InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Ghost of Love ❯ chapter 7 ( Chapter 7 )

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

“One day–that's it, Kagome.”

She was still wiping the sleep from her eyes as she followed him out the door. Her mind was foggy and her face reflected the confusion she was feeling. Somehow she had ended up back in her room alone with a sleeping Sumire across the room from her but for the life of her all she remembered was rushing through the forest on Inuyasha's back. She had instinctively woken before the sun had even begun to rise. She knew that he was preparing to leave.

Yawning she watched as Inuyasha stretched and then prepared to leave her once again. “One day, are you sure.”

“Feh, you doubting me? I've got a pretty good idea where he's at. Sesshoumaru's not much of the wanderer that he used to be.” Inhaling the morning air deeply he finished stretching his limbs and turned back to her. “ Now come here and see me off properly.”

Kagome blushed but made her way shyly over to Inuyasha. “Be safe,” she whispered into the silent breeze that fluttered around them.

He embraced her then, his strong arms engulfing her small frame. “Don't worry Kagome. I lost you once but I don't plan on letting you go ever again. By the end of tonight you'll have to pry me away to get any time by yourself. You're mine from now until eternity.”

Kagome buried her face in his chest to hide her embarrassment. That was the first time he had ever been so forthright. She was overwhelmed by the feelings that she had never experienced before. Such an intense and vibrant expression of her heart's truest desires. Once she had wrestled her heart back under control she stretched up on her tip toes and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek.

“I'll be waiting here for you.”

“Keh, I know.”

She watched until his back disappeared from her sight before heading back to her room. Not a moment too soon either. She caught the fully clothed Sumire trying to make a silent escape from the room they had shared.

“You would be going where?,” the miko asked as she subtly blocked the youkai's escape route.

“Umm, just out for a walk.” Sumire tightened the knotted scarves that covered her face.

“The sun's not even up yet and why would you need to take your belongings?”

When no response came from the other woman Kagome sighed as she closed the door behind her. Sitting down on her bed she motioned for the timid youkai to do the same. “Reality sunk in this morning, huh?”

“I'm not sure what I was thinking.” Sumire sputtered out as she seemingly began to panic.

Reaching out Kagome took a hold of the Sumire's hand, squeezing it in reassurance. “Let's just sit and talk about it for now. You've come so far already right?” Times like this she was glad of her miko background. This past year had given her much experience in comforting others. She couldn't blame the violet eyed youkai for a sudden fit of anxiety. Sesshoumaru was a rather intimidating man after all.

“What if he doesn't agree to cancel? I just want to live in peace, alone on my island.”

Kagome watched the storm of emotions play across those unusual violet eyes. She figured a change in topic was in order. That way the young woman would have time to calm herself before discussing such a volatile topic.

“Sumire, if you wouldn't mind me asking,” she paused before a nod of the covered head gave her permission to continue. “It's just that you don't really seem like any full blooded youkai I've ever known. You have such human traits about you.”

“That's probably because I've been raised by humans.”

Kagome's eyes widened in surprise. In this day and age that was unheard of. Only the family of hanyou would consider such a thing. Most of them bore horrible scrutiny from the other humans around them as well. Most situations didn't bode favorable for either party involved.

“Don't look so surprised, I know that is almost unheard of but its true. My father had human retainers. They were completely loyal to him. When he died they hid me away on the island. Since that day there has been many generations born to my father's loyal retainers. They have all taken on the responsibility of my care as if it was the most natural thing on earth.” Sumire's eyes sparkled with fondness as she spoke of her makeshift family.

“What of your mother then?” Kagome hoped she wasn't pushing to far with her questions.

“Gone. She passed as she was giving birth to me.”

“I'm sorry.”

“That's fine. It was a miracle I was born at all. Both father and mother knew the risks of her becoming pregnant. They thought it was very possible that neither she nor I would survive. Mother was strong though and I think it was her sheer will alone that allowed for my survival. I was born two months too early. I was told that Mother sacrificed herself to grant me life. She preformed an ancient ritual that forced her life force into my body.” Sumire's eyes misted as she told the story.

'Another bad topic to be on', Kagome thought and so she desperately changed the subject once again. “Sumire-chan, why do I feel such a strong aura from you and no one else seems to detect its presence?”

Puzzled eyes stared at her. “What do you mean strong? Didn't you hear Inuyasha? I'm a poor excuse of a youkai. Weak as a human really.”

That had to be a lie. Even now Kagome was surprised as the strong energy being emitted by the female. Inuyasha hadn't been fazed by it nor had Miroku and Sango seemed to have been concerned over it. It flowed around her in powerful pulsating channels. The more Kagome looked the more she became aware of something unusual. The it dawned on her. It was being bound by something.

“You've been sealed!” Kagome blurted out. Surprised eyes looked back at her.

“How did you...”

“Your youki pulsates and churns violently around you. It's like its trying to escape but can't. Suspended and rolling continually around you. The only explanation could be that it has been sealed.” Kagome proudly explained how she had come to that conclusion.

“I can't believe you,” Sumire looked shocked as her hand unconsciously clutched at something beneath her shirt. “You're the first miko to ever be able to see it. Not even youkai can sense it.”

Carefully Sumire pulled out an amulet tied on a leather necklace. In the dimly lit room it seemed almost like a glittering black stone. Kagome's eyes curiously fixated upon the jewel. Her focus averted when the woman began to speak again.

“ I guess I shouldn't be that surprised, you two are cut from the same cloth.”

“Who?” Kagome asked confused at the comparison.

“Midoriko-sama. You and she are much the same.”

“Midorkio-sama, was she alive when you were young?” Kagome had high hopes. How she would love to speak to someone who had known the legendary miko.

“I'm not sure. My parents had this amulet commissioned before I was even conceived. I know that they tried for many years before Mother finally became pregnant. It's hard to say just when this was created and if I was alive at the same time of Midoriko-sama. At any rate it is a powerful seal the miko herself created as a means to keep my presence hidden and to keep me safe.”

“Why such a powerful seal?” Kagome couldn't fathom why parents would create such an amulet for a child that hadn't even been born. How could they have know that she would need it?

“I don't know. I've never taken it off. I was told that I must keep it on at all times, otherwise something terrible would happen.”

“I see.” Perplexing as it was, Kagome simply could ask her to remove it to see what would happen. Then a thought occurred to her. “Perhaps Sesshoumaru-sama knows something about it. Inuyasha said that your father's were very close. Sesshoumaru would have been older when the binding ritual was preformed right? If he was to be your husband perhaps his father told him something about your seal.”

“I don't know...” Sumire had that deer caught in the headlights look again. Kagome had to tread carefully for fear that the woman before her would bolt.

“Sumire, I'm not sure why your parents decided to bind you and Sesshoumaru-sama to each other. It could have been simply a gesture of good will between friends. However, I think there was more to it than that. Parents that go to the effort of having a seal like that commissioned before you were even born would not leave you in the hands of just anyone. Perhaps they only trusted someone like Sesshoumaru-sama to take care of you. He has more compassion than you think. Give this a chance and just allow some of your questions to be answered before you make the decision to run.”

“Inuyasha is lucky to have found someone as wonderful as you.” Sumire reached forward, catching the miko in a warm embrace. “I will do as you advise under one condition.”

“What's that?”

“I want you beside me when he arrives.”

Kagome had to chuckle at that. Here was a woman much older than her who was clinging to her skirts much the way a child would do. “As you wish.”

“Are you not hot in that get up?” Kagome asked as they sweltered in the midday sun hanging the laundry to dry.

“I admit that it is unpleasant but I have become accustomed to it.” Sumire replied, her hands nimbly folding the laundry they had just pulled off the lines.

“Why go to such extents now, you're safe on the shrine grounds.” Kagome looked again at the woman who resembled more of a boy. The long baggy clothes masked any hint of a curve or feminine feature. The head wrap was complex and effective for hiding her facial features as well.

“I don't only wear this traveling. My personal attendants have ensured that whenever I stepped out of my quarters I was completely covered. The less attention I draw the better I guess. I can't be recognized if I'm not seen.” The youkai seemed completely nonchalant about the fact she had been confined in such a way.

“Really. How did Inuyasha know that it was you then?”

“That was a slip of my tongue actually. I had snuck out of my quarters to go star gazing when I came across him in an open meadow. He looked so much like what I imagined his father to look like that I had called out to him before I realized what I had done.”
“You didn't think that perhaps it was Sesshoumaru?” Kagome inquired. The silver hair definitely was unique combined with being a dog youkai, but she guessed not too many youkai fit that profile.

“How could it have been? Inuyasha had the cutest ears I had ever seen. He was hanyou and that was that. I had heard about him from my father's retainers. The first generation had kept in contact with others close to Sesshoumaru's mother for the first few years after Inuyasha's birth.”

“Curiosity killed the cat you know.” Kagome laughed.

“I guess you could say it was fated. I knew the moment after I spoke who he was and why he had come. I knew that I couldn't run away forever.”

Kagome was about to speak when she felt the warm tingling of Inuyasha's presence. Then came the unmistakable chill of Sesshoumaru's fierce aura. Seconds later a hand was knotted in her sleeve and she turned her head to see Sumire's trembling form beside her. Gently she laid a hand over the tight fist and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“I'm right here beside you.”

A/N: Thanks for being my beta kokoronagomu! Luvs ya!