InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Remnants of the Spider ❯ Acceptance of Dues ( Chapter 14 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Lady Sianna 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 10.19.2009 | Pages: 2 | Words: 4.1K | Visits: 268 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 10.19.2009 | Pages: 2 | Words: 4.1K | Visits: 268 | Status: Work In Progress
Remnants of the Spider
Acceptance of Dues
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High in the boughs of an ancient, weather-worn tree, sat a lone figure dressed in red. Positioned with his left arm draping the same knee, he allowed his right leg to hang lifelessly from the branch. Across his lap lay his precious blade, his battle-toughened hand wrapped securely around its smooth scabbard. His relaxed posture belied the tumultuous thoughts that plagued his mind.
He blinked lazily and tried in vain to chase the images of Kagome and Sesshoumaru from his mind. He had seen them together just moments ago. From all appearances it seemed that they’d held a peaceful conversation. It was an accomplishment not even he, the inu lord’s own brother could lay claim to. He hated that he had not been able to hear what they were saying. He had kept is distance for fear that Kagome would detect his aura, but apparently Sesshoumaru had not spoken harshly to her or threatened her in any way. The small smile she had worn was proof of that. The interaction between them seemed to indicate that they had spoken as equals and while Kagome probably didn’t think anything of it, Inuyasha was well aware that this was not a normal occurrence for his brother. Sesshoumaru did not speak to humans or even hanyou and other demons in that way.
He knew how his bastard of a brother felt about humans and being a miko, Kagome’s very nature should make her an enemy. But he also knew that the same thing should apply to himself, yet he cared very deeply for the young miko. Kagome was extraordinary not only for a human, but for… well any living creature. She had a way of touching even those who sought to be her enemy; the relationship he personally shared with her was proof of that. Never before had she and Sesshoumaru spent any measure of time alone together, and while it seemed pretty benign, he didn’t like that it had happened now. It grated at something deep inside of him and sent an unpleasant tremble down his spine. Holding up his right hand, he allowed his oversized sleeve to fall back and reveal the rosary beads that circled his wrist. Before they had connected him and the miko in a way that both warmed and infuriated him, but then she changed the meaning behind them into a gesture of simple friendship. Friends, he and Kagome would never be more than friends now. The thought caused an indescribable feeling to wash over him, something he could not describe but he knew he didn’t like it all the same.
He shook his head slightly and returned his hand to the sword in his lap. Maybe he was overreacting. Sesshoumaru was a rock-solid block of impenetrable ice. He wasn’t interested in anything but himself. He would never… he allowed his thoughts to taper off. No! It would never happen, he’d die and burn in hell before it did! Besides, nothing happened really, it was just a stupid nothing conversation; it didn’t mean anything. What he needed to do, was focus on his own situation.
“Kikyou…” the name passed quietly through his lips. For so long he had wanted her; wanted things to be the way they would have been if Naraku had not interfered. Now that he finally had his chance however, he wasn’t entirely sure how to handle it. He loved her. He had always known it, but with Kagome still around, he felt confused; torn. He… loved Kagome too but in what way? There was no questioning that he felt extremely territorial over her and he could think of no one he would want to see her with, aside from himself but… “It’s too late for that now.” he said quietly as one of the sharper beads dug into his wrist. For so many years he had clung to his indecisiveness, and now certain options were no longer available to him. It was then that he had a profound revelation. “If I’m not careful, I’ll loose Kikyou too.”
Wrapping his hand around Tetsuaiga, the hanyou stood abruptly. He quickly returned the sword to its place at his hip, and leaped from the tree. He had come to a decision, but there was something he needed to do first.
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“And you see those, they’re used for erm… tummy troubles.” ‘More specifically diarrhea, but…’ Kagome trailed off uncomfortably.
“Wow!” Rin exclaimed in her normal exuberant tone. “They look just like regular flowers.” she continued as she grabbed a handful of the bright yellow blossoms. “I never realized that these could be used as medicine.” she finished as she deposited the plants in Kagome’s basket. Not so long ago, she had destroyed many of those same flowers by rolling in them. She didn’t mention that though.
For several moments longer, the two females conversed leisurely and continued to collect herbs. Just when the miko decided that they had enough, a swell of youki washed over her. Shortly thereafter, Inuyasha called her name. Kagome turned around, and nearly fell over. He was much closer than he had sounded. “Oh! Hi Inuyasha,” she exclaimed as she unconsciously took a step away from him. “What are you doing here?”
Ignoring her question, the hanyou turned his gaze to the girl at her side. “Hiya kid.” he said quietly, not quite keeping the bitterness from his tone. It wasn’t that he had a problem with her per se, she simply reminded him of his brother.
“Umm, hi.” Rin answered shyly. She wasn’t really sure how to respond to him. She was so used to addressing her elders with an honorific, but Inuyasha didn’t seem like the type who would appreciate such formality. She would have to ask Lady Kagome about that later. Just as the thought passed through her mind, she realized that an awkward silence had settled around them. It was her cue to leave. Turning to the miko she said, “Lady Kagome, if you don’t mind, I’ll take the herbs back to Lady Kaede now.” before the priestess could say a word, the girl grabbed the basket from her hands.”
“But Rin I…”
“Don’t worry,” the girl cut in quickly. “Ah-Un will take me.” she then called to the dragon that had been grazing nearby. Answering her call immediately, the demon swooped into their little area. After assessing that the girl was well, the creature offered Rin its back. “I’ll see you back at the village!” she waved as they took to the sky.
Kagome narrowed her eyes at the rapidly shrinking dot that was Rin and Ah-un. The girl reminded the miko of herself in the worst ways sometimes. She then turned back to the hanyou, offering a small smile which may have seemed a bit forced.
“So the kid‘s going to be staying at the village from now on huh?” he asked before she could say anything.
“Yeah. Kaede and I are kinda looking after her until she‘s old enough to be on her own.”
“Hmm.” he mused absently. “How is Kaede?”
Remembering what Sesshoumaru had told her, Kagome’s heart sank just a little bit. She wasn’t sure what was wrong with the elder miko, but she didn’t want to alarm everyone needlessly. “Umm… she’s… she’s okay.” she said, obviously uncomfortable with the subject.
Inuyasha frowned. “Seems like your not sure about that. Is everything okay?” he asked seriously.
Kagome began rubbing her arm nervously. She didn’t really want to talk about this right now. She’d be sure to try and get some information out of Kaede when she got back to the village. “Look Inuyasha, I’m guessing you didn’t come here to ask me about Kaede. So what is this really about?”
“Keh.” he said softly as he turned away from her. The girl always could see right through him. For a long moment, he just stood there thinking over his decision. This was even harder than he imagined. There was something about it which felt so final. It should have been a good thing, but in a way it wasn’t. Finally deciding that there was no easy way to say it, he braced himself for the worst. Still focusing on some unknown point in the distance he told her, “I’m going to ask Kikyou to become my mate; to marry me.”
Kagome’s eyes widened, and her lips parted as if to respond, but no sound came forth. Curling her hands into fists, she snatched her gaze away from him. She had been fully unprepared for the sharp pang that shot through her heart at his statement. ‘Damn it Kagome! I thought you were over this!’ she scolded herself furiously. A heavy silence passed between them, as the young miko sorted through her jumbled thoughts. Sango and Miroku would be married in just a few days. They recently finished the work on her home, and had already sent for Mushin to perform the ceremony. Now, Inuyasha and Kikyou were going to be married too. She sighed quietly. ‘That just leaves me.’
After a moment, she gave herself a mental shake. She was being unbelievably selfish! Her best friend had just told her that he was about to be married, and here she was bemoaning her own loneliness! She knew this would happen eventually. She hadn’t expected it to be so soon, but she knew that eventually Inuyasha and Kikyou would be married. Just the other day, she had told him that they would be happy together. A small sigh passed through her lips. She was being silly. She wanted them to be happy; to reclaim what Naraku had stolen from them. Their bond would become permanent now, and that was okay. In fact, it was a good thing, she just… she just hadn’t been prepared for how lonely it would make her feel.
After another moment, Kagome felt the air clear of its oppressive tension. She relaxed her hands and straightened her back. “I’m happy for you.” she said honestly. “I’m sure Kikyou will be too.”
The hanyou looked at her then. “So you don’t… you don’t have a problem with this?” Their eyes locked, and she did not answer right away. In that brief period, Inuyasha felt a tiny speck of hope bloom in his chest.
“No.” she finally told him. “I thought I did, but I really don’t, Inuyasha. I want you guys to be happy. You deserve it.” She gave him a bright smile. “I’d better be getting back now. Rin and Kaede need my help.”
“You umm… want me to take you?”
Kagome looked at him again. “Thanks for offering, but… I think I’ll walk.” this time, a real smile formed on her lips, brightening her face as it did.
‘I think I’ll walk.’ the words echoed through the hanyou’s mind as the miko turned away from him once again.
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Alone in Inuyasha’s forest, Kagome sat on the lip of the Bone Eater’s well. It was a clear night, and the stars sparkled beautifully against the deep blue sky. She had spent the day with Rin and Kaede, doing… well doing what mikos do. They had ground herbs, made medicines, and bandaged the wounds of two men from the village. It was fulfilling work, but a part of her missed the adventure this era used to offer. The news that Naraku had met his demise near the village had spread like wildfire. It was a good thing really, as it meant that demon attacks were at an all time low.
Still, it might be nice if things were just a little more exciting. The wind picked up suddenly, causing her black hakama to flutter against her legs. ‘Nice and clean.’ she mused happily as she ran her hand across the smooth dark cotton. Hers was from her era, so throwing it in the washing machine hadn‘t been an issue. During the day, she made it a point to watch Kaede closely. She wasn’t sure how she did it, but she also managed to crowbar a few of the stubborn miko’s symptoms out of her. After mentally cataloging the information she had learned, Kagome made a trip to her own time. She had taken the opportunity to catch up with her family, wash some much needed laundry, and get on the internet. She did what she could to discover what Kaede’s unknown illness might be, but was unable to find anything that seemed to fit with a reasonable level of accuracy. She needed more information still. Dull tummy aches, and fatigue could be practically anything or nothing at all. She might have dismissed such seemingly common symptoms entirely if it hadn’t been for…
“Sesshoumaru?” she asked quietly as she turned to look behind her. She was certain she had just felt his aura, but when she turned to look, she saw that no one was there. After a moment, she turned back, and resumed her stargazing. She never used to spend time alone like this. Even now, if she concentrated hard enough she could practically hear the light crackling of a campfire, and the sound of her friends’ ever amusing banter. Even Shippou, the one she thought would remain by her side forever, didn’t seem to need her much anymore. Since Kohaku was visiting with more and more frequency, Shippou spent a lot of time with Miroku and Sango. She realized that it was only natural that he would want to hang around with the older boy, but she couldn’t help but miss him all the same.
She sighed quietly. She should really be getting back, but she was reluctant to pull herself away. It was so peaceful out here. Soon, a disturbance of the air around her told Kagome that she was no longer alone. She blinked slowly and allowed a small smile to form on her lips.
“I thought I sensed you.” she said without turning around. “Anything I can do for you, Sesshoumaru?”
“Where is Rin?” he asked shortly.
Kagome took no issue with his curt response, and slowly turned to face him. “With Lady Kaede. She’d be asleep by now. Kaede’s kinda strict about that kind of stuff.” As she watched him, the young miko thought she saw his shoulders relax just a little bit. Had she not been looking directly at him, she surely would have missed it. “So what brings you here?” she asked conversationally. She was the picture of attentiveness as she met his gaze fully and folded her hands in her lap.
Without a word, the demon lord approached. Kagome watched as he reached into his billowing sleeves, and withdrew a small package wrapped in silk. “You will see that she gets this.”
It was an order, not a request, but Kagome took it as one anyway. “Of course.” she said as she accepted the small, neatly wrapped bundle. “What is it?” she asked, genuinely curious. The inu lord raised a brow, and Kagome laughed. It was a small feminine chortle that sounded of pure amusement. The daiyoukai was surprised to find that the sound was rather pleasant. It was a discovery he found… odd.
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” Kagome said, completely unaware of his sudden discomfort, “but I’m going to find out as soon as she opens it.”
She was right he knew, and though he held no particular desire to converse with her, it would not inconvenience him terribly to entertain her simple question. “It is a kimono.” he answered at length.
Kagome nodded as she looked at the package again. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Sesshoumaru shift, as if he were ready to leave. Not wanting to be left alone just yet she asked, “So why are you out so late? And where‘s Jaken?” she added as an afterthought.
The daiyoukai looked at her. She was absently plucking at the silk ties on the pack he had just given her. She looked almost shy as she sat there, avoiding his eyes for the first time since he’d known of her. He had personally witnessed many strange behaviors in this particular miko, but reticence had never been one of them. For reasons he could not fathom at this moment, he found this aspect of her personality mildly intriguing.
“Jaken is overseeing matters in the west until I return.”
“Ah, business.” she mused quietly, “But you still haven’t told me why you’re out so late.”
“I have a preference for the night.” he answered after a moment.
“Really?” she asked as she looked at him again, her previous timidity all but forgotten. “So do I.” she said as she looked up. “There’s just something about the stars, you know?” Though he did not answer verbally, the inu lord did join her in looking to the sky.
Suddenly, she drew his attention by looking at him again. “Do you mind if I ask you a question?”
Before he could prevent it, a small smirk formed on his lips. “Are you not already asking a question?”
She giggled. “I guess I am, but I wanted to ask something else.”
“Humph.” he breathed quietly, neither agreeing, or refusing to answer. Apparently, she took his non-comment as her sign to continue.
“When we fought Naraku the last time, you…” she trailed off as if to consider her words. “You prevented Naraku from killing Inuyasha. I don’t really think anyone else noticed, but Naraku had hit him pretty hard. He ended up hitting a tree and passing out. Naraku was about to kill him, but you blocked his path. I’ve heard you say, more than once that you were eventually going to kill Inuyasha. I never thought I’d get to ask you this, but if you want to kill him, why would you prevent Naraku from doing it? Isn’t the end result the same?”
“No.” he responded dryly. “The hanyou’s life belongs to this Sesshoumaru and no other. At the time of my choosing, he will die at my hand, and not a moment before.”
Surprising him, the miko chuckled again. When he raised a brow at her unanticipated reaction, she just smiled. “If I didn’t know any better, and I’m not necessarily saying I do, I might be inclined to say that your claim on his life is your… unconventional way of protecting him.” When she was answered with a slight scowl, she held up her hands in a gesture of surrender. “I’m just saying it seems a little convenient that you’re willing to preserve his life until some indeterminate time in the future when you may, or may not decide to kill him yourself. Forgive me if I’m wrong. I guess it’s just difficult for me to believe that you’d really want to kill your own brother.”
The demon lord narrowed his eyes. She was a bold one indeed. What made her think it was acceptable for her to speak to him in such an unrepressed manner? Moreover, why did it not offend him as he believed it should? Though her insinuation grated on his nerves, there didn’t seem to be any genuine malice behind them. It seemed as if she were merely projecting her own values onto him.
“Your ideals are not my own, miko. You would do well to realize that your human sentiments do not apply to youkai.”
She rose from her place on the edge of the well and stretched languorously. Yawning quietly behind her free hand, she took a few steps in his direction. For him, their proximity was uncomfortably close, but the woman seemed to take no note of it. “I know that humans and demons are different, but I think…” she trailed off dreamily, as she looked to the sky again. “I think that there are some things that are universal; things that affect male, and female, humans, and even demons.”
“Such as?” he asked, unsure as to why he wished to know.
She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with some unnamed emotion. “Love.” she stated simply. “I think that love is universal, whether it’s familial or…” a heavy blush seeped into her cheeks as she realized the direction their conversation was taking. “Romantic.” She smiled shyly, before returning her gaze to the sky.
For a moment, the unusual pair stood in comfortable silence. Suddenly, the miko gasped in surprise. The demon lord stiffened, when he felt her small hand wrap around his forearm. “Look!” she exclaimed excitedly, apparently unfazed by her breech of his personal space. “A shooting star, quick, make a wish!” she told him as she turned a glee filled smile on him.”
“Why?” he asked, his brows drawing together slightly.
“In my… where I’m from, the first person to see a shooting star has to make a wish on it. Now quick, make a wish!” she said, her excitement causing her to shake his arm a bit.
His frown deepened. “But you were the first one to see it.” he pointed out, not quite certain as to how she managed to draw him into such a nonsensical exchange.
Her shoulders slumped, and her excitement faded. She released his arm and looked to the sky again. “I know, but I… I died, Sesshoumaru. During that battle with Naraku, I was actually killed, but as you can see, I‘m alive now. I was given a second chance. It’d be selfish for me to ask for anything after that.”
“Ridiculous.”
Kagome rolled her eyes. “I know wishing on stars is silly but…”
“Although that assessment is also correct,” he interjected smoothly. “that is not what I meant.”
“Then what do you mean?”
“By destroying Naraku, you prevented the deaths of countless humans and demons alike. This second chance you speak of is not something you were granted, but something you earned.”
Though he had not been looking at her as he spoke, he did not miss her surprised reaction in the form of a quiet gasp. “Do you really… I mean, I guess I never really thought of it that way.”
“Humph.” he breathed out noncommittally.
“Not that we’ve ever really talked before, but that is by far the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
He resisted the urge to sneer. “Do not take my words as an expression of praise. It was merely a statement of fact and nothing more.”
She smiled. “Statements of fact can be nice too.” This time he did sneer. “Alright, alright!” she said quickly, a small giggle escaping with her words. “I guess I’ve pestered you enough for one night. I should probably get going before I say something really stupid. She took several paces in the direction of the old miko’s village before turning back to him. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it was nice talking to you Sesshoumaru.” she smiled at him again before resuming her leisurely pace. As the demon lord watched her small form disappear into the woods, he realized that in spite of her humanity, the woman was not an unpleasant creature; unusual, but not unpleasant.
His mind swimming with many various thoughts, Sesshoumaru pushed off the ground and took to the night sky.
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Acceptance of Dues
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High in the boughs of an ancient, weather-worn tree, sat a lone figure dressed in red. Positioned with his left arm draping the same knee, he allowed his right leg to hang lifelessly from the branch. Across his lap lay his precious blade, his battle-toughened hand wrapped securely around its smooth scabbard. His relaxed posture belied the tumultuous thoughts that plagued his mind.
He blinked lazily and tried in vain to chase the images of Kagome and Sesshoumaru from his mind. He had seen them together just moments ago. From all appearances it seemed that they’d held a peaceful conversation. It was an accomplishment not even he, the inu lord’s own brother could lay claim to. He hated that he had not been able to hear what they were saying. He had kept is distance for fear that Kagome would detect his aura, but apparently Sesshoumaru had not spoken harshly to her or threatened her in any way. The small smile she had worn was proof of that. The interaction between them seemed to indicate that they had spoken as equals and while Kagome probably didn’t think anything of it, Inuyasha was well aware that this was not a normal occurrence for his brother. Sesshoumaru did not speak to humans or even hanyou and other demons in that way.
He knew how his bastard of a brother felt about humans and being a miko, Kagome’s very nature should make her an enemy. But he also knew that the same thing should apply to himself, yet he cared very deeply for the young miko. Kagome was extraordinary not only for a human, but for… well any living creature. She had a way of touching even those who sought to be her enemy; the relationship he personally shared with her was proof of that. Never before had she and Sesshoumaru spent any measure of time alone together, and while it seemed pretty benign, he didn’t like that it had happened now. It grated at something deep inside of him and sent an unpleasant tremble down his spine. Holding up his right hand, he allowed his oversized sleeve to fall back and reveal the rosary beads that circled his wrist. Before they had connected him and the miko in a way that both warmed and infuriated him, but then she changed the meaning behind them into a gesture of simple friendship. Friends, he and Kagome would never be more than friends now. The thought caused an indescribable feeling to wash over him, something he could not describe but he knew he didn’t like it all the same.
He shook his head slightly and returned his hand to the sword in his lap. Maybe he was overreacting. Sesshoumaru was a rock-solid block of impenetrable ice. He wasn’t interested in anything but himself. He would never… he allowed his thoughts to taper off. No! It would never happen, he’d die and burn in hell before it did! Besides, nothing happened really, it was just a stupid nothing conversation; it didn’t mean anything. What he needed to do, was focus on his own situation.
“Kikyou…” the name passed quietly through his lips. For so long he had wanted her; wanted things to be the way they would have been if Naraku had not interfered. Now that he finally had his chance however, he wasn’t entirely sure how to handle it. He loved her. He had always known it, but with Kagome still around, he felt confused; torn. He… loved Kagome too but in what way? There was no questioning that he felt extremely territorial over her and he could think of no one he would want to see her with, aside from himself but… “It’s too late for that now.” he said quietly as one of the sharper beads dug into his wrist. For so many years he had clung to his indecisiveness, and now certain options were no longer available to him. It was then that he had a profound revelation. “If I’m not careful, I’ll loose Kikyou too.”
Wrapping his hand around Tetsuaiga, the hanyou stood abruptly. He quickly returned the sword to its place at his hip, and leaped from the tree. He had come to a decision, but there was something he needed to do first.
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“And you see those, they’re used for erm… tummy troubles.” ‘More specifically diarrhea, but…’ Kagome trailed off uncomfortably.
“Wow!” Rin exclaimed in her normal exuberant tone. “They look just like regular flowers.” she continued as she grabbed a handful of the bright yellow blossoms. “I never realized that these could be used as medicine.” she finished as she deposited the plants in Kagome’s basket. Not so long ago, she had destroyed many of those same flowers by rolling in them. She didn’t mention that though.
For several moments longer, the two females conversed leisurely and continued to collect herbs. Just when the miko decided that they had enough, a swell of youki washed over her. Shortly thereafter, Inuyasha called her name. Kagome turned around, and nearly fell over. He was much closer than he had sounded. “Oh! Hi Inuyasha,” she exclaimed as she unconsciously took a step away from him. “What are you doing here?”
Ignoring her question, the hanyou turned his gaze to the girl at her side. “Hiya kid.” he said quietly, not quite keeping the bitterness from his tone. It wasn’t that he had a problem with her per se, she simply reminded him of his brother.
“Umm, hi.” Rin answered shyly. She wasn’t really sure how to respond to him. She was so used to addressing her elders with an honorific, but Inuyasha didn’t seem like the type who would appreciate such formality. She would have to ask Lady Kagome about that later. Just as the thought passed through her mind, she realized that an awkward silence had settled around them. It was her cue to leave. Turning to the miko she said, “Lady Kagome, if you don’t mind, I’ll take the herbs back to Lady Kaede now.” before the priestess could say a word, the girl grabbed the basket from her hands.”
“But Rin I…”
“Don’t worry,” the girl cut in quickly. “Ah-Un will take me.” she then called to the dragon that had been grazing nearby. Answering her call immediately, the demon swooped into their little area. After assessing that the girl was well, the creature offered Rin its back. “I’ll see you back at the village!” she waved as they took to the sky.
Kagome narrowed her eyes at the rapidly shrinking dot that was Rin and Ah-un. The girl reminded the miko of herself in the worst ways sometimes. She then turned back to the hanyou, offering a small smile which may have seemed a bit forced.
“So the kid‘s going to be staying at the village from now on huh?” he asked before she could say anything.
“Yeah. Kaede and I are kinda looking after her until she‘s old enough to be on her own.”
“Hmm.” he mused absently. “How is Kaede?”
Remembering what Sesshoumaru had told her, Kagome’s heart sank just a little bit. She wasn’t sure what was wrong with the elder miko, but she didn’t want to alarm everyone needlessly. “Umm… she’s… she’s okay.” she said, obviously uncomfortable with the subject.
Inuyasha frowned. “Seems like your not sure about that. Is everything okay?” he asked seriously.
Kagome began rubbing her arm nervously. She didn’t really want to talk about this right now. She’d be sure to try and get some information out of Kaede when she got back to the village. “Look Inuyasha, I’m guessing you didn’t come here to ask me about Kaede. So what is this really about?”
“Keh.” he said softly as he turned away from her. The girl always could see right through him. For a long moment, he just stood there thinking over his decision. This was even harder than he imagined. There was something about it which felt so final. It should have been a good thing, but in a way it wasn’t. Finally deciding that there was no easy way to say it, he braced himself for the worst. Still focusing on some unknown point in the distance he told her, “I’m going to ask Kikyou to become my mate; to marry me.”
Kagome’s eyes widened, and her lips parted as if to respond, but no sound came forth. Curling her hands into fists, she snatched her gaze away from him. She had been fully unprepared for the sharp pang that shot through her heart at his statement. ‘Damn it Kagome! I thought you were over this!’ she scolded herself furiously. A heavy silence passed between them, as the young miko sorted through her jumbled thoughts. Sango and Miroku would be married in just a few days. They recently finished the work on her home, and had already sent for Mushin to perform the ceremony. Now, Inuyasha and Kikyou were going to be married too. She sighed quietly. ‘That just leaves me.’
After a moment, she gave herself a mental shake. She was being unbelievably selfish! Her best friend had just told her that he was about to be married, and here she was bemoaning her own loneliness! She knew this would happen eventually. She hadn’t expected it to be so soon, but she knew that eventually Inuyasha and Kikyou would be married. Just the other day, she had told him that they would be happy together. A small sigh passed through her lips. She was being silly. She wanted them to be happy; to reclaim what Naraku had stolen from them. Their bond would become permanent now, and that was okay. In fact, it was a good thing, she just… she just hadn’t been prepared for how lonely it would make her feel.
After another moment, Kagome felt the air clear of its oppressive tension. She relaxed her hands and straightened her back. “I’m happy for you.” she said honestly. “I’m sure Kikyou will be too.”
The hanyou looked at her then. “So you don’t… you don’t have a problem with this?” Their eyes locked, and she did not answer right away. In that brief period, Inuyasha felt a tiny speck of hope bloom in his chest.
“No.” she finally told him. “I thought I did, but I really don’t, Inuyasha. I want you guys to be happy. You deserve it.” She gave him a bright smile. “I’d better be getting back now. Rin and Kaede need my help.”
“You umm… want me to take you?”
Kagome looked at him again. “Thanks for offering, but… I think I’ll walk.” this time, a real smile formed on her lips, brightening her face as it did.
‘I think I’ll walk.’ the words echoed through the hanyou’s mind as the miko turned away from him once again.
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Alone in Inuyasha’s forest, Kagome sat on the lip of the Bone Eater’s well. It was a clear night, and the stars sparkled beautifully against the deep blue sky. She had spent the day with Rin and Kaede, doing… well doing what mikos do. They had ground herbs, made medicines, and bandaged the wounds of two men from the village. It was fulfilling work, but a part of her missed the adventure this era used to offer. The news that Naraku had met his demise near the village had spread like wildfire. It was a good thing really, as it meant that demon attacks were at an all time low.
Still, it might be nice if things were just a little more exciting. The wind picked up suddenly, causing her black hakama to flutter against her legs. ‘Nice and clean.’ she mused happily as she ran her hand across the smooth dark cotton. Hers was from her era, so throwing it in the washing machine hadn‘t been an issue. During the day, she made it a point to watch Kaede closely. She wasn’t sure how she did it, but she also managed to crowbar a few of the stubborn miko’s symptoms out of her. After mentally cataloging the information she had learned, Kagome made a trip to her own time. She had taken the opportunity to catch up with her family, wash some much needed laundry, and get on the internet. She did what she could to discover what Kaede’s unknown illness might be, but was unable to find anything that seemed to fit with a reasonable level of accuracy. She needed more information still. Dull tummy aches, and fatigue could be practically anything or nothing at all. She might have dismissed such seemingly common symptoms entirely if it hadn’t been for…
“Sesshoumaru?” she asked quietly as she turned to look behind her. She was certain she had just felt his aura, but when she turned to look, she saw that no one was there. After a moment, she turned back, and resumed her stargazing. She never used to spend time alone like this. Even now, if she concentrated hard enough she could practically hear the light crackling of a campfire, and the sound of her friends’ ever amusing banter. Even Shippou, the one she thought would remain by her side forever, didn’t seem to need her much anymore. Since Kohaku was visiting with more and more frequency, Shippou spent a lot of time with Miroku and Sango. She realized that it was only natural that he would want to hang around with the older boy, but she couldn’t help but miss him all the same.
She sighed quietly. She should really be getting back, but she was reluctant to pull herself away. It was so peaceful out here. Soon, a disturbance of the air around her told Kagome that she was no longer alone. She blinked slowly and allowed a small smile to form on her lips.
“I thought I sensed you.” she said without turning around. “Anything I can do for you, Sesshoumaru?”
“Where is Rin?” he asked shortly.
Kagome took no issue with his curt response, and slowly turned to face him. “With Lady Kaede. She’d be asleep by now. Kaede’s kinda strict about that kind of stuff.” As she watched him, the young miko thought she saw his shoulders relax just a little bit. Had she not been looking directly at him, she surely would have missed it. “So what brings you here?” she asked conversationally. She was the picture of attentiveness as she met his gaze fully and folded her hands in her lap.
Without a word, the demon lord approached. Kagome watched as he reached into his billowing sleeves, and withdrew a small package wrapped in silk. “You will see that she gets this.”
It was an order, not a request, but Kagome took it as one anyway. “Of course.” she said as she accepted the small, neatly wrapped bundle. “What is it?” she asked, genuinely curious. The inu lord raised a brow, and Kagome laughed. It was a small feminine chortle that sounded of pure amusement. The daiyoukai was surprised to find that the sound was rather pleasant. It was a discovery he found… odd.
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” Kagome said, completely unaware of his sudden discomfort, “but I’m going to find out as soon as she opens it.”
She was right he knew, and though he held no particular desire to converse with her, it would not inconvenience him terribly to entertain her simple question. “It is a kimono.” he answered at length.
Kagome nodded as she looked at the package again. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Sesshoumaru shift, as if he were ready to leave. Not wanting to be left alone just yet she asked, “So why are you out so late? And where‘s Jaken?” she added as an afterthought.
The daiyoukai looked at her. She was absently plucking at the silk ties on the pack he had just given her. She looked almost shy as she sat there, avoiding his eyes for the first time since he’d known of her. He had personally witnessed many strange behaviors in this particular miko, but reticence had never been one of them. For reasons he could not fathom at this moment, he found this aspect of her personality mildly intriguing.
“Jaken is overseeing matters in the west until I return.”
“Ah, business.” she mused quietly, “But you still haven’t told me why you’re out so late.”
“I have a preference for the night.” he answered after a moment.
“Really?” she asked as she looked at him again, her previous timidity all but forgotten. “So do I.” she said as she looked up. “There’s just something about the stars, you know?” Though he did not answer verbally, the inu lord did join her in looking to the sky.
Suddenly, she drew his attention by looking at him again. “Do you mind if I ask you a question?”
Before he could prevent it, a small smirk formed on his lips. “Are you not already asking a question?”
She giggled. “I guess I am, but I wanted to ask something else.”
“Humph.” he breathed quietly, neither agreeing, or refusing to answer. Apparently, she took his non-comment as her sign to continue.
“When we fought Naraku the last time, you…” she trailed off as if to consider her words. “You prevented Naraku from killing Inuyasha. I don’t really think anyone else noticed, but Naraku had hit him pretty hard. He ended up hitting a tree and passing out. Naraku was about to kill him, but you blocked his path. I’ve heard you say, more than once that you were eventually going to kill Inuyasha. I never thought I’d get to ask you this, but if you want to kill him, why would you prevent Naraku from doing it? Isn’t the end result the same?”
“No.” he responded dryly. “The hanyou’s life belongs to this Sesshoumaru and no other. At the time of my choosing, he will die at my hand, and not a moment before.”
Surprising him, the miko chuckled again. When he raised a brow at her unanticipated reaction, she just smiled. “If I didn’t know any better, and I’m not necessarily saying I do, I might be inclined to say that your claim on his life is your… unconventional way of protecting him.” When she was answered with a slight scowl, she held up her hands in a gesture of surrender. “I’m just saying it seems a little convenient that you’re willing to preserve his life until some indeterminate time in the future when you may, or may not decide to kill him yourself. Forgive me if I’m wrong. I guess it’s just difficult for me to believe that you’d really want to kill your own brother.”
The demon lord narrowed his eyes. She was a bold one indeed. What made her think it was acceptable for her to speak to him in such an unrepressed manner? Moreover, why did it not offend him as he believed it should? Though her insinuation grated on his nerves, there didn’t seem to be any genuine malice behind them. It seemed as if she were merely projecting her own values onto him.
“Your ideals are not my own, miko. You would do well to realize that your human sentiments do not apply to youkai.”
She rose from her place on the edge of the well and stretched languorously. Yawning quietly behind her free hand, she took a few steps in his direction. For him, their proximity was uncomfortably close, but the woman seemed to take no note of it. “I know that humans and demons are different, but I think…” she trailed off dreamily, as she looked to the sky again. “I think that there are some things that are universal; things that affect male, and female, humans, and even demons.”
“Such as?” he asked, unsure as to why he wished to know.
She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with some unnamed emotion. “Love.” she stated simply. “I think that love is universal, whether it’s familial or…” a heavy blush seeped into her cheeks as she realized the direction their conversation was taking. “Romantic.” She smiled shyly, before returning her gaze to the sky.
For a moment, the unusual pair stood in comfortable silence. Suddenly, the miko gasped in surprise. The demon lord stiffened, when he felt her small hand wrap around his forearm. “Look!” she exclaimed excitedly, apparently unfazed by her breech of his personal space. “A shooting star, quick, make a wish!” she told him as she turned a glee filled smile on him.”
“Why?” he asked, his brows drawing together slightly.
“In my… where I’m from, the first person to see a shooting star has to make a wish on it. Now quick, make a wish!” she said, her excitement causing her to shake his arm a bit.
His frown deepened. “But you were the first one to see it.” he pointed out, not quite certain as to how she managed to draw him into such a nonsensical exchange.
Her shoulders slumped, and her excitement faded. She released his arm and looked to the sky again. “I know, but I… I died, Sesshoumaru. During that battle with Naraku, I was actually killed, but as you can see, I‘m alive now. I was given a second chance. It’d be selfish for me to ask for anything after that.”
“Ridiculous.”
Kagome rolled her eyes. “I know wishing on stars is silly but…”
“Although that assessment is also correct,” he interjected smoothly. “that is not what I meant.”
“Then what do you mean?”
“By destroying Naraku, you prevented the deaths of countless humans and demons alike. This second chance you speak of is not something you were granted, but something you earned.”
Though he had not been looking at her as he spoke, he did not miss her surprised reaction in the form of a quiet gasp. “Do you really… I mean, I guess I never really thought of it that way.”
“Humph.” he breathed out noncommittally.
“Not that we’ve ever really talked before, but that is by far the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
He resisted the urge to sneer. “Do not take my words as an expression of praise. It was merely a statement of fact and nothing more.”
She smiled. “Statements of fact can be nice too.” This time he did sneer. “Alright, alright!” she said quickly, a small giggle escaping with her words. “I guess I’ve pestered you enough for one night. I should probably get going before I say something really stupid. She took several paces in the direction of the old miko’s village before turning back to him. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it was nice talking to you Sesshoumaru.” she smiled at him again before resuming her leisurely pace. As the demon lord watched her small form disappear into the woods, he realized that in spite of her humanity, the woman was not an unpleasant creature; unusual, but not unpleasant.
His mind swimming with many various thoughts, Sesshoumaru pushed off the ground and took to the night sky.
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