InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Second Chance At Love ❯ Conversations, Confusion, and Curses. ( Chapter 23 )

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or anything associated with it. Just thought I'd clarify this in case anyone was taking a stroll through my dream world…

 

Thank you to my beta readers Wendy and Drianax for their wonderful work (you won't believe what this looked like before they were able to get there hands on it…) and also I would like to thank Drianax again for the title to this chapter…. I couldn't think of anything!! Great job ladies!

 

~Only ask the question if you're sure you want the answer.~

~ Don't remember… *_*

 

 

 

Chapter 23: Conversations, Confusion, and Curses.

 

Sesshoumaru stood in the doorway as he watched her stand there. He wondered if she was seeing another vision, but couldn't tell. He didn't know what had made him leave the room he shared with Inuyasha and Miroku; there was just something nagging at his mind.

He'd gone back to the Hall with the portraits first. There was something about the female demon in the miko garb that had bothered him. Sesshoumaru knew there was something he was forgetting, something that had to do with the female youkai, he just didn't know what. But, he had a feeling that it was important.

There was a story that his father had once told him… if only he could remember it all.

Sesshoumaru had stared up into the sky blue eyes of the woman with her long red-blonde hair hanging loose down her back for a while. Even then, from the look in her eyes, he could easily imagine the woman had secrets. He wondered if those secrets were unknown to her mate as well.

Now, as he stood behind Kagome, he wondered if she had secrets as well. He knew there was

something to what was going on in the castle that she was not telling them. What he didn't know, was why she was choosing not to tell them.

Did she think she was protecting them by not telling? And if that was the case, what was she trying to protect them from?

Sesshoumaru did not like the notion of her trying to protect him. He did not require a ningen to protect him, no matter how much power she held within her. He was Taiyoukai. He did not hide behind a woman's skirt and definitely not the inferior skirts of a ningen woman.

He would find out what she wasn't telling them. Now.

“Kagome.”

At the vague register of her name being called, Kagome turned in the direction she believed it came from, and came face to face with Sesshoumaru.

One corner of her mind was processing the fact that he was really there, but the larger portion of her mind couldn't quite leap over the fact of what she'd just seen and that she'd just spoken to what she'd assumed was a ghost, but obviously wasn't. Maybe it was some type of Spirit like the ones they had fought earlier? But, he didn't have the opaqueness that the ones from earlier did and he surely didn't float away into the sky. Perhaps, some kind of projection? She remember Kaede-san once telling her of something like that where a person could separate their own soul from their body somehow. She couldn't recall the exact name of the ability, but didn't a person have to be alive to do that? For that to be it, that would suggest that Takashi Sano was… No. No, he couldn't be could he? It would fit with the curse… maybe… Wouldn't it? But he did live longer then the others…

Her mind was whirling with so many answers and questions that she wasn't at all sure what was fact and what were her own imagination anymore.

And if she was right in her assumptions about what some of Niesa's curse meant, then she had some news for a very dear friend of hers. Just the thought of having to try and explain this to Miroku was making her feel lightheaded and making her see spots.

Kagome tried to focus on the image of Sesshoumaru before her, but the more she pushed her brain the more spots she saw.

Then with a slightly pleading look in her eyes, Kagome succumbed to the darkness that was pulling at her.

Sesshoumaru, realizing what was about to happen, rushed forward to catch her in his arms before her body could hit the floor.

He figured explanations would have to wait... seeing as the one with the answers had just fainted.

 

*******

 

Kagome groaned as she woke up with a splitting headache. She shook her head gingerly to see if she could rid herself of the pain that way even though she knew it was useless. She rolled onto her back from underneath her sleeping bag; that she'd been using as a blanket; and rubbed at her eyes as she gave a small yawn in greeting to the morning light streaming through the window. She could see Sango sleeping in her blankets not too far from her and wondered idly when she'd come back to the room last night. Then she froze as that question brought up another thought: When she'd come to the room last night? For the life of her she couldn't remember.

All she could remember was the strange dream she'd had. Which proved that everything from the castle, to the Takashi Family, to the unknown something else in the castle was finally getting to her. Why else would she be having dreams of talking ghost? Wouldn't that fit right in there? Kagome got to her feet slowly and moved over to gather the clothing she was going to put on that day then walked towards the other opening in the room she shared with Sango where she knew the water pool was located.

She quickly slipped out of her clothing, after giving a small start that she was in the clothes she wore yesterday and not her pajamas, before slipping into the hot water. She had no idea how the water was heated, that was another mystery, but it was always hot and ready for use. She sighed contentedly as she settled her self on one of the shelves to relax for a moment before finishing up her bath.

Kagome let her mind drift while she lay there and it inadvertently drifted back to her dream from last night. She could see the quiet face of Takashi Tomoe in her minds eyes. It was clearer now then she could ever remember it being in the dream. She could easily see the burnt-orange colored marks along his eyelids, the same color stripes along his cheeks as well as the purple sun on his forehead that she'd never actually taken note of before. She thought his markings were much like Sesshoumaru's really except for the where Sesshoumaru had a moon, Tomoe had a sun and while Sesshoumaru's stripes on his cheeks went from the outside of his face to the inside and there were only two; Tomoe had three stripes of burnt-orange and they went from beneath his chin upwards towards his eyes. Each stripe mark was smaller then the mark before it if you counted them from the outside of his face inward; making the one on the outside the largest by almost reaching to his eyes.

She wondered why she never noticed the markings before. She'd seen them on Takashi Sano enough times. His were exactly the same except for the sun on his forehead was black instead of purple. She figured that had to do with the fact he was no longer Taiyoukai and Tomoe was. Kagome figured that since she knew they were the Eastern Family that was probably why she didn't note their markings before. She wondered if the sun on their heads signified them as the ruling family of the east, symbolized by a rising sun.

That would also explain the moon on Sesshoumaru's forehead.

Gingerly, she began to lather herself down as her mind still floated around the images from the night before that she was sure had been a dream. She sat in silence as she saw the sorrow and despair on the ghostly face of Takashi Niesa. Kagome still couldn't understand how one man could bring such destruction on their own family. She flinched slightly as she saw the dark power in the emerald eyes of the witch as she had whispered a curse with her dying breath. A curse Kagome still wasn't sure if she understood right. All she could did know for sure was that whatever Niesa had done it had kept Takashi Sano out of the castle; that much she'd gathered from what the talking ghost had said in her dream.

Kagome stood up and stepped out of the water as she finished her bath. She had a vague recollection of seeing Sesshoumaru, but she couldn't recall what he was doing in her dream. Assuming that her fuzzy memory of the events from the night before were a dream, she knew why she'd be dreaming of Sesshoumaru, but the Takashis had no place in the type of dream she'd enjoy about the inu lord that! She blushed at that thought as she dried off and put on her undergarments. She quickly slipped on a pair of jeans and white button-up blouse with large red flowers on it. Slipping her sock covered feet into her white Reebok sneakers she gathered her things back up and moved back into the other room.

She hummed quietly to herself as she stuffed the clothing into her large yellow bag. She was trying without success to make sense of what the talking ghost of Takashi Sano had told her… not that she was sure she should since it was a dream. She wondered if her own imagination had conjured him up because of what the little Spirit had said to her since their words were similar, but then she didn't know why her mind would do that. It's not like a talking ghost was any easier to get your mind around then a Spirit.

“Good morning, Kagome.”

Kagome spun around at the greeting. She'd completely forgotten about the other woman in the room with her in her musings.

“Good morning Sango-chan,” she smiled as she pressed a palm to her chest.

Sango gave an apologetic smile for startling the other girl before sitting up.

“When did you return last night? I didn't hear you come in.”

“Hear me?” smiled Kagome as she turned back around to finish putting her things away, “I didn't hear you! I believe I was here before you.”

“No. I was here before you. You left for a walk and I stayed here with Kirara. When we finally decided to go to sleep you still hadn't returned.” Sango stood and tilted her head at her friend's back that had gone completely still. “Don't you remember?”

Kagome froze as she listened to what Sango was saying. She knew her friend wasn't lying to her, but why… She remembered leaving the room and she even remembered walking through the halls of the castle. She'd come to the hall where she knew the family listened to complaints and disputes from the people that they oversaw when she'd heard someone crying. She even remembered going into the room to see who it was, but after that…. That's where it was a bit fuzzy because that's where her dream came in.

It was a dream wasn't it?

Kagome shook her head and blinked her eyes as she tried to cipher memory from dream. The problem is the dream was so real it was like one of the visions she kept getting from the castle. Could it have been real? She absently pulled her damp hair back and braided it into a long thick braid down her back and secured it with a rubber band from her bag.

“I thought it was a dream…” Kagome said aloud partially in answer to Sango and partially to herself. “Hey Sango, is it possible for ghost to talk to a person?”

“I don't think so Kagome.” She tilted her head in thought as she eyed her friends back. “Perhaps you should ask Miroku.”

“Hmm,” she nodded absently, still in thought.

Kagome bent down to roll her sleeping bag up as she wondered at the events of last night as more of her memory surfaced. She let the images of last nights vision replay in her head slowly so she could decipher just what it was she'd been watching. Idly she wondered how she got back to her sleeping bag, as she knelt there, since the last thing she remembered was a vague image of what she thought might have been Sesshoumaru. She figured he must have brought her back here and was kind of sorry she couldn't remember that part.

Kagome had a sinking feeling she fainted last night. She hated doing that.

She gave a small start when the door to the bathroom opened and Sango came back into the room freshly dressed. Kagome had no idea how long she'd been kneeling there on the floor staring at her sleeping bag, but from the look Sango was giving her and the fact she didn't even remember seeing Sango go into the bathroom, she guessed it was a while.

“Are you alright Kagome?”

Kagome sighed and stood up.

“Yeah, I'm fine,” she gave a small smile in added reassurance. “Let's find the guys. We need to talk.”

Sango nodded and quietly followed her friend out of the room. She had a feeling that whatever it was that was bothering Kagome was going to get much worse before it came close to getting any better.

Ever since they'd come into the castle she'd had the feeling that they'd walked right into something very dangerous. She hoped they'd be able to walk back out again when it was all over.

 

******

 

They stopped to check the room they knew the guys were using, but after determining that none of them were there, they continued up the steps to the roof. For some reason they had a feeling that the guys were more likely up there, especially Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru, who always seemed to have there minds on the sky. And Kagome doubted Inuyasha (if he was paying them any attention yet) would allow Miroku to be left alone.

Silently she pushed the door to the roof open and took a look outside. After a brief second she turned to Sango and gave her a small nod before walking out on to the roof, that taijiya right behind her.

Sango, holding Kirara in her arms, took a look around as she quietly noted where each one of them stood. Miroku was leaning against the wall of the castle not to far from the door she and Kagome had just come out of. His arms were crossed over his chest with his staff secured in the bend of his left elbow. Sesshoumaru was standing on the far ledge with his hands inside his sleeves just below the armor across his chest, and Inuyasha's back was straight in front of them, perched with both legs and arms crossed; also on the ledge. All of their hair was swimming lightly in the breeze.

It would have been an interesting sight to see, if the men didn't seem to care one way or the other that the women had joined them. They didn't even bother to make any gestures at acknowledging their presence.

Sango made eye contact with Miroku then and blushed lightly from the look in his purple gaze. You'd think she'd have stopped reacting to that lecherous look after all this time.

“Good morning,” said Kagome pleasantly. She had had it in her mind to see if they were hungry before she told them they needed to talk, but after seeing them she doubted that any of them felt like eating.

It was the truth, that all of them were starting to get a bit edgy about the castle and everything they were slowly learning about it. The fact that they couldn't leave wasn't helping matters either. Kagome knew if they were only dealing with a simple mystery things wouldn't be so tense, but the fact that there was something else in the castle that was possibly out to do Kagome harm was not lost on any of them.

And the fact that they didn't know anything about the unknown villain, a villian that was obviously very strong, just made things even more uncomfortable.

“Morning Lady Kagome, Sango-chan.”

“Hn.”

That was all the response they received, not that they were expecting anything more. One polite response, one rude response, and no response at all; Miroku being the polite one. Some things will always remain the same.

“We need to talk,” she began quietly, deciding that the roof was probably the best place to discuss everything. “I saw another ah… vision.”

She still wasn't sure what to call the images she saw of the Takashis'. In her head the word `visions' sounded fine, but aloud it just didn't seem to really fit the situation. She'd prefer not to call them anything. She'd prefer not to be seeing them at all really, but that didn't seem to be an option.

Besides she had a feeling that she wouldn't be seeing the Takashis' anymore, anyway. Yesterday's encounter had had a feeling of finality about it. Whatever was going on the castle was through showing her the past that much she was sure of. As for what the images had revealed of the past? She could only guess.

“What did you see Kagome?”

Kagome's eyes fell on Inuyasha then. That was the first time he'd spoken to her since before the confrontation with Naraku, or what was left of him, yesterday. For a while she wondered if he would ever speak to her again. Not that she could blame him. She knew he didn't like her seeing his memories. Kagome knew now that the relationship between the two inu brothers was not always so… violent, for lack of a better word, but she still had no idea what had caused them to become the way they were now. She didn't see anything in Inuyasha's memories to warrant such a hatred for one another. A hatred that she was coming to learn wasn't really hatred at all, but something far different…and probably much worse. She wondered to herself if even Inuyasha remembered what brought on the fighting between him and Sesshoumaru himself then quickly discarded the thought. She remembered the face of the little boy who looked at his older brother as if he was his own personal hero and knew that whatever the reason that made things change Inuyasha had not forgotten it.

And if the reason lay with Sesshoumaru and by some chance Inuyasha didn't know what that was, she'd bet her claim to the Shikon no Tama, that Inuyasha remembered down to the exact moment when things changed.

At that moment Inuyasha chose to turn his head around to throw a look over his shoulder. She guessed she was taking too long to answer. She ducked her head to hide the burning in her face at what had been going through her head. Kagome was sure Inuyasha wouldn't appreciate what she'd been thinking of instead.

Inuyasha gave her an inquisitive look when he sensed her temperature spike for a second. He wondered what could have caused such a reaction. Perhaps what she'd seen in the vision last night? He sniffed the air to be certain as he wondered what she had to feel guilty about.

After she was sure her face was not sporting any traces of her guilty thoughts Kagome moved forward to lean her elbows on the ledge beside him.

She slowly recapped what she'd seen in the vision from last night. She told them of how it was the sound of someone crying that had brought her into the Receiving Hall. She told of the confrontation between Takashi Sano and the dying Lady Niesa. She told them of Sano's dislike for his grandson's mate and how that dislike, in Niesa's opinion (an opinion that Sano did not deny), was the beginning of their downfall, of the vision of the dead Takashi Tomoe and the words Niesa said that gave her the impression that everyone in the family had died recently to the event she had saw the night before. She told of her suspicions concerning the fight between Sano and Niesa that somehow, Sano had caused his family's deaths, of the implication of a fight between the Twins, of Sage being run off by Takashi Sano while she most likely was pregnant, and how apparently Takashi Tomoe stood blind to it all. She told them of how Niesa whispered to her dead mate that not only did Sage, Shueran's mate, live but so did the child she carried as well as Shueran's twin Shonin. Then she told them of the rage she could not only see but feel coming off of Niesa as she delivered a curse with her last dying breath on Sano for all the wrongs she felt he'd done to her. Finally she told them of the talking Takashi Sano and what he'd said to her of not only Onigumo, but of the other `guest' in the castle.

Kagome waited a few moments to give all of them time to process what she'd just told them before continuing.

“Now I'll tell you what I could piece together from all this,” she said calmly as she turned in her spot to lean her back against the ledge. She saw that sometime while she'd been talking Miroku had moved forward to stand just behind Sango, and that while Sesshoumaru hadn't moved his eyes were on Kagome. She lowered her gaze to the ground and away from that piercing gold gaze that sometimes saw too much. For Kagome had decided while she'd been recapping to keep some things, like what she had a feeling pertained to Miroku, to herself. She had a feeling that if she was right about the curse, and how she believed that because of said curse that Takashi Sano was still alive, that it wasn't the last they'd seen of the taiyoukai of the east.

Because she wasn't sure she could explain it if she tried, she was bent on not having to. So she kept her eyes focused on the ground and took a deep breath to deliver the shock of a lifetime for them all.

“What I could piece through the vision and then after what Takashi Sano said to me is this,” she swallowed and took a strong hold onto her courage. “That Sage, Shueran's mate, didn't just have a liking for the priestess style of dress, but was actually a miko.”

“Yes, somehow she was also a youkai and a miko and I gather like a miko she could purify youkai even though she was one herself. I imagine that's probably why Sano didn't like her. I got the impression that Takashi Sano didn't like that which he didn't understand or feared, and I doubt he understood her much at all. I'm guessing Sage being a real miko was probably the secret the Twins were keeping, but whatever the case, it somehow got out. What I know, is that when he found out, he somehow ran her off then somehow played the brothers against each other causing a fight. From what Niesa said, we know that Shueran left to find his mate and died during the search. Whether he ever found her, I don't know. I do know that she ended up in a village not very far from here. A village where she made sure no youkai could get into, a village we've all been to.”

She looked up then as she heard a small gasp. She looked from face to face as she saw the comprehension in there eyes. “Right. Sage was the mother of Onigumo. Which means he was a Takashi and that means he should have been a full-blooded youkai. From what I could tell by Sano, Sage had the ability to suppress the youkai blood within her child. She couldn't purify him because that would have killed him, but she could lock it off and make him almost human.” She looked at them all then, but they were just staring back at her with similar looks of shock and disbelief on there faces.

Now you can see why her mind preferred to think of it as a dream! Oh well, she gave a light shrug for a lack of anything to say to make it less shocking. Kagome then blinked as a thought occurred to her before speaking it aloud.

“Odd how all this time none of us ever thought to wonder how a simple human thief had the ability to call so many demons to him when he wasn't even dying…” she shrugged then, as if tossing the thought aside. “Well, anyway, for all intents and purposes Sage raised her son to believe he was human and to hate the Takashi family.”

“Understandable, if a bit drastic if you ask me,” cut in Sango quietly.

“Hmm,” nodded Kagome in complete agreement. “Yes, well that made me believe she knew Shueran was dead, because why turn a son against his father? Which probably means Shueran either found her, or her being a witch, had another way of knowing.” She looked to Miroku, the expert on all these things, and saw him nod in agreement that it was possible she could have known through some unnatural way.

“How can you be sure that Sage and her child were also Onigumo and his mother?” asked Inuyasha with huff. “There could have been two villages.

“Two villages with the same enchantment on them?” asked Kagome skeptically. She knew why Inuyasha didn't want to believe it. It would mean that even Naraku was a full youkai; something he could never be. Not without losing his mind and hurting everyone he cares about. “For the sake of argument let's say that that was possible and there could have been two different villages. Takashi Sano had gone on to comment on how his great-grandson had died. You see, having nothing else to do with his time since he couldn't come back here because of the curse, he stayed near the boy and watched him grow. He believed that Onigumo lived dishonorably because he was a thief and thought it was ironic that he died from the one element that he probably would have had control over if he'd been allowed to be a Takashi… fire. Apparently Takashi Shueran had control of the element so he figured his son most likely would have to.”

“That's what he calls `ironic'?” asked Sango in disgust.

“Hn,” said Kagome with a frown; they agreed again.

“The late taiyoukai had a strange sense of humor.”

“Yes, well I think he had a lot of strange sense on things,” Kagome grimaced.

Sango was wondering what all this must mean for Miroku because there was every possibility that Naraku was able to see the castle just as he did. It wasn't lost on her that Kagome still hadn't brought that or there conversation from a couple of nights ago back up. She decided to leave it for now, though since it would only bring up more questions and probably give no answers.

Besides, she figured Miroku wasn't an idiot; a pervert maybe, she thought with an inward smile; but no idiot. She figured it was only a matter of time before that revelation dawned on him… if it hadn't already.

“Do you think this is why Onigumo wanted the shikon jewel?” asked Inuyasha quietly. At Kagome's look of confusion he clarified for her. “I would assume he found out what he truly was, so maybe he wanted to undo what his mother had done.”

She nodded in understanding…

“I don't know Inuyasha. It's possible.”

“Kagome?” she turned to look at Miroku then, “Do you remember the words of the curse Takashi Niesa?”

Kagome blinked then. She hadn't expected any of them to ask that, but she especially hadn't wanted him or Sesshoumaru to. Or at least not be the one to repeat it to them.

She sighed then and quietly repeated the curse.

“I bind you Takashi Sano from all you hold dear. Anger and fear brought this to be. Destruction is what you sought, so destruction is all they shall see. Only it shall hold what happened this night. And only the eyes of your blood shall see it right. Your redemption will have a story to tell. But, after forgiveness where you once fell. Only then, shall blood of your blood admit you here.” She sighed again heavily. “I think it has to do with why the castle looks like it does. After all, she did believe it was the only thing he cared about.”

Kagome could see the haunted look in Miroku's eyes. She could tell that he was able to understand more from the curse then what she said and what he led on. Kagome knew that he understood what she'd come to understand after having time to think it through more.

Miroku was…is… a Takashi.

Miroku nodded and stared down at his hand; the one that once held the kizana no kizu. The wind tunnel. He watched as Sango slipped her hand into his. He looked up into her beautiful chocolate orbs and gave her a reassuring smile as he squeezed her hand lightly. He wondered if she understood what this all meant. That he was somehow related to Naraku? That he could very well be the son of the demon that destroyed her entire village? That had used the brother she loved so much to try and kill them on many occasions? He wondered if she would still be able to look at him the way she was doing just then when she did figure it out.

Would she still love him? Could she? Could any of them?

He slowly let go of her hand then as he took a step back from them. They all had lost someone because of the monster named Naraku, including him, and now it seemed that Naraku was probably going to get the last laugh on them after all. Miroku needed time to think about all he'd just learned and to figure out what it meant for him. And he couldn't do that with everyone staring at him.

“I…I…” he sighed then as he looked at all of them one by one. He could see the sympathy in their eyes as well as the hurt that Sango didn't try to hide. He didn't want to hurt her he just needed to think. Just… to understand and prepare himself for when they left him like he knew they would eventually. Who could blame them? The one he couldn't see anything in the eyes of was Sesshoumaru. Did he not care? Naraku had done some evil things to then inu taiyoukai as well. “Please excuse me Lady Kagome, everyone.”

“Miroku…”

He touched Sango's cheek softly to stop whatever it was she was going to say that he knew he didn't want to hear.

“I just need to think Sango-chan,” he tried to smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. “I won't be far… I can't go far.”

Then he quietly turned and walked away.

They all watched as the monk exited the roof and let the door shut quietly behind him. Kagome put her arms around Sango's neck from behind in a motion of comfort. She knew her friend felt hurt that the man she loved wouldn't talk to her.

“Give him time Sango-chan,” she whispered quietly to her friend. “He just needs to process. He'll be okay and he'll be back.”

Sango turned her head then to look at her friend who was like a sister. Tears clouding her eyes; confusion and hurt evident in her deep orbs.

“What could he possibly need to process that he can't beside me?”

Kagome gave her friend a meaningful look as she waited for the demon slayer to figure it out.

“Oh,” whispered Sango as she realized Miroku had finally caught on to what she and Kagome had speculated on before.

“Well,” said Inuyasha, standing, “I for one am going to find something to eat while things are still calm.”

Kagome turned to look at him then. She could tell that Inuyasha had also picked up on a few things too, though she wasn't sure exactly what those things were.

“I'll go with you Inuyasha,” replied Sango evenly. “Kirara needs to eat as well.”

Kagome watched her two friends depart then turned to the last person left on the roof. The only one who'd been quiet the entire time.

“You've been very quiet Sesshoumaru.”

Sesshoumaru had listened to everything that the miko had told them, but some of it had been no surprise for him. He'd finally recalled the story his father had told him. It was about a female youkai who also had the ability to purify her own kind for she'd been the product of a youkai lord and a miko. She was the first mix child to be born a full youkai. He had always believed the story to be a myth and no more, but he remembered his father had told him differently.

His father had claimed to know the miko-youkai and that she lived in a family who did not know who she was.

He remembered his otousan had said that it was a disaster waiting to happen, because the family she was in would fear her instead of recognizing they had.

It seems, his father was right.

But, none of that was what concerned him. What Sesshoumaru didn't like was the threat to Kagome that she completely glossed over and ignored. And by doing so, making sure the others did as well.

“You try my patience miko,” he said as he touched a hand to the soft skin of her cheek.

Kagome sighed. She knew she couldn't get one past him. She didn't know why she even bothered to try. The others had problems of their own to deal with and she didn't want to worry them with her problems yet. She didn't think they could help her anyway. Kagome had a feeling she was on her own on this one… not that that would stop Inuyasha and the others from trying. Which she didn't want them to do. She didn't want any of her friends to get hurt.

“I'm scared Sesshoumaru,” she whispered. “I don't know how to fight something I know nothing of.”

Sesshoumaru understood that. But, he was not worried about it, for she was not going to be fighting alone. Not if he had anything to say about it. The only thing playing on his mind was that he had an uncomfortable feeling that what they were up against would not answer to Toukijin or any blade. What kind of enemy would allow Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru to keep Tetsusaiga and Toukijin? Only one that did not have a cause to fear the power they held.

He had to think about what all that could mean.

Kagome could see that something was on the taiyoukai's mind. Whatever it was he was doing everything to make sure she didn't see it. She was glad he was trying to protect her. She just wasn't sure that he could protect her; not this time.

She moved her body against his and wrapped her arms around his waist. Sesshoumaru wrapped his tail around his chest to protect her face from the sharp edges of his armor before he brought his arms around her to hold her to him. He could feel her shivering against him.

Kagome pressed her face into his tail and inhaled his scent. There was something about his clean and spicy scent that always made her feel safe. She needed that feeling right now.

“Just continue to be there when I need you to be,” she whispered into his fur.

Sesshoumaru heard her loud and clear.

“You are mine Kagome,” he said with his usual arrogance that she for once took comfort in. “What belong to this Sesshoumaru, I keep.”

 

*****

Kagura watched the miko and the taiyoukai as they embraced from her hiding spot above them. She had heard the entire conversation they'd had before the others left and now stood quietly in thought. She didn't find it all that hard to believe that Naraku was meant to be a full youkai. The man always used to say that he would be great because he was meant to be. She'd never imagined back then he actually meant that. She'd just assumed it was the crazy talking… after all, it talked a lot.

She could tell the taiyoukai loved his miko a lot even if he himself would not put it into those words. She wondered how far he was willing to go to keep what was his though. Because, if her suspicions were right, it was going to take a miracle to get the miko out of the castle alive.

Kagura felt sorry for Kagome.

The young miko was always willing to help others. Kagome was always willing to use the powers she had to save and protect those who could not do it themselves. She was probably the most powerful miko since Midoriko herself… and it was that very power that has put the miko in danger.

Kagura wondered if any of them have even figured it out whom exactly there enemy was this time. She doubted it. If the stories she'd heard were right, his resurfacing was not something that happened often, if ever. The last time he was seen was over a thousand years ago. In away, she thought the miko should feel flattered that she was the one to bring him out… or at least her ability to handle the Shikon no Tama.

She wondered why the miko hasn't told her taiyoukai what she does know of her unknown enemy. The Taiyoukai, she was sure knew the legends, could help or at least tell the miko what she was up against.

“They could be great together. The Guardian and the Demon Lord…”

Kagura spun around at the sound of the quiet voice. She'd never even heard the other youkai come out on that part of the roof.

“Kanna.”

Kanna just gave her the same vacant look as she gave everyone else. She didn't like it. Her older sister usually gave her some indication she was more then just a void.

“The miko's time is almost up.”

Kagura tilted her head in wonder at her sister. It was odd to see the innocent looking face without her mirror, yet it seemed she didn't need it to see what was going on in others lives, but she didn't recall Kanna being able to see the future.

Kagura spread her fan in front of her face then, to hide her frown.

Who had Kanna been talking to?

“Hn. Time is no ones friend jisshi.”

Kagura then turned around and quietly left the roof, leaving her sister alone.

 

******

Dark eyes watched the miko and the taiyoukai on the roof. He could feel the taiyoukai's aura as it tried to search for his own even as the young lord looked in his direction, but did not see him.

 

So, the miko is afraid, hm? She need not be. As long as she gives me what I want I care not what she does. The first night of the Full Moon starts tonight, so tonight it shall begin. Be ready miko, for I am coming and am through with waiting.

 

Dark eyes glowed with an iridescent light as they watched the miko and the taiyoukai leave the roof.

 

 

To be continued…

 

 

Jisshi = elder sister

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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