InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In Death, Trust Me, as You Didn't in Life ❯ Speak No Evil ( Chapter 22 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter 22: Speak No Evil

By the time Kagome and Kikyou had finished talking and gotten back to camp, everyone else was ready to leave, so, grabbing her bag, Kagome walked up to Sesshoumaru, following his gaze towards the horizon.

"Have you figured out which direction Inuyasha took off in?" she asked quietly.

He nodded once. "He has headed towards the village your group calls home - probably without thinking about it."

"Ah. Well," she said, shrugging, "that's a good thing, anyway - it's in the right direction, at least. So... ready to go?" she asked brightly, trying to keep thoughts of possession and false betrayals pushed to the back of her mind.

As if Naraku didn't pull enough of that fifty years ago with Kikyou and Inuyasha - now Kagura wants to try the same with Sesshoumaru and I.

He cast her a sharp look when he caught the falsity in her voice and her smile.

She and the other miko spoke of something and she does not wish for me to question her on it...

"Come, miko. We leave now."

Without another word, he moved off, a thoughtful expression on his face. Kagome wouldn't be able to keep him from the knowledge he sought - one way or another, he'd find out what the two women had spoken of.

As they traveled, Kagome fell back to walk beside Kikyou, noting her worried look. She smiled at her when the older woman glanced her way.

"He's tracking Inuyasha, so don't worry. We'll find him."

Kikyou smiled, relief lighting her features, mixed with surprise. "I'm grateful... but - he doesn't mind?"

Kagome chuckled, rue twisting in the sound, and shook her head. "It annoyed him a little when I asked, but I pointed out that I wouldn't be who I was if I stopped caring about my friends. He took my point. As long as he knows that Inuyasha is no rival, he's fine."

"I see." She laughed a bit. "Truth be told, I am also happy to know that you are not a rival. Silly, isn't it? For so long, though..." she trailed off sadly.

"No, it's not silly. Believe me, I understand. I mean, look what I've got to deal with now... I've got a rival myself - Kagura."

At that point, Sesshoumaru's voice came drifting back to them, and Kagome blushed. "There is no rival, miko. That word implies that there is a chance for the second person to win the 'prize' - and this Sesshoumaru has already told you that such is not the case. Speak no more of such foolishness."

Kagome glared at the back of his head, while Kikyou smothered a laugh at the glare the demon Lord was busy ignoring.

Kagome blinked at Miroku's chuckle coming from behind her, and looked over her shoulder at him.

"What?"

"It would seem that you cannot keep much from your Lord's eyes, Kagome - or his ears, as the case may be. Perhaps that is a good thing."

Kagome's eyes widened, and she turned her head and gazed at Sesshoumaru's back, then glanced at Kikyou, who was looking at her with an amused brow raised into her bangs.

"Uh..."

"Indeed, monk, you are correct." Without breaking stride, the demon lord turned his head and looked over his shoulder at her. "I will always know when my female attempts to hide something from me - it will avail her nothing to do so and will only anger me."

There was a peculiar intensity to his words, and Kagome was abruptly aware that he knew she was hiding something.

She scowled.

Well, hell. Now what?

Speak no evil...

---wWw---

Inuyasha had woken that morning covered in dew and slumped in a tree, and completely unaware of how he'd gotten there. The last thing he remembered was curling up on the ground and wishing he was dead.

Keh. Dead - and if that isn't ironic, what is? For so long there's been this mess between me and Kikyou and Kagome - and both of them have been dead... seems like it's gonna be my turn next.

Although... if being alive means I'm gonna hurt like this forever, I think I'd prefer to stay dead.

He pushed himself up in the tree, and laid his head back against the trunk, looking through the branches to blue skies full of sunshine. It was beautiful, and in that moment, oddly enough, he felt a calm settle over him - a sense of resignation. Strange to think that he'd feel more peace in that emotion than he had in any other since Kagome had died.

Inuyasha wasn't really much of a deep thinker - he'd spent most of his life running and fighting just to survive, and when you're worried about making a mistake that could cost you your life, you aren't really thinking about the deeper things - you really just didn't have the time to waste on stuff that wasn't necessary. But since Kagome had come into his life, he'd had a little more time to do things like that... and he'd found that it hurt.

Inevitably, if you had to spend that much time concentrating on a subject, it was going to hurt - hell, even survival was that way. And all the thoughts running through his mind since the moment Kagome had returned, screaming his bastard half-brother's name with such anguish, had caused more pain than he could ever remember.

Because even though everyone else seemed to think that they knew his heart better than he did, they were wrong. Simple as that. He knew he loved Kikyou - but he loved Kagome, too. And it hadn't taken but an instant last night, to know that he loved them both the same way. As women, not as family.

For all that, though, he was well aware that any chance he'd ever had with Kagome was gone, and that he'd never know her as a lover would - that privelige would obviously go to the ice prick.

That was the one thing about this that he could at least swallow, funny enough - if he had to lose her, he'd rather it be to Sesshoumaru than anyone else.

He laughed a little at that, a hollow sound in the cool morning air.

Who'd have ever thought I'd feel that way about the icy bastard? But it's the truth. Better him than that fuckin' Koga, or Hojo... or anyone else. At least this way, I know she's here, and I can see her. And I know Sesshoumaru well enough to know that while he doesn't bother with much, what he does claim as his will always be taken care of and protected.

With a sigh, he closed his eyes, and turned his head a bit, the picture of dejection.

He knew that he could never see Kagome as a sister, his heart could never change that drastically... but it seemed that he'd have to see her as his best friend for the rest of his life - he had no other choice, and so... he supposed he could do that.

But it was going to be a long, long road for him - and one riddled with painful jealousy as well.

And even worse... Kikyou. Somehow, he had to heal the damage to his heart by the loss of Kagome - all while trying not to lose Kikyou. It was almost enough to kill him losing one of the women he loved, he knew full well he wouldn't be able to withstand the loss of both.

Opening his eyes, he sat up straight and shook his head, then flung his leg over the branch he'd spent the night in, and hopped down from the tree. Lifting his head, he sniffed the air, and then scowled when he caught the scent of his brother and the others heading straight for him.

"Keh." He growled, annoyed. "I'm not ready to see them - I need a little more time. Fuck it... I'll just head for the village, and they can follow on along behind."

As the echo of his voice died in the clearing, he moved into a sprint, and disappeared beneath the trees, fading into the darker gloom of the forest - one shadow among many.

---wWw---

Jaken squawked loudly as he stepped into the rocky hollow that held the decidedly odd looking hut, hoping the sorceress was home, and would open her door - he would rather not have to knock. The last time he'd done so, almost a hundred years before, she'd had him half fried before she'd realized who was there, and he did not want a repeat.

Despite the fact that some considered frog a delicacy, he was a toad, and a demon - and fried toad demon smelled anything but appetizing.

"Hey, Nyoko! Are you here or not, wench?" he yelled, hoping she was so he could head back to his Lord. He'd hated the year his master had been gone - and never wanted to go through that again.

He jumped, a loud screech erupting from him as flames suddenly sprouted at his feet, and glared at the woman who had just appeared in front of the hut.

She was tall, but hidden, wearing a heavy cloak with a hood, leaving only her eyes visible.

Eyes that glowed oddly silver in the shadows of the hood.

"So, toad, it's been a while. Heard that Sesshoumaru got himself killed back about a year ago - who are you carrying and fetching for now?" Nyoko grinned down at the irate walking wart - she'd always loved torturing the nasty-tempered little green lump.

"You foolish woman! Lord Sesshoumaru is too powerful to stay dead for long - he's back, and has sent me to bring you to him."

At that, the woman laughed, and flipped the hood back, revealing a rather lovely, though stunningly human face. The only thing showing that she was more than she looked was the color of her eyes. Her hair was black, although not quite as lovely as Kagome's raven wing color that glowed with blue highlights, and her features even and attractive.

"Somehow, froggy," her grin widened as she heard the angered scream building in his throat, "I doubt that even Lord Sesshoumaru is powerful enough on his own to overcome death. So the question remains... is he really alive, and if he is, how did he find his way back - and who helped him?"

"My lord is alive, you rotten wench, he isn't one of the undead - and he's not the only one back from the dead, either." Jaken frowned at that, but continued. "The shikon miko is back as well - as part of the same spell that brought my Lord back."

Nyoko's brow rose in surprise at that. The miko has returned as well? So... they are tied together then - in one way or another... or in both, more than likely. She smirked wickedly, then, as she caught onto what the toad wasn't saying.

So the arrogant dog has fallen to the same affliction as his father. I love the sense of humor that fate has - it's so deliciously ironic.

Shaking her head, she looked down at Jaken and laughed again. "Well, since it looks like you're not going to answer any of my other questions, I guess I'll just have to wait 'til I see Sesshoumaru himself. You know," she mused, a whimsical expression on her face, "I've really missed messing with that jerk's mind - it's been what... almost a hundred years now." She shuddered, an expression of mock horror on her face. "Damn! I'd better go grab my things - no wonder I've been feeling so antsy! I need my 'pissing Sesshoumaru off' fix."

Jaken's eyes bugged out and he turned an even deeper shade of green in his rage.

Who does that wench think she is, talking like that about Lord Sesshoumaru? I hope he guts her!

"You stupid wench! One of these days you'll outlive your usefulness to my Lord and he'll finally kill you!"

"Maybe, Jaken," she sang out from inside her hut, "but I'm gonna have a hell of a lot of fun torturing him until then!"

Hmph! Stupid female...

He grumbled the entire way back to his master's side.

And Nyoko just laughed.

---wWw---

Izayoi glanced at her Lord Husband, and frowned, angered that he seemed so indifferent to their son's hurt, and yet, had concerned himself far too much, in her opinion, with his older son's happiness.

"Why do you help the girl cause our son harm, my husband? Does he not suffer harm to his heart because of her - because of Sesshoumaru's desires? Why is he worthy of happiness, and Inuyasha not?"

Sugimi growled at her. "Do not accuse me of not caring for my son, Izayoi - either one. Inuyasha is not meant for Kagome - he was always meant for Kikyou. They both had a lot to learn, however, before they could come together, and that was Kagome's only purpose between the two of them. To teach them what they needed to know."

"And yet, if that were so, why does he hurt so deeply over this? Hasn't he been harmed enough in his life?!" Izayoi was a mother - and as such, hated watching what her son had suffered since her death... even more so the older he got.

"Enough!" He turned to her, scowling deeply. "Life is hurt, Izayoi! You know this as well as I. But what makes Inuyasha so much more worthy than Sesshoumaru? You ask me that about Inuyasha - shouldn't you ask it of yourself about my heir? My elder son also deserves happiness - and Kagome is the one that was meant to give it to him! I will not sacrifice the joy of one son for the happiness of another."

Izayoi sighed, then turned her head away from her husband. "I will not act at this time to change anything - however, if this continues to harm my son, I will." She moved away, but before she could get very far, Sugimi appeared before her, growling deeply.

"You will not interfere at all, woman. We may both be in this realm where death does not exist, but I still have ways of making you submit. Do not tempt me."

She merely stared at him, head held high. "Then stop allowing my son to be hurt."

And she moved forward again, piercing the mists between the realms, and faded from sight.

Stubborn woman! She always was too overprotective of the whelp for his own good. No doubt if she'd lived longer, he'd have been spoiled beyond belief.

I just hope that she doesn't end up harming him worse with her meddling - she never understood limits.

---wWw---

Sesshoumaru came to a halt about mid-day, and Kagome moved up to him, meeting his eyes questioningly.

"The half-breed slept here, in this tree." His eyes left hers, following an invisible path into the trees on the other side of the clearing. "He is still heading for his village."

Kagome reached out and touched the tree for a moment, then dropped her hand, and turned towards the others.

"It's been a fairly quiet day - we haven't even been attacked. What say we take a break here for a bit and have something to eat?"

The demon Lord grunted, then settled down at the base of the tree, signaling the rest of the group that Kagome's suggestion was to be followed, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. They had made good time, and the group was happy to rest and eat - as well as visit the bushes for personal business.

Kagome sat down and opened her bag, digging out travel rations - travel mix that she'd made up personally before she'd died, and deer meat jerky. It wasn't as good as her mothers bento box lunches... but since she could no longer go home, they'd have to make due with what they had.

Suddenly, Sesshoumaru stood and in a flash of silver and white, disappeared into the trees, leaving the group staring at him in surprise. He'd sounded no alarm, though, so they just continued to sit and eat.

What the hell was that all about? Kagome wondered as she stared at the spot his body had disappeared.

She would have been very surprised if she could have seen what - or who - he had gone after.

Sesshoumaru himself was a bit surprised, as this particular entity couldn't be sensed in any way unless she chose to let you do so - she was dangerous because of that ability to hide; it was perfect and without any flaw that any of the group had ever been able to figure out.

What he was curious about was why she was letting him feel her presence.

Coming to a halt before the girl, he studied her, and she made no move to stop him, nor to address him. After a few minutes, he asked, "What is it that you want?"

Kanna looked up at him, face as expressionless as always. "That is not the correct question, my Lord. What is it that you want?"

He tilted his head and stared at her for a longer time, considering her words and their possible meanings.

"Your mirror." He gestured at it with one graceful, yet deadly hand. "It can show whatever you will it to?"

"Yes," she said, voice whispery and faint, as it always had been. "Do you wish for me to show you something?"

"Show me Kagura."

The tiny girl did not move, and her expression did not change, but immediately, a picture formed in the mirror. The woman was floating on her feather above a village, and then moved off, and Sesshoumaru was abruptly aware that she was in his lands.

"She searches for the sorceress. It is her desire to remove your miko from her desired place at your side."

Sesshoumaru considered the girl before him for a moment longer, then said, "Go. I would keep you secret from the rest of the group for now. Keep track of Kagura. If you need to speak to me, simply flare your aura, and I will come."

Kanna nodded slightly, then walked away without another word.

She left behind a demon who was still a little curious...

Why had the void child sought him out and given him her loyalty?

Because that's exactly what she had just done.

She would make a most excellent spy - and add Nyoko to the mix, and he'd know what humans or demons were planning before they even knew themselves.

What do you think of that, I wonder, Naraku? Even your most loyal child does not grieve your loss - and now, she is mine.

Her loyalty will never be in question, either - for if she offers herself to a person, she follows them 'til death...

Just as she did you.

I will be a much better master, however...

And a longer lived one.

---wWw---

A/N: And there is just no end in sight for all the plotting - now we've added Izayoi and Kanna into the mix. I think I'm gonna get a migraine trying to keep track of all this.

Amber