I'm alive! Hey, sorry about the extremely long and unnecessary wait for you guys. I've decided that this one will be over in just a few more chapters (like only 3 or 4) and then there will be a sequel. I know, not a whole lot happens, but... meh.
Kagome settled down to sleep, finally freeing herself from Sesshomaru's company. She decided to take the dog's offer and stay in the bed in the room that she had changed so much. After a few moments luxuriating in the cool water of the stream that ran uncaringly between her toes, she shrugged out of the heavy outer kimono and allowed her delicate wings to unfurl, fluttering lightly before coming to rest against the small of her back. She pulled on a fresh juban, and crawled into her bed, the odd sounds of the nature in her room lulling her to sleep.
A small child stood alone with Sesshomaru, his dark hair and puppy ears standing up on end. He too had wings and was oddly proportioned. Jinenji came to mind, as did his mothers words.
"Every other half-demon ain't as pretty as your friend here. Jinenji was unlucky, and so he looks like this. But I still love him, and wouldn't trade him for anything."
Sesshomaru was stiff and silent, his face contorted into a scowl and looking less than perfect. His narrowed eyes turned towards the sky, and she realized that at this point, Rin should have made an appearance. Or herself, for that matter. Where was she?
"Daddy, when is mommy coming home?" The child asked, turning his eyes toward Sesshomaru.
"Your mother is dead, Eri. Kagome is not coming back" A cold chill ran through her, and she couldn't breathe. She died? But, Tenseiga should be able to bring her back, right?
"The Tenseiga refused to work" Well, hell.
The child looked down, guilt and pain written all over his face. He looked on the verge of tears, and only through the force of his will did he not burst into them.
"I am sorry, daddy."
A small girl ran through the forest, followed by a hoard of demons. She had white hair, lighter than even Sesshomaru's, and her demon ancestry was very apparent. Her tail circled her waist, and her wet wings fluttered against her back. A gash against her arm had her nails shoved into it, and she turned, slashing bloodied crescents back at the hoard, killing most of them. Without the mob to support the few that were left, they quickly dispersed. The little girl ran faster, a worried look plastered to her face.
"Uncle! Uncle, where are you?!" She called, worried and frantic. Her nose was pointed into the air, searching for the scent.
She came to a stop before a bloodied body, the only sign of life being the slow, and uneven movements of the chest as they struggled to bring in air. The girl stopped before this body, collapsing to her knees.
"Uncle Inuyasha, no! Please, you must get up. You are all that I have left!" She knelt over the half-demon, peering into the dull, nearly sightless eyes of Inuyasha. She licked at his wounds, dribbling her saliva into him. Her hands moved to his chest, where the wounds were the worst, and soon a faint, yellow glow surrounded him, and Kagome watched, nearly sickened by the scene of a half dead Inuyasha. Only now she noticed that his skin was knitting back together, and she was convinced that he would live when a half murmured "Fucking assholes" came from the half demon. After a few minutes, the girl sat back, pulling him to his feet.
"Uncle, we must hurry. It shall not be long before the hoard regroups and we are attacked yet again. There is a hiding place that I have found, and I am sure that it shall be a fine place to stay, at the very least at least for the night."
"Good work, brat. Let's get going. The faster we get out of demon territory, the better. Humans might hate us, but when they come after ya, they only do it with farm tools. They don't tear ya limb from limb." Inuyasha paused, fingering the beads around his neck. He sighed softly, looking back at the girl.
"Listen, kid. I'm… I'm sorry that I ain't get there in time. Your ma and paw weren't there when I got there, but if we're careful, we can survive for a long time. We'll just have to hide out until things sort themselves out. This is the worst war I've ever seen." Inuyasha leaned heavily on her, his eyes still unfocused.
"I am just hopeful that mistress Rin is alright. And master Jaken." She paused, a few tears rolling down her face before she had the chance to stop them. "And my mommy and father" They limped along, wary eyes looking all around, ready for the next fight that they'd have to have, but not looking forward to it.
A young man stood, eyeing the ground below him. His hair fluttered in the wind, and if Kagome hadn't known better, she would have called him Sesshomaru. The only difference was that there weren't any markings on his body, and his hair was as white as freshly fallen snow. Hew wore a pelt about his hips, and was bare for the rest of it. He sighed.
"Father will be mad." He grinned, looking about him.
"Bishamon, you and I both know that 'mad' is putting it lightly" The young man spun around, looking just as shocked as Kagome did. It was Kagome. The normal Kagome!
"M-mother! What are you doing here? Don't you know that there's some crazy asssholes on the way up this mountain?" Kagome grinned at him, and poked him in his forehead.
"Son, you know how much your father hates it when you swear like your uncle." She smiled, sitting on a flattened rock.
"Mom, that still doesn't tell me why you're here!" Bishamon knelt next to her, looking her over. "Are you hurt?"
"No, but you will be. Your father is throwing a hissy fit. I came before he had a chance to."
"But mom, I shouldn't have to deal with that asshole general that father thinks is so damn trustworthy. He doesn't sit right with me, and I'd rather punch a hole through my stomach then be screwed over by the ass." Kagome smiled, nodding at her son.
"Come, lets go home."
Kagome gasped as she awoke, feeling a strange hyperawareness as she returned to the realm of the awake. That was the strangest dream she had ever had, and she wasn't sure about how she felt calling them just dreams. She sighed, standing up and looking out at the land outside of her window. She felt eyes on her, and turned towards the feeling.
"Hello, mistress Kagome. I am delighted to make your acquaintance." He smiled at her, only it didn't feel like a real one, and it sent a shiver of apprehension through her. She put on a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Hello, sir. Ma, you already know my name, and yet I don't know yours…" She trailed off, and wasn't left waiting very long.
"Oh, how rude of me. My name is Michio." He turned and left without another word, and the feeling of dread only intensified in the pit of Kagome's stomach.