InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In Death, Trust Me, as You Didn't in Life ❯ The Beginning ( Chapter 50 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: kanna37 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Fantasy / Hentai / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 06.11.2010 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.7K | Visits: 774 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Fantasy / Hentai / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 06.11.2010 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.7K | Visits: 774 | Status: Work In Progress
Chapter 50: The Beginning
"This is where Sou'unga was sealed. After the battle, it was decided that hell hadn't really been the best place to send him, since it was not hard to summon spirits from there. You decided this, Kagome - you sealed him here, knowing that with him sealed in this way, he could never be summoned again unless someone broke the seal first. And not many could break the seal of a goddess."
She stared at her grandfather, that flat, irritated look still on her face. "So you've known all this time. Wonderful," she said sourly. With a huff, she looked down at the floor, noting the seal carved into it carefully - and realized that it was indeed an unbreakable seal - Sou'unga would never escape from here unless Amaterasu herself let him out.
But...
"Fine - you've got secrets - keep them. But what is it that we needed to see? You said that something here would tell me where I need to go next."
"No - that's in the main shrine. I just needed you to take a good look at the seal carved into this floor, that's all. Amaterasu-kami made it very clear that you needed to see it," he muttered, another sour look crossing his face, and Kagome had to laugh.
"Ha! I knew it - she drove you crazy, too!" she chortled, and her grandpa looked horrified for a moment.
"Don't say such things, child! It isn't the place of a mortal to be annoyed by the gods," he mumbled sheepishly.
Sesshoumaru merely quirked a brow, then looked at the seal on the floor as well. He moved further into the room, almost surprised at the intricacy of the seal - he'd never seen such an elaborate one, before - even he couldn't follow its meaning in its entirety. It was huge, taking up most of the floor, and looked as though it had been burned into the wood, and even after all these centuries, looked just as fresh as the day it had been placed.
After a moment more, he followed his onna and her grandfather from the shrine, almost amused at the fate awaiting Sou'unga. How appropriate for father's devil sword to be sealed by my little goddess. Father must have gained a great deal of amusement out of this...
His own amusement only deepened as he watched his little mate stomp after her grandfather's stooped form, obviously seriously annoyed by this whole thing. He had to admit, though he'd never dare to say it aloud, that the sun goddess had indeed dumped a mess in Kagome's lap - and her reactions to that fact were highly entertaining.
His thoughts once more moved back to the matter at hand as they entered the main shrine, and the Higurashi elder led them to a small door hidden in a small alcove towards the front of the room. As they entered, he realized that it was a small storage area for scrolls and other things of importance to the shrine, and he wondered... What could he have to show us in here?
That question was answered when the priest moved to one particular shelf, and with great reverence, took down an ancient scroll that he then turned and placed on the small table in the center of the room. Motioning for him to come closer, the elder said, "The language on this scroll is ancient, but the goddess assured me that you both would be able to read it. It is your clue to where you need to begin your search for the answers to your questions, Kagome." He glanced at her with narrowed eyes. "I only hope you pay more attention to this than you ever did any of my stories, young lady."
Kagome flushed guiltily; Sesshoumaru quirked a brow, amused again. "That is a fault she still carries - refusal to listen, elder. One can only hope that she will outgrow that," he said blandly, as Kagome shot him a death-glare.
"Don't start, Sesshoumaru," she said warningly. "Or you, either, grandpa." She tossed her head haughtily. "This goddess has better things to do than listen to you two old people talking shop," she said, turning her nose up at the both of them.
With a shake of his head, Sesshoumaru ignored the elder priest's huff at his granddaughter, and bent his silvered head to the scroll. "Come, Kagome, the time for play is past. We must read this now - remember, we still have a meeting to return to, and time does not wait for anyone."
She narrowed her eyes at him, then obediently turned it on the scroll. But she still couldn't resist one last barb... "Time may not wait for the rest of you," she singsonged, "but I'm not just anyone, anymore, now am I?"
Grandpa glared at her. "No respect anymore from the young," he muttered, then harrumphed, and sat back, letting them read.
---wWw---
Sosa sat back on his pillow, brow furrowed in thought.
So... my sister's little protege has decided to go back to the past. But why? What does she hope to accomplish? Perhaps I should have viewed them longer, he mused. But... no. I will instead simply place a trap for the little girl and her demon. She thinks to use the paths of the other realms... and she goes back in history to the beginning. So what would be a good trap?
The god of chaos and storms sat and pondered for a great amount of time, as storms raged outside of his palace in the underrealms. At times, the storms would become so great, that they would almost tear the fabric of his reality - but then, they would calm again, to simple rainstorms. If one were to be watching, and paying attention, that one would notice that the storms responded to their master's thoughts - when he was angered or frustrated, they would increase, and when he was pleased, they would calm.
Nonetheless, eventually, the raging storms of his anger passed, and the calmer storms of his pleasure took hold, denoting that he'd determined a course of action that he was pleased with.
That could mean nothing good for the forces opposing his; he was devious, and dangerous, and most of all...
He was out to win.
---wWw---
Amaterasu shuddered in disgust as she left her brother's realms. "Ill-tempered bastard, isn't he, though?" she muttered disgustedly. "And with the way those stupid storms of his were going, he's plotting something. I just hope Kagome's able to figure it out - because it's almost sure it's something against her."
She frowned to herself as her consciousness opened back up in Meimei's body. What is he after, though? There's very few things that he can do to her, really - that's why I gave her the aspect of Balance. With that, she can turn almost anything that he does to nothing - as long as she figures it out. Her aspect of balance is anathema to his of chaos - balance will always triumph in the end. That's why, even as a demi-goddess, she can beat him.
She cackled, then. Guess it doesn't really matter what he's doing... as long as the girl uses the brain I gave her, she'll find her way out of whatever trap he's setting.
And then she laughed even harder at the thought of it.
Oh... I've got to watch this - she's going to be really pissed - and boy, does that girl have a temper! This whole thing ought to be really good for a laugh!
---wWw---
Sugimi, unbeknownst to himself, was echoing the goddess' thoughts perfectly, though his was for a different reason. He simply enjoyed the whole damn mess - and he was getting even more of a kick then the goddess, because he had several things that were making him laugh like hell.
He was certainly enjoying Kagome's reactions to the mess that Amaterasu had dumped on her, but there was also Sesshoumaru's reactions to some of the things as well - and then there was Satori's reactions.
He chortled merrily - that bitch's subjugation had had him practically rolling like a big puppy.
And to top it all off, there was his youngest son, and his situation with that hysterically funny sorceress. The whole thing was just too funny for words...
Especially that part about the shock collar... he just knew the reaction his temperamental son would have to that one.
He found himself sincerely hoping that she actually did it...
Though he knew better than to say anything in front of his hime - she probably wouldn't be too amused.
He was, though. This whole thing was just too funny for words.
Even if it was dangerous as hell.
---wWw---
Inuyasha glanced over at Nyoko, then looked away again, not sure of he should say anything to her. She'd been lost in her own thoughts - dark ones, by the looks of things - since they'd returned from that battle earlier.
He himself, was thinking dark thoughts, since seeing what was going to happen to some of those monks. He shivered again as the despairing screams of the two monks that had been with that scouting party entered his memory. He could only say that he was very glad he was not on opposing sides with this sorceress.
Then he frowned. Of course, even being on the same side had it's downsides, he thought, as his expression morphed into a scowl - that shock trick she'd done to him had sucked.
He folded his arms into his haori, and kept that scowl as he stared ahead of himself, suddenly determined to ignore the infuriating wench sitting next to him. She's gonna drive me more insane than Kagome ever did - and that's saying something.
Nyoko had turned from her darker thoughts as soon as the frown had hit Inuyasha's face, and with his sidelong scowl in her direction, she was almost positive what his thoughts centered on. With an evil smirk, she cast her own sidelong glance at him, and noted the cute pout. Ahhh... he's trying to ignore me! Can't have that from my little puppy...
With absolutely no warning, she glomped him, knocking him flat on his back as she hovered over the shocked hanyou, grinning. "So, puppy - planning to ignore me, were you?" she asked smartly.
He growled, enraged, and tried to buck her off - with absolutely no luck. Eyes widening, he snarled, "What the fuck did you do to me, bitch?! Why the hell can't I move?"
She rolled her eyes. "If I couldn't immobilize a pup like you, I wouldn't be much of a sorceress, now would I?"
"Keh! I don't give a fuck what kinda sorceress you are, bitch, let me up!"
"No..." she said musingly, one finger tracing her lip, "I really don't think I want to do that yet. Instead..." she trailed off, and then, to Inuyasha's complete shock, she leaned down and kissed him.
He was so shocked, that his mouth dropped open - which was an invitation to Nyoko - one she took full advantage of.
And by the gods, shocked or not, hell if he didn't like it.
A lot.
---wWw---
Kagome stared down at the scroll she'd just finished reading thoughtfully.
Apparently, I have to go back so far in history, that only Amaterasu or the kami would remember it, seeing as how there were no written records kept back then. This'll be interesting...
"It's even further back in history than that legend you told me about; you know, about how your family got the Western Lands," she said slowly to Sesshoumaru, who was hovering over her shoulder, still staring at the scroll.
"Hai... long before. It seems that this scheme of Sosa no Wo's started millenia ago. So this time, this 'First Time' that is spoken of, begins to end there, twelve thousand years before this present time. That is when things were still balanced, but Sosa's interference was just about to start. This could, indeed, be an advantageous time to see," he mused, almost to himself.
They were interrupted by Hitomi's voice calling them to the mid-day meal, and Kagome frowned at her grandfather as he snatched the ancient scroll from the table, rolling it up carefully and placing it back on the shelf as he pushed them out of the room.
"Grandpa! That was rude!" she said, annoyed.
"Nonsense! I'm just trying to get you youngsters to your lunch, so that you can go back and finish what you need to, that's all. Besides... it's not good to keep an elder from his food, after all, I need all the nutrition I can get at my age, ya know," he huffed.
Sesshoumaru shook his head at the elder's words. "Youngsters, is it? "I can assure you, Higurashi-san, I am as far from a 'youngster' as it is possible to get, and still be living," he said, an almost wry note in his voice. He shot a quelling glance at his miko at her sudden snicker.
"Yeah, gramps... calling him young is definitely not appropriate. He's many centuries older than you, I can guarantee it." She flushed horribly at her grandfather's mumbled comeback about cradle robbers, then growled in irritation.
"That's enough, grandpa - do you want me to tell mama on you?" she snapped, and the elderly man paled somewhat. His daughter-in-law's temper was not something that it was wise to invoke...
No more was said as the trio entered the house, and the meal passed pleasantly enough. Once finished, Kagome hugged her mother reluctantly, not really wanting to leave so soon, but knowing she had to, and promising to come visit again as soon as she could, they left, heading back through the well to continue the gathering with their allies.
Nothing could have startled them more, however, than finding Inuyasha, and Nyoko, on the ground kissing near the Goshinboku as they headed back towards the meadow.
Kagome stopped in shock as she realized just what they were interrupting...
Sesshoumaru was just disturbed.
"Inuyasha!" she yelled, happier than hell to find him tangled up with the sorceress. "When did this start?"
The hanyou, embarrassed beyond anything he could ever remember, turned as red as his fire-rat, and, knocking a grinning Nyoko over, he leaped to his feet, then turned and disappeared into the trees as fast as he could to the sounds of Nyoko's and Kagome's laughter. He didn't dare look back - he was sure his brother's expression was one he did not want to see.
Feh! How did I let that woman do that to me? We must have spent way too much time doing... that... he flushed even redder as the memories of that swam through his cringing puppy mind, if it's already time to go back to that meeting. How the hell'm I gonna go back and face them?!
"Keh!"
Sesshoumaru had a rather difficult time keeping the expression of distaste off his face, and there was no way to keep it out of his voice. "Was there not somewhere more... discreet... to practice such behavior, Nyoko? Did I not say I did not wish to see your... courtship of the whelp at some point? I am sure that I did..." he trailed off coldly.
Kagome cast him a warning glare. "Be nice. I happen to think it's great. You are just an old grouch."
"No, I just have no desire to see the whelp mating," he shuddered, though it was barely noticeable. "That would truly be... disturbing."
"Oh come on now, Sesshoumaru - no more than anyone having to witness you two going at it," Nyoko snickered back. "I mean... who really wants to see Kagome getting frostbite?"
Kagome blushed red, then snapped defensively, "He's not cold when we're..." she trailed off then, knowing she'd just embarrassed herself further. Turning even redder, to Nyoko's amusement and Sesshoumaru's fascination, she said, "Oh, drop it! Let's just get going!" She turned at that and stomped off, and the two followed, Nyoko laughing up a storm at the stiff back of the little goddess.
Oh, how much fun this has all been, she thought, almost hysterical with internal laughter. And I have a feeling it's only going to get even funnier before this is all through!
Kagome stalked through the trees, determined not to turn around and look at the two beings following her - she knew if she did, she'd only blush more... and she hated blushing. Especially when she had to face the knowing expression on Sesshoumaru's face.
"Jerks," she muttered to herself.
Sesshoumaru smirked inwardly at that. Oh, yes, he'd heard her, and he'd get her back for the insult...
Later.
---wWw---
Kagome rubbed her temples absently as the meeting place emptied - it had been a long afternoon, and she was beginning to feel a certain tightness in her head. On top of that, she still had to deal with those spies, and then they had to get Kaede to watch the children while she and Sesshoumaru went time surfing.
She groaned. And all I want to do is take a nice, long nap. This goddess thing sucks - really, it does.
"Oi, Kagome," came a rather annoying voice, and immediately, her temples began throbbing. Inuyasha...
"What?" she snapped.
"Feh! Bitch, don't take out your bad temper on me, I was just gonna ask a damn question!" he hissed as he jumped out of the path of his brother's warning whip slash.
All of a sudden, Kagome's eyes took on an evil cast, and she stood up, stalking over to loom over the suddenly cowering hanyou. "By the way... that reminds me of something that I needed to speak to you about, bakayasha," she smiled unpleasantly, taking ahold of one wildly twitching puppy ear and pulling him close to her face. "I seem to recall certain statements made, like... "Sh-she can b-barely point her miko p-powers the right way... and now she's got the power of a kami? Oh, shit, this is gonna get really crazy, really fast." ... so, Inuyasha, do you wanna explain yourself, or do you just want to see if I really can point it the right way?"
The hanyou paled at that. "How the hell did you find out about that?" he shouted. "You weren't even there!"
She thrust her face closer to his menacingly, scowl planted firmly on her face. "One word, Inuyasha - Goddess. Duh!" She wasn't about to give Kanna away - let the baka think she'd been checking up on him with her 'divine powers'. She rolled her eyes inwardly at that thought. I probably could, though...
Paling even further, Inuyasha yanked his ear from her grasp with a yelp, then scuttled backwards away from her. "Damn it, Kagome! Don't go spying on me all the damn time!"
With one last warning scowl, she turned away. "Oh, I don't do it all the time... just sometimes," she said, suddenly cheerful. "But ya never know when that might be!"
"Feh!" he spat, in disgust as she walked away, and Sesshoumaru followed, somehow, for the first time in his life, really wanting to laugh. The words his brother had spoken... they were so true - not that he was stupid enough to ever let her hear that, of course. On top of that, his brother's reaction to getting caught...
Absolutely wonderful.
---wWw---
A/N: It seems like lately all I'm doing in these authors notes is apologizing. Well, for what it's worth, I am again apologizing for the lateness of this post - after my father's death, I got very ill myself, and haven't been working on any of my stories. I actually felt a little better this morning, so I sat down and typed this chapter while I still did.
Also, I wanted to say thanks to all who nominated and or voted for this story in the recent awards - I was astounded that this story was nominated in five categories, and placed in four. Unfortunately for me, I can't get my profile to accept the html for the banners - it only accepted one, so that's the only one I was able to put up.
Finally, another apology to all those who've reviewed lately - again, being ill, I haven't answered a lot of them, and I don't know if I'll be able to catch back up. So if you don't hear from me in a response, please, don't get angry - I did read them, and I'll try to get back into responding to them all again.
Amber
"This is where Sou'unga was sealed. After the battle, it was decided that hell hadn't really been the best place to send him, since it was not hard to summon spirits from there. You decided this, Kagome - you sealed him here, knowing that with him sealed in this way, he could never be summoned again unless someone broke the seal first. And not many could break the seal of a goddess."
She stared at her grandfather, that flat, irritated look still on her face. "So you've known all this time. Wonderful," she said sourly. With a huff, she looked down at the floor, noting the seal carved into it carefully - and realized that it was indeed an unbreakable seal - Sou'unga would never escape from here unless Amaterasu herself let him out.
But...
"Fine - you've got secrets - keep them. But what is it that we needed to see? You said that something here would tell me where I need to go next."
"No - that's in the main shrine. I just needed you to take a good look at the seal carved into this floor, that's all. Amaterasu-kami made it very clear that you needed to see it," he muttered, another sour look crossing his face, and Kagome had to laugh.
"Ha! I knew it - she drove you crazy, too!" she chortled, and her grandpa looked horrified for a moment.
"Don't say such things, child! It isn't the place of a mortal to be annoyed by the gods," he mumbled sheepishly.
Sesshoumaru merely quirked a brow, then looked at the seal on the floor as well. He moved further into the room, almost surprised at the intricacy of the seal - he'd never seen such an elaborate one, before - even he couldn't follow its meaning in its entirety. It was huge, taking up most of the floor, and looked as though it had been burned into the wood, and even after all these centuries, looked just as fresh as the day it had been placed.
After a moment more, he followed his onna and her grandfather from the shrine, almost amused at the fate awaiting Sou'unga. How appropriate for father's devil sword to be sealed by my little goddess. Father must have gained a great deal of amusement out of this...
His own amusement only deepened as he watched his little mate stomp after her grandfather's stooped form, obviously seriously annoyed by this whole thing. He had to admit, though he'd never dare to say it aloud, that the sun goddess had indeed dumped a mess in Kagome's lap - and her reactions to that fact were highly entertaining.
His thoughts once more moved back to the matter at hand as they entered the main shrine, and the Higurashi elder led them to a small door hidden in a small alcove towards the front of the room. As they entered, he realized that it was a small storage area for scrolls and other things of importance to the shrine, and he wondered... What could he have to show us in here?
That question was answered when the priest moved to one particular shelf, and with great reverence, took down an ancient scroll that he then turned and placed on the small table in the center of the room. Motioning for him to come closer, the elder said, "The language on this scroll is ancient, but the goddess assured me that you both would be able to read it. It is your clue to where you need to begin your search for the answers to your questions, Kagome." He glanced at her with narrowed eyes. "I only hope you pay more attention to this than you ever did any of my stories, young lady."
Kagome flushed guiltily; Sesshoumaru quirked a brow, amused again. "That is a fault she still carries - refusal to listen, elder. One can only hope that she will outgrow that," he said blandly, as Kagome shot him a death-glare.
"Don't start, Sesshoumaru," she said warningly. "Or you, either, grandpa." She tossed her head haughtily. "This goddess has better things to do than listen to you two old people talking shop," she said, turning her nose up at the both of them.
With a shake of his head, Sesshoumaru ignored the elder priest's huff at his granddaughter, and bent his silvered head to the scroll. "Come, Kagome, the time for play is past. We must read this now - remember, we still have a meeting to return to, and time does not wait for anyone."
She narrowed her eyes at him, then obediently turned it on the scroll. But she still couldn't resist one last barb... "Time may not wait for the rest of you," she singsonged, "but I'm not just anyone, anymore, now am I?"
Grandpa glared at her. "No respect anymore from the young," he muttered, then harrumphed, and sat back, letting them read.
---wWw---
Sosa sat back on his pillow, brow furrowed in thought.
So... my sister's little protege has decided to go back to the past. But why? What does she hope to accomplish? Perhaps I should have viewed them longer, he mused. But... no. I will instead simply place a trap for the little girl and her demon. She thinks to use the paths of the other realms... and she goes back in history to the beginning. So what would be a good trap?
The god of chaos and storms sat and pondered for a great amount of time, as storms raged outside of his palace in the underrealms. At times, the storms would become so great, that they would almost tear the fabric of his reality - but then, they would calm again, to simple rainstorms. If one were to be watching, and paying attention, that one would notice that the storms responded to their master's thoughts - when he was angered or frustrated, they would increase, and when he was pleased, they would calm.
Nonetheless, eventually, the raging storms of his anger passed, and the calmer storms of his pleasure took hold, denoting that he'd determined a course of action that he was pleased with.
That could mean nothing good for the forces opposing his; he was devious, and dangerous, and most of all...
He was out to win.
---wWw---
Amaterasu shuddered in disgust as she left her brother's realms. "Ill-tempered bastard, isn't he, though?" she muttered disgustedly. "And with the way those stupid storms of his were going, he's plotting something. I just hope Kagome's able to figure it out - because it's almost sure it's something against her."
She frowned to herself as her consciousness opened back up in Meimei's body. What is he after, though? There's very few things that he can do to her, really - that's why I gave her the aspect of Balance. With that, she can turn almost anything that he does to nothing - as long as she figures it out. Her aspect of balance is anathema to his of chaos - balance will always triumph in the end. That's why, even as a demi-goddess, she can beat him.
She cackled, then. Guess it doesn't really matter what he's doing... as long as the girl uses the brain I gave her, she'll find her way out of whatever trap he's setting.
And then she laughed even harder at the thought of it.
Oh... I've got to watch this - she's going to be really pissed - and boy, does that girl have a temper! This whole thing ought to be really good for a laugh!
---wWw---
Sugimi, unbeknownst to himself, was echoing the goddess' thoughts perfectly, though his was for a different reason. He simply enjoyed the whole damn mess - and he was getting even more of a kick then the goddess, because he had several things that were making him laugh like hell.
He was certainly enjoying Kagome's reactions to the mess that Amaterasu had dumped on her, but there was also Sesshoumaru's reactions to some of the things as well - and then there was Satori's reactions.
He chortled merrily - that bitch's subjugation had had him practically rolling like a big puppy.
And to top it all off, there was his youngest son, and his situation with that hysterically funny sorceress. The whole thing was just too funny for words...
Especially that part about the shock collar... he just knew the reaction his temperamental son would have to that one.
He found himself sincerely hoping that she actually did it...
Though he knew better than to say anything in front of his hime - she probably wouldn't be too amused.
He was, though. This whole thing was just too funny for words.
Even if it was dangerous as hell.
---wWw---
Inuyasha glanced over at Nyoko, then looked away again, not sure of he should say anything to her. She'd been lost in her own thoughts - dark ones, by the looks of things - since they'd returned from that battle earlier.
He himself, was thinking dark thoughts, since seeing what was going to happen to some of those monks. He shivered again as the despairing screams of the two monks that had been with that scouting party entered his memory. He could only say that he was very glad he was not on opposing sides with this sorceress.
Then he frowned. Of course, even being on the same side had it's downsides, he thought, as his expression morphed into a scowl - that shock trick she'd done to him had sucked.
He folded his arms into his haori, and kept that scowl as he stared ahead of himself, suddenly determined to ignore the infuriating wench sitting next to him. She's gonna drive me more insane than Kagome ever did - and that's saying something.
Nyoko had turned from her darker thoughts as soon as the frown had hit Inuyasha's face, and with his sidelong scowl in her direction, she was almost positive what his thoughts centered on. With an evil smirk, she cast her own sidelong glance at him, and noted the cute pout. Ahhh... he's trying to ignore me! Can't have that from my little puppy...
With absolutely no warning, she glomped him, knocking him flat on his back as she hovered over the shocked hanyou, grinning. "So, puppy - planning to ignore me, were you?" she asked smartly.
He growled, enraged, and tried to buck her off - with absolutely no luck. Eyes widening, he snarled, "What the fuck did you do to me, bitch?! Why the hell can't I move?"
She rolled her eyes. "If I couldn't immobilize a pup like you, I wouldn't be much of a sorceress, now would I?"
"Keh! I don't give a fuck what kinda sorceress you are, bitch, let me up!"
"No..." she said musingly, one finger tracing her lip, "I really don't think I want to do that yet. Instead..." she trailed off, and then, to Inuyasha's complete shock, she leaned down and kissed him.
He was so shocked, that his mouth dropped open - which was an invitation to Nyoko - one she took full advantage of.
And by the gods, shocked or not, hell if he didn't like it.
A lot.
---wWw---
Kagome stared down at the scroll she'd just finished reading thoughtfully.
Apparently, I have to go back so far in history, that only Amaterasu or the kami would remember it, seeing as how there were no written records kept back then. This'll be interesting...
"It's even further back in history than that legend you told me about; you know, about how your family got the Western Lands," she said slowly to Sesshoumaru, who was hovering over her shoulder, still staring at the scroll.
"Hai... long before. It seems that this scheme of Sosa no Wo's started millenia ago. So this time, this 'First Time' that is spoken of, begins to end there, twelve thousand years before this present time. That is when things were still balanced, but Sosa's interference was just about to start. This could, indeed, be an advantageous time to see," he mused, almost to himself.
They were interrupted by Hitomi's voice calling them to the mid-day meal, and Kagome frowned at her grandfather as he snatched the ancient scroll from the table, rolling it up carefully and placing it back on the shelf as he pushed them out of the room.
"Grandpa! That was rude!" she said, annoyed.
"Nonsense! I'm just trying to get you youngsters to your lunch, so that you can go back and finish what you need to, that's all. Besides... it's not good to keep an elder from his food, after all, I need all the nutrition I can get at my age, ya know," he huffed.
Sesshoumaru shook his head at the elder's words. "Youngsters, is it? "I can assure you, Higurashi-san, I am as far from a 'youngster' as it is possible to get, and still be living," he said, an almost wry note in his voice. He shot a quelling glance at his miko at her sudden snicker.
"Yeah, gramps... calling him young is definitely not appropriate. He's many centuries older than you, I can guarantee it." She flushed horribly at her grandfather's mumbled comeback about cradle robbers, then growled in irritation.
"That's enough, grandpa - do you want me to tell mama on you?" she snapped, and the elderly man paled somewhat. His daughter-in-law's temper was not something that it was wise to invoke...
No more was said as the trio entered the house, and the meal passed pleasantly enough. Once finished, Kagome hugged her mother reluctantly, not really wanting to leave so soon, but knowing she had to, and promising to come visit again as soon as she could, they left, heading back through the well to continue the gathering with their allies.
Nothing could have startled them more, however, than finding Inuyasha, and Nyoko, on the ground kissing near the Goshinboku as they headed back towards the meadow.
Kagome stopped in shock as she realized just what they were interrupting...
Sesshoumaru was just disturbed.
"Inuyasha!" she yelled, happier than hell to find him tangled up with the sorceress. "When did this start?"
The hanyou, embarrassed beyond anything he could ever remember, turned as red as his fire-rat, and, knocking a grinning Nyoko over, he leaped to his feet, then turned and disappeared into the trees as fast as he could to the sounds of Nyoko's and Kagome's laughter. He didn't dare look back - he was sure his brother's expression was one he did not want to see.
Feh! How did I let that woman do that to me? We must have spent way too much time doing... that... he flushed even redder as the memories of that swam through his cringing puppy mind, if it's already time to go back to that meeting. How the hell'm I gonna go back and face them?!
"Keh!"
Sesshoumaru had a rather difficult time keeping the expression of distaste off his face, and there was no way to keep it out of his voice. "Was there not somewhere more... discreet... to practice such behavior, Nyoko? Did I not say I did not wish to see your... courtship of the whelp at some point? I am sure that I did..." he trailed off coldly.
Kagome cast him a warning glare. "Be nice. I happen to think it's great. You are just an old grouch."
"No, I just have no desire to see the whelp mating," he shuddered, though it was barely noticeable. "That would truly be... disturbing."
"Oh come on now, Sesshoumaru - no more than anyone having to witness you two going at it," Nyoko snickered back. "I mean... who really wants to see Kagome getting frostbite?"
Kagome blushed red, then snapped defensively, "He's not cold when we're..." she trailed off then, knowing she'd just embarrassed herself further. Turning even redder, to Nyoko's amusement and Sesshoumaru's fascination, she said, "Oh, drop it! Let's just get going!" She turned at that and stomped off, and the two followed, Nyoko laughing up a storm at the stiff back of the little goddess.
Oh, how much fun this has all been, she thought, almost hysterical with internal laughter. And I have a feeling it's only going to get even funnier before this is all through!
Kagome stalked through the trees, determined not to turn around and look at the two beings following her - she knew if she did, she'd only blush more... and she hated blushing. Especially when she had to face the knowing expression on Sesshoumaru's face.
"Jerks," she muttered to herself.
Sesshoumaru smirked inwardly at that. Oh, yes, he'd heard her, and he'd get her back for the insult...
Later.
---wWw---
Kagome rubbed her temples absently as the meeting place emptied - it had been a long afternoon, and she was beginning to feel a certain tightness in her head. On top of that, she still had to deal with those spies, and then they had to get Kaede to watch the children while she and Sesshoumaru went time surfing.
She groaned. And all I want to do is take a nice, long nap. This goddess thing sucks - really, it does.
"Oi, Kagome," came a rather annoying voice, and immediately, her temples began throbbing. Inuyasha...
"What?" she snapped.
"Feh! Bitch, don't take out your bad temper on me, I was just gonna ask a damn question!" he hissed as he jumped out of the path of his brother's warning whip slash.
All of a sudden, Kagome's eyes took on an evil cast, and she stood up, stalking over to loom over the suddenly cowering hanyou. "By the way... that reminds me of something that I needed to speak to you about, bakayasha," she smiled unpleasantly, taking ahold of one wildly twitching puppy ear and pulling him close to her face. "I seem to recall certain statements made, like... "Sh-she can b-barely point her miko p-powers the right way... and now she's got the power of a kami? Oh, shit, this is gonna get really crazy, really fast." ... so, Inuyasha, do you wanna explain yourself, or do you just want to see if I really can point it the right way?"
The hanyou paled at that. "How the hell did you find out about that?" he shouted. "You weren't even there!"
She thrust her face closer to his menacingly, scowl planted firmly on her face. "One word, Inuyasha - Goddess. Duh!" She wasn't about to give Kanna away - let the baka think she'd been checking up on him with her 'divine powers'. She rolled her eyes inwardly at that thought. I probably could, though...
Paling even further, Inuyasha yanked his ear from her grasp with a yelp, then scuttled backwards away from her. "Damn it, Kagome! Don't go spying on me all the damn time!"
With one last warning scowl, she turned away. "Oh, I don't do it all the time... just sometimes," she said, suddenly cheerful. "But ya never know when that might be!"
"Feh!" he spat, in disgust as she walked away, and Sesshoumaru followed, somehow, for the first time in his life, really wanting to laugh. The words his brother had spoken... they were so true - not that he was stupid enough to ever let her hear that, of course. On top of that, his brother's reaction to getting caught...
Absolutely wonderful.
---wWw---
A/N: It seems like lately all I'm doing in these authors notes is apologizing. Well, for what it's worth, I am again apologizing for the lateness of this post - after my father's death, I got very ill myself, and haven't been working on any of my stories. I actually felt a little better this morning, so I sat down and typed this chapter while I still did.
Also, I wanted to say thanks to all who nominated and or voted for this story in the recent awards - I was astounded that this story was nominated in five categories, and placed in four. Unfortunately for me, I can't get my profile to accept the html for the banners - it only accepted one, so that's the only one I was able to put up.
Finally, another apology to all those who've reviewed lately - again, being ill, I haven't answered a lot of them, and I don't know if I'll be able to catch back up. So if you don't hear from me in a response, please, don't get angry - I did read them, and I'll try to get back into responding to them all again.
Amber