Chapter 49

Toga had been running through the maze of tunnels for what seemed like hours. He was purposely placing his scent on the walls so he wouldn't get lost, but when he backtracked, it was gone, erased from the rock. He remembered getting swallowed by that fiend… Could he be inside Naraku? If so than none of his senses could be trusted. Nothing here was real. Solidifying his conclusion, he stopped walking, settled himself on the ground and meditated, waiting for truth to reveal itself.

…

Inuyasha was tearing through the rock hallways, Shiori on his heels, when they passed Toga. Shiori saw him and shouted out to him as they approached, but he did not look up. Additionally, Inuyasha didn't even seem to see his own father. What the hell was going on in here?

…

Sesshoumaru knew proceeding through this fake labyrinth was foolhardy, and if it was true that nothing here could be trusted, even the design of the structure could be false and he could just be walking in circles for Naraku's entertainment. But if there was even the slightest chance of finding Kagome, he had to press on. If she was here, he would find her.

…

They were sitting at Gram's antique dining table which was oddly placed to the side of Kagome and Sesshoumaru's swing set in her clearing where is was a clear autumn day, her favorite time of year, dunking sweet, cinnamon-dusted, butter cookies in big bowls of milk. Kagome had always liked using a bowl rather than a glass for several reasons. One, glasses of milk look gross when cluttered with cookie crumbs, two, she never liked breaking her cookies to make them fit the glass because she got crumbs everywhere and saw that as less edible cookie, and three, it was far easier to make cookie soup if you had a bowl, filled it with cookies, covered with milk, and dug in with a soup spoon. Gram also liked cookie soup. As it turns out, and this was a surprise to her as she had never before tried it, so did Amaterasu, goddess of the sun and universe.

The goddess had strode up to the two women eating their cookies, fully intending to demand what was taking them so long in visiting her, when she had seen what they were eating and curiosity had overcome her.

"Where did you say this delectable food comes from?" the goddess asked through a mouthful of soggy cookie.

"It is a German American baked good, my Lady. My dear husband, Red, is German American, you may recall, and came to Japan during the war. He missed the cookie so much, I wrote to his family to get the recipe for him and have been making them ever since. They are my husband and granddaughter's favorite treat."

The goddess picked up her bowl and slurped down the remaining sweet, cinnamon-spiced milk before lowering the bowl, smacking her lips and uttering a satisfied, "Ah!" Standing, it could be seen that the goddess was quite tall, with long, black hair left unbound, with a small, round, golden crown at the peak of her forehead. She wore a white silk kimono over a red under kimono, letting the vibrant color peek through at the neck and sleeves. Sparkling, precious jewels adorned her neck and chest. Her feet were bare.

Turning to her dear warrior, smiling at the look of contentment on her face, she said, "That swing set looks inviting. Join me, Kagome."

Kagome looked to her grandmother who nodded and Kagome got up from her pillow to follow the goddess. Amaterasu had chosen the highest swing, shooting Kagome a look and saying, "I understand you have claimed this one, but I make a habit of never letting my head be lower than another's. You understand."

Kagome smiled. She was nervous to be speaking with a goddess but she had to admit, she did seem approachable. She took a seat on the swing beside her and kicked off.

"Kagome, I find myself in the difficult and unique place of wanting to apologize to someone." She sighed, looking off into the surrounding woods before pumping her long legs and sending herself swinging. "You were created with the reincarnated soul of our greatest female warrior, Chitose, as you and your one have guessed. But to battle the evil of the soul my brother, Susanoo, created in your father, I had to create not only a warrior but a weapon. You have been forged as steel would be, with repeated blows, tempering, folding, and repeating. Your grandmother was a happy accident of fate. We did not think to plan for her supportive presence in your life, but were eternally grateful that she and your grandfather were there to keep you from breaking, because, in hindsight, you would have. We made you with a heart too big and pure not to have done so without their help."

"So, you see, even the gods can make mistakes and must answer to Fate. But here you are, our great warrior priestess, the Shikon Miko, our weapon of love. It is with that love that you will defeat Naraku. He claims to love you, even believes that he does, but by now you must see the truth, that such evil knows nothing of love, only obsession. True love puts the other before the self. Obsession is all about fulfilling selfish need."

"When you leave this place and return to your body—do not worry, your powers are intact and have been healing your wound and replacing your blood while you meet here with me—the dark hanyou Naraku will still be under the assumption that you hold the power you do because you have tricked your lover and cursed him as you were cursed. He believes he has corrupted the pure light of your soul and that you will now willingly return to him. He has swallowed you during his fit when he allowed the Shikon no Tama to transform him. He is tormenting the minds of your family from inside his body and keeping you close to him and his shriveled heart. He will tire of this game soon and return to his human form, expelling you all."

"Know this: the hanyou Naraku was created from your father, Onigumo, an addict, and so is a creature of habit. You know that he keeps the hearts of Kanna and Kagura in his possession outside of their bodies so he may keep their allegiance. In a similar fashion, his own heart is not in his body. You may defeat the body, but the heart will continue to beat in its vessel and he will regenerate from this piece of himself. You must find and destroy his heart. I can tell you that he has placed it somewhere he thinks no one, especially you, will be able to injure it."

"I want you to think now, decide your strategy using what I have just told you to defeat Naraku." The goddess was silent after that, letting Kagome absorb and sort through all that she had been told.

For a long time, there was no sound but that of the swings squeaking and the breeze ruffling the brightly colored autumn leaves in the trees surrounding them. Finally, Kagome expelled a heavy breath of air in a forlorn sigh. "I have a plan, but Sesshoumaru will never understand or forgive me for what I will do."

"He is your one, Kagome, your match. Do not think you could have such a heart if he does not as well. The coldness he shows the world, you know well that it is merely a projection and not the real demon. And his love for you is eternal; you will make him understand and he will forgive. You do not have the benefit of a mating bond yet, but if you think about it, you will realize you have a way to communicate with him without Naraku knowing."

"You must go soon, but before you do, I want to tell you there is yet another change for you to experience. We had to make you human in this life because Onigumo was human and so you could house the holy power to defeat him. After he is defeated, you will no longer need this shell. When you mate with your Sesshoumaru and he presses his youki into you, he will trigger an answering reaction in your body. You will return to your rightful inu youkai self, but you will retain your holy powers for the rest of your life."

She dragged her feet on the ground, bringing herself to a stop. "Go now, and say your good-byes to your grandmother. I promise to keep her safe and happy until you can see her again."

….

Sesshoumaru could smell his brother coming, but his scent was tainted with rage and grief. He called out for him and walked faster to intercept him. Maybe he had news of Kagome. He prayed that wasn't the reason for his emotional distress.

Inuyasha heard Sesshoumaru call his name and he ran toward the sound, a storm building in his veins. He could smell him now, and that bitch Kagura. He turned a corner and there they were. His brother tried to greet him but he was in no mood for bull shit. He drew Tessaiga and leapt at the murderer of his mate.

"Inuyasha, cease! It is Sesshoumaru!" He was much faster than his brother normally, but Inuyasha was dangerously close to losing control to his bestial side and so was faster than normal. Still, it was only a minor challenge to avoid the wild swings of his brother's sword.

"I fucking know who you are, you fucking murderer! How could you?" He unleashed his Wind Scar attack, narrowly missing his brother as he dashed out of the way.

"How could I what? Inuyasha, if you have seen something in this place, it is not to be trusted. We are in the belly of the beast, Naraku, and he controls our perception here."

"I fucking know what I saw, bastard! You killed Shiori! Your sword was buried in my mate!" He swung at his brother's right and missed again.

"Your mate stands behind you if you would but look. And my sword is here." He drew Bakusaiga to deflect another blow.

He turned to look and saw nothing, feeling a fool for taking his eyes of his enemy, but Sesshoumaru did not attack.

Instead he held his sword in his palms, saying, "If you saw my sword there, then how can it be here? If I did slay your mate, then how are her blood and scent missing from the blade?"

That finally got through to him. Inuyasha stopped and approached warily, scenting the air above the sword. "All I smell is Naraku."

"For that is all my sword has touched since we came to his lair. This Sesshoumaru does not know why you cannot see your mate, but I swear to you on Kagome's life that she stands there, in the corner. He turned to Shiori and asked, "Are you unharmed?"

"Yes! Thank gods you can see me! We woke up together and it was like Inuyasha was seeing something that wasn't there and then he just went crazy. We passed Toga and he couldn't see me, but I don't think Inuyasha could see him, either. He just walked right past him and Toga didn't even look at us."

"You swear? You really swear on Kagome?" Inuyasha asked in a vulnerable voice.

"Hn. This Sesshoumaru swears on the life of the female we both love that your mate is here and well. Come. Shiori tells me she saw Father on the way here but that you could not see each other. It would be wise to remain together in this place. The sooner we stop playing his game, the sooner he will tire of it so we may find Kagome and end this."

He had Shiori lead the way, since she was the only one guaranteed to see Toga if he was there and they went back through the tunnels from which Inuyasha had come.

…..

Gram had come over to the bench swing after Amaterasu had departed and Kagome had joined her, laying her head on her grandmother's shoulder.

"When you go back, I want you to remember how important honesty was to you when Sesshoumaru was keeping things from you. I know you're not going to want to talk about what that monster did to you in his house, but he is to be your mate and he will know you do not tell him the whole truth. Your mother will tell you that marriage is hard work and that you must always work at it to keep it healthy, but she does not think like us. Your mother thinks with her head, not her heart, which is one of the reasons we never understood one another, and so her marriage is work. I will tell you that if you trust your instincts and follow your heart, you really can have the life I had with your grandfather with that pretty demon of yours."

Kagome giggled. "He's reaaaally pretty, isn't he?" They both giggled. "That, I think, is the exception to the rule. He does not need to hear himself described as pretty. I think I already toe the line for his masculine pride when I call him beautiful."

Gram squeezed her granddaughter tight. "I will watch over you next Saturday. I wouldn't miss seeing my special girl tie herself to the demon she loves for anything. And I love your dress! It's straight out of one of our books."

"I would be honored, Gram. I thought you might like the dress." She smiled sleepily. "I'm getting so tired."

"I know, sweetheart. You're going to fall asleep, and when you wake, it will be time to put your plan in place." She squeezed her again, kissing her hair. "Oh, my girl. This next bit is going to be hard, but I know you can do it. You're my granddaughter and you can do anything," she whispered, and Kagome grunted softly in her sleep. She rubbed her face in the younger woman's hair, tears in her eyes. "I love you, Kagome." And then she was gone.

…..