InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Light in Guiding Darkness ❯ Hidalgo Bound ( Chapter 15 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: I don’t own Inuyasha, nor this idea. Aragon is mine though, so no stealing. I might be willing to let you borrow him for a while though...but make sure to ask.




Kirara meowed in their direction, her tiny voice concerned as Kagome swooned in Shippou's lap. 'Must be blood loss,' Kagome reasoned to herself as her world began to darken around the edges. Her head lolled to the side just before Shippou smelled blood, her eyes closed and she fainted without a word. Her hand brushed against the sword at her hip as her head fell back, completely unaware of the others cries of concern as she slipped into dreamland.


“What did you do?” Kaede shouted as Shippou stared at his claws in disbelief. “What did you do to my sister? How could you?!”


“Now what a tick Slayer,” Aragon said as he stepped between Kaede and Shippou. “I’m sure the fox didn’t mean to it to happen. Why don’t you just sit a spell?”


“He hurt my sister!” Kaede accused, her finger pointed in the kitsune’s direction.


“We don’t have time for this!” Aragon snapped back. “I thought Slayers were smarter than this! While you fling out accusations, you’re beloved sister is bleeding to death!”


“The marks aren’t that deep,” Shippou whimpered softly. “She won’t die from them.”


“It would still be a good idea to have them bandaged,” Miroku said before he stood up and dragged Kagome’s pack to him. He searched the insides throughly before shrugging and shoving it away from him. “Nothing there. Someone’s going to have to go and find some medicine. Are there any villages nearby?”


“There is one nearest here,” Aragon said as he pointed northeast. “But I will have to have someone accompany me.”


“Why?” Kaede snorted. “Afraid of a few villagers?”


“I would have thought the reason was simple but since it’s not allow me to explain,” Aragon growled before grasping Kaede by her upper arm and jerking her closer to him. “At night, my eyes tend to remain this jolly crystal blue. No matter how good my intentions, there’s not a village on this worthless rock that would assist me looking as I do now.”


“Well you didn’t have to be a jerk about it,” Kaede grumbled and smacked his hand away from her arm. “You should have just said that.”


“And I’ll gather water,” Miroku offered once everything calmed. “Is there a spring nearby?”

“That way,” Shippou jerked his chin right, toward the west.


“Good.” Miroku stood and patted his thigh. Kirara trotted to his side with an empty canteen in her tiny mouth. “We’ll be back.”


“The Slayer and I shall gather the bandages.”


“No, wait!” Kaede demanded as Aragon gripped her waist. “I’m not leaving him alone with Kagome! He might hurt her again!”


“I highly doubt that,” Aragon said before allowing them to hover slightly above the ground. He took pity on the guilty look on Shippou’s face. He might have been imagining it, but the kitsune looked close to tears. Shippou gently brushed a stray lock from Kagome’s upturned forehead, glared angrily at his claws and sighed.


“I’ll take care of her until you guys get back,” he muttered with his eyes downcast. Aragon nodded. “Wonderful. Miroku-san, please hurry back with the water.”


“I shall. Come Kirara!” They disappeared into the trees with Kirara’s tails waving along behind her. Aragon and Kaede left as well, leaving Shippou alone to protect Kagome.


He shifted Kagome’s head to his shoulder and pulled her into his lap, his right hand holding her head steady as his left arm wrapped around the uninjured part of her back. He slowly rocked them back and forth, his green eyes distant as he stared off into the forest. ‘I can’t believe I did that,’ Shippou scolded himself. ‘How could I? She’s been nothing but nice to me since we met and this is how I treat her?’


He sniffed, his ears twitching at the slight noise but his mind unaware.


‘She was only trying to help me and I try to kill her. I’ve been so mean to her, always snapping and growling and all she’s ever done is look after me. What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I keep anyone close to me? She’ll hate me when she wakes up and make me leave, I just know it.’


“I’m so sorry Kagome,” Shippou whispered as a tear slipped from his cheek and disappeared in her hair. “I promise to be good from now on. Don’t hate me when you wake up. You’re the first friend I’ve had in so long. Just don’t hate me.”


II.


Kaede held on to Aragon’s shoulders tightly, her eyes screwed shut as she involuntarily huddled against him. Aragon glanced down at her and smirked. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid, Slayer?”


“Hnmh! I’m not afraid of you!” Kaede snipped angrily, then nervously glanced down at the landscape as it sped by beneath them. “I......just don’t like heights. That’s all.”


“Of course,” Aragon nodded and smirked again when she turned away. “But why don’t you like them?” Kaede sighed, then shrieked and practically wrapped herself around the Englishman when a strong wind blew past. Aragon merely held on to her as her arms squeezed his neck and her legs wrapped around his waist like living belts. “Well,” he stated with a smirk in her direction. Kaede blushed but refused to release him until they landed.


“Not a word Vampire,” Kaede growled as Aragon chuckled beside her. He quieted when she shot him an angry glare, who had one last laugh at her expense before falling silent.


“Why don’t you like heights?” he asked as they began walking down a deer path leaving south.


“I doubt you’d care,” Kaede responded with a huff.


“Maybe, but I would like to know. However, if you don’t feel like telling me...”


“Fine, fine,” Kaede relented. “On my first extermination, I think I was about 9 or so, a worm youkai grabbed me by my leg and tossed me through the air like a ball. Gave me this too.” She rolled up her pants leg, revealing two circular scars on her right calf. Aragon winced in sympathy. “No wonder you don’t like heights,” he sympathized. “I’ve met the worm youkai here and they are definitely not ones you invite for tea.”


“Yeah, your right,” Kaede laughed, then scowled in irritation. “What do you know about it anyway?” she grumbled as she walked past him. “Its not as if a vampire has to be afraid of anything...except for me of course.”


Aragon sighed wearily and shook his head. “Slayer, I’m afraid of no one, mortal or otherwise.”


“Of course not,” Kaede frowned sarcastically. “Because you’re an all powerful vampi-“


“Has it ever occurred to you,” Aragon interrupted before she could get a full rant going. “That maybe I don’t want to be a vampire? Not all vampires chose to be as they are now.”


“If you hate it so much, then why don’t you kill yourself? Save me and the other Slayers from doing it?”


“Don’t you think I’ve tried that already?” Aragon sighed as Kaede looked on, a look of sadness settling over him. “I’ve tried almost everything I could think of. Holy water doesn’t work and neither does the sun. I can walk into any temple, shrine or church without difficulty. I’ve been nearly beheaded, stabbed, shot, and burned...and that was just in the first couple of centuries.”


“Then you’re not trying hard enough,” Kaede snipped. “I bet I could do it easily.” She continued walking, not realizing that she was walking alone until Aragon’s chocolate brown vest landed at her feet. She kneeled down and picked it up, taking a moment to weigh the heavy garment in her hands before glancing back. She watched, her mouth agape as Aragon tossed his white ruffled shirt to the side, revealing well muscled chest and abs.

Kaede resisted the urge to stare and stubbornly reminded herself of her hatred for his kind before walking toward him. “What are you doing?” she asked as he dropped to his knees. He glanced up at her, crystal blue eyes glittering in the moonlight before unsheathing the rapier at his side.


“Hey, what are you-“


“You said I’m not trying hard enough,” Aragon interjected while raising the blade to his throat. “Allow me to try again.”


“Aragon-“ Kaede reached out to stop him and froze when the blade bit into his tender flesh. Dark blood trickled then flowed from the wound as he sliced from one side of his neck to the other. He dropped the blade and gasped, a slight gurgling sound coming from him as his blood streamed down his chest. Thick blotches soaked into the earth below him, and he leaned forward and gasped for air. Kaede gaped, her eyes round and her jaw slack as she watched the vampire die right in front of her.


He reached for her, his claws stained a deep crimson. Kaede stepped away, mortified at both herself for being concerned for him and him for causing the concern, then was confused when he began gesturing for something. Aragon cupped his right hand at tipped it to his lips repeatedly and it took a while for Kaede to realize that he wanted the canteen at her side.


“Here,” she said as she handed it to him, her hand shaking slightly. He jerked it from her, tipped his head back and instead of drinking it he washed his wound clean. Kaede grimaced at the angry red injury and gasped when Aragon glared at her, his eyes a glassy blue. He gurgled something else and pointed to his throat. Kaede guessed that he’d sliced though his voice box by accident but quickly forgot about that as she stepped closer to him, her mouth agape as the injury healed over.


Thin red lines slowly slithered like tiny worms from one side of the cut to the other, binding the two halves together before pulling them closed. Aragon winced then, the pain more than Kaede could imagine as vocal cords were stitched together, arteries were joined and veins began to push more of the black blood inside him to the injury. He continued to stare at Kaede, his eyes locking to wide chocolate orbs as the last of the cut sealed over. Nearly transparent receptors darkened considerably until Aragon blinked, crystal blue eyes staring at her once again as awareness settled over him.


“Are-are you alright?” Kaede asked, his vest tightly clutched in her hands as she sank to the ground in front of him. Aragon poured the rest of the water over his head until all the blood was rinsed away then shook his head, water flying from the mass of jet black curls.


“Now do you believe me?” he finally gasped, his voice still a bit hoarse than normal. Kaede nodded dumbly, her eyes fixed on his neck as he stood up and glanced around the wood for his shirt.


‘What’s wrong with him?’ Kaede asked herself as she watched him search. ‘What kind of vampire does that? He must be trying to keep me off guard. That’s what it is. That’s what it has to be. No vampire really wants to die. But...why did he do that?’


Aragon turned his gaze to the stars and sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat. He shrugged into his shirt, turned back to Kaede and found her seated in the exact spot he left her in, her eyes fixed on the dark puddle in front of her. “Come now Slayer,” he said as he buttoned his shirt. “Don’t tell me you’re shocked. Surely you’re used to blood by now.”


“I...don’t understand...” he heard her whisper. “Why would you...why should you...no creature wants to die.”


“I’m different,” he responded before holding out his hand. Kaede glanced from him to it, eyeing the clawed tips warily before placing her hand in his. He jerked her up quickly, catching Kaede off guard. She smashed into the ruffles underneath his chin nose first, the tip of her nose buried deep within the fluffy mass as the scent of wool assaulted her senses.


“My apologies Slayer,” Aragon said as he helped her steady herself. “I sometimes forget my own strength.” Kaede stood their dumbly, her eyes still transfixed with the blood stained ground and her mouth for once silent at his manhandling. Aragon studied her, watching as she wrung his vest in her hands. “Slayer,” he beseeched softly and frowned when she remained quiet. He placed his index and middle finger underneath her chin and lifted her eyes to his. “Are you still with me lass?”


“Like you care,” Kaede snapped before shaking herself free. “Come on,” she growled as she flung his vest at him and returned to the pathway. “My sister’s bleeding to death and you’re goofing off. Some protector you a-“


“You will do it, won’t you?”


“Huh?” Kaede turned and glared at him, the confusion she felt earlier completely gone. “What are you talking about?”


“When this is over and Naraku is dead, you’ll kill me.” Aragon nodded to himself, the idea somehow pleasing as Kaede gawked in disbelief. “You said you could, so you will.”


“You wouldn’t let me,” Kaede shot back. “So stop wasting time.”


“Promise me,” Aragon demanded before she could walk away. “Promise me that when this is over you’ll do it.”


“But-“ Kaede stammered. “But why? Don’t you want to live? Don’t you like sucking the blood from people?”


Aragon gave a short bitter laugh. “And what if I do? Will that make it easier on you?”


“Well, I don’t know. I mean, what’s to say you won’t try to kill me before then?”


“Because Chorizon would miss you.” He continued on, his eyes now on a hut not far from where they were.


“I never agreed on anything,” Kaede shouted after him.


“You don’t have to,” Aragon told her as he continued on. “You’re hatred for me is enough. You’ll do it.”


“Yeah but...” Kaede shrugged and ran after him, saving the events of the night aside for later on.


III


Despite the seriousness back at the camp behind him, Miroku couldn’t help whistling to himself, his hands buried deep inside his pockets with his staff hooked in his right arm. Kirara followed her master quietly, with Sango trailing along like a comet’s tail as they traveled toward the source of water.


They spotted a stream after a few moments, the water swiftly rushing by and fish swimming jovially under the pale quarter moon. Miroku gazed upon the peaceful scene and sighed, regretful that he had to disturb this serene picture before kneeling down beside the stream and holding his canteen to the water’s surface.


“I know this is terribly selfish of me,” he whispered to his neko companion as the canteen filled with the crystal liquid. “But I can’t help but feel at peace, as if I were meant to travel and see the world. I’ve felt as if something were missing for so long and now...now I feel almost at home. Strange, isn’t it my furry friend?”


Kirara meowed in agreement and leaned over the side, her dark ears perked and alert as she watched the fish in the stream. Miroku laughed when she tried to paw one out only to have the wily fish splash her with it’s tail and swim away. “Alright you mischievous creature,” he sighed as he pulled the canteen from the water and screwed on the cap. “Let us return to the othe-“ Miroku tensed, his back rigid as a funny tickling began at the base of his spine. He glanced around him quickly, violet eyes alert and muscles tense as he gripped the brass staff.


High above him, far within the starry night sky, glowing snakes slithered and wound around what looked to Miroku like a floating mating ball. The numerous creatures glowed silvery blue in the dark night. The scraping of scales against scales as they rubbed against each other made Miroku’s skin crawl. He wasn’t surprised when Kirara phased into her larger self and snarled at the gathering, the flames dancing at her feet lightly scorching the tender grass beneath them.


“Highly ominous, isn’t it my friend?” Miroku whispered as he stroked Kirara’s fur and watched the sluggish creatures above them. “But I wonder what they are...”


“Me too...”Sango whispered to herself. “I feel like I should know, but-“ She gasped, as did Miroku from Kirara’s side as a sudden memory demanded to be made known.


)-(


“Houshi-sama,” Sango yelled as she jumped to her feet and unstrapped her bone boomerang. Miroku stood at her alarm and directed his attention to a certain part of the distant sky. “What are those?”

Miroku squinted and stepped in front of her, the tiny rings of his staff jingling with the slight action as he studied the large, winding ball of spectral snakes. “Those are soul stealers,” he answered solemnly. The youkai of the group appeared beside him, his regal head directed toward the massive gathering with disgust clearly written in his golden eyes.


“What’s that?” Sango asked as Miroku walked past her and began to collect their things. “I’ve never heard of such a youkai.”


“Those things are not youkai,” the youkai answered with an annoyed growl. Sango and Miroku stood by shocked, as this was the first time the youkai ever showed half as much emotion around them.


“They are servants,” Miroku told Sango once he found his senses. “Directly connected to their master.”


“But what are they?” Sango asked again as Miroku, Kirara and the youkai began to walk toward the shimmering lazuline creatures.


“They are soul stealers,” Miroku said again. “In name and duty alike. They deliver the souls of the defenseless; usually young women; to their master to use as fuel.”


“Hurry along,” the youkai commanded as he continued to walk ahead of them. “I do not want such filth on my lands. Houshi, you shall earn your keep on this night.”


“Hai,” Miroku chuckled softly as he and Sango followed behind.


)-(


“But what does it mean?” Miroku wondered as he collected himself. “I don’t understand...I just don’t-“


‘The souls of the defenseless,’ Miroku stilled as his conscious whispered to him. ‘Usually young women...’


“Defenseless young women,” Miroku repeated to himself, then gazed back at the camp. “Kagome’s defenseless...oh no.” He quickly tied the canteen to his side as the snakes unraveled and jumped on Kirara’s back when they began to slither their way toward the campsite.


IV


Shippou continued his vigilance over Kagome’s prone form, having long grabbed a blanket from her pack and spread it over the ground before placing her on it. He sat at the edge by her feet with his head in his hands.


“Why?” he asked himself for the hundredth time. “Why did I do it? Why did I hurt the first person to be nice to me in years?” He buried his nose deep within her hair and breathed deeply, her scent calming to his nerves and soothing to his guilty conscious. He looked up when Miroku and Kirara came bursting into the clearing, a slight panic clearly set on the blacksmith’s face as the fur on the back of Kirara’s neck stood on end. “What’s the matter?” he asked as Kirara watched Miroku pace. “What’s going on?”


Miroku opened his mouth to answer, but quickly shut it when the first of the glowing serpents appeared above them. It writhed and twisted toward them, it’s mouth open and it’s forked tongue tasting the air as Kirara and Shippou growled from below. “They’ve come for Kagome-sama!” Miroku explained as a piercing cry came from the snake’s mouth. The woodland shook from the volume and intensity and left Shippou and Kirara stunned before silence finally settled over them.


“What’s going on?” Shippou demanded before Miroku sprinted toward the edge of the wood. “What’s that and what are you talking about?”


“It’s a soul stealer,” Miroku explained, though he himself needed an explanation as to how he knew that as he drew a large circle around Shippou and Kagome. “It’s master called it here to take Kagome’s soul while she’s helpless.”


“Ok,” Shippou accepted. “Then what are you doing?!”


Miroku stopped at the edge of the circle, his eyes dark and stormy before he shrugged. “I don’t know.” They both turned at Kirara’s battle cry and watched as the enlarged cat pounced on a snake that had ventured too close. Her fangs sank deep within the snake’s scaley hide, dark blue blood spilling from the rips and tears in it’s flesh to rain down on the forest floor below. Another snake slithered past Kirara and her battle companion with hundreds of it’s brethren trailing behind it. It glanced along the others until it settled on Kagome’s unconscious figure. It hissed in recognition and charged toward the girl, only to come face to face with Miroku as he held up his staff and struck the serpent’s forehead.


“Oui crymm hud bycc!” he proclaimed loudly. “Pakuha ihrumo naybanc!” A pale blue beam of light shone around the staff and burned the snake before expanding to encircle the camp. Shippou stood by in awe as the holy light shielded him, with Kagome still unaware in her new position in his arms.


“Miroku!” he shouted as the soul stealers hissed and attacked the shield. “How are you doing this?”


“I haven’t a clue!” Miroku assured him as Kirara tossed another snake into the barrier. It fried upon contact, the reaction like a flower to hot grease as it convulsed and perished in a burst of gray ash. “I think it might be....a memory of a sort!”


“A what?!” Shippou hollered but he remained unheard while Miroku spun the staff in his hands. The little brass rings sang out with purpose and Miroku twirled the holy staff as if he had his entire life. The heavy hammer swung unused from his side and a strong wind caused his black and purple garments to rage around him like the flames of God.


“Ku pylg vnus frahla oui lysa!” Miroku shouted above the mee lee and madness around him. The soul stealers around them shrieked and shied away from them, their bodies tensed in extreme agony before they fled back to the sky and the east. Miroku, Kirara and Shippou watched them leave in relief before turning toward Miroku, who at the moment had an unseen cheerleader standing beside him.

“Woo hoo!” Sango cried out as she jumped about the confused young man. “You did it Miroku! I’m so proud of you! You still have it, you lecher!”


“Miroku, what was that?” Shippou asked as Miroku turned toward him. “I mean, could you always do that?”


“No,” Miroku shook his head wearily. “I-I don’t know what happened. I’ve had memories, dreams, for nearly all my life but never...never has anything like this....what is happening to me?” With that he fainted without another word, the staff falling across his body as he lay helpless on the bare earth.


II


“You humans are strange creatures,” Sesshoumaru quipped for what Kagome felt was the hundredth time. “Perfectly suitable for the amusement you provide on a daily basis.”


“Now what brought that on?” Kagome huffed with an exasperated sigh before flopping down on the purple grass below her. Her dream had taken on a psychedelic turn with the grass becoming a vivid shade of purple, the sky a mint green and the sun a pretty shade of burnt orange. She glanced at her companion once to find him staring at the landscape with an obvious look and laughed. “Seriously?” she said as she propped herself up on her right arm. “What is it now?”


“Surely you don’t find this normal,” he said with an elegant sweep toward their surroundings.


“What’s the big deal?” Kagome asked. “I mean, it’s just my take on things, on the world as I see it.”


“Then you, little miko, are warped.”


Kagome laughed again, this one louder and a lot merrier than the last. She raised herself up fully and closed her eyes, the warmth of the oddly hued sun caressing her face while her grouchy companion looked on. “I don’t know Sesshoumaru-sama,” Kagome replied. “I mean, you’re the one dressed in black.”


“That is because black and red are one of the few colors available ,” Sesshoumaru answered. “And it is not a fashion statement.”


“So I understand. From what I heard, you were a big fan of wearing blue, gold, red and white together. Mighty tacky if you ask me.”


“Well no one asked you.”


Kagome smiled at how affronted he sounded, almost as if she had said that his hair wasn’t as pretty as he thought it was. She patted his shoulder comfortingly, ignoring the blatant look of disgust and annoyance blazing in his eyes and stood up. “Alright then,” she said after a moment’s silence. “Have it your way. I’ll have other dreams the way I want them.” The purples, greens and oranges slowly bled from the landscape, revealing the natural colors to be back in their proper places. “There, are you happy now?”


“Quite.” Sesshoumaru stood as well, not finding the little grassy knoll they were relaxing on nearly as relaxing without her presence. “Little miko-“


“My name is Kagome,” Kagome interrupted suddenly. “Not miko, little miko, woman, girl or ‘Hey you’. Ka-go-me.”


“Indeed,” and a briefly quirked brow were his reply. Kagome sighed in frustration, threw her hands in the air and gave up while Sesshoumaru finished whatever it was he was saying.


“Have you noticed the changes during your stay?”


“What changes?” Kagome asked as she checked over her surroundings. “Other than the purple of course.”


“There have been seven settings of the sun since your arrival,” Sesshoumaru pointed out. “And your clothes have changed color as many times.”


“Really?” Kagome glanced down at herself and frowned, wondering when the periwinkle fighting kimono she came in with changed to the forest green she wore now. “Um...what does this mean?”


“It means that you’ve been here longer than just one night,” Sesshoumaru explained as if it were obvious. “Did you not realize this?”


“Um...no,” Kagome snorted slightly. “But I guess I should go back huh?”


“Perhaps,” Sesshoumaru determined indifferently. “It matters not to me.”


“Alright then.” She stood up and brushed herself off. “Then I guess I’ll see you later.”


“Kagome...”


Kagome stopped, her fading dream in pause as she waited. “Yeah?”


“Where is your next destination?”


“Um...What is it again...um...” She tapped her chin thoughtfully, then grinned. “It’s Hidalgo, or something like that.”


“Kagome, I do not think-“


“Well bye Sesshoumaru!” Kagome disappeared almost instantly and without her the dream world winked out of existence. Sesshoumaru appeared on the other side of Kanna’s mirror with a slight frown marring his angelic features.

“My lord, what’s the matter?” Myouga asked as he resumed his place on Sesshoumaru’s shoulder. “Are you troubled by something?”


“Nothing troubles me,” Sesshoumaru replied blandly before turning to Jaken. “Jaken, there are a couple of questions I would like for you to answer.”


“Of course Sesshoumaru-sama!” the toadie squawked with a clumsy bow. “Your wish is my comman-“


“Yes, of course. The Tenseiga has been recovered. Are you aware of this?”


“T-that’s not possible!” Jaken vehemently disagreed. “I hid that sword myself! No one should have found it!”


“I did not say it was found,” Sesshoumaru told him. “I want to know everything you know about the sword and where Toukijin is at the present moment.”


“My lord, Jaken cannot answer questions about the Tenseiga,” Myouga interjected nervously. He gulped audibly when cool gold eyes pinned him and he turned away with a quaking sigh. “Your father was the one who had the sword commiss-“


“I know all of this,” Sesshoumaru interrupted. “What I wish to know is why the sword would leave its hiding place voluntarily, without provocation and without my will.”


“The s-sword has never operated on your will alone Sesshoumaru-sama,” Myouga replied in the most respectful way possible. “T-tenseiga has the will of both you and your father. If it left its tomb on its own, then it might have been the spirit of your father that carried the blade. There is also the other Sesshoumaru, the one from the other time. Maybe he had a hand in Tenseiga’s release.”


“I see.” ‘I suppose it makes sense,’ Sesshoumaru mused as he gazed out into the blazing red distance. ‘Father never could keep his nose out of other’s affairs and this other Sesshoumaru did release me.’ “That would explain recent events. Now Jaken,” he turned to his lackey again. “Where did you conceal Toukijin?”


Jaken started to speak but quickly fell into a fit of nervous stuttering. Sesshoumaru waited patiently for it to stop, then growled a warning at his composure. “You will cease that infernal noise and tell me what you’ve done with my property.”


“Um, my lord,” Jaken began at last, the d in lord coming out in a tiny squeak. “I-I couldn’t hide Toukijin!” Jaken ducked, cringed, and began to shake like a leaf. He looked up when Sesshoumaru didn’t respond and found his lord gazing down at him, his eyes half mass and his left index finger lightly tapping his side as he waited. “Continue.”


“When I hid Tenseiga, I wanted to hide Toukijin too so I ran to where it was. When I tried to grab it, the sword rejected me and repelled me from it. As far as I know, Toukijin is still on Hidalgo Island.”


Sesshoumaru’s eyebrow twitched, the only sign of his internal fury at the foolishness of his retainer. ‘It would be that this incompetent fool would leave so powerful a weapon inside the rotting remains of the castle. There is no telling who would find it no...w...’ His thoughts trailed off as he remembered Kagome’s destination. His knowledge of Toukijin’s lust for power and the wealth he felt from Kagome’s soul gave him reason for concern. ‘There are only three consequences if the miko finds Toukijin,’ he reasoned as he turned toward Kanna and the mirror.


‘One: The miko could purify the blade and destroy it. Then I would be left without a weapon.


‘Two: Toukijin could kill the miko, leaving me stuck here. Obviously not an option.


‘Or three: The sword could bind her powers to it and wreak havoc.’ Sesshoumaru mentally sighed and rubbed his index finger between his eyes in irritation. ‘And of all of these options, I’m powerless to stop either one.’


“Not exactly Sesshoumaru-sama,” Kanna said from the other side of the platform. “There are ways for your influence to be felt.”


“How so?” Sesshoumaru inquired, his earlier command for her not to look into his thoughts forgotten as he waited for her to explain.


“You say the miko is going to Hidalgo to look for clues, yes?”


“She is?” Jaken crowed in surprise. “My lord, why didn’t you say anything?!”


“Continue witch,” Sesshoumaru ordered instead. “And cease the dramatics.”


“Of course.” Her tiny slippered feet moved soundlessly over the rocks and red earth beneath them, her black eyes focused solely on the mirror as she stopped before him. “Where Kagome moves, you follow through the sword in her possession. Your movements and control over things are limited due to ...special circumstances.


“That will not be the case on Hidalgo Island. The entire island has your signature, even with you gone for so many centuries. I do not know of the strength of your connection to the grounds but you may be able to have more control over things, such as the movement of simple objects.”


“Like a poltergeist?” Myouga asked. Kanna nodded. “Of course, I could be wrong and you only have a better link to her dreams. One would have to wait to find out.”


“But there’s one thing, you stupid girl!” Jaken called out. “How is Sesshoumaru-sama supposed to get there?!”


“Oh, that will not be a problem,” Kanna said once she finally looked up from her mirror. “My mirror will be glad to transport our lord to his home,” She paused and, with a smile, bowed to Sesshoumaru. “Whenever he is ready of course. I would not wish to rush him.”


)-(


Kagome rose to the land of the living slowly, her mind fogged and gray as soft feathery touches brushed against her skin. She felt as if she were lying on some sort of moving furry carpet and the swaying was starting to make her feel a bit ill. Kagome wearily opened her eyes and was surprised to find herself face first with the grass. She attempted to sit up for a better look but paused when strong muscles bunched and gathered underneath her fingers.


“Ugggg....”


Kaede turned around, as did the others as Shippou stopped to check on his passenger. Kagome had remained unconsciousness during the attack but Miroku woke up a few hours after. The blacksmith was groggy and unfocused but otherwise fine despite the ordeal. They began traveling toward Hidalgo Island the next morning with Miroku and Kaede on Kirara’s back and Kagome on Shippou once Shippou fazed into his bestial self. Shippou lead the way, with the others following close behind. Aragon chose from time to time to take to the skies and scout the fields and forests ahead of them.


“Kagome?” Kaede called out as she slipped from Kirara’s back. “Are you ok? Does anything hurt?”


“Uh...no, not really,” Kagome mumbled as she straightened herself to a sitting position on Shippou’s back. “My shoulder’s a little sore, and my head hurts, but other than that I’m fine.”


“That’s good to hear,” Kaede replied with a sigh of relief. “We were so worried about you. Between you and Miroku-san over there you guys gave us a good scare.”


“What happened to Miroku-san?” Kagome wondered aloud. She listened as the others retold what happened a week earlier and Kagome was amazed that so much time had passed. The account of how Miroku saved her life left her in awe.


“Did you really know what they were Miroku-san?” Kagome asked in admiration. “And did you really keep them away from me?”


“Well I,” Miroku began sheepishly. “I’m not sure what I did, but I’m glad to have been there to do it. It warms my heart to see you well Kagome-sama.”


Kagome grinned and hugged him gratefully, then released him before he could think a single lecherous thought. “So where to now?” she asked when Kaede began to sort out their supplies.

“To Hidalgo, right Shippou?” Aragon asked as he landed in front of her. “Are you well now Chorizon?”


“Yeah, I’m great now. Is that right Shippou? Are we going to Hidalgo now?”


Shippou shook himself into his humanoid form and nodded. “We’re almost at the small port town south of here. From there we’ll charter a ferry to take us to a small island in the Inland Sea. That’s Hidalgo.”


“But for now we’re going to make camp,” Kaede said as she tossed out their sleeping bags. “Shippou, you and Miroku go hunt. Aragon, you get some water.” She tossed a chain of strung together canteens at the unsuspecting vampire, who barely had time to catch them before they walloped him in the chest.


“Hey, why am I stuck with him?!” Shippou snorted irritably. “Why can’t Miroku get the water? And who died and made you boss anyway?”


“Don’t sass me kit!” Kaede shot back. “I’m boss until Kagome gets better so you’d better take off before I help you.” She shook her fist at him and grinned when he stepped back.


“Fine,” Shippou grumbled as he grabbed Miroku by the collar and dragged him into the twilight. “I don’t want to stay here with that crazy bitch anyway...”


“What was that?!” Kaede called from her place by Kagome.


“Um...nothing!”


“That ’s what I thought,” Kaede whispered to Kagome as Shippou and Miroku finally disappeared. Aragon left the campsite minutes later leaving the sisters to their own devices. Kaede busied herself with setting out the sleeping bags in their proper arrangements, then gathered sticks and rocks for the firepit in the center.


“Hey, let me help with that,” Kagome said as she tried to sit up. She groaned and winced lightly as her muscles tightened in a near cramp. “Owowowowowow...”


“No, don’t get up.” Kaede eased Kagome back on her sleeping bag. “Don’t worry. I’ve been doing this by myself for a week now. I’m kinda used to the idea.”


“But I want to help do something,” Kagome pouted childishly with her arms folded defiantly across her chest. “It’s not fair! I’m not some sort of invalid you know.”


“I know.” Kaede sighed deeply and smiled at her sister. She knew how it was to feel restless and stir crazy because of an injury. She contemplated allowing Kagome to help her with the cooking before a brilliant and much appreciated idea came to mind.


“How about this,” Kaede said and continued once she had Kagome’s attention. “If you can wait until the guys get back, then I’ll get one of the others to carry you to the nearest stream so we can take a bath.”


“A bath...really?” Kagome said excitedly. Kaede nodded. “Yup! Goodness knows we need one. We’ll have um...maybe...” Kaede paused to think, wondering to herself who exactly would she ask to carry her sister to the stream. ‘I can’t ask Aragon,’ she said to herself. ‘I don’t want the vampire’s teeth near my imoto. Miroku’s strong enough but he’s a pervert. Besides, if he’s with us then who would cook while we bathe? And Shippou’s out of the question too. If it weren’t for him Kagome wouldn’t be in this-‘


“Why not get Shippou to take me?” Kagome inquired. Kaede shook her head. “No way. Look what he did to you last time.”


“Yeah, but Shippou was upset,” Kagome said in defense of her friend. “Look, you don’t know Shippou but I do. Shippou would have never done this on purpose. He may act all rough and tumble but deep inside he’s a really nice person. Don’t treat him badly because of an accident Kaede.”


“Fine,” Kaede relented and threw her hands into the air. “If you trust him then that’s fine. Now like I said, we’ll get Shippou to take you to the water, have a bath and then come back. That way we’ll be rested and ready to go tomorrow.”


“Alright!” Kagome laughed happily. She reached inside her pack and began rummaging for her bathing supplies, unaware of the cinnamon ears that heard their conversation and the grateful kitsune that owned them.


)-(


“It’s fantastic...”


“It’s marvelous...”


“It’s enormous!”


“It’s nothing special,” Shippou growled to himself while everyone else marveled at the spacious castle grounds. He envied his friends as they stood in the middle of the castle square and remembered a time when he too was spellbound by the splendor and magnificence that was Hidalgo Castle. The grounds and the castle itself were in ruins now but the effect it had on people still existed. The once immaculata garden was now an overgrown jungle of vines, flowers and other vegetation. The gray cobblestone pathway they followed to the castle was broken and missing stones in places but you could still make out some of the crescent marks not weathered away by hundreds of years. The group stopped when Shippou did, his shock and disbelief making his tail tremble in short spurts.


“Wh-what the hell?!” Shippou exploded suddenly as he began to circle the large fountain in the center of the courtyard. He eyed the damage with something akin to horror, jade green orbs wide in disbelief as he gazed down at the fractured remains of the once majestic fountain. “What the hell happened here?!”




(End Chapter)


SF: Yeah, I know I said that I wouldn’t update this again, but someone (other than myself) actually likes this story!


Silver Fox: Yeah right. Like who?


SF: Like Lee for example. Hi Lee! (Waves) Thanks so much for the love on this story. I can practically see everything in my head, but if no one else wanted to see the ending to this story then I was gonna shelve it. I’m going to continue it though, so long as you promise to hang out until the end!


Silver Fox: Tisk, tisk, tisk. Bribing the readers. For shame, SF, for shame.


SF :Whatever works buddy.


Miroku: Why Guardian-sama, I would be most happy to assist you in your quest to finish this little work of fiction.


SF: (warily) Yeah? Well what’s in it for you?


Miroku: Nothing hard or hard-pressed I assure you. I simply want you to bare my-


>THONK!!!<


Sango: Flippin’ perv. I swear...(drags Miroku offstage)


Silver Fox: Boy, nothing changes around here. The chapter summary is below.


Chapter Summary: Shippou and the others tour the grandness that is Hidalgo, Sesshoumaru decides to have a little fun with our favorite miko, and a clue leads them toward the west.


Chapter Sixteen: Hauntings!