InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Absolution's Pursuit ❯ A Critical Question ( Chapter 8 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Lady Sianna 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Adventure | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 01.13.2010 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.8K | Visits: 474 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Adventure | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 01.13.2010 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.8K | Visits: 474 | Status: Work In Progress
Absolution’s Pursuit
A Critical Question
______________________________________________________________ __________
Attempting to ignore the quaking of her muscles as she clung to one vine, then another in a steady pattern of ascent, Kagome made a mental note not to hyperventilate as she made her way to the top of the well. Once there, she flung the top half of her body over the lip, rather heavily, before finally pulling herself completely from the splintered wooden structure.
Crumpling near its base, she looked all around her, her eyes wide, eagerly taking in the surroundings she had missed so sorely over the last two, no… it was three years today, now that she was thinking of it. What did it mean, she wondered absently. What did it mean that after exactly three years to the day of their victory over Naraku that the well would allow her back? It was not as if she had not tried before now, almost to the point of breaking a leg.
How many nights had she lay awake dreaming of the past? How many times had she wished to go back, just one more time? She hadn’t even been given the opportunity to say goodbye before the well had greedily swallowed her up, taking her back to the place from which she had come, but not the place her heart called home. She hadn’t known it, not at the time. All she knew at the moment was that she was scared and wanted to go home. It seems, that the heart can be rather confused as to where home truly is, but is always certain where it is not. When she emerged in the well house to the happy, open arms of her mother, brother and grandfather, Kagome had been so relieved to see them all again, but she immediately became aware of an empty space, hallow and empty in her breast.
She loved her family, she truly did, but the call to return to the past only grew with the passage of each day. The small, empty space that lived within her heart became more and more noticeable, larger, colder and more difficult to ignore. She didn’t try the well right away, but after a few weeks of being in the time of her origin, she chanced it. Hurling her body over the edge, she was mostly unsurprised when the magic did not welcome her back. She had tried not to be upset by it, but had sat there in the bottom of the well for a long time imagining what her friends might be doing.
Some days were harder than others so she tried to keep herself busy. She had returned to school, making up for lost time by taking summer classes and by the skin of her teeth, she managed to graduate with her peers.
Still, no matter what she did, Kagome thought of the past; thought of Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, Shippou, Kohaku, Kaede, and even Sesshoumaru of all people. He had been a great help to them in the end and she personally had had the opportunity to spend some time with him while searching for Inuyasha and working to prevent themselves from falling prey to Naraku’s illusions and trickery. It had been odd that he was on their side for once, but she supposed that Naraku was the greater of two evils and so hadn’t really questioned it at the time.
She had both feared and anticipated the end of their journey, the downfall of their shared enemy and the destruction of the Shikon no Tama, but when it finally happened, it left her with an emptiness that she had never expected. In the future, she knew her friends were gone, out of her reach, never to be found again, but now she was here again and it literally took her breath away over and over again. Before now she could almost, almost pass it all off as an elaborate dream, but now it was real and for reasons she could not clearly identify, a sense of foreboding was settling itself around her, trailing icy fingers up and down her spine. She had wanted to come back, wanted it more than anything, but now, sitting here at the base of the well five hundred years in the past, she only now realized that it would not be the same. Whether the change would be a good one or a bad one however, remained to be seen.
‘Inuyasha…’ she thought distantly, ‘I-I came back for you. You’d better not make me regret it!’
Without warning, she remembered her mother. Just before she had come to the well house, she had gone to talk to her mother. The elder female had seen the change in her daughter, missed the spring in the girl’s step, the happiness in her eyes and the easy smile she had always taken for granted.
“I’m going,” the young miko had begun hesitantly. “I know its been a while, but I’d like to try the well again. Just this one last time. If it doesn’t work, I’ll agree to let Grandpa lock it up for good.”
Her mother had smiled sadly. She knew her daughter was hurting; that her soul ached to reunite with the part of her family she had left behind. Selfishly, she had initially been glad that the well had forced her to come back and then refused all her attempts to return. But then she remembered when she‘d lost her husband, remembered the searing pain that had plagued her for years to follow. Her daughter was no doubt facing a similar hurt, but it was made more difficult for her by the lingering hope that one day, she might be able to reclaim all that was lost.
They had stood together on the newly polished floor of the kitchen, the elder female holding her daughter in her arms. “Go.” she had told her softly, sadly. “If you feel that you must, then go. If I thought there was even the smallest possibility that I could be together with your father again, I would gladly leap into the well a thousand times, but I know such a thing is not meant to be.” and with those words spoken, she had brushed a stream of tears from her eyes.
“Just know,” she said at last, “That no matter what happens, whether the well takes you back or refuses you again, that you are loved on whichever side you are destined to stay.”
They stayed that way for a long time without saying another word, each attempting to draw comfort from the other and succeeding passably well. Finally, her mother released her and Kagome was on the brink of saying something else when her mother placed a silencing finger over her lips. She didn’t say a word, just smiled softly and then the young miko finally understood that the time for talk had passed. She gave a small nod before slowly backing away, her eyes still fixed on the matronly female. Only when she had finally made it to the door did Kagome turn away. Once out of the house, she ran with all her might lest she second guess herself and turn back again. Something about this trip to the well house felt different. She had dropped herself into the well’s depths many times before this day, but this time, this time the twinge of hope that had resided in the deeper recesses of her mind had moved forward, bloomed into something bright and inviting, almost, but not quite promising her success.
Now as she took in the boughs of the sacred tree, she wondered if it was her mothers will all along that kept the well closed to her. She may not have even realized that she was blocking it off, but only when she seemed to come to an acceptance within herself did the well open for her again. The elder female was not without spiritual powers of her own so it was not impossible that this was the case. Sighing shakily, Kagome supposed it didn’t matter now. She whished she’d spoken to her grandpa and brother before she left, but who was to say that the well would not take her back again?
Shoving her thoughts aside for later contemplation, she allowed a small smile to find her lips. She was back now, and no matter what happened from this moment forward, she would make the best of it.
‘They’re all going to be so surprised and happy to see me again! Especially Inuyasha!’
At last, Kagome took a deep, steadying breath, rose to her feet and began to walk.
_________________________________________________________________ ______
Fine lines and pale skin, deadly claws and a stripped wrist met his gaze as Sesshoumaru absently took in the contours of his right hand. It looked no different than any other time he had deigned to look upon it but it did not feel quite the same as it had several days ago, or even the night before.
Clenching the appendage into a tight fist, he did not flinch when his claws bit into flesh, puncturing it and releasing thin rivulets of blood. Unsurprisingly there was pain, but it was not this that was of concern to him. Still wishing to cling to the lingering notion that his father was mistaken in his assessment, he was left wanting when the wounds did not immediately seal over.
Outwardly impassive, his eyes stared fixedly at his palm as the blood continued to flow. It took at least a minute for it to stop and perhaps ten for the wounds to seal. He knew that such a minor injury should have sealed nearly as swiftly as it was made and dared not to think of what a more severe injury could mean to him.
Slowly pressing forward, he dropped his hand to his side before taking in the morning sky. Dappled with gray clouds, he knew that the rains would eventually come again, but simply could not be bothered to care. Rain was the very least of his worries.
When questioned, his father had not been very informative as to how he, Sesshoumaru was to attain absolution and regain his invulnerability against purification, but he did offer a way to give him a bit more time to discover the answers on his own. The coming months hailed the extinction of countless youkai, but not all. There were those among his species that were either amiable toward the humans, or simply neutral. According to his father, it was these who would be spared. But even they would be monitored carefully. Their future existence relied solely upon their continued disinclination to harm the humans or the environments in which they lived.
As it turned out, it was these who would grant him the time he needed.
According to his father, he was to travel far to the east, where he would eventually come to a sprawling but secluded stretch of water, a vast estuary surrounded by plants and wildlife, the likes of which he had never seen before. There he would meet an ancient tortoise youkai called Oshiikame. He would need to procure a portion of her impenetrable shell, from which Totosai could fashion a new armor.
However, DaiGin had cautioned, she would not surrender her ancient, and powerful shell without question, and in spite of the great power he still held, he would not be able to take the shell by force. “I cannot say for certain how you will convince her to surrender something of such great value, but I have faith that you will find a way, my son.” his father had said earnestly.
“The new armor will prevent any further loss of your powers and may even restore some of that which was already lost. Still, even this is not likely to preserve your longevity and power indefinitely. Additionally, it will not restore your immunity to purification so you must still seek to atone for your former deeds.”
Sesshoumaru, a youkai accustomed to doing as he pleased without regard to those around him, felt a severe blow to his pride that he was now forced to acquiesce to the whims of not only the gods, but other youkai in order to ensure his survival. It was a deplorable state of affairs, but what was he to do? He would not simply lay down and die, not without first doing all that he could to ensure his survival. No doubt he had much to answer for in the afterlife, and he was honest enough with himself to admit that he was in no rush to get there. He was not fearful of death per se, but like most other living beings, he simply did not wish to die.
And so, for now, he would follow his father’s vague instructions and continue traveling to the east. He was certain he could make better time if he took to the skies, but was unwilling to discover how this method of travel would weaken him.
Exhaling resignedly, the daiyoukai continued at his leisurely pace, his long hair and pelt swaying silently behind him. His father had always been a wise man, but also rather enigmatic as well; especially when it came to himself and Inuyasha. He often seemed to have motives other than what he was willing to say, his strange way of teaching his offspring a some great lesson they otherwise would not be able to learn. For the time being, he was left with no choice but to take his former lord’s words at face value and believe that all he had told him would be of great benefit in the end.
Ahead of him and high in the sky, the sun peered through the clouds, its translucent rays filtering down to the earth so far below.
Sesshoumaru blinked languidly and a vague, distant part of his mind wondered if his father and brother had managed to find one another in the realm beyond this world.
________________________________________________________________ ________
“When was he supposed to come back?!” Kagome had asked Sango and Miroku, her voice threaded with urgency.
“He didn’t say.” Sango had told her, her own brow creased with concern.
“I am sure there is nothing to worry about.” Miroku had tried to calm both females and the kit. “It has only been a few days. I am certain he will return soon.”
But Kagome had not been convinced. Something did not seem right about this situation. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but something about this bothered her, made her feel restless and anxious. She had spent the last three years thinking of little more than him and the life they could have had together if the well had not forced her to go back to her own time. Now that she was here again, he was no where to be found. She believed that he would, at the very least, stay near to the village in case she should return. She knew Inuyasha well enough to know that it would take a lot more than three years to make him give up hope. No, something was not right here. Not at all.
And so, after two very anxious days and nights waiting at Kaede’s village, Kagome set out to find some answers. She had left before dawn, stealing off in the direction her friends had told her Inuyasha went. Miroku, Sango and even Kaede would have tried to talk her out of searching for him on her own, so she had departed before dawn, knowing that they were all still asleep. Leaving a short letter to explain her absence, she had informed them that she should be back within a few days. Since she had also borrowed a bow and two quivers of arrows from Kaede, there was no need for them to worry about her. Having continued her practice of archery at home, the young miko had not allowed her skills to become lax. She would do fine.
Though not looking forward to the aspect of traveling alone, she consoled herself with the hopefully valid knowledge that she would find Inuyasha fairly quickly. Sango was a bit too pregnant to be traveling while Miroku needed to be on standby in case his wife needed him. As far as Shippou, he was still a bit too young. If they were to happen upon danger, she would have to protect him as well as herself so she felt it prudent to simply leave him behind. Now that the Shikon jewel was gone the dangers of travel should be significantly lessened, but still she did not wish to chance the child’s safety. She realized it probably was not the best of ideas to seek out Sesshoumaru by herself. The daiyoukai was unpredictable at the best of times and down right deadly the rest of the time, but something compelled her to go. She wasn’t even sure she’d be able to find him, she really didn’t have anything to go by after all. Still she knew she had to try. If the situation was reversed, there was no doubt that Inuyasha would come after her. Reservations aside, she could do no less for him.
Looking into the sky, the young miko’s heart grew heavy as thick dark clouds began to gather above her. She had probably been traveling for less than two hours and now she would be forced to seek shelter as she was in no mood to be drenched. Sighing, Kagome wished she’d taken the time to pack an umbrella and some extra clothing, but really, she hadn’t actually expected the well to bring her back after so much time. She’d been hopeful, but still hadn’t believed it until the blue swirls of magic finally wrapped themselves around her. It had been familiar, but strange at the same time. Even now, two days later it was somewhat difficult to believe that she was really here again. The villagers had welcomed her with open arms, partially taking her mind off the missing hanyou. At night however, when she looked over to the corner near Kaede’s door, she had found tears welling in her eyes when she could not see his familiar red form resting there. She had to find him!
The young miko crested a grassy knoll just as the first cool drops began to fall. There was another small village up ahead and she smiled. Hopefully someone down there would be kind enough to offer her shelter while she waited out the coming rain.
Stepping forward, Kagome was just about to navigate her way down the shallow but rocky incline when the cool brush of youki stroked its glacial fingers down her spine. Gasping softly, she pivoted where she stood, quickly but cautiously grasping for the bow she’d settled on her back. She drew an arrow quickly, seating it against the string and pulling it tight. When she was certain of the youkai’s direction, she stood tall and aimed her weapon.
“I know your there!” she called toward a wooded area opposite of where she had just emerged. “If you’re planning on attacking that village, I suggest you think again!” she announced and was proud that her voice was firm and sure. In reality, there were light tremors dancing over her skin. The demon was not low level by any means and she knew that if it chose to attack she would likely have only one chance to bring it down. She hadn’t felt a demonic aura in years and to feel it now was both thrilling and terrifying. Mostly terrifying though.
Tightening her grip against the stiff, white fletching of her arrow, Kagome narrowed her eyes against the now steadily falling trickles of rain. “I won’t warn you again!” she said at last.
Time seemed to stand still, the soft pattering of rain the only sound she could hear as she waited for the demon to emerge. Finally, a familiar silhouette came into view and the miko felt her breath catch in her throat.
‘Oh…’ she thought distantly, though she could not decide if this was a good development or a bad one.
Sesshoumaru paused at the edge of the small clearing, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on the diminutive female. His mind flooded with memory, and he was displeased to find that his recollections were not good. He recalled one of the occasions he had attempted to claim his father’s fang from Inuyasha and this woman, just a girl at the time, had come to his defense. Much as she was threatening to do now, she had fired arrows at him. At the time, he had effortlessly caught one of the projectiles from the air, melting it with a small dose of his acidic poison. Should she fire upon him now, his only option would be to remove himself from the arrow’s path, and even then he was not certain he would escape unscathed. Time it seemed, had only increased her powers as evident by the abrasive waves of purification that washed over him.
Surprisingly, the woman lowered her weapon, though tension remained evident in the rigidity of her stance.
“Sesshoumaru,” she called out softly. The demon lord did not answer her, opting instead to simply maintain his position near the trees. After a long, unpleasant pause the woman spoke up again. “I… I was looking for you.” she said quietly, her eyes still fixed on his over the space that separated them.
This… did not bode well, the demon lord decided with a faint narrowing of his eyes. There could only be one reason why this particular miko would be searching for him, yet he could not stop himself from asking, “Why so?”
Seeming to steady herself, she blinked away the drops of rain that had fallen onto her dark lashes before asking the exact question he did not wish to answer. “Do you know where I can find Inuyasha?”
______________________________________________________ __________________
A Critical Question
______________________________________________________________ __________
Attempting to ignore the quaking of her muscles as she clung to one vine, then another in a steady pattern of ascent, Kagome made a mental note not to hyperventilate as she made her way to the top of the well. Once there, she flung the top half of her body over the lip, rather heavily, before finally pulling herself completely from the splintered wooden structure.
Crumpling near its base, she looked all around her, her eyes wide, eagerly taking in the surroundings she had missed so sorely over the last two, no… it was three years today, now that she was thinking of it. What did it mean, she wondered absently. What did it mean that after exactly three years to the day of their victory over Naraku that the well would allow her back? It was not as if she had not tried before now, almost to the point of breaking a leg.
How many nights had she lay awake dreaming of the past? How many times had she wished to go back, just one more time? She hadn’t even been given the opportunity to say goodbye before the well had greedily swallowed her up, taking her back to the place from which she had come, but not the place her heart called home. She hadn’t known it, not at the time. All she knew at the moment was that she was scared and wanted to go home. It seems, that the heart can be rather confused as to where home truly is, but is always certain where it is not. When she emerged in the well house to the happy, open arms of her mother, brother and grandfather, Kagome had been so relieved to see them all again, but she immediately became aware of an empty space, hallow and empty in her breast.
She loved her family, she truly did, but the call to return to the past only grew with the passage of each day. The small, empty space that lived within her heart became more and more noticeable, larger, colder and more difficult to ignore. She didn’t try the well right away, but after a few weeks of being in the time of her origin, she chanced it. Hurling her body over the edge, she was mostly unsurprised when the magic did not welcome her back. She had tried not to be upset by it, but had sat there in the bottom of the well for a long time imagining what her friends might be doing.
Some days were harder than others so she tried to keep herself busy. She had returned to school, making up for lost time by taking summer classes and by the skin of her teeth, she managed to graduate with her peers.
Still, no matter what she did, Kagome thought of the past; thought of Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, Shippou, Kohaku, Kaede, and even Sesshoumaru of all people. He had been a great help to them in the end and she personally had had the opportunity to spend some time with him while searching for Inuyasha and working to prevent themselves from falling prey to Naraku’s illusions and trickery. It had been odd that he was on their side for once, but she supposed that Naraku was the greater of two evils and so hadn’t really questioned it at the time.
She had both feared and anticipated the end of their journey, the downfall of their shared enemy and the destruction of the Shikon no Tama, but when it finally happened, it left her with an emptiness that she had never expected. In the future, she knew her friends were gone, out of her reach, never to be found again, but now she was here again and it literally took her breath away over and over again. Before now she could almost, almost pass it all off as an elaborate dream, but now it was real and for reasons she could not clearly identify, a sense of foreboding was settling itself around her, trailing icy fingers up and down her spine. She had wanted to come back, wanted it more than anything, but now, sitting here at the base of the well five hundred years in the past, she only now realized that it would not be the same. Whether the change would be a good one or a bad one however, remained to be seen.
‘Inuyasha…’ she thought distantly, ‘I-I came back for you. You’d better not make me regret it!’
Without warning, she remembered her mother. Just before she had come to the well house, she had gone to talk to her mother. The elder female had seen the change in her daughter, missed the spring in the girl’s step, the happiness in her eyes and the easy smile she had always taken for granted.
“I’m going,” the young miko had begun hesitantly. “I know its been a while, but I’d like to try the well again. Just this one last time. If it doesn’t work, I’ll agree to let Grandpa lock it up for good.”
Her mother had smiled sadly. She knew her daughter was hurting; that her soul ached to reunite with the part of her family she had left behind. Selfishly, she had initially been glad that the well had forced her to come back and then refused all her attempts to return. But then she remembered when she‘d lost her husband, remembered the searing pain that had plagued her for years to follow. Her daughter was no doubt facing a similar hurt, but it was made more difficult for her by the lingering hope that one day, she might be able to reclaim all that was lost.
They had stood together on the newly polished floor of the kitchen, the elder female holding her daughter in her arms. “Go.” she had told her softly, sadly. “If you feel that you must, then go. If I thought there was even the smallest possibility that I could be together with your father again, I would gladly leap into the well a thousand times, but I know such a thing is not meant to be.” and with those words spoken, she had brushed a stream of tears from her eyes.
“Just know,” she said at last, “That no matter what happens, whether the well takes you back or refuses you again, that you are loved on whichever side you are destined to stay.”
They stayed that way for a long time without saying another word, each attempting to draw comfort from the other and succeeding passably well. Finally, her mother released her and Kagome was on the brink of saying something else when her mother placed a silencing finger over her lips. She didn’t say a word, just smiled softly and then the young miko finally understood that the time for talk had passed. She gave a small nod before slowly backing away, her eyes still fixed on the matronly female. Only when she had finally made it to the door did Kagome turn away. Once out of the house, she ran with all her might lest she second guess herself and turn back again. Something about this trip to the well house felt different. She had dropped herself into the well’s depths many times before this day, but this time, this time the twinge of hope that had resided in the deeper recesses of her mind had moved forward, bloomed into something bright and inviting, almost, but not quite promising her success.
Now as she took in the boughs of the sacred tree, she wondered if it was her mothers will all along that kept the well closed to her. She may not have even realized that she was blocking it off, but only when she seemed to come to an acceptance within herself did the well open for her again. The elder female was not without spiritual powers of her own so it was not impossible that this was the case. Sighing shakily, Kagome supposed it didn’t matter now. She whished she’d spoken to her grandpa and brother before she left, but who was to say that the well would not take her back again?
Shoving her thoughts aside for later contemplation, she allowed a small smile to find her lips. She was back now, and no matter what happened from this moment forward, she would make the best of it.
‘They’re all going to be so surprised and happy to see me again! Especially Inuyasha!’
At last, Kagome took a deep, steadying breath, rose to her feet and began to walk.
_________________________________________________________________ ______
Fine lines and pale skin, deadly claws and a stripped wrist met his gaze as Sesshoumaru absently took in the contours of his right hand. It looked no different than any other time he had deigned to look upon it but it did not feel quite the same as it had several days ago, or even the night before.
Clenching the appendage into a tight fist, he did not flinch when his claws bit into flesh, puncturing it and releasing thin rivulets of blood. Unsurprisingly there was pain, but it was not this that was of concern to him. Still wishing to cling to the lingering notion that his father was mistaken in his assessment, he was left wanting when the wounds did not immediately seal over.
Outwardly impassive, his eyes stared fixedly at his palm as the blood continued to flow. It took at least a minute for it to stop and perhaps ten for the wounds to seal. He knew that such a minor injury should have sealed nearly as swiftly as it was made and dared not to think of what a more severe injury could mean to him.
Slowly pressing forward, he dropped his hand to his side before taking in the morning sky. Dappled with gray clouds, he knew that the rains would eventually come again, but simply could not be bothered to care. Rain was the very least of his worries.
When questioned, his father had not been very informative as to how he, Sesshoumaru was to attain absolution and regain his invulnerability against purification, but he did offer a way to give him a bit more time to discover the answers on his own. The coming months hailed the extinction of countless youkai, but not all. There were those among his species that were either amiable toward the humans, or simply neutral. According to his father, it was these who would be spared. But even they would be monitored carefully. Their future existence relied solely upon their continued disinclination to harm the humans or the environments in which they lived.
As it turned out, it was these who would grant him the time he needed.
According to his father, he was to travel far to the east, where he would eventually come to a sprawling but secluded stretch of water, a vast estuary surrounded by plants and wildlife, the likes of which he had never seen before. There he would meet an ancient tortoise youkai called Oshiikame. He would need to procure a portion of her impenetrable shell, from which Totosai could fashion a new armor.
However, DaiGin had cautioned, she would not surrender her ancient, and powerful shell without question, and in spite of the great power he still held, he would not be able to take the shell by force. “I cannot say for certain how you will convince her to surrender something of such great value, but I have faith that you will find a way, my son.” his father had said earnestly.
“The new armor will prevent any further loss of your powers and may even restore some of that which was already lost. Still, even this is not likely to preserve your longevity and power indefinitely. Additionally, it will not restore your immunity to purification so you must still seek to atone for your former deeds.”
Sesshoumaru, a youkai accustomed to doing as he pleased without regard to those around him, felt a severe blow to his pride that he was now forced to acquiesce to the whims of not only the gods, but other youkai in order to ensure his survival. It was a deplorable state of affairs, but what was he to do? He would not simply lay down and die, not without first doing all that he could to ensure his survival. No doubt he had much to answer for in the afterlife, and he was honest enough with himself to admit that he was in no rush to get there. He was not fearful of death per se, but like most other living beings, he simply did not wish to die.
And so, for now, he would follow his father’s vague instructions and continue traveling to the east. He was certain he could make better time if he took to the skies, but was unwilling to discover how this method of travel would weaken him.
Exhaling resignedly, the daiyoukai continued at his leisurely pace, his long hair and pelt swaying silently behind him. His father had always been a wise man, but also rather enigmatic as well; especially when it came to himself and Inuyasha. He often seemed to have motives other than what he was willing to say, his strange way of teaching his offspring a some great lesson they otherwise would not be able to learn. For the time being, he was left with no choice but to take his former lord’s words at face value and believe that all he had told him would be of great benefit in the end.
Ahead of him and high in the sky, the sun peered through the clouds, its translucent rays filtering down to the earth so far below.
Sesshoumaru blinked languidly and a vague, distant part of his mind wondered if his father and brother had managed to find one another in the realm beyond this world.
________________________________________________________________ ________
“When was he supposed to come back?!” Kagome had asked Sango and Miroku, her voice threaded with urgency.
“He didn’t say.” Sango had told her, her own brow creased with concern.
“I am sure there is nothing to worry about.” Miroku had tried to calm both females and the kit. “It has only been a few days. I am certain he will return soon.”
But Kagome had not been convinced. Something did not seem right about this situation. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but something about this bothered her, made her feel restless and anxious. She had spent the last three years thinking of little more than him and the life they could have had together if the well had not forced her to go back to her own time. Now that she was here again, he was no where to be found. She believed that he would, at the very least, stay near to the village in case she should return. She knew Inuyasha well enough to know that it would take a lot more than three years to make him give up hope. No, something was not right here. Not at all.
And so, after two very anxious days and nights waiting at Kaede’s village, Kagome set out to find some answers. She had left before dawn, stealing off in the direction her friends had told her Inuyasha went. Miroku, Sango and even Kaede would have tried to talk her out of searching for him on her own, so she had departed before dawn, knowing that they were all still asleep. Leaving a short letter to explain her absence, she had informed them that she should be back within a few days. Since she had also borrowed a bow and two quivers of arrows from Kaede, there was no need for them to worry about her. Having continued her practice of archery at home, the young miko had not allowed her skills to become lax. She would do fine.
Though not looking forward to the aspect of traveling alone, she consoled herself with the hopefully valid knowledge that she would find Inuyasha fairly quickly. Sango was a bit too pregnant to be traveling while Miroku needed to be on standby in case his wife needed him. As far as Shippou, he was still a bit too young. If they were to happen upon danger, she would have to protect him as well as herself so she felt it prudent to simply leave him behind. Now that the Shikon jewel was gone the dangers of travel should be significantly lessened, but still she did not wish to chance the child’s safety. She realized it probably was not the best of ideas to seek out Sesshoumaru by herself. The daiyoukai was unpredictable at the best of times and down right deadly the rest of the time, but something compelled her to go. She wasn’t even sure she’d be able to find him, she really didn’t have anything to go by after all. Still she knew she had to try. If the situation was reversed, there was no doubt that Inuyasha would come after her. Reservations aside, she could do no less for him.
Looking into the sky, the young miko’s heart grew heavy as thick dark clouds began to gather above her. She had probably been traveling for less than two hours and now she would be forced to seek shelter as she was in no mood to be drenched. Sighing, Kagome wished she’d taken the time to pack an umbrella and some extra clothing, but really, she hadn’t actually expected the well to bring her back after so much time. She’d been hopeful, but still hadn’t believed it until the blue swirls of magic finally wrapped themselves around her. It had been familiar, but strange at the same time. Even now, two days later it was somewhat difficult to believe that she was really here again. The villagers had welcomed her with open arms, partially taking her mind off the missing hanyou. At night however, when she looked over to the corner near Kaede’s door, she had found tears welling in her eyes when she could not see his familiar red form resting there. She had to find him!
The young miko crested a grassy knoll just as the first cool drops began to fall. There was another small village up ahead and she smiled. Hopefully someone down there would be kind enough to offer her shelter while she waited out the coming rain.
Stepping forward, Kagome was just about to navigate her way down the shallow but rocky incline when the cool brush of youki stroked its glacial fingers down her spine. Gasping softly, she pivoted where she stood, quickly but cautiously grasping for the bow she’d settled on her back. She drew an arrow quickly, seating it against the string and pulling it tight. When she was certain of the youkai’s direction, she stood tall and aimed her weapon.
“I know your there!” she called toward a wooded area opposite of where she had just emerged. “If you’re planning on attacking that village, I suggest you think again!” she announced and was proud that her voice was firm and sure. In reality, there were light tremors dancing over her skin. The demon was not low level by any means and she knew that if it chose to attack she would likely have only one chance to bring it down. She hadn’t felt a demonic aura in years and to feel it now was both thrilling and terrifying. Mostly terrifying though.
Tightening her grip against the stiff, white fletching of her arrow, Kagome narrowed her eyes against the now steadily falling trickles of rain. “I won’t warn you again!” she said at last.
Time seemed to stand still, the soft pattering of rain the only sound she could hear as she waited for the demon to emerge. Finally, a familiar silhouette came into view and the miko felt her breath catch in her throat.
‘Oh…’ she thought distantly, though she could not decide if this was a good development or a bad one.
Sesshoumaru paused at the edge of the small clearing, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on the diminutive female. His mind flooded with memory, and he was displeased to find that his recollections were not good. He recalled one of the occasions he had attempted to claim his father’s fang from Inuyasha and this woman, just a girl at the time, had come to his defense. Much as she was threatening to do now, she had fired arrows at him. At the time, he had effortlessly caught one of the projectiles from the air, melting it with a small dose of his acidic poison. Should she fire upon him now, his only option would be to remove himself from the arrow’s path, and even then he was not certain he would escape unscathed. Time it seemed, had only increased her powers as evident by the abrasive waves of purification that washed over him.
Surprisingly, the woman lowered her weapon, though tension remained evident in the rigidity of her stance.
“Sesshoumaru,” she called out softly. The demon lord did not answer her, opting instead to simply maintain his position near the trees. After a long, unpleasant pause the woman spoke up again. “I… I was looking for you.” she said quietly, her eyes still fixed on his over the space that separated them.
This… did not bode well, the demon lord decided with a faint narrowing of his eyes. There could only be one reason why this particular miko would be searching for him, yet he could not stop himself from asking, “Why so?”
Seeming to steady herself, she blinked away the drops of rain that had fallen onto her dark lashes before asking the exact question he did not wish to answer. “Do you know where I can find Inuyasha?”
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