"What do you mean she left?!" Koga threw his arms up in the air as his voice echoed throughout the dining hall, half expecting Sesshomaru to be playing a joke on him.
Sesshomaru continued to eat his lunch at the head of the table, unfazed by his theatrics. "She wished to go with Inuyasha and the others."
Koga's mouth hung open, "And you just let her go!?"
"I'm sure she's fine, Koga," Ayame shot a warning glance as old feelings of jealousy stirred up inside of her. "Besides, you weren't worried enough to wake up before noon," she said passive aggressively while handing him their son and rolling her eyes.
"So what's this I hear the girl left?" Inikimi asked curiously while strolling into the dining hall still dressed in her nighttime kimono.
Sesshomaru looked her up and down. "Have you no class?"
"Oh, this?" she asked while looking down at her sleeping attire and shrugged. "I do have to admit Sesshomaru, I haven't slept that deep in ages. Send your masseuses information to my castle so I can hire them immediately."
Subtly, Sesshomaru and Ginto exchanged a glance while Jaken smiled giddily. I actually did something useful and correctly! he praised himself.
"What are you smiling about, little demon?" Inukimi hissed while taking a seat at the table. "N-nothing my Lady," he stuttered, quickly finding another task to do to erase the smile from his face.
—-
Kaede's voice echoed among the trees surrounding the clearing. "Again!"
Grunting and covered in sweat from the hot summer day, Kagome once again completed the obstacle course that Kaede had prepared for her a few days after her arrival to the village.
"Would you two like some fresh water and lunch?" Sango called from a safe distance while holding a basket up.
"Aye. Thank you, Sango," Kaede answered gratefully while wiping away the sweat that was beading on her forehead.
Kagome placed her hand on a nearby tree for support while she hunched over trying to catch her breath. "Oh thank goodness," she breathed heavily.
Mature heavily leaved trees surrounded the clearing in Inuyasha's forest near the village, providing much needed shade from the grueling summer sun. Sango passed out the light lunch she had prepared for them, knowing neither had the time with the intense training Kaede had been giving Kagome.
"It's been almost a week of training now," Sango observed while biting into her rice ball, "have you noticed any improvement?"
"Maybe a little," Kagome answered humbly while leaning up against a massive tree trunk.
"Nonsense, child. Your accuracy has improved immensely," Kaede said proudly. "It had been quite some time since ye shot an arrow."
Kagome smiled at her praise, "Thanks, Kaede." She couldn't shake this lingering feeling inside of her that something wasn't right, but she was unable to pinpoint why she felt that way. "Tomorrow we practice with real demons, right?"
"Aye, child," Kaede nodded while taking a sip of the cool water. "How long are ye staying?"
"Oh... um.. I'm not sure, actually," Kagome stumbled on her words. "I hope I'm not being too much of a burden."
"Of course you're not, Kagome. We're happy to have you," Sango assured her with a smile before her and Kaede began chatting about their weekly family dinner that was scheduled for tonight.
He hasn't come for me yet. Kagome tried to hide the pout that was forming on her face from her realization as she watched the wildflowers sway in the distance. I guess I have been spoiled by all the times Inuyasha would come for me after a fight. She shook her head. No. Stop. You need to stop comparing them, they're two different people.
"Kagome!" Sango and Kaede both cried out in unison with the look of panic plastered on their faces.
It felt as though time stood still while Kagome sat completely frozen in fear as she watched Kaede reach back and grab an arrow while Sango reached for a demon slayer potion. The sacred arrow made a buzzing noise as it went wizzing past her face, making contact with something behind her.
"Are you okay?!" Sango asked while Kaede grabbed another sacred arrow from her quiver and focused it into the forest.
Kagome blinked her eyes a few times in disbelief before turning back to see pieces of a demon scattered in the bushes that were behind her. "Uh... yeah," she answered while slowly inspecting herself for injuries.
Confident that there was only the one demon, Kaede lowered her bow and returned her arrow to her quiver. "Do ye not remember what happens to a priestess whose mind wanders?" she scolded.
Speechless, Kagome opened her mouth a few times but the words wouldn't come out. How did I not sense that demon? she asked herself with her head hanging low. Even if I didn't sense it, how didn't I hear it? When she looked up Kaede was making her way back to the village, clearly signaling that the training session was done early for the day. Kagome sighed while tears welled in her eyes, "I'm such a disappointment."
"Hey now," Sango placed her hand gently on Kagome's back, "you're not a disappointment." She nearly lost her balance when Kagome leaned into her and began crying.
"Yes I am," Kagome sobbed, "I don't belong anywhere, why did I even come back to this stupid era!" She angrily threw her bow and quiver full of arrows and continued crying on Sango's shoulder.
—-
The sound of swords clashing echoed throughout the land surrounding Sesshomaru's castle. "You thought you had me there, didn't you?" Ginto said through labored breaths and a devilish smile as he dodged another one of Sesshomaru's attacks. The cockiness motivated Sesshomaru to quicken his pace as he spun and thrusted his sword in Ginto's direction. Fool he thought to himself as he got Ginto off balance, causing him to crash to the ground. Sesshomaru's blade was only millimeters from Ginto's neck as he laid on the ground staring up at his Lord. "I win," Sesshomaru declared smugly while sheathing his sword. "Damn," Ginto squeezed his eyes shut from the sun as he laid on his back trying to catch his breath.
"This was a genius addition to the sparring area," Ginto thought out loud as he sat in the cool water next to Sesshomaru, who had his long hair tied back out of the water. Not quite a pool, the wading area was shaded by a large tree that allowed for relaxation after an intense training session.
"Great match, Lord Sesshomaru! Truly excellent. I think I almost saw you break a sweat!" Jaken exclaimed as he handed both Sesshomaru and Ginto a cup of water. Jaken's observation was met by a look of disapproval from Sesshomaru, causing him to stutter. "N-no, you see, I...I meant it as a compliment!"
After Jaken scurried off silently cursing himself for once again upsetting his Lord, Ginto asked mockingly, "So, is it true I almost made the great Lord Sesshomaru break a sweat in battle?"
"Nonsense. Although you are the only one who can handle me while training, do not get ahead of yourself," Sesshomaru answered in a more serious tone than Ginto was used to.
Ginto winced. He had forgotten that since Kagome left his Lord was more irritable than usual and typically not in a joking mood. Clearing his throat, his voice was barely audible. "Are you waiting the full two weeks before we go to the swamp? They did say it could be as soon as a week..." he trailed off. Without saying a word, Sesshomaru stood up and exited the wading pool while untying his hair as he made his way back to the castle.
Shaking his head, Ginto sighed. He knows he wants to go, but he's stubborn and doesn't want to admit we still don't have the answers on our own. In the distance he could hear the servants picking up their pace in the castle as Sesshomaru got closer,no one was interested in being on the receiving end of Sesshomaru's wrath since Kagome left. Resting his head against the edge of the wading pool as the sun tried to make it's way through the leaves, he still couldn't shake the uneasy feeling he had about Kagome being on her own in the small village in the East.
After scrubbing his body throughly, Sesshomaru began floating effortlessly in his favorite spot tucked away in the corner of the bathing room. Although he had his own bathing quarters, the sound of the massive waterfall allowed him to truly relax as he took a deep breath in. The room was slightly more steamy than usual, which was perfect for giving him just a few extra minutes of peace while Jaken continued to search for him throughout the castle. Slowly opening his eyes, he stared up at the puffy white clouds that were hiding the sun from view and thought about Kagome. Nights without her by his side made his heart ache in a way he had never felt before, but his self discipline stopped him from going and checking on her. He can handle it, he tried to reassure himself.
"LORD SESSHOMARU!" Jaken yelled once again into the bathing room, causing Sesshomaru to roll his eyes as he felt his relaxation come to an end. "What, Jaken?" he asked harshly. Jaken cleared his throat and lowered his voice, "Your meeting with Lord Koga starts soon, my Lord. I have him set up in the defense room with the others." Sesshomaru jumped out of the hot spring and wrapped his towel around him angrily. "You should have retrieved Lord Koga after I was seated at the table," he growled as he slammed the doors to the bathing room. Jaken sighed, "I've never seen him this irritable."
As Sesshomaru made his way to the head of the defense room table, he began individually greeting everyone that was already seated. When he went to greet the next demon his muscles twitched and he dug his claws into the palm of his hands, almost drawing blood. The demon smiled at him, waiting for her greeting.
"Mother," Sesshomaru said through a clenched jaw and squinted eyes.
"I'm thrilled to be back here supporting the alliance between the West and the East," Inukimi responded, but Sesshomaru saw right through her act.
Slowly releasing his nails that were digging into his palm, he did not want to allow someone such as her to get a reaction out of him. "Your presence is not necessary."
"Why, sure it is," she assured with a devilish smile, "It's an official meeting, is it not?"
The generals shifted in their seats uncomfortably during their exchange, unsure of how to respond. Technically speaking, it was an official meeting based on the location of the meeting alone. Due to Sesshomaru's lack of a wife or heir, the widow of the Great Dog Demon had every right to be at the meeting as well despite his objections.
Suppressing a growl, Sesshomaru glared at his mother knowing her true intentions of being here was to find out more information on Kagome. Silently cursing himself for calling an official meeting while she was still hanging around the castle, he continued on without saying another word to her and began greeting the generals Koga had summoned.
"We are here today to discuss the current state of affairs in the Western and Eastern lands. I apologize for the last minuteness of this meeting, however Lord Koga and I thought it would be beneficial." Sesshomaru glanced around the room, sure to make eye contact with everyone seated at the table. "Need I remind you that information shared here today is classified. Using this information to your own advantage or without orders is punishable," he looked directly at his mother, "by death."
Although there were no pressing issues to be discussed, the meeting dragged on for hours. When the topics became increasingly boring, Sesshomaru was thankful he got the overdue meeting over with while Koga was already under his roof. The room fell silent for a few minutes, signaling the meeting was finally coming to an end. "I understand these meetings can be tedious," Sesshomaru spoke while standing up, "but it is important for the alliance to be strong to ensure peace to the lands. That being said-"
"I have another topic I would like to discuss, Lord Sesshomaru," Koga interrupted confidently while also rising from the table.
"I was just about to adjourn the meeting, Lord Koga."
"We can't adjourn yet, Lord Sesshomaru, to be honest I'm surprised this didn't come up sooner."
Knowing where this was going, Sesshomaru tried to shut him down. "We can discuss this in my-"
"It's about Kagome. We need to discuss security and protection for her while she's on my lands," Koga said while clenching his fist over his chest passionately. At the sound of Kagome's name, Inukimi immediately perked up from her seat at the table and folded her hands neatly over one another as Koga continued on. "I will immediately send wolves to surround her, without her knowing of course... you know how-"
Sesshomaru could hear Koga still rambling on, but he couldn't make out what he was saying as his vision was tinged with red and everything became blurry. "Do. Not. Interfere," he said through gritted teeth as he tried desperately to stop his transformation. The fool he screamed inside, he just let mother know Kagome does not have mine or his protection. The piece of the table that Sesshomaru was unknowingly gripping snapped from the immense pressure.
Koga was taken aback by his tone. "What do you mean do not interfere?" he shot back angrily while crossing his arms.
Nervous Lord Sesshomaru was going to undue all the progress that was made over the past three years, Ginto intervened. "What Lord Sesshomaru means is that she has ample security right now, but we thank you for the kind offer," he said while bowing. "Now, if you'll excuse us, please take your time and enjoy the snacks the servants have provided!" The doors suddenly burst open and servants pushing trays upon trays of food flooded into the room and began setting it neatly on the table. Koga began drooling over the large array of food, essentially forgetting the exchange that just happened, while Ginto hurriedly escorted Sesshomaru out of the room before he transformed.
Ginto watched as his Lord breathed heavily with his arms reached out against the stone wall of his office under the portrait of the Great Dog Demon. His head was slightly hanging while he tried to collect himself. "How can someone so dense be a Lord of lands," Sesshomaru snarled while throwing a small figurine he received as a gift against the wall, causing it to shatter. Still panting, Sesshomaru ran his hands through his hair to smooth it and once he reached the ends he took one last deep breath before sitting in his chair. He folded his hands neatly on his desk before finally making eye contact with Ginto. "We go tonight."
"Is that..." Ginto trailed off as Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed at him. He had never seen his Lord this enraged and didn't want to overstep, but he also didn't know how clear his mind was in this moment. "I'm," he sighed, "I'm fairly certain you wanted to test Inuyasha and his abilities, but Lady Inukimi now knows Kagome isn't under the East's or West's protection right now. Is it wise to leave Kagome's life in his hands?" In the blink of an eye, Ginto was suspended in the air and no matter how hard he tried he could not get a breath in nor out. Gasping for air, he scratched furiously at his Lord's hand that was wrapped so tightly around his neck it was causing his eyes to water.
"Do not question me," Sesshomaru growled before shoving him back down into his chair. "We go tonight."
Rubbing his neck and breathing heavily to make up for the lost breaths, Ginto nodded. "Yes, my Lord. Please forgive me." He watched as Sesshomaru walked past him and slammed the doors shut as he headed towards his chambers to get ready for the trip. You knew you should've kept your mouth shut, Ginto he chuckled to himself while still rubbing the tender spot on his neck.
A-Un soared effortlessly through the slight drizzle from the clouds as Sesshomaru and Ginto rode of their back. A few hours had past since they left the castle grounds and it was evident by the white mist that appeared any time they exhaled. "It sure is chilly up this way, my Lord," Ginto observed, breaking the hours long silence.
"Yes, it is." Sesshomaru slyly looked at Ginto's neck to look for any signs of injury. When he didn't notice anything, he breathed a silent sigh of relief before his fathers voice began echoing in his head. 'Whether you accept him or not, he is your brother and deserves a chance to prove himself worthy of serving under you and your future army, Sesshomaru.' He shook his head slightly, wondering why he was granting fathers ridiculous request from all those years ago. Always trusting his fathers wisdom, he had decided Inuyasha's test would be keeping Kagome safe until she returned to the castle once again. As they continued on to their destination, he kept reflecting on what happened in his office earlier. Clearing his throat, he decided to address the situation. "Ginto."
"Yes, my Lord?" Ginto answered while continuing to scan the area for any threats, just as anyone would do for their Lord.
"It was unnecessary for me to act in such a manner earlier," Sesshomaru continued, before being cut off by Ginto.
"My Lord, I acted inappropriately earlier. I should not have questioned your plans or you," he said with a friendly smile.
"Ginto," he barked, annoyed that he was acting like everyone else. "Being a good ruler means admitting to when you are wrong. As second in command, it is your job to assure I am making the correct decision. I acted inexcusably." His fathers voice began echoing in his head once again and he smirked, "and who knows, perhaps my plan is not wise."
A smile spread across Ginto's face, realizing he more than likely received the only apology ever given out by his Lord. "I appreciate you, my Lord," he said while patting his back.
A-Un began to slow down and descend from the wet night sky as they searched for a safe place to land. As they landed, they slightly sank into the wet marshy grass. A dense fog surrounded the thick murky water that was smacking against the edge of the swamp. The air was so thick it felt as though a weight was lying on their chest with every breath they took. They waited at the waters edge, but the only thing greeting them was the sound of toads croaking. Sesshomaru looked down at his black boots that were now covered in moss and mud, and looked to Ginto unimpressed. "Jaken's the one who discovered this place," Ginto shrugged.
At the sound of Jaken's name, the middle of the swamp began bubbling furiously and animals nearby quickly scattered. Emerging from the center was a short, elderly yokai with exceptionally long ears and eyes that seemed as though they were fused shut. "Sesshomaru, I presume?" the demon croaked.
His eyes narrowed, "Lord Sesshomaru, to you."
"Ah, yes," the demon answered while stroking his long white beard, "Lord Sesshomaru. Sorry, I do not get many visitors out this way and my manners escape me."
"Are you Mimisenri? The all hearing demon?" Ginto called out.
The demon smiled, "Yes, it is I. I assume you are looking for my sister Shoma?"
"I do not know who or what we are looking for," Sesshomaru said in an aggravated tone, "but I do know I smell the faintest trace of Naraku."
"I am impressed you can still detect his scent," Mimisenri said while stroking his beard and smiling, "it has been quite sometime since he was last here."
Sesshomaru quickly unsheathed his bakusaiga and was ready to attack before another area of the swamp began bubbling.
"Wait. Wait!" A similar looking demon yelled while emerging from the swamp. Opposite to Mimisenri, the demon who appeared before them had large open eyes and pinholes for ears. "I didn't hear you," the demon yelled, "you have to speak louder! I am Shoma," she said with a bow.
"What is going on here?" Sesshomaru asked while his eyes shifted between the two demons with his sword drawn in front of him, "Why do I smell Naraku?"
Mimisenri leaned on his old cracked wooden cane that was positioned in front of him, "Easy now, Lord Sesshomaru. He merely came to me looking for information about the last jewel shard's location. Nothing more, nothing less."
"You assisted him?" Sesshomaru asked, disgusted at the thought.
"It was either comply, or be killed. I am not a demon known for combat you know," Mimisenri chuckled.
They seem truthful Sesshomaru thought to himself as he tried detecting any other out of place scents. Besides Naraku, only low level demons wandered through here and there was no detection of blood. "My vassal Jaken told me about you," he said while slowly sheathing bakusaiga, "he claims you are able to see and hear all. Seeing that Naraku searched you out, I am assuming he is correct."
"Your mother was quite the challenge," Shoma yelled, "but I was able to have her fall under my spell. Would you like to see what I saw?"
Sesshomaru watched stoically as Shoma turned behind her and made the swamp water rise up to create a screen. After a few moments images began flicking against the water from Shoma's oversized eyes, but it wasn't until he saw mother in the Northern lands that his interest was peaked. His fist clenched and jaw tightened as he saw her grab their poisonous herbs and mushrooms before sneaking back to her castle to crush them together into a fine powder. A butterfly landed on his mothers outstretched hand, causing his vision to give everything a hint of red.
"But…why?" Ginto asked out loud in disbelief as the images continued playing against the water.
"Why?" Sesshomaru asked Mimisenri with his blood red eyes. "Why did she poison Kagome?"
"That, I do not know," Mimisenri said apologetically as the images continued flashing before them, "She did not speak-". Sesshomaru watched curiously as Mimisenri became silent and tilted his head slightly up to the night sky, his long earlobes now fully out of the water. His head snapped back down in Sesshomaru and Ginto's direction. "The girl. You must go now," he urged.
"Shit," Ginto whispered as goosebumps covered his arms from his chilling tone.
—-
While the sun was setting, everyone was gathered at Kaede's to have their weekly dinner together. Kaede's hut was bursting with conversation, laughter, and the aroma of all the wonderful foods that were prepared. The twins clung to Inuyasha while he tried to finish his dinner, "Hey! Do you two think you could control your offspring once in awhile?" Miroku gave a warning glance to Kin'u and Gyokuto. "Girls, enough," he said sternly.
"Kagome, would you like a second serving?" Kaede asked while stirring the big pot of soup, pretending not to notice her almost full bowl. "Oh, no thank you. It really is delicious, but I'm not all that hungry tonight," she answered while still pushing her food around with her chopsticks. Not wanting to push her any further, Kaede let it go and instead went around filling the others bowls.
"Pft," Inuyasha huffed with his eyes closed.
"What?" Kagome snapped back.
"Nothing," he answered while he stretched out on the floor with his head resting in his hand, "It's just that you used to whine about being hungry all the time, but I guess you also used to do a lot more back then."
Sango clenched her jaw, "Inuyasha!" Earlier she had talked to Inuyasha about what happened earlier with Kagome's training hoping he would help build her confidence back up, not use it against her later.
"Si-," Kagome began as Inuyasha winced knowing what was coming next. "You know what, forget it!" she yelled as she stormed out of Kaede's hut.
The hot blazing sun was replaced by a blanket of darkness with only the moon and stars shining down as Kagome mindlessly walked through Inuyasha's forest. "Stupid Inuyasha. Stupid Sesshomaru," she murmured while kicking the rocks and sticks that crossed her path. When she finally emerged from the tree's Kagome gasped at the sight of hundreds of fireflies flying around the clearing where the bone eaters well was, and she began slowly walking over to it while envisioning her life here years earlier. Running her hand over the old splintered wood, she sat down and rested her head against the edge while her arm dangled down into the darkness of the well. 'You've become weak.' Sesshomaru's voice began echoing in her head. "Maybe… he's right," she whispered, "maybe I have become weak." Kagome was surprised at her admission, and tears welled in her eyes as she looked down into the well. I could just try to go home she considered.
"My, my. Out here all alone, are you?" a familiar voice called out from behind her, startling Kagome.
Snapping her head around, the color drained from her face when she saw it was Lady Inukimi staring back at her.
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?" Inukimi asked while slowly walking closer to Kagome.
"N-No!" Kagome stuttered while pressing herself harder against the bone eaters well. "Ouch!" she cried out. Arms trembling, she reached behind her and pulled a sharp chunk of wood that had lodged into her lower back from the well. Kagome stared at the blood covered wood and panicked when she realized she didn't have her quiver or bow.
"Oh, what a pity," Inukimi laughed at the injured miko cowering before her, "you're out here all alone and now you're bleeding."
You've become weak, Sesshomaru's voice echoed once again, and soon after Akasuki's words joined in. He's saying that because he cares about you. Kagome clenched the wood in her fist and glared back at Inukimi while her back throbbed and oozed blood, and thought back to all the times she fought back against danger without fear. Realizing her new fear and weakness came from the thought of fighting alone, she quickly closed her eyes searching for Sesshomaru's aura. Her pink aura with the sparkling white light was whirling around stronger from the last time she had saw it, and in the distance she could see still see a faint trace of Sesshomaru's.
Giving her the confidence she needed, she charged towards Inukimi with the sharp end of the wood positioned towards her neck and screamed, "What do you want with me anyway!" Mid charge, her pace began to slow and her legs felt as though they were one hundred pounds each. Confused, Kagome reached her hand out to catch the white powder that was falling all around her. "Is this… snow?" she questioned as her vision became blurry and she dropped to her knees. Blinking a few times, she watched in horror as two butterflies delicately landed on Inukimi's fingers. "No.. no," Kagome groaned as she fought off the sleepiness that was washing over her.
"Goodnight, Kagome," Inukimi said with a sinister smile while the fireflies surrounding them all dropped dead.
Back at Kaede's, everyone was gathered around the hearth laughing and talking when Inuyasha began sniffing the air harder than usual. Not liking what he was detecting, he turned his head over his shoulder towards the door of Kaede's hut, and took another series of deep short breaths. "What is it, Inuyasha?" Miroku asked when he noticed the concerned look on his friends face. Growling, Inuyasha answered, "I smell blood. Kagome's blood." Immediately the three of them jumped to their feet and began running out the door. "Watch the children, Kaede!" Sango yelled.
When Inuyasha, Miroku, and Sango reached the eerily dark and quiet clearing they began calling out and searching for Kagome, but they only got silence back in return. Following her scent, Inuyasha stopped once he reached the bone eaters well. "Her scent ends here!" he yelled to Sango and Miroku while glancing down at the bone eaters well.
Sango felt herself tense up when she reached Inuyasha. "Blood?" she asked nervously while he inspected the blood on the bone eaters well.
Taking one last sniff around, Inuyasha began leisurely walking back towards the village. "She probably just cut her leg on the wood going back home, I wouldn't be too worried about it."
"I don't know, Inuyasha," Sango said while looking around the clearing suspiciously. "That doesn't seem like something Kagome would do."
"That doesn't seem like something Kagome would do?" Inuyasha mocked, remembering all the times she would rush home after a fight.
Sango rolled her eyes, "It was different then and you know it, she could come and go as she pleased." Miroku listened to his wife while rubbing his thumb with his chin, deep in thought. "You're right Sango. Do we even know if the well still works?"
Before Inuyasha could answer the wind picked up in the clearing, causing the trees around them to shake violently as they stood their ground with their forearms protecting their faces. A black outline of two figures became visible while leaves and branches continued to whirl around them leaving cuts, causing Inuyasha to draw Tessaiga ready to fight. As the wind died down Inuyasha and the others could see Ginto and Sesshomaru emerging from the storm.
"What the hell was that about?" Inuyasha asked while brushing leaves and twigs off of his robe of the fire rat. "If I didn't know better, I would've thought Kagu-"
"Where is she?" Sesshomaru barked while he scanned the area looking for a trace of Kagome.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes and nodded towards the well, "Don't you know her scent?" Without warning, his vision was blurry with streaks of red while his head throbbed in pain. What's… happening. The bones in his cheek shattered as Sesshomaru's fists once again made contact with his face. "You. Had. One. Job," Sesshomaru said between punches. Before passing out, he felt the warmth of the barrier from Tessaiga's sheath surrounding him.
Watching in horror Sango and Miroku knew they had to choose between their own lives or Inuyasha's, because as mere humans they had no chance of defeating him. Once Ginto had a firm hold on Sesshomaru, they quickly moved in to assess the damage inflicted to Inuyasha. "He's breathing," Miroku called out before turning to Sesshomaru. "You were really trying to kill him!"
Panting while being held back by Ginto, Sesshomaru wiped Inuyasha's blood off of his face with the back of his hand before looking at it with a smile. His fangs grew from the adrenaline coursing through in his body as he snapped his jaws in Inuyasha's direction, ready to go for more of his blood.
"My Lord!" Ginto yelled while using all his of strength to immobilize Sesshomaru. "Please! We need to find Kagome!" At the sound of Kagome's name, Sesshomaru began resisting Ginto less and less until finally he was barely restraining him.
Hn. Acting like a half breed, Sesshomaru scolded himself silently while yanking himself from Ginto's grasp and inspecting the well where Kagome's scent ended. "Tell me more about this well," Sesshomaru demanded with his back towards Sango and Miroku.
"Are you serious?!" Sango screamed with tears in her eyes. "You almost killed Inuyasha and now you want us to help you!"
From where Ginto was standing he could tell Inuyasha's injuries were serious, but between him holding Sesshomaru back and the sheaths barrier they were not life threatening even for a half demon. "Please," Ginto pleaded, "we really need to find her."
Miroku could sense the urgency in Ginto's voice and obliged Sesshomaru's request, telling him everything he knew about Kagome's world and the bone eaters well.
Kneeling down, Sesshomaru ran his hand through the grass near the well and rubbed his fingers together. "What is that?" Sango asked while watching a soft white powder fall back to the ground.
"Poison," he said defeatedly while looking up at the night sky.
Note from the Author:
Happy Saturday! I hope you've all been well.
I decided to really expand this chapter since I wasn't able to include a few parts into the last one. Originally I had wanted to end the last chapter with Kagome's abduction.
Also, I realized I've never included some of the new characters name meanings! Keep in mind, this is based off of very brief google searches for names so they might not be 100% correct. I believe this is everyone so far!
Ginto: Silver rabbit
Akasuki: Bright helper
Ichiro (Koga and Ayame's son): First son
Mayu (Akasuki's daughter): Gentleness, child of truth
Shoma: Reaching for the truth in life
I have a few ideas on what's going to happen in the next chapter, so I'll see you all on the flip side!