Summary
With a chance to finally fix things, Kagome sets out to the Rukongai to meet with some familiar faces.
A/N: For those of you that have been wondering and worrying, no, I am not abandoning this story! I've just had a lot on my plate recently that has forced me to put fanfiction on hold. That being said, I am sorry for how it took to get this to you guys. I hope you all can understand. I'm not trying to make excuses, but I do hope you all can continue to remain patient with me. Anyways, here's the next chapter and I hope you guys enjoy it!
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She was pacing. She knew that it agitated him, but Kagome had been off for the last several days. Ever since she had returned from the Kuchiki's home after being ill, the priestess had been wound up and tied in knots about something. He had thought it was merely nerves; as their day to countdown had been set for the end of the week.
But now, he had the distinct feeling that he was missing some extremely important detail about his old friend. Something that he was sure both of the Kuchiki siblings knew about, but were refusing to disclose. It really had him on edge.
"Kagome... You should be practicing you're meditation. You're not going to get very far in anything if you don't." The monk's voice was chiding, and it cut through the girl's train of thought. She blinked and sighed as she dropped to the bed next to her friend.
"Sorry. I've just got a lot on my mind."
"Anything I can help with?"
"Well... I told Rukia about my past," Kagome murmured, staring at her feet for a moment before raising clouded blue eyes to meet surprised violet.
"Are you sure that was wise?" Miroku asked, raising a brow when the priestess nodded. "How did she take it?"
"A lot better than I thought. She didn't freak out or say anything mean. Actually, Rukia gave me her full support. She even said she wouldn't tell Captain Kuchiki until I could."
"Are you going to before we take care of this seal?"
"I... I don't think I'll have the time to..." the former school girl sighed, turning her head away to watch her little koi fish wriggle around in his bowl. She'd taken a personal liking to the thing and felt guilty about the fact that she was going to be leaving it without someone to take care of it. Maybe she'd visit Rin again and gift the little guy to the child.
"I know you're worried about how much time you have," Miroku started carefully, watching his old friend closely as she became suddenly closed off, "but you'll be back after we fix this. Perhaps then it will make the confrontation easier for you. I do, however, advise you to not put it off much longer."
"Right..." The monk's eyes narrowed when he noted the girl's gaze became unfocused again; almost as though she was having some sort of internal debate with herself.
"Kagome, there's something that you're not telling me. You've been acting different ever since you came back from your visit with Kaede almost a week ago."
"I'm fine, Miroku. I'm just feeling a little jittery." She brushed him off and sent him a bright smile.
To him, though, the normally easy look seemed forced this time. It was time to try and put the poor girl at ease. Flicking his gaze to her, he drew a letter out of his sleeve and waved it in her face.
"I got your mission log. I haven't read it yet, but maybe you can find something in the list to distract you a little." Kagome truly brightened and reached for the note, an eagerness he hadn't seen in a while appearing in her movements.
"Let's see..." Perusing the note, the smile disappeared from her face to be replaced first, by confusion, then anger. Crumpling the note up, the former time traveler jumped to her feet, snarled something unintellegible, and threw it in the corner. She then stormed out of the room, slamming the door loudly and rudely.
"... Kagome?" Miroku asked belatedly, blinking quickly and moving to follow. He stopped and grabbed the letter, unwrinkling it and reading the contents. The monk swore under his breath and slumped back down on the bed. He did not want to follow the volatile girl right now.
'Lord Kuchiki, you better be ready to deal with an angry priestess. This was not the way to help her at all,' he thought, sighing and staring at the little koi fish doing loops as he set the note aside.
Due to extenuating circumstances regarding recent illness, Kagome Higurashi has been removed from the active roster effective immediately. Please regard concerns to the Captain of Squad 6.
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She was going to give the arrogant noble a piece of her mind. And maybe open up a can of Whoop Ass on him too. How dare he pull her from the roster! It was bad enough that she couldn't participate in kido drills, and with her frequent blackouts, he'd forbidden her from sparring; but at least she could still patrol! 'Nothing ever happens on patrol!' Kagome thought angrily, stomping down the corridor and turning in the direction of her superior's office. Even if she had to scream herself hoarse, she was going to fix this! Setting her sights on Byakuya's door a moment later, she gathered her wits and slammed it open with a long-practiced finesse.
She must have startled him a little, because he was on his feet with his blade drawn defensively. He blinked when he saw who it was, though, and narrowed his eyes in a way she'd subconsciously realized was his annoyed expression as he sheathed the Zanpakuto.
"Higurashi. I assume you have a reason for such a dramatic entrance," the Captain stated, because even as infatuated as he was with her, he still wouldn't ask. Taking his seat, he watched the girl carefully for any signs of exhaustion, raising a brow when Kagome huffed, advanced further in and slapped her hands down on his desk. This upset some of the stacks of paperwork and caused them to flutter around their feet.
Leaning over so she was nose to nose with the noble, the former priestess grit out slowly, "I want that letter excusing me from patrol revoked. Now."
"Who are you to demand such a thing, Higurashi," Byakuya countered calmly, not phased in the slightest when her energy flared with the furious spark that entered her eyes.
"I am perfectly fine, Captain!" the woman growled, "I am certainly capable of going on patrol and doing missions!"
"In the last month, your health has degenerated to the point that accessing you powers is more of a hinderance than a help. As long as that seal is still in place, you will not be extorting what little energy you have left," Byakuya explained in that adultish voice that made her want to throw something preferably heavy at him. The way he spoke the word 'hinderance', though, made her think of how useless she'd been for the longest time hunting for Jewel Shards. She knew he was only looking out for her best interests, but she hated not being given the choice.
Thinning her lips, she stared him down hard. The aristocrat didn't so much as twitch, let alone blink, and Kagome finally exhaled and dropped into the seat opposite him. "You're not going to revoke it, are you."
"Not until you are better." He was tempted to add "and away from death's grip", but feared that he would scare her. She still hadn't voluntarily told him that she was, in fact, dying, and it was starting to eat away at him. Would she actually do so of her own violation?
Kagome looked away guiltily and stared at the wall in apprehension for a few minutes. There was no way she could tell him that she wasn't going to get better. Nodding to herself, she rose and muttered under her breath, "I don't like the fact that you didn't give me a choice," as she swept out the door, all of the fight dropping out of her. She just didn't have the extra energy to stay mad right now.
Byakuya blinked, not expecting her to give up so easily. Was the priestess really that far gone? His gut was telling him to go after her, but he refused, knowing he'd probably see her later today as she warned Miroku away from Rukia.
Ignoring the way his heart clenched in dread, he let his brow twitch as he started to gather up his paperwork again.
'Ridiculous dramatic woman.'
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"You're back already?" Miroku quipped, tilting his head a little when Kagome plopped down on her bed tiredly. He was more than a little worried now; usually, Kagome argued something until she was blue in the face. Looking at the former time traveler now, though, he had to wonder how taxing this seal was if it was affecting her arguments.
"I just don't have the energy to duke it out with Captain Kuchiki right now," the woman replied, groaning quietly and rolling to her side. "Wake me up in an hour?"
"Actually, I was hoping, since you are evidently indisposed for an unforseen amount of time, that we could go for a visit." Kagome furrowed her brows and sat up slowly, staring at the monk in curiosity.
"What did you have in mind?"
"Well, I got a letter from Kaede, actually. She thinks she knows a way to break the seal." His old friend was all ears now, leaning forward with wide blue eyes and bated breath.
"Are you serious?! That's great! We need to go see her! Now!" Kagome whooped, jumping to her feet and dragging Miroku out the door.
"I thought you said you were tired!"
"Not tired enough to take a trip!"
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By the time the duo got to Kaede's, though, Kagome's enthusiasm was flagging and she flopped in an exhausted heap next to a sympathetic Kohaku. The younger slayer even went as far as to make her some tea. She thanked him gratefully and sipped the hot liquid as she turned her attention to the old priestess sitting across from her. Kagewaki poked his head in, gave the boy a look, and motioned for him to come outside. Kohaku stood, resting a hand gently on Kagome's shoulder, and headed out, trading places with the former shogun as he took a seat in the hut.
"Now, child. Since ye have last visited, Kagewaki and I have taken some time to go through our old memories to find some sense in breaking yon spell," Kaede started, giving Kagome a grave look before she continued, "As a priestess, thine powers are connected to thine soul. Sever that connection..."
Miroku was paling in horror as the implications finally hit him. Why had it taken so long for him to see it! "She'll die..." He turned angry violet eyes to the cringing girl next to him. "You knew all this time! Why didn't you tell me?!"
"You were already working yourself into exhaustion trying to find a way to break it! I didn't see any point in upsetting you more!" Kagome defended, sincere worry shining in her cobalt eyes that made the monk deflate in shame.
"A lot of good I did. I still have nothing."
"I had a suggestion," Kagewaki murmured, earning the rest of the hut's attention. He looked over the haggard appearance of the woman that had saved his soul and decided to plow on. "I do have memories of some of the spells that Naraku became involved in. To make incarnations isn't as simple as you'd think. You needed to have a strong will, and a good sense of magic. As Onigumo, he was simply a human, but once he learned to harness the powers of the demons that devoured his body, he had some abilities that even I was impressed with." At the group's confused looks, he continued, "Some of those demons possessed a magic that was called alchemy."
Miroku's already pale complexion went ashen and he shook his head. "You cannot possibly be suggesting-!"
"It's the only way I can see shattering the seal on Kagome-sama!" Kagewaki interrupted heatedly, "I wouldn't have said anything if I didn't think it could work! Naraku used alchemy and exchanges to make himself more powerful. There is even one that is supposed to break down seals and revive the dead. You saw it for yourselves!"
"What are you-!"
Kagome gasped and stared at the brunette with wide eyes, "Are you saying that the reason Naraku was able to break down the barrier to Mt. Hakurai and bring back the Band of Seven was because he used alchemy?!"
"Exactly. It was powerful, and something like that might just be enough to get rid of the seal on you, Kagome-sama." Miroku turned to his friend and saw that she was actually considering the option.
"Kagome, alchemy is extremely dangerous, and something that none of us have any experience using. It's a lost art; a dark art. Once that usually requires a live sacrifice to make work. Someone as pure as you wouldn't be able to handle it. Only a tainted psychopath would attempt to use it."
"... I don't really have a lot of a choice if I want to live, Miroku," Kagome murmured softly, knowing in his heart that she'd already made the decision.
"Then... let me be the one to do it. I won't let you sacrifice your soul like that," the monk countered, raising his chin defiantly and giving the younger priestess a look that she knew all too well. There was no way he was going to back down.
"You're a fool, monk. You haven't the ability to use such dangerous magic," a hard voice outside the hut cut through their conversation, causing the group to turn to the door. The flap lifted and was brushed aside as a woman entered the small space and stared at them all with cold dark eyes. Kagome's heart went into her throat and a shiver skated through her soul. That white hair and those dark robes were very familiar to her.
"Tsubaki. I never expected to see you again," Kagome whispered, catching the dark priestess's attention.
"Of course you didn't. I had no intention of revealing myself to any of you either, but the balance has been horribly upset," the former candidate for guardianship of the Shikon no Tama snapped, "and if you die here and now, it will likely reactivate the Jewel. I, for one, don't want to see that damned cursed thing ever again. So, only this once, reincarnation of Kikyo, will I attempt to help you."
Kagome stared at the other woman for a moment before her senses came back to her and she was nodding slowly. "All right, Tsubaki. What do we need to do to get this alchemy thing working?"
"First, we need to return to where you first appeared in the Soul Society..."
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Darkness fell and the lights were dimmed out to accommadate those readying theirselves for bed. For others, it meant time to move out.
"And we're leaving without Sango... why?" Miroku asked suspiciously, carefully sneaking behind the quiet priestess as they moved through the quiet Squad 6 barracks.
"Because I don't want her to get in trouble with her squad. Just because she's my friend doesn't mean I should drag her down in my problems," Kagome replied, biting the inside of her cheek at the thought of what her other oldest friend would do if she found out they'd left without her. 'Probably flay us both alive.'
"I don't think she'll see it that way," the monk murmured under his breath. Kagome stopped suddenly and he almost ran right into the girl. "What?"
"I need to do one last thing before we go," she sighed, turning down another corridor and heading in a direction that made her friend want to swallow. Why was she heading towards Lord Kuchiki's study?
"Kagome..."
"You stay here. I'll be right back." She disappeared before he could form a protest so he sat back to wait. They were already on a time crunch as it was, so he could only hope that his old friend wouldn't take too long.
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Sliding the door open quietly, she was thankful that the man was not currently in the room. It would have made things that much harder, and she was resolved to do this. Maybe this way, if things didn't work out, Byakuya could have a little something to remember her by. The priestess looked around the immaculate room, her nose filling wih sandalwood and oak as she approached the desk. The same desk that, a few hours ago, she'd slammed her hands on in the process of her tantrum. It seemed like such a long time ago now and so juvenille on her part. And the infuriating man had sat there and talked her out of her self-righteous rage like a pro.
Kagome took a deep breath, shoved back the urge to simply collapse in his chair and sob, set the blade in her hand on his desk with the note that she'd prepared earlier, and bolted out the door before she lost her nerve. Unknowingly, the note fluttered to the floor as she fled and turned end over end, coming to rest on the ground face up next to her Captain's desk.
Thank you for everything.
Please don't worry for me any longer.
I'm sorry.
Kagome
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He knew the moment he strode into his office that something was wrong. Horribly wrong. Glancing around to see if anything had been misplaced, Byakuya's gaze landed on his desk and he froze, not hearing a single word that Rukia was saying as she followed him in. It felt like he'd been punched in the gut, the panic briefly delaying itself in light of what he was seeing.
There, sitting on his desk, was a Zanpakuto.
"Nii-sama? Are you listening? What's wrong?" his sister asked, furrowing her brows at the appalled expression making its' way onto her sibling's face. She swung her violet eyes in the direction he was looking and murmured "Oh..." in shock.
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A/N: Yes yes. I know. We've all been over how evil I am. Lucky for you guys that I was working on the next chapter the same time I was working on this one, so it shouldn't be too long of a wait. Certainly not as long as it took to get this one out. I'm sorry again about that. Things are just crazy around here. But never fear; I will finish this story. I won't leave it hanging. I hate it when good stories aren't finished and I won't be one of those authors. It may take a while, and there may be some bumps, but it will happen. Now, as for the alchemy bit, I'm making a bit of a play off of Full Metal Alchemist. Just part of the ideas, not completely. More detail on that later in.
Anyways, had to rant a little. I hope you guys enjoyed. Don't forget to review!