Chapter 16
KitBitMe: Thank you, I did have fun. You'll find out later why Sesshomaru opened up so quickly to Kagome.
After Hikaru and InuTaisho talked, they all had went out to the deepest part of the forest to try and find anything that might lead to Kagome and possibly Naraku's whereabouts. They simply followed the faint scent of Kagome and Kikyo that lead into the forest. Kikyo did not wanting to come, even if her father did say that it would help since she was there. But when Sesshomaru had asked why she didn't want to help her dearly beloved sister, she growled and agreed to come along.
They were all currently at the scene of the battle. The scent of Kagome, Naraku, and Kikyo was all over the area, as well as Kagome's blood, which scent a shiver down most of their spines considering how strong the smell was. They saw a tree that was covered in blood at the base and assumed that it was where Kagome was hurt. There was a lot of blood on the ground around the tree as well.
"Considering how much blood is there, Kagome should have died. I can smell the miasma mixed in with it as well." Hikaru said, a sad look on his face. InuTaisho shook his head. Sesshomaru spoke up.
"Kagome does have very powerful miko powers. More than likely, her powers destroyed the miasma before it could do much damage to her, but I don't know about the would she obviously sustained." He said. Hikaru smiled down at him at his attempt to cheer him up. Hikaru set his hand on Sesshomaru's shoulder in thanks.
They looked around the area a little more when Hikaru came across the dagger that Kikyo had. He picked it up and turned around to where Kikyo stood.
"Kikyo, is this not your dagger?" She looked at it, and her eyes widened. She had forgotten to get it back before she left.
Maybe he won't become suspicious. She thought.
"Yes father, it is." She responded.
"Why did you bring it if you and Kagome were just taking a walk?" He asked her.
Apparently not. She thought.
"I brought it just in case we got caught in a battle and I needed to protect us. Is there something wrong with that?" She asked him, a slight hurt tone in her voice. Sesshomaru rolled his eyes.
I will admit, she does know how to act the victim. He thought. Hikaru shook his head.
"No, of course not. I am glad that you took precautions before you left. I was just confused, is all." He said, handing her back the dagger. She grabbed it and tucked it back inside her robes.
They all continued to search the area. InuTaisho was searching when he found that Kikyo's scent trailed off from the battle scene to a spot in the bushes a good feet away from the area. Her scent was especially strong in this area. In fact, her scent was much more thicker in this area than in the area where they fought Naraku, as if she was here for the majority of the time. InuTaisho raised an eyebrow at this fact and looked over to Kikyo who was standing around, watching everyone search.
"Kikyo, would you come over here? I need to ask you a question about your fight with Naraku." He asked her. Kikyo turned to InuTaisho and recognized the area he was standing in as the area she hid when Naraku injured Kagome. Her eyes widened and she looked to her father who gestured for her to go over there. She hesitated before going over to InuTaisho.
"Yes Lord InuTaisho?" She asked.
"Do you mind telling me why your scent is here, farther out of the battle area?" He asked her. Her eyes widened at his slightly accusing tone, and she began to stutter.
"I- I uh... t-this is where I was knocked into the tree." She answered. InuTaisho nodded his head. Then he lowered his voice so only Kikyo could hear him.
"Earlier this morning, I left your father's study to check in on you kids at breakfast, and I heard what my son said." He said. Kikyo's eyes widened enormously and she took a step back.
"W-what? I- I don't understand." She said.
"You know what I am talking about Kikyo." He said. He took one small step towards her. "Kikyo, did you lie to us about what happened here?" She stared at him in shock, then shook her head.
"N-no. I didn't." She said.
"You're lying Kikyo. I can smell and sense it." He said. Kikyo's eyes widened as much as they could, then she glowered at him, growling.
"No, I am not. You don't know what you're talking about." She said, then stormed off. Hikaru saw her and turned towards her, his hand reaching out to her.
"Kikyo? Where are you going?" He asked her. She stopped.
"I'm going home. Being here is bringing back memories of that horrible day." She said without turning around, then walked off. Hikaru looked to InuTaisho confused, but InuTaisho shook his head.
InuTaisho had a strong feeling that Kikyo was lying about what really happened. He had out two and two together. Even he had felt a bit suspicious of her explanation, but Sesshomaru only confirmed his suspicions. He had also noticed when Kikyo became nervous and hesitant when people would question her on what happened. But why she would lie, he had no idea. If only Hikaru would stop being oblivious and realize that something was wrong. InuTaisho knew he should tell Hikaru, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. The man was his best friend, and he couldn't tell him that his eldest daughter was keeping a huge secret about what really happened to Kagome. InuTaisho sighed.
This is all so complicated. He thought.