserable! You have to try to convince her, Aunt H., when she comes tomorrow."
Her aunt nodded determinedly. "I will."
XoXoXo
Sesshoumaru sighed as he stared up at the moon.
Rin and Jaken were both asleep, Rin cuddled up against Ah-Un, while Jaken dozed against a tree. It was late. The air was cool, and the cedar trees swayed softly with the wind, casting dancing shadows beneath. An owl hooted with melancholy in the distance.
Why, Sesshoumaru had asked himself a million times, did he feel so put out lately? Oh, he knew why—there had been no sign of Naraku since only kami knows when, and...He didn't like to think of the second part—he'd only be angry.
But he did think of it.
Helen...
She was getting married next week.
He didn't know what to think; indeed, he didn't know what to feel. She had told him that she was happy with her choice, and that didn't bode well for him. She was happy—he'd have to leave her alone. He'd have to let her go...into Toshimaru's arms...
Damn. Whenever he thought of them together, he was filled with nothing but hatred for his bastard cousin. He wanted to slit Toshimaru's throat. But...it couldn't be helped—Helen was happy, and that was all he needed to know.
It had partially been his fault, he knew that. He knew that if he hadn't kept on hurting her, then, well things would've been different...
But it was too late.
She was getting married next week—she would be Toshimaru's, not his.
He sighed, hoping to get rid of the anger that was uncharacteristically bubbling beneath the surface. Urgh...He felt like taking it all out on Jaken at the moment...
The wind rustled in the treetops and, Sesshoumaru stiffened as a familiar scent came his way. He stood up and looked with narrowed eyes at the sky.
A tiny dot of light was visible against the inky blackness of the sky. It was too bright to be a star, and it didn't twinkle.
Sesshoumaru stood up. Hn...what did she, of all people, want? He could only guess. The dot of light became a column, and it shot towards the ground, a few yards behind the trees, away from their camp. The wind stirred gently as the column of light shot towards the ground, making the leaves rustle in the trees. Ah-Un, sensing the disturbance, woke up, raising his great two heads, his eyes fixed on Sesshoumaru, who turned on his heel and headed towards where the light had landed.
What did Lady Shinsuke want, at this time of night? He couldn't help wondering as he made his way through the trees, their inky shadow falling across him. Could it be...?
"Lord Sesshoumaru."
Sesshoumaru stopped in his tracks. Lady Shinsuke stood underneath a tall cypress tree, half-hidden in its shadow. She looked worried. Her eyebrows were drawn together, and she had a worried look about her.
"Lady Shinsuke." He tilted his head slightly at her. After all, she was his senior.
"Let's skip the niceties, shall we?" she asked, coming out of the shadows and making her way towards him.
"What do you want?" He really didn't want to see her—she only reminded him of a certain someone who was to belong to someone else by next week.
"I want you to do something," Lady Shinsuke said, almost bluntly, which was very unlike her.
He raised an eyebrow at her. "Be specific." Although, he had a sneaking suspicion what it was that she wanted him to do.
She smiled at him. "I think we both know what I want you to do," she said quietly. "I want you to take Helen from Lord Toshimaru."
Sesshoumaru raised his eyebrow at her. He had been expecting it, but was still slightly surprised. "You want me to steal my cousin's bride?"
"Yes."
"Why?" he asked. "Your daughter is happy with him."
"What makes you think that?"
"She said so herself."
Lady Shinsuke scoffed, and her tone was almost scornful. "I won't even ask when she told you that," she said. "I'll only tell you this—she's a very good liar, then."
Sesshoumaru raised his eyebrows at her. Helen had lied...? He cursed himself. Was he gullible, dense, or both? But then, who could blame him? Helen had looked so convincing when she lied...
He suddenly felt...he didn't know what to feel. Anger at her for lying to him, perhaps? Or did he feel delighted, knowing that she didn't want Toshimaru after all?
Still...
"She made her choice," Sesshoumaru said quietly. "And I have made mine."
"Oh? What is your choice, Lord Sesshoumaru?"
"To let her be—if she's pleased with him, I shan't interfere."
There was a very still pause. "But," Lady Shinsuke said. "She isn't happy with him..."
"What makes you think that?" He knew that she wasn't happy with Toshimaru, but he wanted to know what made Lady Shinsuke realize it.
Lady Shinsuke hesitated then sighed. "If she finds out I told you, she'll kill me," she muttered. She looked up at him. "She calls out to you in her sleep," she said simply. "Always to you. Heh, she doesn't even call out to me. I'm envious. I'm her mother, and yet, she calls out to you when she sleeps..."
He stared at her, feeling pleased with this latest revelation. But...still...Helen did make her choice. He knew the reasons behind it—and those reasons were good enough. He admitted, even to himself, that he loved her, but he didn't know if these feelings were serious, or merely a dalliance. If they were serious, then, well what joy that would be. But...if there were merely nothing more than a dalliance...
"She does not concern me," he said, inwardly sighing.
Lady Shinsuke stared at him, clearly appalled. "What do you mean? You won't take her from Lord Toshimaru?"
"No." He ignored the part of him that wanted to. Oh, that part that wanted to take her was screaming—more than screaming, it was roaring at him.
"Why?" Lady Shinsuke was incredulous.
"She does not concern me," Sesshoumaru repeated quietly, fighting himself. He was sorely tempted to say yes, sorely tempted to bolt East and just grab her, but, unfortunately, he was far too stubborn, far too restrained...and far too complicated to understand.
"As I've said, Helen made her choice, and I have made mine," Sesshoumaru went on. "Her reasons are plausible. And I respect them." The fact that he, of all people, actually respected something was staggering.
Lady Shinsuke stared at him for a few moments. The wind rustled the leaves in the trees, making shadows dance across them.
She sighed. "That is your final decision?" she asked.
Sesshoumaru nodded, not saying anything.
"Then there's nothing more I can do here," she said quietly. She turned her back on him and was about o take off, when she stopped. She glanced at him from over her shoulder. "If you must know," she said, her voice soft and low. "But I think you know this already—I just feel like saying it—Helen loves you...maybe too much, but she loves you..."
He nodded curtly. "I've made my decision."
Lady Shinsuke sighed. She was engulfed in light, which shot upwards into the sky, towards East.
The wind stirred lightly in her wake. Sesshoumaru sighed. He wanted to go east—he wanted to go badly. But he knew that if he did go, he would only end up hurting her since he wasn't so sure whether or not his feelings were serious or merely a case of puppy love. Puppy love...how funny.
Sesshoumaru sighed, turned on his heel, and walked back towards the camp.
XoXoXo
"Kagome, I'm not sure about this," Helen said, nervous, as her cousin pushed her gently towards the well.
"Your mother's there, and she wants to see you badly," Kagome said, sighing. As soon as morning had come, the young miko had returned to the Feudal Era and, together with Inuyasha, had headed East, and dragged Helen back with them. Inuyasha had then returned to Kaede's village to continue plotting with Miroku and Sango against Naraku...in English, much to the hanyou's dismay.
Lady Shinsuke wasn't really keen on letting Helen go back to the present, due to the fact that there were wedding preparations to be done and, secretly, Lady Shinsuke felt faintly jealous towards Helen's human mother. Kagome had brought a pair of jeans and a halter for Helen to wear during their little excursion to the present.
"Besides," Kagome said, smiling. "She has a surprise for you."
"But...Kagome, look at me!" Helen said, stopping and whirling around so she faced Kagome. "I mean, come on, the last time my mother saw me, I think I had black hair, blue eyes, and—"
"Don't worry," Kagome said, sighing. "I've already explained to your mama that you're different. And to my family too, so they don't freak out, otherwise, Ro...he'll think there's something funny going on."
Helen cocked an eyebrow at her. "Who'll think there's something funny?"
Kagome shrugged. "It's a surprise."
Helen sighed and allowed Kagome to push her through the well. It was still quite early. Dew still sparkled on the grass, like diamonds against green velvet. Small butterflies flitted between the blades of grass, and birds twittered vivaciously in the tree tops. Kagome had purposely woken up at the crack of dawn to get Helen, and then head off to school.
In truth, Helen was worried. She hadn't been to the present since turning into a demoness, and she didn't know how well her human mother was going to take it.
"Kagome," Helen said, as she and Kagome stopped in front of the well. "You didn't tell her anything, have you? Aside from me being a demoness, I mean? You didn't tell her that I'm...getting...m...married?" Urgh, how she hated the word.
"Er...no," the miko lied. "Now, c'mon, let's go!"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Kagome, I'm not sure about this," Helen muttered as she and Kagome stepped out of the Well Shrine. She could feel her heart racing nervously in her chest.
"C'mon," Kagome said, grabbing her wrists and dragging her towards the house. "Besides, we promised Lady Shinsuke that we'd have you home before late afternoon."
Helen sighed. She wasn't really keen on going back. This was because today she was going to fit her...wedding kimono. She inwardly shuddered.
They both stopped at the door and knocked. It was opened by none other than Souta, who took in Helen's appearance with open-mouthed astonishment.
"Souta, who is it?" Kagome's mother called from within.
"He...he...helen-nee-chan?" Souta stuttered, his eyes wide.
Helen sighed. "Yeah, Souta, it's me," she said.
Souta shook his head. "You gotta tell me all about your new demon powers," he whispered, instantly going from shock to interested. "Okay?"
Helen nodded, feeling her nerves tingling. Souta led them into the house and towards the kitchen. With every step she took, Helen felt as though her stomach was vanishing.
"Mama! Helen-nee-chan's here!" Souta announced as they trouped into the kitchen.
Mrs. Higurashi stood up to greet them, and her eyes widened in surprise at Helen. She quickly schooled her expression and gave her niece a hug. "Kagome's right—you have changed," she whispered in Helen's ear.
Helen nodded infinitesimally as she pulled away from her aunt.
"He...len," a voice said, sounding faint.
She saw her at the same time that her scent hit her. Her mother was sitting at the table, but she pushed back her chair and stood up. Her eyes were wide with surprise but, like Kagome's mother, she quickly schooled her expression so as to not give anything away to the man sitting next to her.
A man that Helen noticed for the first time.
He was Caucasian, with brown hair and gentle green eyes. Who was he?
But Helen didn't have time to wonder, for she felt her mother's arms go around her, pulling her close. "Oh, Helen!" her mother cried. "I haven't seen you in so long! I missed you so much!"—she lowered her voice to a whisper—"we have a lot of talking to do, young lady."
Helen hugged her mother back. "I missed you too, mom." She lowered her voice. "Yeah...you and I should talk." They pulled away from each other.
"She looks nothing like you at all, Hsia." The man whom Helen noticed earlier stood up, pushing back his chair. He approached them, and smiled at her.
"Mom...who's...?"
Her mother's face broke into a smile. "Helen...I'd like you to meet Robert Blake...my fiancée!"
Helen looked as though she'd been clubbed on the head.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Helen inwardly sighed.
This was so like her mother, reprimanding her not about being a demoness, but about getting married...before finishing college.
"I cannot believe you," her mother muttered. They were alone in the kitchen now, sitting at the table from across each other. Kagome had rushed off to school, and her mother had skilfully led Robert away to take him on a tour of the shrine grounds.
Robert himself was a little suspicious about Helen's appearance, so different from that of her mother's. Helen had quickly said that it was all contacts and hair dye—whatever it was that kids did to themselves these days. She had had a hard time keeping her pointed ears behind her hair throughout her conversation with Robert, though, but she'd managed. And now, she was facing her mother.
Her mother who looked angry; angry not because she had turned demon, but because she was getting married...before finishing college. Helen could only think of one thing then—Kagome was going to pay.
"Mom," Helen said, sighing. "Lady Takeida already gave me the 'marriage-isn't-a-spur-of-the-moment-decision' talk." This was starting to get silly.
"Lady who?"
"Se...sshoumaru's mother," Helen said. She ignored the pain that his name caused her. Urgh...she felt like hitting him on the head with a frying pan.
Her mother narrowed her eyes. "I know you Helen," she said quietly. "This isn't something you would do..." Her eyes suddenly widened. "Oh...my...goodness..." she whispered, her voice inaudible.
"Mom, what is it?" Helen asked, instantly alarmed.
"You're marrying Sesshoumaru because...oh my goodness...you're pregnant, aren't you?!"
"MOM!" Helen blushed violently, not knowing whether or not to feel embarrassed, or to feel hurt. "I'm...not...pregnant..." she said through clenched teeth. "And I'm not marrying...Sesshoumaru..."
Her mother looked puzzled. "You're not getting married?"
"I'm getting married," Helen clarified. "But...not to...Sesshoumaru..." She was starting to feel it—the pain. "I'm marrying...his cousin...Lord Toshimaru..."
Her mother leaned back in her chair, sighing. "I don't understand," she said quietly. "When you were in America, you told me that you loved Sesshoumaru, so...why are you marrying his cousin? In fact, why are you getting married at all?"
Helen sighed. "It was...sort of...spur of the moment," she said, her eyes on the table.
"But why? Why did you make this decision so impulsively?" Her mother looked disappointed.
She sighed again. "I guess...it was...because of...Sesshoumaru," she whispered. She felt it then—a painful sensation in her chest, as though her heart was slowly being twisted. She looked up at her mother feeling, despite herself, tears threatening at the corner of her eyes. "I...love him, mom. There were...times when I would think that he...felt the same way, but..." She shook her head. "I was wrong...He...hurt me...too much...I couldn't stand it anymore...so I...I...I agreed to marry Toshimaru because...he can...heal me...he can make me...whole again..." Her vision was blurred due to unshed tears.
Helen sighed and wiped away the tears with the back of her hand. Her mother was silent, staring at Helen. There was no doubt in her mind that Helen's choice had been recklessly made. But, hearing the pain in her daughter's voice, she couldn't think of reprimanding her further. She reached out and took Helen's hand in her own.
"I understand your need to heal," her mother said softly. "And I'll...accept it, without asking too many questions, but...Helen...will you be happy with this Toshimaru person?"
Helen faked a smile at her. "Yes," she lied, her voice hoarse.
Her mother sighed, easily seeing through the lie, but she let it drop. Tackling her with questions would only make Helen more melancholy, she decided.
"Helen," her mother said again. "Your wedding...it's in..."
"Six days," Helen whispered.
XoXoXo
"Lighten up," Inuyasha said to Helen.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome glared at him.
They had returned from the present in the late afternoon, and Inuyasha had come to meet them at the well. Helen was sitting on the well, looking every bit as despondent and dejected as one could be. Her dull gray eyes looked up at Inuyasha with melancholy then at Kagome.
"How was the test?" she asked.
Inuyasha and Kagome sweat-dropped. "Murder," Kagome said, sighing.
"Don't change the topic," Inuyasha said. "I said lighten up, okay, Helen?"
Kagome glared at him. "What?" the hanyou asked.
"I want to talk to Helen," Kagome said, giving him a pointed look.
"Then talk to her!"
"Alone." Kagome paused. "Why don't you go to Kaede's and"—she switched to English—"plot against Naraku?"
Helen arched an eyebrow at the change in language. Okay...she'd ask Kagome later.
Inuyasha glared at her. "Dammit," he muttered in Japanese, under his breath. "I'd rather stay here—Shippou's calling me all sorts of names, and I don't even know what they damn mean!"
"Then ignore Shippou," Kagome said. "I need to talk to Helen—alone."
"I won't listen." Inuyasha turned his back on them to prove his point.
"Inuyasha..."
"Oh, just let him stay, Kagome," Helen piped up. She paused for a moment, then, "Did you just teach them to speak English?"
Kagome grinned. "Well, we figured with Kanna around, and Naraku losing his scent and aura, we'd have to talk in a different language so as to not give anything away," she explained. "But that's beside the point. Helen...I want to talk to you about..."
Helen sighed. "My marriage?" Kagome thought she heard a faint trace of mockery in her voice.
"Yeah." Kagome nodded. "It's in...six days, right?"
"Oh, by the way, congratulations Helen," Inuyasha said, sarcastically, glancing at them from over his shoulder.
"Inuyasha," Kagome growled. The hanyou huffed then turned his back on them once more.
"Please don't remind me," Helen said, lowering her eyes to the grass.
"Helen...you obviously don't want to go through with this," Kagome reasoned. "You're making yourself unhappy just because you think marrying Toshimaru is the right thing to do—Helen it isn't! It really isn't! Sure, Sesshou"—Helen held her breath, and Kagome sighed—"he hurt you before...but that was before!"
"Are you saying I should choose someone who hurts me?" Helen asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No." Kagome shook her head. "I'm just saying that you should...well...you should be happy, that's all..."
"Oh, she'll be happy Kagome." Inuyasha spun around to face them. "She'll be happy with Toshimaru. After all, she'll learn to love him, won't she? And then, she'll give him a bunch of cute little puppies, and they'll be one big happy family." He rolled his eyes.
"Inuyasha, sit."
There was a loud thud as Inuyasha hit the ground, sending blades of grass into the air.
Helen sighed as she watched Inuyasha lift himself off the ground, and then start a fight with Kagome. She really didn't know what to think at the moment. She felt...queasy. The kind of queasy sensation that eventually makes you want to throw up. She sighed again, and looked up at the sky.
"I should get going now," she said, standing up.
"...because you don't know what to say!" Kagome fumed.
"I was only trying to snap her out of her stupid decision!" Inuyasha countered.
"You didn't have to say those things!"
"Ever heard of reverse psychology?!"
"Yes, I...wait a minute...where did you hear about that?"
"Kagome," Helen said, a little more loudly. Kagome and Inuyasha turned to her. "I'm going now...I have a...wedding kimono to fit." She looked as though she was going to be sick.
Kagome hesitated. "So...you're really going through with it, aren't you?"
Helen sighed then nodded. "Yeah." She paused. "You can...come to the...wedding...if you want."
Kagome nodded. Helen smiled wanly at her, and then turned on her heel and took off into the sky. Kagome tried not to giggle as she saw Helen wobbling slightly high above. She and Inuyasha watched until Helen was no more than a tiny dot in the distance, and then she was gone.
"You can come out, now, Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha suddenly said, turning to the trees.
WHAT?! Kagome thought as she spun around. Sure enough, Sesshoumaru emerged from the shadows of the trees, his cold, golden gaze fixed on Inuyasha. He was hiding there the whole time?!
"The fact that you could sense my presence is indeed astonishing, Inuyasha," Sesshoumaru said lazily as he stopped a few meters away from them.
"Keh," Inuyasha scoffed. "You may have sealed away your damn scent and aura, but you weren't actually trying to be quiet."
Sesshoumaru ignored him, and turned his gaze towards the sky. "Wait," Kagome spoke up. "You were...hiding there the whole time? You were...watching her, weren't you?"
Sesshoumaru glared at her. "No."
If only this idiot would stop denying it! Kagome thought viciously, as he turned his gaze back to the sky. It's not like he's trying to be the least bit inconspicuous about it! She fell silent, her thoughts wandering...
"What're you doing here, Sesshoumaru?" Inuyasha asked, voice gruff.
"None of your business, little brother."
Inuyasha glared at him. "Kagome's right," he said. "You were watching Helen, weren't you?"
"No such thing."
"You're in denial."
"What would you know, half-breed?"
"So, you're playing the half-breed card now, aren't you?"
"Fool."
"You're in denial, just damn admit it, so we can all get on with our lives."
Sesshoumaru placed a hand on the hilt of Ryuko, and glared at Inuyasha who, upon seeing Sesshoumaru's stance, quickly took out his Tessaiga. Before any of them could swing their swords, however, Kagome's voice interrupted them.
"Sesshoumaru," she said quietly.
He ignored her, his gaze fixed on his brother, but his ears tuned to Kagome, who went on. "You don't have to hide it, you know," she said, annoyed at his denial. "That's what got her into this mess in the first place!" She sounded angry.
The demon lord turned his gaze towards her. "What are you talking about, miko?" He lowered his hand from the hilt of his sword.
"Surely you know that you're the reason why Helen agreed to marry Toshimaru?" Kagome fumed.
Sesshoumaru was silent. Of course, he knew that.
"You kept on rejecting her! You kept on hurting her!" Kagome went on. Her voice suddenly softened. "But it isn't too late—go after her. You can stop her from marrying Toshimaru. Only you can do that. Believe it or not, Sesshoumaru, she's more than miserable. So stop her, won't you? She's marrying Toshimaru in six days—that's more than enough time to stop her. So go!"
"She has made her choice," Sesshoumaru said coldly, turning on his heel. "And I have made mine." Without another word, he walked back into the forest, leaving Kagome fuming.
"That...that..." the miko began, rage bubbling inside.
"Go on, call him a name," Inuyasha said, equally disgusted with his brother. "I do that all the time."
"That self-centered, stuck-up, arrogant, cold, stoic, denying jerk!" Kagome screeched.
XoXoXo
Helen inwardly shuddered as she raised her arms on either side of her. She stood in front of a mirror held up by one of the maids, who smiled reassuringly at her. Behind her, the shutters slid open and Mira, the dark haired seamstress, came in, holding two folded gossamer bundles reverently in her arms.
Helen gulped as her eyes fell on the mirror. She saw Mira carefully unfold one of the gossamer bundles, laying the other one on the low rise table in the middle of the room. The kimono fell to the floor in a silken cascade. Her wedding kimono...
The shiro-maku, or the kimono Helen was to wear during her wedding ceremony, was pure silken white that shimmered in the late afternoon sun's light. Helen felt her heart race as Mira approached. Chihiro, who was in attendance, dutifully removed Helen's outer robe, and let it fall to the floor.
Helen bit her lip as Mira gently draped the kimono over her shoulders. She closed her eyes as Mira tied the silver obi embroidered with white clouds around her waist. Marriage, Helen decided, was torture.
"My lady looks very beautiful." Helen opened her eyes as soon as she heard Mira's voice. The kimono was indeed beautiful, and the silver obi seemed to match her eyes.
"Indeed," Chihiro agreed.
Helen didn't think she looked beautiful at all—she thought she looked sick. She was nearly as white as the wedding kimono itself.
"She's beautiful, because she takes after me." Lady Shinsuke was standing at the doorway, her eyebrows raised slightly.
Everyone in the room bowed to her, and then straightened. "Of course, my lady," Chihiro agreed again, as Lady Shinsuke entered the room, her violet eyes fixed on Helen.
I look sick, Helen thought, her eyes fixed on the mirror. Worse than sick—I look, and feel, as though I'm about to throw up!
"Show me the uchikake," Lady Shinsuke commanded.
Mira automatically took the silken brocade kimono from the table and gently unfolded it. It was to be worn during the wedding reception, over the white wedding kimono. The uchikake was beautiful. It was crimson in color, and embroidered with a rich pattern of pink peonies along the hemline and on the edges of the sleeves. Along the collar, the symbol of the Shirogawa clan had been embroidered.
Helen watched, her dread increasing tenfold, as Mira draped the uchikake over her. She held her breath as Mira tied it into place.
"It is appropriate," Lady Shinsuke said, nodding her head in agreement, as Helen gingerly opened her eyes. "Helen, face me, won't you?"
Helen did as she was told, and slowly turned around to face her mother. "Beautiful," Lady Shinsuke said, nodding her head in approval. She turned to everyone else in the room. "Leave us." One by one, the servants left. Mira gently slid the door closed as she left.
As soon as they had left, Lady Shinsuke turned to Helen. "You look sick," she admitted.
I knew it, Helen thought, letting out a sigh.
Lady Shinsuke was silent for a moment. "How did your meeting with your human mother go?" she asked.
"Fine," Helen said. "She's...she's got a fiancée."
Her mother laughed. "How ironic," she muttered. "Anyway, Helen—are you sure about this? About what you are doing? It isn't too late to back out, you know."
Helen shook her head. "Mom," she said, surprising Lady Shinsuke with the informality of the word, "I told you all, didn't I? I'm not backing out."
Lady Shinsuke narrowed her eyes. "You are condemning yourself to unhappiness."
"Better to be unhappy than to be hurt."
"That's stupid—they practically mean the same thing."
Helen sighed again. "Still, I'm not backing out," she said.
Lady Shinsuke sighed. "Very well." She paused for a moment. "I give you my blessing, then."
XoXoXo
Kagome sighed as she stood outside of Kaede's hut, on the tiny bridge that spanned the creek near the hut. She felt subdued. In fact, her mood was such that Inuyasha himself didn't even bother to remind her that it was time to look for Naraku. She felt dejected and hopeless as she stared up at the clear afternoon sky. The weather was cool, and the skies clear. Overhead, two herons flew through the sky, the beating of their wings silent.
Kagome sighed. Six days had passed and today was Helen's wedding...
"I can't believe Helen is really going to go through with it." Sango and the others had come out of the hut. They stood on the bridge, just behind Kagome.
"I know," Kagome said, sighing, as she turned to her friends.
"If you want, we could bust her out of the wedding," Inuyasha said, cracking his knuckles.
Kagome gave him a small, sad smile and shook her head. "No, we shouldn't."
"Kagome," Miroku said. "Aren't you going? After all, you said Helen wanted you to be there."
Kagome sighed and shook her head. "I don't want to see her condemn herself to sorrow."
XoXoXo
Jaken sighed and stared at his master, his Lord Sesshoumaru. They were camping near a river. He was sitting near the river bank with Rin, who was busy picking the flowers that grew along the water. He sighed, and glanced surreptitiously over his shoulder, at his master, who was sitting underneath a tree, with Ah-Un at his side.
As the last six days had gone by, he had noticed that his lord seemed more aggravated than usual, as though he couldn't make his mind up about something. Sesshoumaru would occasionally narrow his eyes at nothing in particular, and Jaken would sometimes see him frowning to himself. Frowning! His lord and master, the great Lord Sesshoumaru, frowning as though he were troubled! Good grief! What had the world come to?
Sesshoumaru suddenly turned his golden gaze to him. Jaken quickly turned his attention to the river, wishing, in vain, that his master had not seen him looking. Jaken sighed. What was that look in his master's eyes, he wondered? He dared to glance from over his shoulder again, just as Sesshoumaru threw him a glare.
"Gak!" Jaken hastily turned his attention back to the river. His lord's eyes screamed death!
"Master Jaken, are you alright?" Rin asked, as she tied several flowers by their stems in order to make a wreath. "You look as though you've seen a ghost!"
"More than a ghost, I'm afraid—ack!" At that moment, a pebbled soared through the air and, with deadly accuracy, hit Jaken on the head, sending the toad tumbling into the river with a loud splash.
"Master Jaken, are you alright?!" Rin cried out.
Sesshoumaru sighed as he watched Jaken climb on to the riverbank, aided by Rin, his thoughts wandering. Today, he was going to lose her—today, she was going to belong to someone else. He particularly loathed, hated and despised what happened after the wedding. Urgh...just the mere thought of it was enough to make him feel a murderous jealousy that threatened to engulf him...
He sighed as he looked up at the sky again. He wanted to go and grab her, he seriously did, but...he knew that he wouldn't...
She had made her choice; he had made his.
XoXoXo
What had happened to the six days?!
These were the only words that reverberated through Helen's mind as Mira, once again, dressed her in her wedding kimono. She felt like ice. She was cold all over, and the butterflies in her stomach threatened to leave her mouth in the form of puke. She now knew what they meant by 'cold feet'. Indeed, she felt as if she were made out of ice.
"There," Mira said as she placed the finishing touches on Helen's kimono. She motioned to a maid, and the maid held up a mirror. "Look, my lady," she said to Helen.
Helen hesitated before peering into the mirror. She had gone against tradition and allowed no one to dress her hair. It fell to her waist in a golden cascade. She had also refused to wear rice powder and rouge.
"Hm..." Mira said. "Even without the make-up, my lady is indeed beautiful."
Helen had a feeling that 'beautiful' was a word that Mira used often in accordance with her work—right now, she looked more than sick, not beautiful.
"My lady," Mira went on. "Lord Toshimaru gives this to you." She held a beautiful jade bracelet in her hands. It had the symbol of Toshimaru's clan—the sun setting behind a mountain.
"Th...thank you," Helen stuttered as Mira clasped it to her wrist.
"Helen?" Lady Shinsuke had arrived. She looked ethereal in an ivory colored kimono embroidered with peonies. "It is time."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Helen didn't feel anything anymore. Indeed, she could hardly feel her legs. As her mother led her to the ceremonial hall of the Eastern palace, she felt a curious sensation—it was as if her brain had disconnected from her body. She felt weightless, as though she were floating. Was it the nerves? In any case, she couldn't feel anything.
She and Lady Shinsuke stopped in front of the stairs that led to the veranda to the grand hallway. From within the hallway, she could hear the many voices of the lords and ladies her mother had deemed worthy to invite. She knew Lady Takeida would be in there, not approving of this wedding...
Lady Shinsuke tilted her head at two maids who stood on either side of the door, both of them dressed in exquisite kimono. The maids both opened the door, bowing as they did so...
Helen should have felt her knees turn to lead—but she couldn't feel anything. She didn't know what to feel as she walked down the path that led to where Toshimaru waited. She didn't know what to feel at all. No...she felt as though she wanted to run, but she couldn't...
"You look beautiful," Toshimaru murmured.
Huh? She had reached him already?
She could only nod in reply.
Toshimaru smiled at her, and then turned his attention to the elder presiding over the marriage. Toshimaru looked handsome in his black kimono, complete with armor, his sword strapped to his waist.
The elder, an old youkai with long white hair and gentle black eyes, smiled at them both. As he began the ceremony, Helen felt her mind take leave of her body. She decided not to listen to the words that would eventually seal her fate.
All around her, she could hear nothing but silence. The lords and ladies that were seated on cushions were all so still, they seemed to be made of nothing but stone...
The silence was interrupted by a gentle splashing noise. Helen turned her attention to the elder, who was pouring rice wine into a shallow red cup.
"The moment you both drink of this," the elder intoned, his voice sonorous. "You shall become one. Not only you, but your lands, and your people." He handed the cup to Toshimaru who drank.
Helen felt her heart stop as Toshimaru handed it out to her. She held it to her lips. There was no turning back now...Her fate would be sealed...
Before she could take a sip, a flash of green whizzed through the air, knocking the cup out of Helen's hands. It fell to the wooden floor with a loud clatter, the rice wine spilling onto the wood.
"What the...?!" Everyone's reactions were the same, the only exceptions being Ladies Shinsuke and Takeida who beamed at the open doorway, at the man who stood there.
"Sesshoumaru!" Helen gasped. At that moment, her heart raced in her chest. It was as though her mind had returned to her body, along with all her other emotions.
Sesshoumau calmly made his way towards them. He ignored the whispers of the lords and ladies around them.
"What on earth is going on here?" one lord whispered.
"The Western Lord?" another voice chimed in.
"Well, this is a surprise."
"Well, I've never heard of such a thing!"
The buzzing voices grew as Sesshoumaru stopped in front of Helen and Toshimaru. Helen's face was flushed, her eyes wide with relief and happiness.
"Sesshoumaru," she said again. She took a step towards him, but found her way blocked by Toshimaru, who drew his sword, causing the spectators to gasp.
"Cousin," Toshimaru said pleasantly, his eyes hard with hatred. "What brings you here?"
"Step aside, Toshimaru," Sesshoumaru ordered, his voice cold and imperiously deadly. "She is mine."
XoXoXo
A1969: damn...eighteen pages...ow...fingers hurt.
Sagno: your longest yet.
A1969: to make up for the fact that it took me all eternity to update! Ow!
Miroku: everyone, show your appreciation by reviewing! Oh, and the author thank those who read and reviewed the previous chapter! Don't forget to review!
A1969: yeah...what they said!