"I know you'll love him! He's really nice, but way too serious sometimes. We do everything together, and he's become my best friend." Kagome's soft voice easily reached Sesshomaru sensitive ears. The small inu was waiting for her to come get him at the bottom of a long set of stairs behind the shrine they were visiting, and he was beginning to grow impatient.
When they had woken that morning, his young friend had behaved strangely, her mood subdued. Even when she had cheerfully explained over breakfast that today was a special day, something about her smile had seemed forced to Sesshomaru, and he had decided to keep a close eye on her until she decided to tell him what was wrong.
After the dishes had been washed and put away, Kagome's mother had packed the three of them into the family's small car, and driven a good distance outside of the city. Throughout the ride, Kagome had kept a running commentary about places they were passing and nice it was to get out of Tokyo now and then. Yet something remained off, and the inuyoukai was growing increasingly concerned for his friend. They eventually arrived at a small shrine surrounded by large magnolia trees, well kept but obviously old. When her mother had gone in to pay her respects to the shrine keeper, who was apparently a distant relative, Kagome had turned to him, anxiety making her fidget. Stumbling over her words, she had confided that there was someone she wanted him to meet before promptly dragging him off into the copse of trees behind the main building. And now he waited unhappily while she spoke to some unseen person.
'Why won't she tell me what's bothering her? Is it because of whoever she's talking to?' The lordling groused, jealousy feeding his sour mood. He wasn't exactly thrilled about having to share his Kagome with some stranger, but didn't want to disappoint her when she was already acting so odd.
"...and the best part is, he's a real inuyoukai! Turns out his Otou-san is the Ruler of the West, meaning one day he'll be a Lord! I just know he'll be a great ruler- he's really brave and strong. And he always keeps his promises!" Sesshomaru focused on what she was saying again, pleased by how important she made him sound.
"He came out of the well at our shrine, and he's staying with us until we can find a way to send him back home. You see..." her tone changed, bitter melancholy lacing itself through her whispered admission. "...he's not from this time, and I promised I'd get him back to his Otou-san.
"So at some point, no matter how much I want him to stay... Sesshomaru will leave me too."
Sesshomaru's stomach clenched at those words, and everything they meant. While he enjoyed each day spent with the vibrant-eyed girl who had welcomed him into her home, the reality was that he wasn't supposed to be here. They would eventually get the well back open, and he would have to return home, leaving his best friend alone. Eyes burning, Sesshomaru bit his lip to keep from crying at the pain that thought caused him.
'If only I hadn't come here, then...' he stopped himself, heart refusing to contemplate a life in which he'd never met Kagome. How could he regret having come to the future without denying everything their friendship meant to him? Everything she meant to him... But now, he was going to hurt his best friend, and that was also unacceptable. Thoughts of how he had come through the well in the first place had the young inu clenching his fangs in anger at the being responsible for the entire situation.
'This is all her fault. If only I could have killed...' his internal dialogue was interrupted by Kagome shaking his shoulder, a frown on her pink lips.
"Are you okay, Sessho-chan? I was calling your name, but you didn't answer." He could see the slight puffiness beneath her eyes from where she had been crying, and was immediately distracted from his own upset. Not trusting his voice, he settled for nodding, relieved when she didn't press the issue. The last thing he wanted to do was add to whatever had her so sad today.
"Well, come on then!" The excitement was back in her voice, and she tugged him up the stairs with an insistent hand. "There's someone who wants to meet you!"
It was only when they reached the top of the stairs, and Sesshomaru saw exactly who was waiting for them, that the small youkai realized he hadn't heard or smelt anyone with Kagome the whole time they'd been there. His throat constricted painfully as he stared at the tiny marker at the base of the oldest magnolia tree he'd ever seen. Kagome moved forward, her small hand slipping from his as she knelt in front of the tree.
"Chichi, this is my friend Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru," hopeful cerulean eyes held him captive as the cause for her strange behavior became clear.
"I'd like you to meet my Papa."
Something in her gaze had him moving forward, and before he could really register what he was doing, the young lord was bowing respectfully over her father's grave. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Higurashi-san."
It had been the right thing to say, for Kagome's nervous attitude immediately lifted, replaced by her normal vivacious nature. The next half-hour was spent listening to his human friend tell him about her father, and vice versa. She didn't go into too much detail about how he had died, but the young boy did find out it was a car related accident. When he'd started to press, some of her previous depression had returned, and he'd quickly changed the subject. For the most part, Sesshomaru simply tried to be supportive, bantering with her at the appropriate moments and letting her rattle on about everything and nothing.
'What must it be like, to not have your Otousan by your side?' Pale eyes narrowed at the thought of his own great father being gone, and he scoffed at the foolishness of the idea.
'Otousan's power is unsurpassed. There isn't a youkai alive that could kill him.'
Reassured by his innocent logic, Sesshomaru turned his focus back to his friend, who seemed oblivious to his momentary inattention. At that moment, they heard Kagome's mother calling them down for lunch. Wanting a moment alone with her father's grave, the small inu sent Kagome ahead with the promise to follow straight after. When he was certain his raven-haired friend was out of earshot, he turned back around to face her father's marker again, resolution hardening his eyes.
Screwing up his courage, he stated bluntly, "Higurashi-san, I wanted to let you know my intention to take Kagome as my mate someday. While it is true that I will have to return to my time, youkai such as this Sesshomaru live really long, and I promised her that I would always find her."
Swallowing at the thought of having to leave his closest friend, he forged on, eyes glued to the ground as he executed a short bow. "Your daughter...is the only friend I've ever had. So I promise you that I won't leave her alone.
"I will find her again, no matter how much time passes."
"Oh, indeed you will Sesshomaru. And a whole lot sooner than you think." Sesshomaru's gaze shot up at the familiar voice. Staring right back at him were ancient eyes set in a face of whorls and knot-holes.
"I was wondering when you'd show up here, pup. Its been centuries since I've seen you look so... short." Laughter followed, and still all he could do was stare, mouth hanging low with shock. Floundering at the unexpected reunion with one of his father's oldest friends, he eventually found his voice again.
"Bokuseno... is it really you?" More dry laughter, accompanied by the rustling of his great many leaves, met Sesshomaru's query, and excitement flooded his veins as the ancient tree-youkai responded jokingly.
"Do you doubt that nose of yours, young lord-to-be? I am indeed the same youkai you know from your time. But," Bokuseno interrupted the torrent of questions he could see about to spill from the young inu's lips. "There is much that I will not be able to tell you in order for events to happen as they must."
Pausing at the carefully worded warning, Sesshomaru took a moment to organize his thoughts, and decided on what he felt were the most important questions. Taking a breath, he ventured, "Do I make it back?"
"It is certain, although I don't know the details of how. I do know that you were only missing for a little more than 10 moons." Golden eyes widened with shock at the fact that he'd be gone from his time for almost a full year. Apprehension needled his heart at the thought of how little time he had left with his friend.
"...you said I'll find Kagome again? Do you know if I keep my promise?" he asked slowly.
Silence answered him as the tree youkai measured him with fathomless eyes. As the seconds ticked by, Sesshomaru felt dread curl within him. After what felt like an eternity, Bokuseno responded carefully, and the young inu could practically feel the secrecy embedded in his answer.
"You will indeed find your intended again, pup. Eight years from now, she will travel through the well as you did, and arrive five-hundred years in the past."
'That's a little more than 250 years from when I came from,' the inu thought to himself, doing the math in his head. According to a history book Kagome had gotten at the library, he'd been sent through the well during the early years of the Kamakura Period, which was roughly seven-hundred and fifty years from the present day. 'But wait...'
Glancing sharply at his father's long-trusted advisor, he snapped, "You didn't answer my second question. Am I able to keep my promise?"
"You are correct, I did not answer that question, nor will I."
"Do you refuse to answer because you do not know, or because I fail my promise to her?" Ancient youki buffeted him in reprimand, and Bokuseno frowned at him with disappointment.
"Petulant whelp... I'd forgotten what a brat you were at this age." Sesshomaru scowled at the insult, a growl rumbling through his fangs. "I already told you, there are things that need to happen, and that is the only reason I do not answer you now."
Tone softening, the elderly youkai offered, "I can tell you that your friendship with the young miko will endure the test of time."
Kagome's voice calling his name interrupted their conversation, and he realized that the time for answers was at an end. With a stiff bow to the timeless youkai, Sesshomaru left without another word, lost in his thoughts of the young girl waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs. It was only long after he was out of earshot that Bokuseno spoke again, his creaking voice filled with the wisdom of agelessness.
"You will grow into an honorable taiyoukai, Sesshomaru... but it will be a long time before you forgive Kagome enough to keep the promises you've made."
...in which Kagome introduces the two most important men in her life to each other, and Sesshomaru comes face to face with the truth.
Okay, this one gave me a bit of trouble, but I'm finally happy with it I think There will be more to come on how Kagome's father died, and yes, it will also be a fairly sad chapter- why? Because without angst, the fluff isn't quite as fluffy And cause I'm mean- deal with it XD Anywho, hope everyone enjoyed the chapter, and tomorrows will be more light-hearted, I promise
On another note, if you haven't voted yet, please follow this link to to help me come up with ideas on what to dress Sessho-chan as for Halloween! journal/poll/3218066/
This chapter is NOT beta'd because I'm not going to rush my loverly beta like that, so deal with the errors peeps.
As always, feedback and comments are VERY appreciated XD
ENJOY!
Characters Belong to Rumiko Takehashi
Plot Bunnies Belong to Me