InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In Death, Trust Me, as You Didn't in Life ❯ On Borrowed Time ( Chapter 46 )

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

Chapter 46: On Borrowed Time

Kagome woke slowly, warm and comfortable, and surrounded by love. With a faint smile, she kept her eyes closed, not wanting to give up her place in her lover's arms quite yet.

Instead, she snuggled deeper into his hold, pressing her face to his chest, and breathing in his clean, masculine scent with enjoyment. He smelled so good... the thought that if she'd never died, and then traveled with him to learn his heart, she'd have never known his wonderful scent, made her shudder.

If one single thing had changed, then I would not be where I am now. Dying was painful, and frightening... at first. But then I saw him, and he was waiting for me, just as he said he would, and it wasn't scary anymore. And then I was ready - I was ready to die and pass on so that I could join him, even before I knew why he had waited for me.

I would do it again. To be here, like this, with him, I would do it again. I would do anything...

I will do anything to never be taken from his side. He is as much a part of me as any part I was born with.

And I would not change that for anything.

She could feel cool, satin strands of silver slide against her skin as he shifted a little, and she smiled again, wrapping her fingers in them and twining the shining locks around them. They were so beautiful, and so soft...

Ethereal.

Not really a word that fit his personality, true, but... his looks? Very much so.

The truth of the matter was that he was the most beautiful male she'd ever seen, and she felt a pleased flush hit her cheeks as she welcomed the realization that he was hers.

Now... if only I can keep him, she thought, melancholy scenarios crossing her mind of what could very well happen if she didn't figure out how to win this little war.

Sure, I know that even in death we'd still be together, after all, we've sworn our oaths... but I don't want him to die again - he should never have died to begin with. And I don't want the rest of the demons and half-demons to die, either...

So I have to figure out this balance thing...

Although... somehow, I think that there's going to be several things that are going to have to change.

One things for sure - after this, the world will never be the same.

She didn't realize that she'd spoken out loud until Sesshoumaru answered her.

"Perhaps that is not such a bad thing, miko. Surely, the world's future could be bettered, could it not?"

Kagome's eyes jerked up to meet his, and she frowned as she thought about that. It didn't take long to admit that he was right. The world she'd come from could be much better - it could only be made better by returning the world to the path it had once been on...

She sighed, and smiled at him. "Yeah... at least, in my opinion, the world could be better. And demons and half-demons have as much right to live as any humans. I think that's why I couldn't stay away from this world, even though it was scary at times - because after seeing that demons were real, and the world as it is now, I liked it better than my world."

He nodded, smoothing a lock of her hair away from her face, and smiled a tiny smile, just for her. "This one has faith that you will find the way, Kagome. You will make the world a better place - and we will raise our children in this better world you create for us."

She flushed, aroused in an instant at just the thought of making those children... and then she groaned, and closed her eyes. "Damn Miroku anyway, he's contagious," she groused.

Sesshoumaru cocked an amused brow at her spiked scent. "Do not blame the monk for your own desires, miko." With a silent sigh, he stood, then let her slide down until her feet were on the ground again. "It is time to go."

She nodded, watching while he poked Jaken in the side. "We go now, Jaken - you are to stay with Rin and the kit. If anything happens to them..." he didn't need to finish - the toad knew this threat like the back of his hand.

"Y-yes, Lord Sesshoumaru. This Jaken will take care of them as if they were his own."

Kagome chuckled, and threw a smile at the toad. "Thank you, Jaken, for taking such good care of them - I really appreciate it."

Jaken's eyes widened, and he blushed a deep green, as he sputtered incoherent thanks and promises of vigilance towards the children.

Sesshoumaru simply turned on his heel and began walking away, though he was inwardly amused. When he'd first met Kagome, Jaken and she had definitely not gotten along - in fact, she'd beat him up pretty good. Now, Jaken barely kept himself from fawning all over her - it was almost as bad as he fawned over his Lord.

Kagome giggled to herself at the toads, well, toadying, and then idly spread her aura a bit, wanting to make sure everything was still peaceful in the lands surrounding the village. They were... but she was a bit surprised at a whole new group of demon auras... no... half-demon.

Hmmm... wonder who they are? she thought, surprised. Should I mention this to Sesshoumaru, or not? I'd probably better, come to think of it - he'll get crabby if I don't and he's surprised.

"Uhm, Sesshoumaru?"

He cocked a brow at her tone of voice. "Is there something you need to say, miko?" he prompted.

"Yeah... there's a bunch of half-demon's sitting in a clearing a couple miles away... with the way things are going I think they are probably here to join in the battle." She eyed him thoughtfully. "Are you gonna get grouchy about having to be around half-demon's? Cause I think they'd be useful in this fight, you know."

With a sideways glance, he said, "This one does not get 'grouchy', miko. As long as they are not fools, I will deal with them as I do any other."

She beamed at him. "Good! I'm glad to hear it." Just as she finished speaking, they arrived in the meadow where the meeting would take place, and he led her to a spot in the middle of the meadow. The rest of those that would be attending the meeting would sprawl around them.

Kagome looked around curiously. Some demons and humans were already there - including Kaede, Miroku and Sango, and Ryozo. When they saw her and Sesshoumaru settle down in the middle of the meadow, they moved over to them and sat near Kagome.

As seemed to be the case the world over when people were awake together at dawn's first light, they spoke to each other in quiet tones.

"Good morning, Kagome," Sango murmured softly, a slight smile on her face.

The miko turned goddess smiled at her friends, quietly greeting them all, content to make small talk until the rest of the very much enlarged group appeared; she could feel the aura's of the demons and half-demons converging, it wouldn't be long.

She sobered, however, when she thought about all that they needed to impart to their allies... this fight wasn't quite as straightforward as they'd all thought.

Not now that they knew that Ungai was possessed by Sou'unga.

She sighed morosely as she thought about it. It seemed that, every time they turned around, things got harder.

She had no idea how much worse it was about to get.

---wWw---

Meimei moved slowly through the devastated camp, easily mimicking an elderly lady with an arthritic body - though she was anything but.

As she walked, she took in the damage that had been done by Nyoko's thunderstorm - and was very pleased.

"That woman is very destructive - I like her," she chuckled. "Perhaps when this is all over, I'll stop in and meet her. It would be most entertaining..."

"What do you cackle about, old woman," Ungai snapped. "Do you find this amusing?"

She turned and looked over at him. "Actually, yes. It's too bad they missed you, though," she replied blandly.

His eyes flashed red, and before he could stop himself, he lashed out at her, thinking to slap the old bat before him.

That's not quite what happened, however.

Instead of his hand making contact with her flesh, it made contact with something that sent a horribly painful shock through him, and he screamed hoarsely as his body was flung away from Meimei's.

When his smoking flesh calmed, he looked up, enraged to see her standing there with that infernal grin still on her face. She looked completely untouched - as though what she'd done to him hadn't even winded her, despite the sheer power she'd released.

Of course, it hadn't winded her - nothing could do that. But Ungai - or Sou'unga - still wasn't aware of who she really was - they only saw what she wanted them to see. And right at this moment, Ungai was facing a wrinkly old woman that was grinning at him after just having put him in his place.

"I would not recommend trying that again, monk - it's not good for your health. If you wish to try again, though, I won't stop you." She shrugged, and turned her back on him. "Won't bother me none to send you to hell early."

"Why do you mock me, servant of the kami?" he ground out, enraged. "Do we not serve the same gods?"

At that, she laughed outright. "No, you fool, we don't. The 'god' you are serving will only pull you straight to hell even faster than you're going already. You are truly a fool, monk - the Buddha will be well rid of you."

She shrugged nonchalantly, and began to walk away, still enjoying the mess that was the army's encampment. There had been much destruction, and it would delay the movement of Ungai's troops for several more days - it would take a great deal of time for the remaining monks to bury the dead.

Come to think of it, I think I'll show my displeasure with those fools - their burial mounds will remain infertile for the rest of eternity. Nothing will grow on grounds cursed by me.

Ungai stared at the departing figure of the priestess with a hatred maddened gaze. It took some minutes, but finally, he regained his feet, all the while fantasizing about her destruction at his hands.

Little did he know that the tortures he was imagining being heaped on her, by him, would be his own fate - the goddess would make sure of it.

He was living on borrowed time.

---wWw---

Touran smirked as she led the group of half-demons to the meeting place, all the while imagining Sesshoumaru's reaction to their presence.

She was going to be disappointed - at least, somewhat.

Kagome had already seen fit to announce their presence, so Sesshoumaru already knew, and would not be caught off-guard.

That didn't mean, however, that he wouldn't be annoyed, even if he managed to control it.

When the group entered the clearing, they hesitated - unsure whether they could trust the rest of those gathered. After all, being half-demons, they had spent most of their lives avoiding demons and humans both - and both races had representatives in the meadow.

The miko turned goddess watched sadly, yet with hope - perhaps this day was the beginnings of peace? If only she could let everyone know that they could indeed trust each other...

Hmm... wait a minute. I think I can do just that. And it might be a good idea to do this anyway - that way, if there's anyone here who is really a spy for Ungai, we'll find out before any damage is done.

"Sesshoumaru?"

He looked down at her, brow tilted questioningly.

"I'm going to do something in a minute - so don't get all crazy on me, okay?"

He eyed her with suspicion. "What are you up to now, miko?"

She turned to face him, a slight frown forking her brow. "I'm going to do a little trick with my aura that I just figured out." She gestured at the groups of people around them. "We've all come together to fight a greater evil, Sesshoumaru, but there's still fear and suspicion amongst us. I can change that, by letting everyone here be aware of the honesty of all the others in this endeavor. And... I'll be able to tell if anyone is here trying to spy for Ungai, too."

He looked a bit taken aback, but considered her words for a moment, then nodded. "I will not interfere."

"Good!" she chirped happily. "I'm glad you understand - but I want you to know that I would have done it anyway." She narrowed warning eyes on him. "Even if you yelled at me."

He looked down his nose at her. "This Sesshoumaru does not yell, miko," he said coldly.

She eyed him narrowly. "Uh-huh. Whatever you say. You sure you're not an ice demon?" she asked facetiously.

Golden eyes narrowed on her, with enough warning in them that the people close to them began to move away - but Kagome looked singularly unimpressed, staring idly at her fingers.

"Oh, darn, looks like I could really use a manicure," she said, her tone bored. "All this running around in such a primitive era has left my poor nails all torn up."

There was a startled burst of hastily muffled giggles from nearby, and Sesshoumaru's brow arched as he turned and gazed at the armor-clad taijiya. "Do not laugh at her, slayer, it only encourages her in her disrespect."

A growl sounded from the little goddess, and she started to glow a bit as her temper started to get away from her. At that point, Miroku stepped in.

"Might I suggest that we get ready to begin this meeting?" he asked, eyeing the enlarged group of people that were staring at Kagome in awe mixed somewhat with fear. "Your, ah, display, Kagome, is setting everyone on edge."

She realized what he was saying abruptly, and once again dampened her glow, before shooting one last, evil glare at the demon Lord staring so blandly at her.

She hmphed, then turned her nose up and looked away. "Fine." She stood up, since all attention was still on her anyway, and closed her eyes, preparing herself for what she was about to do.

With a raw, energy filled pulse, her aura manifested itself instantly, and as everyone stared at her in shocked surprise, she sent it out in a wave of energy, leaving herself as the epicenter.

As it traveled outward, those behind the front ring felt an incredible sense of peace and determination flood them, leaving no questions in any of their minds that those that were here had no intent to harm any other that was here.

It was an awesome feeling, erasing any traces of mistrust that were still being held, and as the wave reached the half-demons that were all still standing together in a huddle, they all smiled, and sat down, for the first time feeling safe in a mixed group.

Once the wave reached the ends of the village, it turned on itself and came back, heading for the woman that created it, bringing all the honesty and good faith feelings from the village, as well as those at the back of the group, and spreading it forwards, letting those at the front feel the same things from those at the back.

When the energy reached Kagome once again, she absorbed it, and studied everything she'd gathered from the entire area. Sure enough, there were two signatures there that were tainted with Ungai's... one here in the field, and one still in the village.

Can't say as I'm surprised - after all, spying is a major part of war. But this way... she began to grin, and the look caused Sesshoumaru to cock his head suspiciously. That look never meant anything good from the overly-mischievous woman.

"Miko, what is it that has put that expression on your face?"

"Well, looks like I was right. We've got two spies... one here, one in the village. What do you say we flush them out before we do anything else?"

Now he understood that look, and a nasty smirk settled itself on his face. "This suggestion pleases me. What do you plan?" he asked.

"We should probably take this opportunity to scare the hell out of them, then send them back to Ungai with their tails between their legs, don't you think?" She tapped a finger against her lip, then nodded to herself.

"Sango, Miroku, I have a job for you two. Go into the village and look for a man called Ichiro - he is in the section where we've been putting the new arrivals. He is a spy. Bring him back here, but don't say anything to him about why, ok?"

"Sure thing, Kagome," Sango grinned, then turned and walked towards the village, Miroku trailing her with his usual lecherous expression.

Kagome shook her head and sighed. "That man will never change." Her face scrunched up for a moment, then she laughed. "It's probably a good thing that the Buddha isn't a woman."

Sesshoumaru blinked, then blinked again. Ridiculous. "Indeed," was all he managed to say. That visual was a little too... distracting. "The spy here in the meadow is...?" he questioned, and Kagome looked at him, startled.

"Oh! Yeah..." she turned and looked across the field to a man sitting by himself - a samurai by the looks of him. Sesshoumaru followed her gaze.

"The warrior that keeps himself separate?" he asked, and she nodded.

"Yes."

He didn't even answer, he just moved, and in a flash, he was standing before the human. The man eyed the demon that had just appeared before him warily, as those gathered around watched through narrowed eyes.

"You are a spy sent by the monk Ungai."

---wWw---

A/N: I sincerely apologize for the wait on this chapter - for some reason, my mind kicked into one-shot mode over on the Inu/Kags side of my brain, and I couldn't seem to get anything on this chapter to go right because of that, so I left it alone for a while. I refuse to push it when it's not working - that's how good stories go bad.

Anyway, hope this update entertains!

Amber