InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Second Chance At Love ❯ What She Doesn't Know... ( Chapter 16 )

Disclaimer: I own nothing... not even this computer... lol. I wonder... is it possible I can stop saying this about now? After all, I don't think anything is going to change anytime in the near future.

Chapter 16: What She Doesn't Know...

Sesshoumaru stood on one of the top branches of a tall oak tree as he stared at the castle in front of him. If you could call it that, though there was no doubt that it had once been a castle. If felt a small slice of recognition; perhaps from his childhood; but it was gone before he could get a good hold on it to examine. The broken down castle was a little over fifty feet in front of them and stood eerily quiet. He could feel the energy field around it.

He noted that it wasn't a very strong force field either... and it was this fact that kept him from approaching the castle just yet, though he knew she was in there.

They'd arrived at their destination an hour ago to find the nearly destroyed castle and he would have kept going if not for the force field surrounding the castle. He had to stop and wonder why someone would go through the trouble of putting up a barrier-even a weak barrier-around an obviously ruined castle.

There was no denying that the barrier was weak. It would take no time at all to breach it and get inside and he was sure the barrier wouldn't even be registered as a problem for Kagome at all. It was no lie that the young woman held more power in her pinky finger then he'd ever felt in any miko he'd met before her. So, the question was: Why was she still being held inside if this barrier was an example of her captor's power??

The only answer Sesshoumaru could come up with was that she wanted to be there. But, then that answer raised another question: Why?

He didn't understand it; and because of this he held off from entering the castle.

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes slightly as the branch he stood on gave a small shake as someone landed beside him. `Inuyasha.' He gave no other outward sign of acknowledging the presence of the hanyou beside him.

Inuyasha stood beside his brother for a moment as he trained his eyes on the destroyed sight a distance in front of him. He was getting tired of waiting; especially since he didn't know why they were waiting. He knew it couldn't be because of the measly barrier blocking their way. It was no threat to him, so he knew it definitely wasn't a threat to his full youkai half brother. But, the Taiyoukai wasn't the only one who wouldn't breech the ruins... Sango and Mirouku wouldn't either. He knew because he'd already tried to get them too.

When he'd asked them why the only answer he could get out of the monk was: "Ask Sesshoumaru Inuyasha."

So, here he was, but asking his brother for anything, even answers.... was not easy. He turned to look at Sesshoumaru for a moment and noted that the youkai was just as still as he had been when he'd jumped up into the tree then returned his gaze to the castle. Long silver hair dancing on the light breeze.

"She's in there."

"Your skill for stating the obvious Inuyasha, is remarkable."

"Hmph. You think so, Sesshoumaru," he said irritably as he crossed his arms over his chest, "then you're going to love my next statement."

"Hmm."

"You love her."

Inuyasha waited a moment to see what his brother would do or say, then continued when he realized Sesshoumaru wasn't going to do or say anything.

"What you think of that statement?" he smirked.

"Nothing. I deal only in facts Inuyasha," he replied quietly. "You speak of something you know nothing about. Do not presume to know me Inuyasha."

Sesshoumaru sighed inwardly. If he had known Inuyasha had come up here to speak nonsense to him (though, he guess he should not have expected anything more) he would have shoved the half-breed off the branch the moment he landed. He consoled himself with the promise that there was still ample time to do just that should the hanyou ware out his welcome anymore then he already had.

"Oh, I know you Sesshoumaru. The problem is that you always believed you knew me," Inuyasha responded with an edge to his voice, "but that is not the point."

"And what hanyou," he asked with a responding hardness, "is the point?"

Inuyasha had no idea how the conversation came down this path when his reason for coming up there was to find out what they were waiting on, but that didn't stop him from answering the question.

"The point is that I won't let you hurt Kagome, Sesshoumaru. She's mine."

Sesshoumaru felt his blood begin to boil for the first time since Inuyasha had landed in the tree. `He would dare to try and take what is mine?!' His eyes narrowed even more, but his face remained as blank as ever. Never betraying his thoughts as he fought to keep from killing the hanyou then and there.

"Stay away from Kagome Sesshoumaru."

Sesshoumaru head swiveled in his direction at the pronouncement of those words. His eyes flashed something dangerous.

"You dare to give me orders, hanyou?"

Inuyasha felt a spurt of apprehension. He'd never seen such a dark look in the Taiyoukai's eyes before; not even when Sesshoumaru would show up to fight him for Tetsusaiga. And even knowing and recognizing this he refused to back down.

"You heard me Sesshoumaru."

"You are mistaken Inuyasha," he whispered deadly. Sesshoumaru felt a small sense of pride, but it was smothered beneath the dark cloud of anger inside him. "But tell me little brother. What of your clay miko?"

Inuyasha's eyes fell away from his as he lowered his eyes and turned his head away.

"She is not what matters now," he whispered softly. "I've made my choice and it is the right one."

`Ah, so he has finally seen his dead miko for what she is.' Sesshoumaru couldn't help thinking it was about time, but he was not allowing him to take away his miko. He'd had a feeling something had happened between Inuyasha and the false one. He hadn't sensed her soul stealers for a while now. Ever since the night he'd chased after Kagome into the forest, in fact.

"So, you have changed your convictions once more, have you?"

He watched Inuyasha's profile, but he received no response. Sesshoumaru watched as Inuyasha stared at the ground with unseeing eyes.

Inuyasha's anger didn't rise nor did he respond to his brother for his mind had wondered away from the Taiyoukai. He thought about the last time he saw her. The last time he would ever see Kikyo again.

**Flashback**

Inuyasha had left them as soon as they'd made camp for the night. He'd noted that this time Sesshoumaru had decided to make camp with them instead of going off and finding a spot away from them. When the Taiyoukai had settled beneath a tree on the opposite side of the camp Kagome had settled he'd taken off.

He was going to find Kikyo who'd been following them at a distance for a few days now.

He stopped when he came upon her. She was laid out in the lower branches of a tree. Her face was peaceful as she slept unawares with her soul stealers not too far away.

Watching her for a moment he could almost imagine she was alive. Made of flesh and blood instead of old bones and earth. Dead.

As he thought about that fact he sighed and lowered his gaze to the ground while one lone tear escaped down his cheek to fall from his chin to the earth below. For the first time, Inuyasha felt no pain over the life of the miko he'd lost over fifty years ago.

"Kikyo."

He whispered her name aloud for the woman who was no longer apart of the living. He had no idea that the miko in the tree, the copy of what once was, had woken.

"Inuyasha."

Kikyo had opened her eyes to see Inuyasha standing there in the process of bowing his head to the ground. She'd watched as the tear had fallen from his face to land with a silent splash on the ground. One tear. She knew that one tear was meant for only one thing. She wondered who or what Inuyasha was saying goodbye to.

So, when he'd called out her name quietly shed responded in kind.

She watched as he lifted his gaze to her's. Gold connected with brown. They stared quietly at one another for a moment as they both tried to find answers to unasked questions in the other's eyes.

"Kikyo," he whispered again, but this time followed it with a question. "Why were we so easily tricked back then?"

Kikyo tilted her head as she blinked her eyes at him. For a moment she had no idea what he was speaking of.

"What?"

"This. How come Naraku was able to do this to us?" he sighed once more and tilted his head back to stare at the darkening sky. "Do you ever ask yourself that, Kikyo?"

"No Inuyasha I do not. I know why," she waited for him to return his gaze to her before continuing, "Naraku was a master of manipulation and he played on our feelings about the Shikon no Tama."

"Yes, he is that," he agreed but his eyes held more. "But, that is not why it worked. And it did work Kikyo. You died hating me and I was imprisoned by you against a tree and hated you for it. No, the reason it worked... is trust."

Her eyes widened, but she remained quiet. She had a feeling he was going somewhere with his thoughts and waited to hear the rest.

She didn't have to wait long.

"You didn't trust me.... and I... I didn't trust you. No matter how much we swore we loved that fact can never be changed."

She looked away from him. `Could he be right?' she wondered to herself. `Did I not trust him then?' She knew that back then deep down in her gut she had always had sinking suspicion that he would try to take the jewel from her like he'd tried to do when they'd met. Though after the initial times he'd never tried to, she'd always had a feeling that he would. And when Naraku, as Inuyasha, had struck at her and tried to take the jewel she remembered she'd had one thought in her head other then the sense of betrayal. One thought. `Finally.' That was her one other thought... that finally he'd tried and proven her right.

So, if that meant she didn't trust him, them perhaps he was right and she didn't.

"Kikyo?"

She turned back to him and locked eyes once more with his in silent acknowledgement of his calling her. Giving him her attention once more.

"Kikyo do you remember the time I'd found you behind your barrier when you were taking the souls of dead women?" he watched for her nod before continuing, "Do you remember what you'd said to me then? You'd told me that when you met me you had renounced your place as a shrine priestess and had become an ordinary woman. That you had did that so you could be with me. Love me." He raised his eyes to the heavens again. Speaking towards the sky, but his words were for her. "At the time that you said this I had felt wonderful. That finally, for once, I was important to someone. That someone was willing to give something up for me. I had thought that was the only way then. But, I learned differently."

This time he lowered his gaze to hers. He wanted their eyes to be on each other when he said this last part.

"You see there is another miko who claims to love me and she is still a shrine priestess. A very powerful one, at that and she hasn't renounced anything. She loves me and has not changed or compromised whom she is in anyway. And though I have caused her a lot of pain in the past she still loves me. And I know that if what happened with Naraku and us had happened with her the outcome would have been different... very different. You see, we've already been there and both of us live. She trusts me... and I trust her with my life."

Kikyo lowered her eyes from his as she tried to fight the rising pain and anger his words were causing within her.

"We didn't have that then and we don't have it now. I'm sorry, but I know that if another life threatening situation was to arise," he paused for a moment knowing his words were about to cause more pain, but knowing they had to be said," I would stand by her before I'd stand by you."

He sighed audibly then added, "I was just your excuse Kikyo. And you were my means to and end, though we did care about each other. Just not enough."

Kikyo raised angry eyes to his; flashing with malice.

"You may have a piece of her heart Inuyasha, but it belongs to another now."

Inuyasha felt a sharp pain lance through his chest, but he did not flinch. After all, she wasn't telling him anything he hadn't already suspected for himself.

"Yes, and the same can be said for you Kikyo."

"You are right Inuyasha," she said forcefully. "Do you know what the one wish of the dead is? Its to one day walk among the living again. Something that could never be attained, yet still wished for. Perhaps like you no longer belong to me, this world is no longer mine as well. Perhaps I was not meant to live a long life, but whatever the truth may be know that at this moment I hate you Inuyasha with everything that I am."

Inuyasha felt a moments dread that she would once again start her pursuit in killing him.

"But, I do not hate you enough to seek your life. Like I said before, I am willing to concede that you may be right and one day, in hell or wherever I end up, I may think of you and this moment and thank you for what you have said, but that moment is not right now."

She slowly began to glow with a bright white light as she called her soul stealers to her and as they lifted her form from the tree into the air she came to a stop. No matter how she hated him she did not want them to part on such terms.

"Good luck Inuyasha," she called out to him, "No matter what you may think, know that I did love you. I could not hate you as I do right now if I did not love you. That love may not have been enough to sustain either you or I, but it was all I had to give."

He watched as her body rose hire into the sky and began to glow even more and as the light took over and began to fade from the night sky he heard one last whisper in a voice he knew so well.

"Goodbye Inuyasha."

**End Flashback**

As Inuyasha's mind returned back to Sesshoumaru and the ruined castle in front of them he remembered the Taiyoukai's last question.

"No I have not changed my convictions. I have finally learned what she has tried to tell me... what they all have tried to tell me for so long."

Sesshoumaru had watched as he'd receded into his mind and had wondered briefly how long he would stare at the ground like that.

"Kikyo is gone and I will not let you hurt Kagome the way I have in the past. She cares strongly for you and if you do not plan on telling her that you do as well then you better stay away from her Sesshoumaru," he said as the edge returned to his voice. "I'm warning you."

`Warning me!?' Does he truly wish to meet his end this night, he wondered. Sesshoumaru had no idea why the hanyou thought he knew what was in Kagome's heart pertaining to him, but he had a feeling it wasn't because she had told him. He knew she hadn't. Whatever was between him and the miko was between him and the miko. And he did not take kindly to threats... and definitely not to threats from a half-breed, such as him.

With a swiftness that Inuyasha was too late in detecting, Sesshoumaru wrapped one long fingered hand around his neck and yanked him off the branch. He pulled Inuyasha in front of him until there faces were only mere inches apart.

Inuyasha was too stunned by the suddenness of the action to do anything as his feet dangled over open air. He stared into the flashing angry eyes of his brother.

"Do not ever threaten me Inuyasha. You will not like my response. Know your place hanyou for it will take little effort to snap your neck here and now. And do not presume to give me advice in an area where you have failed so miserably at."

"Learn from my mistakes, Sessho-", Inuyasha choked out but was cut off by the tightening of the fingers around his neck. He couldn't believe he was in this position for the second time in not so many days.

"I do not need your advice, Inuyasha," he intoned softly. "You will do well to understand this now. And do not try to take what belongs to me."

With one last squeeze of his hand, Sesshoumaru quickly opened said hand and let the hanyou go. He watched as Inuyasha plunged to the earth far below them. He saw as Inuyasha reached his hand out and grab hold of a branch and with one hand swing his body around the branch; launching himself back up to the thick branch that he stood on.

He stared straight ahead as the hanyou landed on the opposite side of him from where he'd been before Sesshoumaru had dropped him from the tree.

"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO THAT FOR!!??" he yelled, but only the end of his statement was actually yelled. The beginning was more like a wheeze then anything.

"You have a death wish, Inuyasha."

"No," he smirked as he folded his arms stubbornly across his chest once more, "I didn't ask you what I'd come up here to ask you."

"Hmm."

"Why the hell are we still out here? And don't give me no shit about that barrier because I know that it definitely does not pose a problem."

"Indeed."

After realizing he planned to say nothing more Inuyasha tried again.

"SESSHOUMARU!!"

Sesshoumaru lightly petted his tail as it hung over his left shoulder; opposite Inuyasha. His facial expression never changed.

"Think Inuyasha," he paused for a moment then continued after a thought, "Never mind. So far, who ever we have been up against has been clever enough to take on all of us and get us where they wanted us. Here. Now why would such a mind put up such a weak barrier to keep us out? And why would they imagine such a barrier could hold a miko with Kagome's strength? It makes no sense, Inuyasha and until it does this is where we stay."

Sesshoumaru was not going to risk Rin on odds such as those that they faced. He was thinking it might be best to send her, Jakin, and the kitsune back to his castle on Ah-un.

Inuyasha thought about what his brother had just said and had to admit it made no sense. Then he thought of something.

"Who ever we are up against want us to come inside. That's why the barrier is so weak."

"Yes, but why?" `And why take Kagome first if they meant for us all to come inside anyway?' Sesshoumaru asked himself. He didn't like that he had no answer. And he didn't like even more that they didn't know whom they are up against.

"Its obviously Kagura and Kanna. Do you think they have the jewel?"

"Yes." `Is Kagura and Kanna all we are up against?' Sesshoumaru couldn't help thinking of the power he had sensed around Kagura. It was powerful and completely unfamiliar.

************

Mirouku and the rest of the group had watched the two inu-youkai's from the moment Inuyasha had landed in the tree. They had watched together as Inuyasha had said whatever he'd said to cause Sesshoumaru to grab the hanyou by the throat and dangle him in mid air as he did. And they knew that it was something their friend said, because it was always something he said.

They had held their collective breaths when, as predicted, the Taiyoukai had let the hanyou go and fall swiftly to the ground... and they had all sighed in relief when Inuyasha had caught himself and swung on the protruding branch, but they had no idea what the hanyou could have been thinking to swing himself back up to the Taiyoukai above.

`He really is a glutton for punishment,' thought Mirouku with a resigned sigh.

He watched, as both brothers seem to come to some kind of understanding he guessed since they both had stopped speaking and returned their attention to the castle in the distance.

`The castle,' he thought with a small smile. It really was a beautiful building. The large gray stones were clean and looked to be very smooth. The large door in the front of the castle looked to have been made of a rich wood and he thought he could see a symbol, perhaps a family crest, on the door. He wondered what family had once lived in the lovely castle.

Mirouku had a fondness and an appreciation for lovely objects and he thought the castle was very lovely and well kept. He didn't know why Kagura and Kanna had chosen this castle for their plans, but he hoped the Keep would survive the experience.

He saw out the corner of his eye as Sango turned her nose up at the castle once more. He noted that that was the forth time she'd looked at the building and done that. He wondered what about the castle she didn't like.

"You do not like it?"

Sango turned to look at the monk beside her when she heard him ask the question. When she realized he was asking about the remains of the castle in the distance, she frowned slightly. It was really a matter of like, it was more a fear that Kagome was inside that building... a building that looked as if one good blow would bring another piece of it crashing down. She remembered the castle from their final battle with Naraku, but she didn't remember it looking as bad as it did at that moment. She wondered if they had caused it more damage in their battle with the demon or if she wasn't remembering it correctly?

"What's to like?" she asked with a shrug. "I believe it may have once been great to look at."

"Once been?" he asked; with a puzzled look on his face. "It still is."

"Still is?" she gave the monk an odd look, "Mirouku-kun, what are you talking about? The castle is nearly in ruins."

"What?" he turned to look at the castle once again.

Mirouku blinked his eyes, rubbed them with his hand, and even squeezed them shut and shuck his head vigorously, before opening them again. Just as he figured, the image before him did not change or shift in the slightest. The castle looked just as beautiful as it did when they had arrived.

But, there was obviously something wrong, because unless he was mistaken he and Sango, though looking at the same sight, was seeing two very different castles.

He walked over to the base of the tree and looked up at the two occupants, before coming to a decision.

"HEY, INUYASHA!?" he yelled up to the hanyou.

"WHAT?"

He watched as the inu-youkai descended from the top of the tree. He waited until Inuyasha to come to a stop on a branch just above his head.

"Inuyasha, tell me," Mirouku lifted his arm and pointed towards the building in the distance. "What do you see there?"

"Something wrong with your eyes, monk?" asked Inuyasha irritably though with a touch of curiosity.

"That is what I'm trying to determine. What do you see?"

Inuyasha gave the monk a thoughtful look before shrugging and answering his question.

"I see what is left of a ruined castle."

"That is what I feared."

Mirouku turned to gaze at the castle. So, it was determined that both Sango and Inuyasha saw the same thing and it would probably be safe to assume that the rest of the group also saw the same thing. But, the question which of them was seeing wrong? Him or they? The obvious answer would be him, since the majority of them were seeing the same sight, but why would someone wish to alter his vision of a castle he'd only seen once before?

"What is it you see, houshi?"

Mirouku jumped at hearing the quiet voice beside him. He'd never even heard the Taiyoukai move. He really should be used to that by now though, he thought in annoyance.

"I see the castle, same as you I imagine," he replied with a tilt to his head as he pulled his staff closer to his body and leaned on it, "the only difference is that the castle I see is not ruined in any way."

Sesshoumaru arched a brow at that as he looked at the castle. He knew Kagome was inside that building and because of that he silently hoped the monks view of the castle was the true one.

"This is a most disturbing situation."

Sesshoumaru had to agree with the monk's pronouncement.

"Indeed."

**Inside the Castle**

Kagome had taken her leave of Kagura after she'd determined that the demon had no idea how Shueran Takashi had died. Matter of fact, the wind witch had no knowledge of what happened to any of the Takashi clan.

After she'd deduced that she'd already received any info she was liable to get out of the other woman she'd turned to bid the other demon in the room a good night and was surprised to note the little girl was no longer at the table.

She'd never heard the child leave.

Now she was walking aimlessly through the halls of the castle. She'd returned to the hall of pictures, as she liked to call it, and taken another look at the twins. She'd also turned to look at the woman across from them. She'd figured that the woman must have been married to Shueran since her picture was up in the hall and Kagura had told her the pictures were only of those in the family who was or would be Lord and Lady of the Eastern Lands.

She wished Sesshoumaru was there with her for many reasons actually, but one reason was the fact that she had a feeling that perhaps he had at least heard of the Takashi family being part of the aristocrats as they obviously were, and he is.

She turned a corner and found herself in a lounge. It was done in a pale green color with white trimmings. It was very lovely. The room seemed to hold a nice homey feel to it that she had found in any of the other rooms that she'd visited, yet.

As she turned in the room to look around she felt a slight sensation crawl of her skin and tingle her senses. Like that feeling you get when you sense something is near you, but you can't see it.

Kagome felt another tickling sensation crawl over her arms and immediately rubbed them as she turned around. What she saw next sucked the breath right out of her in an audible gasp.

Standing before her were two men of the same build and height who looked very familiar since she was sure she'd just been staring at their portraits some ten minutes ago. The twins. What took her breath away was that they were obviously ghost.

Though she could see the color of their kimonos and the purple and orange sashes around their waist, she could also see right through them to the wall on the other side.

Kagome stared. She had no problem believing in ghosts, after all she was in love with a youkai lord, but seeing the two corporeal beings was like giving credence to something she had no idea she had ever doubted.

Then as she thought she was obviously seeing everything; they spoke.

"You must not tell anyone Shonin. If you do, there is no telling what may happen to her."

"I will say nothing, brother but how long do you imagine you can keep this from the family? How long do you think you can keep this from Father?"

"I do not know, but Sage is who I worry about now. I will cross that bridge should I come to it."

"Be very careful, Shueran. Mother is nothing to worry over, but Father and Ojiisan fear what they do not understand."

"Yes, I know this all too well."

"Hm, and do not forget Mina. Sister has an insatiable need to know everything. If she senses you are not telling her something, she will hound, sneak, and manipulate to know what it is."

"I will handle Mina."

"Good, because while I have always been able to ignore her, you have always been the one to give into her... persistence."

"Persistence, you say? I say nosiness. Lets call it what it is."

They both shared a laugh at that, than turned their head in Kagome's direction. For a moment she thought that they were going to speak to her, but then she realized that they were looking at something behind her. When she turned to see what it could be she saw nothing but the open door at her back.

"Your wife is here and she looks as if she would like a word," she turned at the sound of the twin with the high ponytail; Shonin. "I must be off, Father wishes to speak to me about something."

"Alright. I shall see you later, then."

Kagome watched as the ghost moved forward towards her and as he seemed to bend as if to give a bow in acknowledgement she watched as his corporal form fade into the air as a breath in the wind. She looked and saw that the other twin had also disappeared.

She stood quietly as she wondered at what she saw. For a moment she thought the ghost had come to her, but she'd soon realized they didn't even know she was there. She didn't understand it.

Then she remembered something Kagura had said to her.

`Pay close attention, for every building tells a story; even this castle...'

Now she understood; it was a memory. That conversation was an event that actually taken place. The castle was sharing a memory... but why?

Kagome was getting a migraine. There was way too many mysteries going on around here, but somehow she had a feeling they all tied into each other in some way or form.

She just wasn't sure if she wanted to know how they tied into one another.

And she couldn't ignore the fact that she was still getting that funny feeling in her gut when she saw the form of Shueran Takashi. There was something vaguely familiar about him... but she couldn't put her finger on it.

Kagome shuck her head slightly to clear it as she turned to leave the room with a slight shrug of her shoulders. She had a thoughtful expression on her face.

Unbeknownst to her, a pair of black fathomless eyes watched her leave the lounge.

****

I watched the miko leave the room. I could tell she had no idea what was going on. I know what this castle is up to. It wants free... but it doesn't know the miko is the last person that can free it from its curse. No. There are only two who are left to do that and one is in no position to help even though he imagines he is.

I care not for his little dream of freedom. Now, it is my turn! I will have what I want and the miko shall help me attain it... or she will die.

I know her friends are outside and they will soon be in here, but it is of no consequence. They cannot help her. She will do what I want of her or I will destroy her and all she holds dear. As for that idiot hanyou.... I will handle him once he has out lived his purpose. Not that he can do anything from where he is. The fool actually thinks its temporary! I laugh at his stupidity.

Dark eyes followed the miko through the castle and up the tower. When the miko entered the room she'd woken up in that morning a small smile, if you could call a slight tilting of the lips a smile, played across a watchful face.

Black orbs faded as the door shut behind the miko.

~*~