Chapter 8

Sapphire eyes anxiously swept the expansive home(mansion), darkness crawling along the edges of every corridor. "Where is everyone?" It came out as a whisper and yet it echoed out, reverberating through the emptiness. Her eyes darted back and forth anxiously, searching for anything that may seem unusual or out of place in the vacant traditional-style mansion. But all she saw was the empty darkness.

He didn't answer her, simply continuing down the hall, the farther they went to darker the house appeared, its decadent interior void of life, showing how little the home was used by anyone other than the daiyoukai.

Fear slowly crept into her heart.

A door slid open and Kagome followed the daiyoukai into the room. Once in, the door slid closed behind them, and despite looking back Kagome didn't see anyone, although she had felt a faint youkai presence. So he must have servants, yet she hadn't seen Jaken which saddened her. Sure the kappa could be irritating and beyond arrogant, she always pictured the small toad at Sesshomaru's side till the very end.

"You can stop looking for Jaken," Kagome found herself blushing, forgetting how easily the daiyoukai had always been at reading her. "He is away handling the France branch."

Kagome nodded idly, not fully understanding what he meant but having already gathered that Sesshomaru was now a businessman instead of a ruthless warlord, before looking around.

The room was lit by firelight, the flickering light casting an amber hue upon the European-styled study. Unlike the rest of the mansion that although extravagant in appearance was devoid of life, this room was decorated in well-worn relics of the past showcasing memories long-lost to any mortal being. Paintings and photographs line the walls, some items placed alongside the pictures, these told of a history the daiyoukai had lived, memories in which she was lacking.

In front of the fire were two brown leather wingback chairs, a small side table placed between the two with already prepared tea and cups. But it was the painting that hung above the fireplace that grabbed her attention. It was as if the whole room had been designed around the portrait, pulling attention to that one spot. Two swords laid across the mantle, Kagome instantly knew them to be Tensaiga and Bakusaiga, and above that rest her well-worn red longbow. Above them stood a vibrant vision of the past, and for a moment she felt as if she were there again.

A bold gold and cherry wood frame surrounded the portrait of a time that felt as if it happened only yesterday, yet centuries had passed and their battle now a legend in the modern era. Although Kagome couldn't remember ever posing, she was impressed with its likeness.

Standing before the blossoming Sacred Tree: Goshinboku, stood the stoic statuesque figure of Sesshomaru. The white silks of his kimono billowed in a breeze that also rippled along his mokomoko while picking up strands of his long luminous silver hair. Light danced upon his armor, the spikes along his chest making him look absolutely deadly. His piercing eyes were practically glowing, searing hot amber that contrasted the coldness of his stare, and markings were made all the more striking with their vibrant colors on his pale skin. The daiyoukai was equal parts beautiful as he was frightening with his sword Bakusaiga drawn and at the ready, its blade gleaming dangerously.

Standing to the daiyoukai's left was Inuyasha, he looked just as she remembered, his skin a healthy dewy bronze, his honey gold eyes frozen in his signature glower. The red of his fire rat robes was almost blinding in contrast to his moon-white hair. Whoever had painted the hanyou had encapsulated him perfectly with his disinterested posture, bare feet, and hands set to pull out the Tessaiga; the sword mid-transformation with a tufted of fur at the guard and a glowing white gold light emitting from the sheath.

Finally to the right of Sesshomaru was Kagome. Unlike the two males, she had been painted with a small smile to her pink-tinted lips, her cheek rosy and sapphire eyes dazzling. And Kagome hated to admit it but she was experiencing hair envy, never in her life had her hair ever look so lush and vibrant, it's coloring a dark contrast to the two silvered haired inu, its color so dark it shimmered with a waxy hue similar to a ravens feather. She was dressed in bright green hakamas, and the white of her kosode decorated by overlapping pale pink and red Higanbana patterns on her shoulders and sleeves. Like the others her weapon was at the ready, the Sacred longbow of Mount Azusa held with an arrow that although wasn't drawn taunt on the bowstring glowed with the pale pink glow of her reiki.

"I don't remember posing for that," Kagome mussed. She was mesmerized, it was the one she remembered, the one who fought for years in the past and defeated Naraku. The person in that portrait was the woman Kagome liked being, she was strong, confident, and happy despite the battles she faced. At twenty-three she had spent nearly eight years in the past, surrounded by people she loved and living a fulfilling life.

"You didn't." He explained plainly. Looking back, she saw he had taken a seat, a cup of tea in hand as he also looked at the large painting. "I had it commissioned before the defeat of Naraku. Akihiro had full artistic freedom, he even commissioned smaller pieces after following your group for weeks. They are in storage but I am sure there are several that you should have."

Her eyes widened and as she found herself asking, she shook her head. Artists were an eccentric group, no matter how this Akihiro had captured their likeness by stalker-like behaviors she could applaud his talent. "I'd like that." She smiled softly, before taking the seat offset to his and the fireplace.

Taking her tea Kagome fought against the tension that hung uncomfortably in the air, her hair prickling uneasily along her neck. Something didn't feel right, other than Sesshomaru there was no one, there should be others he couldn't have been the only one to survive… Could he?

Her heart practically stopped, panic seeping through her veins like ice. Sapphire eyes snapped towards him.

He couldn't be the only one!

A part of her fought violently against the idea, too stubborn to accept what was staring violently right back at her: Sesshomaru was the only one here.

"Where is everyone?" Her voice came out in a whisper, small and scared, so unlike the confident woman in the painting. Then again that was a painting of an older version of herself.

Sesshomaru gave an uncharacteristic shrug, eyes listlessly staring into the fire. "My generals and soldiers have either died, moved on, or have continued to work under me through my business ventures. The wolf, Kouga, never responded to my request, although his pack has continued to flourish in Japan. But as for Inuyasha and Shippo," he paused, taking a drink of his tea. "I have been unable to locate them for almost seventeen years." He explained matter-of-factly, his eyes peering at her.

And yet Kagome felt broken, torn between this happiness of being reunited with Sesshomaru but an overwhelming worry for Inuyasha and Shippo. Inuyasha was her dearest friend and at one point in their shared past they had been a couple, but with Shippo it was different. Shippo was her son, not knowing had her heart racing anxiously, a feeling that would no doubt continue until she had him in her arms once more.

"There is more news you will no doubt find upsetting." Sesshomaru started, standing he reached into his pocket. "You never returned, miko." He had said it so calmly and yet it felt as if he had plunged his claws through her chest.

"What?" Kagome barely managed above a whisper. Her eyes snapped to his hand, watching as he pulled something out of his pocket.

And then she swore in that moment she had died. His fingers unfurled and in his palm rest the bane of her existence. It gleamed in the low light, a milky white hue, and yet Kagome could feel the energy that pulsed out, amazed that she hadn't been able to sense it before.

"I wished it away!" She shrieked, eyes finding him, pleading that this wasn't the Shikon no Tama.

"Yes, and yet history found a way of repeating itself." He told her. "Upon your wish, the dead miko was resurrected in your place. Without you Kikyo and Inuyasha rekindled their relationship, I know little about their union other than they were wed in the following spring and the incident happened a few years later. The miko had been attacked while Inuyasha was away. Unknown to anyone, Naraku hadn't died. His curse on the monk had been reversed when his form gave way but he lived on by possessing one of his incarnations. This one can only assume it was his own obsession that fueled his actions, he attacked the village by the well when the monk and slayer were away with your kit. He killed the old miko, and Kikyo was forced to battle. The hanyou was killed but only at the risk of her own life.

With their death, the jewel reemerged." He looked to her, and then the jewel examining it from between his clawed fingers. Its milky hue warmed by the warm tones of the fire. The familiar pull of its power pulsed across her senses, her body tingling with a mix of excitement and urgency. Oddly it looked very different from what she remembered, no doubt from being in the presence of the daiyoukai.

"I am why you never returned." Her breath froze in her lungs, eyes snapping up to his. If she hadn't already stopped breathing she would have lost her breath as a somber, sad expression pulled at his usually stoic face. "Had the jewel been left to burn with her body, your soul would have been trapped, never to reincarnate and forever stuck in a cycle of the life you've already lived." His voice fell heavy from his lips, tinged with a feeling of sorrow she didn't know he could possess. "I couldn't watch you suffer."

Kagome could only stare, eyes wide despite the tears that silently streamed down her cheeks.

"This one can only speculate that Inuyasha and Shippo will only return whenever your last jump into the past would have taken place." She heard him, but his voice sounded distant, continuing to fade into the background.

Slowly her world began to crumble. Everything Kagome cared, for now, lay in the past, just beyond her reach and never to hold again. At that moment she lost everyone and everything, her life had lost all meaning.

Kaeda.

Miroku.

Sango.

Rin.

Kohaku.

Kirara.

Kin'u.

Gyokuto.

Hisui.

The life she had with them was lost to her, their lives having come and gone. Sure she might have a chance of seeing Inuyasha and Shippo, but she hadn't been where she belonged: in the past, with them.

wolfYLady: Hey there, it's been a long time, and I have a good reason for being M.I.A... I quit my job and am moving! I am so excited, and while unsure am excited for the adventures that await me and my partner!

Thank you for your patience and I will try to get another chapter out once I have moved!

Until next time!