A/N: Hello. I know its been quite some time now since I've posted anything for this story, but I hope this can satisfy a few of the readers who seemed to like what I wrote. I promise to make a better effort to finish this story. I have a better idea of where I want this story to go. Please feel free to leave a review and give me any feedback. I hope you enjoy what I've cooked up so far.
The journey to the Western Palace was somber. Jaken, still fuming about having to rely on a human for assistance, remained largely silent as they traveled. Kagome, walking steadily alongside the imp, was lost in thought. A part of her had to admit, though, that the idea of coming face to face with Sesshoumaru again stirred something within her—something she wasn't ready to confront.
As they made their way through the dense forest, her thoughts drifted back to the camp, to her friends.
Inuyasha had been the first to protest when Jaken had relayed the message about the blight ravaging Sesshoumaru's lands.
"Like hell I'm letting you go alone with that damn toad!" Inuyasha had barked, his golden eyes flaring with protectiveness. "Sesshoumaru can deal with his own problems."
Kagome had expected the outburst, but this wasn't the time for Inuyasha's pride to get in the way.
"Inuyasha," Kagome had said softly, her eyes meeting his with a calm she had cultivated through years of experience, "this blight isn't just some minor issue. It's spreading faster than anything I've seen, and it's affecting demons more than humans. It's already reached demon villages and now Sesshoumaru's palace."
"That's exactly why you shouldn't be going alone!" Inuyasha had countered. "We'll all go."
But that wasn't an option. The group had their hands full with the ongoing outbreak that had already decimated the surrounding villages. Kagome had watched with a heavy heart as Sango and Miroku worked tirelessly to care for the sick, as Inuyasha disposed of infected livestock and patrolled for any signs of the blight spreading further. Shippo had been doing his best to support the villagers, while Kirara gathered supplies with Sango.
They were needed here.
"I don't have time to argue, Inuyasha," she had said firmly. "You know the people in this village need you. Sango and Miroku can't handle all of this on their own, and if the blight reaches the human settlements…" She trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air.
The reality was stark: if the blight spread further, there would be no stopping it. More lives would be lost, both human and demon alike.
Inuyasha had opened his mouth to protest again, but Miroku had stepped forward, placing a calm hand on his shoulder.
"Kagome is right," Miroku had said. "If this illness is targeting demons specifically, then it's likely we'll need someone who can treat both the symptoms and the source. None of us can purify the way Kagome can. If anyone is going to have a chance at weakening the blight at its source, it's her."
"But—" Inuyasha had started again, only to be cut off by Kagome's gentle but firm voice.
"I'll be fine, Inuyasha," she had reassured him. "Jaken will guide me to the palace, and I'll do what I can to help. You need to trust me. I'll come back as soon as I can."
Inuyasha had growled low in his throat but didn't argue further. He knew she was right, and that was the most frustrating part. Sesshoumaru's domain was a day's journey, and the villages nearby couldn't be left defenseless for that long. The others were already stretched thin trying to contain the blight and help the villagers. Splitting up now would weaken their efforts here.
"Feh," Inuyasha had muttered, crossing his arms. "You better come back in one piece, wench."
"I promise," Kagome had said with a soft smile, though her heart felt heavy. She had given them a parting glance before turning to follow Jaken out of the camp.
"Are you sure this is wise?" Jaken suddenly piped up, his voice cracking slightly.
Kagome raised an eyebrow but didn't look down at the toad demon. "If you're asking whether I'm capable, Jaken, the answer is yes. I wouldn't have agreed to come if I wasn't."
"Hmph," he scoffed, though without much conviction. "Just remember that Lord Sesshoumaru doesn't tolerate failure."
"I've faced worse than his disappointment," she muttered under her breath, more to herself than to Jaken.
The palace came into view as they approached the final stretch of their journey. Even from a distance, Kagome could sense the shift in the air—the lingering stench of decay. The blight was far worse here than she had anticipated. Its dark energy clawed at the edges of her senses, thick and oppressive.
As they neared the entrance, two demon guards stood at attention, their eyes narrowing suspiciously at Kagome. Jaken waved them off with a hasty explanation, and they grudgingly stepped aside, though not without a few muttered insults under their breath about "human interference."
Inside the palace, the air was no better. The once immaculate halls of the Western Palace felt darker, more suffocating. Kagome could sense the auras of those within—demons struggling against the blight, their strength waning with each passing day.
"I'll take you to Lord Sesshoumaru," Jaken said, his voice tight with a mix of worry and irritation.
Kagome followed silently, her mind already racing through possible solutions. Her experiences in the demon village had given her a tentative understanding of the blight's nature, but something told her that what was happening here was far more dangerous. Whatever this illness was, it had evolved—and fast.
They reached the grand doors of Sesshoumaru's chambers, and Jaken scurried inside ahead of her to announce their arrival. She could hear murmured voices, too low to make out, followed by the sharp click of footsteps.
The doors swung open, and Kagome stepped inside.
Sesshoumaru stood by the far window, his posture as rigid and composed as ever, though there was a darkness in his aura that was unmistakable. He did not turn to acknowledge her immediately. Instead, his golden eyes remained fixed on the horizon, as if searching for answers beyond the palace walls.
"I see you've brought her," Sesshoumaru finally spoke, his voice as cold and commanding as Kagome remembered.
Jaken bowed quickly before retreating from the room, leaving Kagome alone with the demon lord. She took a slow, deep breath, steadying herself. This was not the first time they had met, but the stakes were higher now. The weight of the situation pressed down on her, but she refused to show any sign of weakness.
"Sesshoumaru," she said, her voice calm but firm. "I've come to help."
"And what makes you believe this Sesshoumaru needs your assistance, miko?" He turned his head slightly, his gaze finally landing on her, sharp and calculating.
Kagome suppressed the urge to bristle at his tone. "Because, from what I've seen, no one else has been able to stop this blight. I've already removed it from a village of tanuki demons, and I believe I can do the same here."
Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them. "And you think yourself capable of curing what has plagued these lands?"
"I've done it before," she replied, her voice steady. "I don't know what this blight is, but I know it's not natural. I need to see A-Un and the others affected. Only then can I determine how to proceed."
For a long moment, Sesshoumaru said nothing. His gaze bore into hers, as though assessing whether she was truly capable of the task at hand. Kagome held his stare, refusing to back down. She had come too far, endured too much, to let him intimidate her now.
"Very well," he finally said, his voice low but filled with authority. "Follow me."
Sesshoumaru led her through the palace, the silence between them thick with tension. Kagome's senses were on high alert, her reiki buzzing beneath her skin. She could feel the darkness lurking within the walls, growing stronger with each step they took.
They arrived at the stables, and Kagome immediately felt a pang of sorrow as she saw A-Un. The twin-headed dragon lay motionless, its once-vibrant scales now dull and discolored. The same sickly purple hue she had seen in the village marred its body, the blight spreading like wildfire.
Kagome knelt beside the creature, placing a gentle hand on its side. A-Un let out a low, pained whine, and she felt its suffering reverberate through her. The situation was worse than she thought.
"This is beyond a simple plague," Kagome murmured, more to herself than to Sesshoumaru. "It's almost as if the blight is feeding off their energy… corrupting them from the inside."
Sesshoumaru's gaze remained fixed on her as she worked, though he said nothing. She could feel the weight of his scrutiny, but she didn't let it distract her. Time was of the essence.
She closed her eyes and began channeling her reiki, letting it flow through her hands and into A-Un's body. The blight resisted at first, the dark energy writhing against her purification powers, but Kagome pressed on, pouring more of her energy into the dragon.
Minutes passed, and she could feel the strain on her body increasing. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, but she didn't stop. Slowly, agonizingly, the purple hue began to recede, the blight weakening under the force of her purification.
Finally, after what felt like hours, Kagome released her hold, gasping for breath. A-Un's scales had regained some of their luster, though the creature was still weak. It would take time for the dragon to fully recover, but the worst of the blight had been removed.
Sesshoumaru remained silent, his expression unreadable as he watched her. Kagome wiped the sweat from her brow, her body trembling slightly from the effort.
"It's not completely gone," she said, her voice hoarse. "But I've weakened it. With time, A-Un should heal."
There was a long pause, and then Sesshoumaru spoke, his tone softer than before, though still laced with cold authority. "You have done well, miko. But this is only the beginning. The blight is spreading across my lands, and one creature's survival will not be enough to stop it."
Kagome stood, her legs unsteady beneath her, but she forced herself to remain upright. "I know. But I need more information. I need to understand where this blight came from, and why it's targeting demons."
Sesshoumaru's eyes flashed with something dark and dangerous. "There are whispers of a source… a darkness that has been stirring in the far reaches of the West."
Kagome's heart skipped a beat. "What kind of darkness?"
"A force not seen in this world for centuries," he replied, his voice low. "A force that could destroy not only demons, but humans as well."
Kagome felt a chill run down her spine. This was bigger than she had anticipated—far bigger. And the weight of that realization settled heavily in her chest.
"I need to go there," she said, determination filling her voice. "I need to see it for myself."
Sesshoumaru turned away from her, his gaze once again fixed on the horizon. "If you seek answers, you will find them in the far North. But be warned, miko—what you find may not be something you can purify with mere spiritual energy."
Kagome swallowed, her resolve hardening. "I'll do whatever it takes."
Sesshoumaru's gaze flickered back to her, and for the briefest moment, she thought she saw something akin to respect in his eyes.
"We leave at dawn," he said, before turning and walking away, his silhouette disappearing into the shadows of the palace.
Kagome stood there for a moment, her heart racing with a mixture of fear and anticipation. She knew this journey would test her in ways she couldn't yet imagine. But one thing was certain—she would face whatever darkness awaited her, no matter the cost.