InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Into the East ❯ Finding the Light ( Chapter 16 )

A/N: Sorry, fixed a few typos

 

Into the East

Chapter sixteen: Finding the Light

Posted: 22 September 2006

Characters/Plot originally appearing in the anime/manga Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi

Everything else © me

 

 

 

The days passed and still Sesshoumaru had not awoken so Vanessa had to decide whether or not to call Shizu. He still seemed to be plagued by dreams, but that didn't necessarily mean that he was getting worse. It had only been a few days, but at the same time, the healers didn't seem to have any clue as to what to do next.

 

Vanessa glanced up from her writing - she had gotten her hands on some parchment and a quill and ink so that she could start recording everything that had happened since she crossed into this time, not that she though she'd ever really forget. The sun had set not too long ago and Rin had been put to bed. She and Jaken were both waiting with Sesshoumaru. Taking a breath, Vanessa stood and stretched. “I'm going to get some air,” she told the imp. “Do you want anything? I could go to the kitchen.”

 

Jaken merely turned his nose up and said, “I don't need anything from you, mortal.”

 

She shook her head and left. The little green man tried so hard to act aloof, but more often than not, he just appeared ridiculous. Vanessa glanced down the hall and stole down the stairs and out the back door. A quick run brought her to the edge of the trees and she quickly concealed herself in the shadows. It didn't take long for Shizu to find her.

 

“So there has been no change?” the horse asked as she stepped closer to her human friend.

 

“No… and now he seems to be having dreams or nightmares.”

 

Shizu closed her eyes for a moment and then raised her head. “I will come.” They walked quickly and quietly to the edge of the forest.

 

“How near do you need to be?” Vanessa asked her.

 

“I will try from here, but if we need to move closer, we will.” Then she lowered her head and rolled her eyes back to look at Vanessa. “I'm a little nervous. What if he knows that I'm poking around in there?”

 

Vanessa laid her hand on Shizu's shoulder. “You don't have to, but if he says anything, then I'll tell him that I put you up to it.”

 

“You don't have to do that… Okay,” she said, using one of the terms she learned from Vanessa. “I'm going to try.” Shizu closed her eyes and her head drooped a little as though she had fallen asleep, but then she jerked her head up. “That was too easy,” she said.

 

“What was?” Vanessa asked, concerned at Shizu's reaction.

 

“That time when I probed him before, it was as though I was met with a solid wall. Now… he has no such wall around his mind.”

 

“Could it be that he's dropped his defenses because he's unconscious?”

 

“Maybe…” Shizu resumed her previous posture as she peeked again into Sesshoumaru's mind. “I don't think that's the case,” she said. “Something is still blocking me, but it's different… Instead of a wall keeping me out, it's as though everything is hidden by a mist or fog. Wait…”

 

“Do you see something?”

 

“I… think so… Through the mist I'm seeing a long passageway. I think… Sesshoumaru-sama is in here somewhere and has to find his way through. I don't see him or anyone else for that matter, but I get the feeling that he's trapped in his own mind.” Suddenly she straightened and locked one brilliant blue eye on Vanessa's violet. “I think you should return to him.”

 

“What? Now?” Shizu bobbed her head in a horse nod. “Well, okay. I'll come see you again soon.” The horse only nodded again and turned back to the trees, leaving Vanessa to make her way back to the house alone.

 

Just as she stepped through the door and took off her sandals, she jumped in surprise to find someone standing directly in front of her where there was no one only moments before. Clutching her chest to try to ease her pounding heart, Vanessa frowned up at him. “Saburo-san, you startled me.”

 

“My apologies. What were you doing out alone at this hour?” he asked sternly, but not unkindly.

 

“I… um… took a walk. I needed some air.”

 

He stared at her for a moment and then smirked. “So how are the winged horses?”

 

“I… huh?” she almost squeaked. Not the most intelligent of responses she realized, so she tried again. “Er.. what I mean is… you know about them?”

 

“Naturally, and you have the smell of horse on you when you haven't been near the stables in days. I know nearly as much of the hidden workings of this palace as Sesshoumaru-sama himself. However, I was not aware that you had met them.”

 

“Sesshoumaru-sama introduced me to Kaminari and Shizu the first week I was here.” This time it was Saburo's turn to be surprised.

 

“You certainly can keep a secret.”

 

Vanessa shrugged. “I guess. I did bring Rin out to meet Shizu the other day - after I told her that Sesshoumaru-sama was hurt. She won't tell anyone though.”

 

“Good.”

 

“Well, I should probably be getting back upstairs. Good night,” she said stepping around Saburo and setting her foot on the first step.

 

“Yes, sleep well. And Vanessa-san?” She turned to face him again. “My offer still stands. Rai and I would like you have you to dinner some night. Bring Rin along, if you like.”

 

“I'd like that. I'll let you know.”

 

“Right then. Be careful when you are alone. We wouldn't want anything to happen to you or Rin while Sesshoumaru-sama sleeps.” Then he smirked again. “I think he would be most displeased.”

 

Vanessa stared perplexed after Saburo as he turned and walked away. What a strange thing to say. Sure, she was his guest and Rin was his ward, but why would he make a point of telling her that. Then again… The whole reason that he was lying in that bed was that he was protecting her. If she went and got herself hurt, then everything he did for her would be for nothing. Saburo was right. Sesshoumaru wouldn't be happy.

 

Finally she returned to Sesshoumaru's bedroom only to find Jaken hovering at his bedside. He didn't quite seem to know what to do with himself and from the tension in Sesshoumaru's face, it was clear that he had had another dream. Vanessa wished that there were something - anything - that she could do to make him heal faster. “Jaken,” she said softly. “Is everything okay?”

 

The imp stared at her as if to say that without his lord telling him what to do, his world was ending. Alright, stupid question. Vanessa took her seat on the cushions beside Sesshoumaru, just as she had the past three nights. All they could do was wait.

 

Another week passed, but to Vanessa it felt as though time were standing agonizingly still. Finally she decided, just for a change of pace, to have dinner with Saburo and Rai. She asked Rin if she would like to join her, but the girl said that she would rather stay near Sesshoumaru. His unconsciousness had really taken its toll on her and she was scared to leave the general vicinity anymore in case something happened.

 

So Vanessa made her way to Saburo's quarters. She knew that he would be the first to know if anything changed with Sesshoumaru, so she wasn't worried about missing anything. Even if something did happen, she would be with his second in command and she was almost sure that Saburo would tell her.

 

She knocked lightly on their door and was greeted by a smiling Saburo. “Vanessa-san. I am pleased you finally decided to join us. Rai has ordered up several dishes that we hope you will enjoy.”

 

“Thank you. I'm sure whatever you selected will be delicious.” Vanessa followed him into a comfortably furnished sitting room and took an offered seat on one of the cushions. As she looked around, she could definitely tell that a female lived there. Little touches like the small vase on an end table or a particularly floral painting on the wall made the place homey and also stood in stark contrast to the neat, utilitarian style of Sesshoumaru's suite.

 

A moment later Rai came out with tea for all of them. “I am glad you came!”

 

Vanessa smiled at her. “I asked Rin if she wanted to come, but she couldn't bring herself to leave Sesshoumaru-sama's side. The longer he stays like this the less I want to leave him too, but I figured you'd be the first to know if anything changes.”

 

“We are all worried for him,” Saburo said gently. “But we can't let the palace fall to pieces without him, now can we?” Something about Saburo's confidence and general cheery nature did wonders to lift Vanessa's spirits as she absently sipped her tea. She was worried about Sesshoumaru - probably more worried than she had ever been about anyone, but falling into a depression wasn't going to help him get better. That was why she tried to get Rin to go out and do something from the beginning - not to hide him from her, not always anyway, but just to keep her mind occupied. She made sure that the girl still went to her lessons and had brought her to see Shizu again. Vanessa wasn't sure what to do about Jaken, but he was an adult; she figured he could take care of himself pretty well.

 

“Vanessa-san?” She jerked her head up in response to Saburo's voice. What had he said? She blushed and set her cup of tea on the table.

 

“I'm sorry. I was distracted, what were you saying?”

 

Saburo smiled warmly and said, “I only said it must be difficult to be so far from home.”

 

“Oh. Yes, sometimes, but to be honest, I haven't thought about my home very much. I don't know what that makes me, but ever since I… arrived here, I've been too busy to be homesick very much.”

 

“Is your homeland very different from here?” Rai asked, but before Vanessa could answer, three servants came in and quickly laid out the spread of food then left as silently as they entered.

 

“This looks wonderful!” Vanessa exclaimed, though the platter of less than cooked meats made her stomach turn a little.

 

Rai smiled across the table at her. “My beloved mate's tastes are rather more carnal than I prefer so we usually have a variety when it comes to food. This is one of my favorite vegetable dishes,” she said indicating a bowl of cooked vegetables in some sort of sauce. “And I thought you might like some cooked meat with your meal so this one here has some roasted chicken in it, but feel free to help yourself to whatever you want.”

 

Vanessa was touched that they had taken her human tastes into consideration and when they started serving themselves, she filled a plate with rice and some of both the chicken and the vegetable dish. She noticed that Rai only took the vegetables and didn't touch either of the meat dishes. It made her curious.

 

“Rai-san, would it be rude of me to ask what sort of youkai you are?” she asked and then took a bite.

 

The other female laughed. “Of course not. I come from a deer clan in the mountains and Saburo is a tiger from the south. I know,” she said when Vanessa stared at her a bit incredulously, “we are an odd pairing.”

 

“Rai led me on quite the chase before she finally agreed to be mine,” Saburo said with a grin and was promptly swatted on the shoulder by his mate.

 

“Behave. I was a new messenger assigned to Saburo's unit and had my hands too full with my duties to even think of seeking a mate at the time, but dear Saburo was insistent. I don't think a day went by during that entire six-month tour after we met that I didn't find some flower or another small thing outside my tent. Though it wasn't until we arrived back here that he actually spoke to me for the first time outside of the occasional briefing meeting.”

 

“I was shy.”

 

“I'll believe that when the moon falls from the sky. Anyway, my family was wary at first, but we fell in love and in the end, that's all that mattered to my father.”

 

It was true. Vanessa could see nothing but love and adoration in Rai's eyes as Saburo took her hand and lightly kissed the back before returning to his meal. “But enough about us,” she said.

 

“Right,” Vanessa said. “You asked about my homeland before.” She thought for a minute about what to tell them. From what Rai said the other night, she assumed that Saburo knew something of the truth, but how much? Did he know that she came from the future? She was sure that Rai and Saburo were trustworthy and she didn't want to be one to force secrets between them - even though they were Sesshoumaru's orders and not hers… After all, it was her life wasn't it? Couldn't she talk about what she wanted with whom she wanted? Still… she couldn't have them getting in trouble with Sesshoumaru by talking about her origins around people he hadn't deemed `in the know.' Would it always be this complicated? Alright, cover story it is… she decided.

 

“It depends on what part of the country you are in. Some parts are similar to this area: mountainous and forested. Other parts are nothing but plains as far as the eye can see with barely a hill to break the horizon. We've also got a deserts and marshlands. My country is very large.”

 

“It must be,” Rai said, awed by the wide range of land features. Saburo hadn't said anything yet. He only watched her.

 

“As I told Sesshoumaru-sama before, my home country reaches from the east coast to the west of the continent. Most people live on the eastern side, though,” she said, keeping in mind that at this point in time, few people had actually settled in what would be the US. “There are two mountain ranges, a wide plain and a desert to cross before reaching the west coast. Then there's the ocean that separates my continent from your islands.”

 

“Have you seen much of what your country holds? You speak as though you have made the journey from coast to coast.”

 

“My family likes to travel,” Vanessa said, intentionally vague on that point.

 

“Did your family voyage here with you?” Rai asked softly. Clearly they weren't with her now, so either something happened to them or they never made the trip in the first place.

 

“No. They are still on the other side of the ocean. I set off on my own and the next thing I knew, I was here. They don't know where I am, but Sesshoumaru-sama is helping me to find a way home.”

 

“Speaking of our lord,” Saburo finally spoke up, “the hour grows late and I would like to check on him myself.” He rose from his seat and held a hand out first to Rai and then to Vanessa to help them up. “I am glad you came to visit, Vanessa-san and I am sure that Rai agrees with me when I say that I hope you join us again sometime. Now, if you will allow me, I will walk you back to your quarters.”

 

Vanessa gave her thanks to Rai for her hospitality, assuring her that she would stop by again sometime and followed Saburo out into the hall.

 

“You did well in concealing your origins,” he said when they were well out of hearing range of his home. This only solidified Vanessa's suspicion that he knew the truth.

 

“You know the truth about me, don't you?” she asked him.

 

“I do.”

 

“It's not that I don't trust you or Rai. I just don't want to undermine Sesshoumaru-sama's authority when he's done so much to protect me. I'm sorry I'm the cause for secrets between you and your mate…”

 

Saburo chuckled. “There is much I cannot tell her, so fear not. She understands my roll as advisor.”

 

“After I leave… If I find a way to get home that is… I'd like you to tell her. If I stay… well, then it won't matter much where I come from.”

 

“It will be as you ask. Thank you.”

 

They spent the remaining minutes of their walk across the compound in companionable silence and when they reached Sesshoumaru's quarters, Vanessa checked that Rin was asleep in her bed and then hovered just outside his door, shamelessly eavesdropping while Saburo spoke with the healer that came in the evenings.

 

“I am concerned that he has not yet awoken,” the healer said softly. “He needs to eat to maintain his strength in fighting this illness. We have managed to feed him some broth occasionally, but I fear it will not be enough.”

 

“Keep doing what you can,” Saburo told her. “He will awaken when he is ready.”

 

“Hai. I take my leave then.”

 

Vanessa darted to the opposite side of the room, away from Sesshoumaru's door, so as not to meet the healer as she left. The healers were worried. That thought kept cycling around in her mind and twisted her gut with worries of her own while she waited for Saburo to leave as well. Sesshoumaru had to wake up. He just had to.

 

At last, Saburo exited Sesshoumaru's room and gave her a nod before leaving the suite altogether. That was all the cue Vanessa needed to go in and see him herself. He appeared the same, but as she looked closer, she noticed that he seemed just a little thinner and the shadows under his eyes a little darker. He wasn't just sleeping, as he appeared to be. He was fighting. Whatever it was inside him, he was fighting it, but how much longer could he hold out?

 

Vanessa knelt beside him and lightly stroked the side of his face with his fingertips. “Stay with me,” she said softly. “We're all worried about you so come back and tell us all our worrying was pointless. Please? Please come back.” She was determined not to give up on him. No matter what the healers said, he would come back to them.

 

VvVvVvVvV

 

That blinding pain again… Nanashi had lost count of the number of visits this Naraku character had paid him since that first. It had become some sort of game with him. Each time he appeared he would bring that pain to Nanashi's head and let it linger longer and longer until he wanted to beg him to stop, but he couldn't do that. Nanashi glared daggers at Naraku, but the sweat beading on his forehead was the only other indication of the strain he was under. It wasn't that he had grown immune to the pain, not by any means, but in the days… weeks… possibly and entire moon span since he had first encountered Naraku, he had learned to school his reactions. Although it meant that Naraku tried that much harder to gain a reaction, Nanashi would not give him the satisfaction. Whatever he had done in his previous life, he would not begin this one by begging.

 

The pain left no lasting effects. It came and left with nothing between occurrences but the memory of the one before. And in those brief reprieves they fought. Nanashi threw everything he had into those battles on the hope that maybe this time Naraku would fall, but it was never different from the first. The only successful strikes were to those grotesque tentacles and that only served to fill the corridor with foul-smelling miasma. Every attack that Nanashi was certain would strike true passed harmlessly as though through air. It was infuriating and Nanashi was getting tired.

 

He was weary of the darkness, weary of the unending labyrinth of stone - Naraku elected not to change that since that one small taste of Outside he had shown him so long ago. He was weary of these fruitless battles that sapped his strength with each passing day. Were they days? Or were they merely hours, minutes between encounters? It was growing ever more difficult to judge the already vague passing of time. His only ray of light, his hope, was the tiny girl that Naraku could. Not. Know about. She was why he fought, his little Tenshi. At times he wondered if she didn't truly embody her namesake. How could she remain so innocent, so pure in the face of… everything?

 

Panting slightly, but standing tall, Nanashi squared off again with his opponent. He felt the familiar pooling of energy in his fingertips and wondered how much longer it would last. Sometimes Naraku flinched at the sight of the ribbon of green light as though he remembered a time when it might have actually done him harm. It was the only advantage Nanashi seemed to have. Naraku knew what he was capable of, even if he did not.

 

They had been going back and forth between that near paralyzing pain and fighting for what seemed to be ages, ever since Tenshi left again. Nanashi had given up asking or even wondering where she went. She always came back, just as she had promised, but he had long since made the connection between her disappearance and Naraku's appearance. Something about her warded against him. He didn't know what it was, but he didn't particularly care. The important thing was that Naraku not know it was she who sent him away every time. What if Tenshi was somehow linked to the Outside?

 

Whatever Naraku was, his living body was not there in the tunnels, and if what the half-breed said was true, and this was all in Nanashi's mind then his living body wasn't there either. That could only mean that the rest of him was somewhere Outside, most likely unconscious and defenseless. If Tenshi were linked to the Outside as well, he would not have the real Naraku finding her. Too many unknowns, he thought and growled his frustration. Naraku chuckled and sneered at him. “Why not just give up and tell me what your are hiding? Then all of this will be over. I can kill you and go back to life as usual.”

 

“My mind is not for you to know,” Nanashi stated coolly. “Kill me and be done with it. I will tell you nothing.”

 

“Arrogant fool,” Naraku spat. “Fine. If that is your wish, I will gladly grant it.”

 

Searing, white-hot pain, worse than ever before lanced through Nanashi's skull and coursed through his veins. Losing himself, he clutched head and released a sound that was some combination angry snarl and pathetic whine. He gritted his teeth and chanced to open his eyes, but everything was hazy and flooded in white. A surreal landscape surrounded him, unnatural shadows falling off of every crack and pebble in the floor with one lone dark figure standing stark against the whiteness. He looked down, unintentionally averting his eyes from the one who seemed to suck up everything light even as he created it, and found himself on his knees. When he had fallen, he couldn't say, but he knew that he would be a long time rising again this time. It felt as though the pain itself wanted release and struggled through every nerve in his body to get out. It felt as though this body, this bit of his mind that Naraku had allowed him to keep would be shattered and there wasn't a thing he could do to stop it.

 

Then, as suddenly as he started it, Naraku called it back. Merciful peace descended on Nanashi and he crumpled the remaining distance to the floor. He didn't think he could stand if he tried and at the moment he didn't care. Nanashi stared as Naraku's feet slowly approached him. It was all he could do to fight off the blackness that so desperately wanted to follow the light. It was a small thing, remaining conscious, but he would not let Naraku win. He had not been defeated yet, and while he still breathed, he would do all in his power to maintain the trend, even if it was so small a thing as fighting the blackness until Tenshi came to banish Naraku.

 

Naraku stopped, just a pace away from Nanashi's head and just stood there silently. Nanashi was focused solely on staying awake. He watched the black boots approach and then halt. He stared at them but his vision kept quaking. His head had begun to throb. Perhaps Naraku had gone too far this time. It was the first time that he left evidence behind of the power he had over Nanashi. But wasn't he trying to kill him this time? What made him stop?

 

Nanashi kept his eyes trained on Naraku's boots; he knew that if he so much as blinked, it would be the end; he wouldn't be able to fight it anymore. He watched as Naraku squatted before him, resting his elbows on his knees. “You perplex me… Nanashi,” Naraku said casually. “You see there? I almost called you by your true name just now. I wonder what that might have done to this little world I've created for you?”

 

Is that all it would take to be rid of this place? Remember my name? “I want your power, Nanashi. Killing you here will not get me that.” Stand. Sit up! Do something! Nanashi thought angrily to himself. I will not face the end lying weak as a day old pup! “Somehow you always repel me at the last possible moment and I… will know…” Naraku fell silent as Nanashi slid a hand over the rough stone, trying to find a point to lever himself up off the floor. After one failed attempt, he managed to prop himself up on his hands, and then his knees, until finally he hoisted himself into a crouch that mirrored Naraku's. He smirked; he was not beaten yet. His vision faded in and out with every beat of his heart and he swayed a bit. He wasn't standing tall at the moment, but he was on his feet. No, he wasn't beaten yet.

 

Naraku actually returned Nanashi's smirk. “As I should have expected from you. Just when I think I have you beaten, you surprise me and pull through.” Then his scowl returned. “For that little reminder, I think I will kill you. I can't have you coming back seeking revenge and ruining my plans.”

 

Nanashi knew what was coming, but he was ready. He did not fear death and had a feeling that the rest of him in the Outside felt the same way. It was beneath his concern, just another step in passing from one life into the next, but he would face it, if not standing, then at least on his feet. So when Naraku brought the pain again, he was content in knowing that he had never revealed Tenshi to him. She at least would find her way home, with or without him. He could almost smell her as he fell to the floor again. Such a sweet smell. But then when Naraku shrieked in outrage and dissolved before his very eyes, he snapped his eyes open. Tenshi was back. She shouldn't see him like this, but he couldn't fight the blackness anymore. Naraku left and took with him the splitting pain and Nanashi was so tired… As his vision continued to fade he saw Tenshi pause at the edge of his circle of light and then run to him until all he could see were here tiny bare feet, and then he lost his fight with consciousness.

 

VvVvVvVvV

 

It was a week since Vanessa had had dinner with Rai and Saburo and she'd hardly left Sesshoumaru since then. It wasn't natural, the way he lay so still on that bed - but then they had all known that from the beginning. It was growing more and more difficult to keep her worries to herself and not alarm Rin, but as she had noted before, Rin was a very perceptive child.

 

Saburo had come in earlier that day to find Vanessa just staring at Sesshoumaru. She hadn't even known how long she was there until she looked outside and saw that it was already late morning. In the middle of the night she awoke from a nightmare and couldn't fall back to sleep so she went to sit with Sesshoumaru. Even lying deathly still, his presence was comforting to her. Saburo practically hauled her to her feet and dragged her to her room, surprising her further by opening her wardrobe and selecting a pair of hakama and a haori for her. He told her to go see Shizu and that if anything happened while she was out he would come for her personally. Apparently he didn't want her moping about. Vanessa could only stare after him as he left her, muttering something about negative ki doing nothing for Sesshoumaru-sama's recovery.

 

After he left, she stood dumbstruck in the middle of her floor until a laugh bubbled up out of her - and then another. She was still shaking her head as she reached for her clothes. Everyone was acting a little strangely lately and if Saburo seemed a bit like a mother hen who'd gotten lessons from Jaken… well, she'd chalk it up to him being worried about his master. He did say that he would come himself if anything happened… and a little fresh air would do her good…

 

Vanessa quickly changed and jogged out to meet Shizu. The horse did seem happy to see her. “Nessa, it's been so long since you've been to see me!” Vanessa smiled at her and scratched her ears. It had only been a week, but she supposed that she didn't have a very good excuse for not visiting. “How is Sesshoumaru-sama?” At that, Vanessa's smile faded a little.

 

“He hasn't changed, but I keep feeling that the longer he stays like this, the less chance he has of ever waking. Even his strength won't last forever.”

 

“Have faith, sister, he will awaken soon. He has to. Now come. Ride with me!”

 

Shizu lowered herself a bit toward the ground so Vanessa could more easily hop onto her back and then took off into the forest. It was bliss. Vanessa loved riding normal horses, but they were nothing compared to Shizu. Combine the smooth gait of the daintiest lady's palfrey with the unsuppressed power of the fiercest war horse and the sure-footedness of the most clever mountain pony and it might be something close to what it felt to ride a winged horse. They were just as graceful on the ground as they were in the sky and all of that was what made it so much more surprising when Shizu happened to do something entirely un-graceful.

 

They had been racing through the forest for a while, both burning off some excess energy - Shizu by galloping full tilt, and Vanessa by the sheer exhilaration of it. Shizu never placed a hoof wrong in all the time Vanessa had been riding her until she turned a sharp corner, and with a mental yelp, slid on the grass, still wet from last night's rain. Her haunches dropped as she fought to regain control of her hooves, but Vanessa held on through it all, though her heart was in her throat at the thought of just how fast they were going and just how she would look splattered on the trees. She held on, that is, until Shizu skidded to a halt. Vanessa still carried just enough momentum to send her sailing over Shizu's shoulder to land with an unceremonious splash in a mud puddle that the horse somehow managed to avoid.

 

Vanessa groaned as she stood up out of the muck and glared at nothing in particular while nursing her sore bottom. Meanwhile, Shizu began apologizing up, down, left, right and backwards. She shrank back from Vanessa as she approached, reverting to the timidity she had shown when they first met, and it wasn't until Vanessa landed a dollop of mud on her snout that she finally snapped out of it. “There,” Vanessa said with an air of finality, “we're even.” After that, they fell into a fit of giggles and Vanessa had to lean against her larger, non-human friend to remain upright.

 

“Really, Nessa, you're not hurt?” Shizu asked, sobering with her concern.

 

“I'm fine. It's no worse than spills I've taken while riding back home. It wasn't your fault, and besides, I had this… lovely… mud puddle to break my fall,” Vanessa said grinning while she flung half-dried bits of mud from her fingertips. “I suppose this means I should go back now and get cleaned up.”

 

“I will take you.”

 

“But you'll get dirty. I can walk.”

 

“I won't be any worse than you are,” she said with a giggle.

 

“Alright then, if you insist.” Vanessa climbed back on and they made their way back at a more leisurely pace. They said their good-byes and their usual place at the edge of the trees and went their separate ways, Vanessa a bit stiffly since the mud had had time to dry by this point. Now for a hot bath, she thought with a sigh as she entered the bathhouse.

 

There was always a ready supply of spare towels and robes inside so she didn't even have to bother with going to her room first. She supposed it made sense not to have someone like her, covered head to toe in mud, tracking the mess all over the floors.

 

She went to her usual secluded corner and peeled her clothes off. There was no point in trying to fold them, so she dropped them in a pile on the floor and sank into the steamy water. She dunked herself and scrubbed at her hair under the water. Later she would come back with her soaps and shampoos and finish the job, but for now, this would have to do. Even though she felt like she would be digging mud out of her ears for a week, by the time she rose out of the water, she thought she had done a decent job of dislodging a vast majority of it from the rest of her. Just think of it as a mud bath.

 

Vanessa had just tied a robe around herself and was gingerly plucking her stiff clothes off the floor when she heard a boot crunch on the gravel walk. She was startled, but decent so she stepped out from behind the vine screen and came face to face with Saburo. Her stomach lurched. He said that he would come get me himself if… “What happened?” she asked, trying to keep the panic from edging into her voice.

 

“He-” he began and then frowned down at her muddy bundle. “What happened to you?” Before she could answer, he shook his head. “It doesn't matter. Come with me.”

 

Vanessa dropped everything she was carrying and hurried to match Saburo's strides. “Please, what happened?” she asked again.

 

“Something different is happening. I do not know what, but it isn't good.” Saburo paused at the foot of the stairs and looked up, as though debating whether or not he wanted to go back in there. Something had really shaken him up. “He whined…” he said softly. “Whined like an injured pup. I never thought it possible for my lord to make such a sound. I don't know how much longer he has,” he said finally, his voice thick with disbelief.

 

Vanessa left him where he stood and dashed up the stairs. She went straight through Sesshoumaru's door, not caring who saw or what they thought; she just had to be by his side. Please don't let it be too late, she pleaded to anyone who might be listening. Vanessa burst through his door and was taken aback for a moment by the complete lack of healer presence. Didn't they know? Or was there simply nothing they could do?

 

The look on Sesshoumaru's face was one of agony. He gritted his teeth, showing her a few of his pearly white fangs, and his face was lined with the strain of whatever it was that he was battling. The sheets covering him were in complete disarray, as though he had been tossing in his sleep - or writhing in pain - and where his hand clutched the fabric, it was torn to shreds.

 

Then suddenly he stilled, and Vanessa felt her heart soar when his eyelids fluttered, but that only lasted until she heard him sigh. It was not a sigh of contentment, or peace, or even that of deep sleep. It was a sigh of resignation. He was giving up! “No!” Vanessa cried and darted to his side. She took his hand and clutched it to her chest. “No, stay with me! I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. Don't leave me!” But even as she pleaded with him, she could actually see by the rise and fall of his chest that his breath was growing shallower. She didn't have to check his pulse to know that his heart was slowing too. “Please, no,” she whispered.

 

In a move bolder than she would have done if she'd been of a mind to think things through, Vanessa climbed up onto Sesshoumaru's bed and inserted herself between him and the pillows behind him, propping him up so that he leaned back against her in much the same manner as the night he fell. She wrapped her arms around his chest and laced her fingers in his, leaning down so that her cheek touched his. “Sesshoumaru, don't give up. Just hang in there a little longer. Please. If not for me, then do it for Rin. She can't lose you too. You've become like a father to her and she adores you. Don't even try to deny it. You love her like your own, too, don't you? Please don't go. We need you here. I… I need you. Please… please.”

 

“I sent the healers away.”

 

Vanessa jumped at the voice from the doorway and glared defiantly at the intruder, holding Sesshoumaru tighter to her. It was only Saburo and he seemed puzzled. “Why would you do that?” she asked. “They might have been able to do something.”

 

Saburo shook his head. “They've already tried everything in their power… You are the only one who can save him now.”

 

She stared at him. “W-what do you mean?”

 

“I do not quite understand it, but every single time he had one of these fits… these dreams… you were nowhere around here. He never once had them in your presence. I do not know what caused them or what it was about you that made them go away, but that is the truth of it. You seem to be the only one who can save him.”

 

“Why me?” Vanessa asked barely above a whisper.

 

“This is only a theory, mind you, but I believe… It is because you love him.”

 

“What?!” she yelped then winced at the proximity of Sesshoumaru's ear to her voice. Regardless of whether or not he was conscious to hear it, she felt bad for abusing his sensitive hearing. Nevertheless, Vanessa recovered and stared incredulously at Saburo. “I don't! I mean… I shouldn- I can't!” she cried, covering Sesshoumaru's poor ear with her palm as her voice rose.

 

“Forgive my boldness, but you do,” Saburo continued on steadily. “I can see it. You hide what you feel and you deny it, but it's there.”

 

“I can't,” Vanessa repeated helplessly.

 

Saburo turned to leave. “Do what you feel is right, but I ask you only this. Please stay with him until he awakens.”

 

“How do you know he will? He's fading so quickly…”

 

“I suggest you check again, and I know he will awaken because… he cares a great deal for you, too. He just doesn't realize it yet.”

 

“What?! How can you-” but Saburo was already gone.

 

Vanessa continued to hold Sesshoumaru, occasionally rocking gently as she puzzled over what he had told her, denying his `theories.' But when she paused to look, Sesshoumaru's breathing was getting stronger. If by some chance Saburo was right - about her leading him back to wakefulness, that is - she was determined not to leave his side longer than the time it took to use the bathroom, and even then it would have to be an emergency. But what would he say if he did wake up and found himself in this position? She felt a bit uneasy on that account, but figured she'd cross that bridge when she got there. Until then, she was content right where she was. I can't… I don't love him… do I?

 

VvVvVvVvV

 

Nanashi awoke slowly. The first thing he was aware of was something he could only describe as a lump of warmth nestled against his chest and abdomen. Further inspection proved that it was Tenshi, curled up and sleeping soundly against him. He propped his head up on one fist and draped his other arm protectively over the little girl. How could he have thought of giving up on her, even if he would have died in battle? Strange now that felt so little of what Naraku had left behind, nothing in fact, and he didn't feel quite so weary. Perhaps all he needed was sleep.

 

Tenshi stirred and twisted under his arm to peer up at him. “Na…nashi,” she said around a yawn, “you're awake.” She grinned up at him and then snuggled into his chest. Nanashi smiled softly down on her and then smirked unnoticed as he tickled her side, ever careful of his claws. Tenshi squealed and squirmed under his fingers and giggled happily, just as any small child should. After that last encounter with Naraku, Nanashi wondered how long he slept, but didn't want to concern the girl. He was awake now. That's all that mattered.

 

“You were asleep for so long,” she said suddenly, as though reading his thoughts, “then I got sleepy too.”

 

With a jolt, Tenshi sat up. “We should go, Nanashi.” She bounced to her feet and then began to impatiently try to pull Nanashi to his feet as well.

 

“Peace, child. I'm coming,” he said with a low chuckle as he too rose to his feet. Her antics never ceased to amuse him.

 

“Come on!” she cried and began to tug him down to corridor. After a while, he frowned a bit. Tenshi had never been this anxious before, but whenever he would ask her, all she would say was “You have to come. Hurry! We're almost there!”

 

Nanashi grew anxious as well at that, but for none of the same reasons that had Tenshi so excited. He was finally leaving this labyrinth, not to his own home, but to Tenshi's. What awaited him outside these walls? How would he ever find his way home when he didn't even know who he was?

 

“Tenshi, stop.” The little girl came to a halt and stared up at him expectantly, all the while practically hopping from one foot to the other. “I must know what awaits outside these walls.”

 

“But we have to hurry. We're so close! I don't want to have to go away again before we get there. I don't want you to hurt anymore.” Nanashi stared at her, dumbfounded. Naraku always vanished just before Tenshi came into view, but could she have seen him anyway?

 

“What are you talking about, Tenshi?”

 

“I know that the bad man comes when I'm not here. He's the one that made you sleep. I don't want him to come again when we're so close, so come on!” she urged him. “Let's go, let's go!”

 

Nanashi let her drag him along for another step or two before he stooped and scooped her up. “It will be faster this way,” he said when she squeaked in surprised. He didn't run, but he let his long strides carry them swiftly through the dark corridors while Tenshi pointed out directions.

 

Then, as they rounded a bend, Nanashi saw light ahead. He stopped mid-stride and stared, too stunned for words. She did it. Tenshi brought him to an exit. Finally Tenshi's insistent tapping on his chest shook him back to reality and he began walking again.

 

They arrived at the narrow gate far sooner than Nanashi had expected and came to a stop. He set Tenshi down and stared at it. How long had he been wandering, fighting with Naraku and now was it finally at an end? “What lies beyond this gate, Tenshi?” he asked softly, afraid to shatter this new ray of hope.

 

“Home,” the girl said simply.

 

“And what is your home like?”

 

“Not my home.”

 

Nanashi tore his eyes away from the rectangle of light that would lead him out and stared at Tenshi. “What do you mean `not your home'? You said you wanted me to go home with you.”

 

“I did, but I never said we were going to my home.” She giggled. “Your home is on the other side of that gate.”

 

“My… home?” He turned back to the gate. Could it be? All this time she had been leading him exactly where he wanted to go.

 

“I don't remember anything. How can I go back?” Nanashi was suddenly uncertain. He wanted desperately to go home, but what was home?

 

“It will all come back to you on the other side.”

 

“Well,” he said, steeling himself to face the unknown, “come on then. Let's go home.” He held his hand out to Tenshi, but she shook her head and took a step back.

 

“I wanted you to come with me and you did. Now you're home. I can't go with you through that gate.”

 

Nanashi knelt in front of her. “Why ever not, little one?”

 

“Because that isn't my home. I have no place there.” Tenshi reached out and wrapped her arms around Nanashi's neck, laying her head on his shoulder. “I love you, Nanashi. Don't forget about me?”

 

“I couldn't,” he assured her and wondered why it had to be this way.

 

Finally Tenshi pulled back and laid her small hand on Nanashi's cheek. Images coursed through his mind, all of them containing violet eyes and spun-gold curls, the ones he had seen before, the ones that weren't Tenshi's. “Don't be sad, Nanashi. I'll always be right here.” She dropped her hand, taking the images with it, and lightly poked him in the chest, right over his heart.

 

“You will.”

 

“I have to go now, Nanashi. I have to go for good. Don't wait too long to go through the gate.” As she spoke and before his eyes, Tenshi began to dissolve, drifting away in a glittering stream like powdered glass. Nanashi stood with the gate directly at his back and saw a dark figure standing not a pace behind where Tenshi had been. He smirked at Naraku. “You should have killed me when you had the chance.” And with that, Nanashi took one step back through the gate and into the light, and fell, with nothing but Naraku's curses to send him on his way.

 

 

A/N:

 

Crystaru-chan: Second post in, what? 3 days? I'd say my muse is treating me well ;) And Mr. Writer's Block is staying well away.

 

KajiKitsune: I'm glad you like it. I hope I continue to keep you on your toes. ^_^

 

Cochrann: This will be the last of Nanashi and Tenshi, but I'm glad you liked them. ^_^ I had fun with them.

 

Ina Sama: Where did you find Inu-Papa's name? As far as I know, unless there's been something in the volumes of the manga that haven't been released in the US yet, his name is never mentioned. And I realize that Inu no Taisho is his title. That's why I put the “the” before it all the time, unless I forgot… hmm… now I have to go check. Anyway, that little exchange you put in there between Naraku and Sesshoumaru was entertaining ^_^

 

Shikiori: That's too bad about mm not letting you use your old name, but you're back now and that's all that counts, isn't it? Hehe :oD