InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Remnants of the Spider ❯ The Stubborn Miko ( Chapter 16 )
[ 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: 4.4K | Visits: 304 | 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: 4.4K | Visits: 304 | Status: Work In Progress
Remnants of the Spider
The Stubborn Miko
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As Kagome continued to stare down at the box, she considered what she should do. Suddenly she felt almost panicked. ‘I have to get out of here! I have to find out what’s wrong with her! If… if something were to happen to her…’ she couldn’t bring herself to finish the thought. She rose to her feet, and quickly headed for the door, slipping on her shoes before she stole away into the night.
From high in the moonlight sky her actions were being watched. The golden-amber gaze of the demon lord tracked her movements as she exited the old miko’s hut and darted through the village. She entered the woods without pausing before heading to the Bone Eaters well. Sesshoumaru watched with interest as she gathered her kimono from around her feet, and sat on the lip of the well. She flipped one leg over, and then the other before pushing off the edge, and plummeting into the darkness.
The other errand that required his attention had not consumed as much of his time as he had believed it would, leaving him with the opportunity to return and question, Kagome about the other miko who’s name he could not recall. Truly, the matter was none of his concern; he was simply curious, just as he found himself at this moment. Why had the girl jumped down the well? Slowly he began to descend from the sky. He touched down lightly in the soft grass before walking casually over to the well. To his surprise, the miko was nowhere to be found. It was dark inside the well, but still he was able to see that the girl was not there. He was no longer able to detect her aura, and only faint traces of her scent remained.
“Interesting.” he mused quietly to himself. The girl had disappeared. How was such a thing possible? His brows drew together slightly in contemplation as he considered this. Perhaps there was a portal hidden within the well? He decided after a moment. It didn’t seem likely, but what else could explain the girl’s disappearance? As he stared down into the inky darkness, he wondered where the portal might lead to, and how had she discovered its presence here. He would have to add these things to his now growing list of questions. Absently he wondered when she would return.
Perhaps he should remain in the area for a while. There was no particular reason he needed to rush back to the west. Over the years Jaken had proven himself quite capable of seeing to things in his absence. The toad was annoying, but he was fiercely loyal, and infallibly obedient. Oddly, he was one of the very few that Sesshoumaru genuinely trusted.
Turning his attention away from the well and its mysteries, the inu lord looked to the sky. He was soon reminded of the night when he had gazed upon the stars with the young miko. In fact they had been in this same location. She had been sitting on the lip of the well then. Now that he knew, or at least suspected that there was a portal within its depths, he found himself pondering what she had been doing that night. He wondered if she had been planning to enter the well that night also. Was the portal a secret? Had she been reluctant to enter the well while he was present? Each question seemed to make way for another. Giving little consideration to his actions, Sesshoumaru turned his back to the well and lowered himself to the ground. He would stay here until the girl returned, or until such time as it pleased him to leave; whichever occurred first. It was not often that he was left alone with his thoughts, so he would simply take this time to enjoy the temporary solitude.
The construction of his citadel was coming along nicely. He had been pleasantly surprised at how quickly things seemed to be coming together. Floor plans had already been created. Orders had been given, supplies procured, and laborers, even now were toiling away under Jaken’s no doubt annoying supervision.
For so long he had wished to reclaim the west, and begin building his empire, and while a part of him was immensely pleased that it was finally happening, another part was vaguely dissatisfied. The prospect did not seem as rewarding as he believed it would. It seemed strangely bland somehow. It was almost as if… something were missing. The power that he so desired was firmly within his reach, and yet it did not seem to be enough. He wanted… something else, something more, but he could not begin to imagine what that something might be. The feeling had first struck him some time ago, but he could not specifically recall when. He had considered the matter many times, but had been unable to come up with an answer. He had ruled out Tetsuaiga early on. The fang had been the only thing he had ever coveted and failed to obtain, but Bakusaiga was a much more formidable sword. He no longer had need of his father’s fang.
In his hands he held both the power of life and death, but still he desired more. Perhaps he was simply displeased that he could not lay claim to the demise of Naraku. He had fully expected the wretched abomination of a half-breed to meet his end beneath his blade, but it was not to be. It was strange how things turned out sometimes. How many times had he replayed the events of that night in his mind? In spite of his stolen power, and constant manipulation of people and situations, the half-demon was brought down by a simple human girl. To look at her, one would never believe that she was capable of such a feat, and he himself would not have believed it had he not witnessed it with his own eyes. The girl had even saved his life that night. It was still a bit of a blow to his pride to think on it, but it was true none the less. It grated on his nerves to know that Naraku’s was the only death that he desired but failed to claim.
That girl… she was just an ordinary human female, he had told himself. But really, he knew that not to be true. Even death itself had made exception for her.
A rapid movement in the sky drew his attention from his wandering thoughts. ‘A shooting star! Quick make a wish!’ The girl’s unbidden words echoed through his mind. ‘Ridiculous.’ He thought as he huffed quietly. Why would anyone indulge in such foolishness? And yet…
A tiny smile tilted his lips as he glanced around the empty clearing. Wishing alone would not accomplish one’s goals, only action could achieve such ends. But stars were mysterious things, and one could never truly know what powers they possessed. Reaching them seemed impossible, and yet if one stared at them long enough they would often find themselves tempted to try. If a falling star were truly able to grant a wish, it would have to grant a wish that he, Sesshoumaru was unable to make possible on his own. What could that be? Before he knew it, the daiyoukai was considering what he might wish for. It was nonsensical he knew, but pondering such things was strangely soothing.
Suddenly it came to him. He had never admitted it, and likely never would, but there was something he wanted. It was the one thing he had no hope of securing under his own power.
Alone in the quiet clearing, Sesshoumaru closed his eyes, and made a wish.
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With wide eyes, Kagome stared at the small black words on the screen. It was around nine o’clock when she returned from the feudal era, now it was approaching midnight. She had visited with her mom and grandpa only briefly before taking a quick shower and changing her clothes. It was Saturday, and her mom had informed her that Souta was sleeping over with one of his friends so she was free to use his computer. Now she was almost wishing that she hadn’t.
She was beginning to feel slightly queasy, and her heart was pounding in her chest. It was all beginning to make sense now; horrible, horrible sense. The abdominal pain, the loss of appetite, the weight loss. And now that she thought about it, Kaede’s skin, and her single remaining eye were beginning to appear slightly more yellow than usual. The symptoms were all there; right there in front of her, but the disease was not one she wanted to see. She quickly found herself bombarded by various emotions. Sadness, fear, and anxiety just to name a few; but beneath them all was anger. She almost felt as if the elder miko had betrayed her in some way. She knew it was foolish to think such a thing, but the feeling would not abate.
With trembling hands, Kagome quickly logged out of the computer. She collected the small bag of supplies she had gathered after her shower, and left her brother’s room. Her mother and grandfather had already retired for the night, so she scribbled a quick note and left in on the kitchen counter informing them that she was going back.
Moving almost frantically, Kagome ran out of the house, hastily locking the door behind her. She darted across the courtyard to the well house. Without stopping for breath, she threw open the door and went inside. She descended the short flight of steps and went over to the well. She wasn’t even sure what she was going to do once she returned, she just knew she needed to get back. For a moment, she stared down into the well and willed herself to calm. She took several deep breaths before launching herself over the edge, and plummeting into its depths. The well’s ancient power wrapped around her; its warmth and familiar glow helping to relieve some of her anxiety. She landed softly on the cold, hard-packed dirt. Her eyes were closed, and she did not rise right away. How was she going to do this? Kaede was… was…
Fighting back tears, Kagome placed a hand over her chest in an effort to calm her racing heart. ‘What can I do?’ she asked herself frantically. ‘What can I do??!!’
“What are you doing?”
A heavy gasp escaped her lips, and the young miko looked up. “Don’t do that!!!” she cried as she slumped against one of the walls of the well. “You scared me half to death!” After a few calming breaths, Kagome rose to her feet. She brushed away the dirt that had clung to her clothing before looking up at him again. “What are you doing here anyway, Sesshoumaru?”
“You have not answered my question.” he pointed out blandly.
“Yeah well, you didn’t answer mine either. Besides, I kinda have a lot on my mind right now.” She finished brushing off her clothes, and then turned her attention to him again. “Look, could you please help me out of here?” Gesturing to the vines in front of her she continued, “I could climb out on my own, but it’d be a lot easier if you helped.”
Sesshoumaru glared at her. ‘How very bold of her.’ he mused to himself. What made her believe she was worthy of his assistance? Oh right, she had saved his life, he recalled after a moment. How annoying that that pestering bit of information should return to him now.
Kagome stared up at him wondering what he would do. Normally she wouldn’t have dared to ask him such a thing, but in her current state of crippling fatigue, and emotional turmoil, she simply could not muster the energy to haul herself out of the well. ‘If he doesn’t help me,’ she thought, ‘maybe I’ll just sleep down here.”
“Move aside.”
The curt order was her only warning before a white blur landed in front of her. Her mind barely had time to register what was happening as a powerful arm wrapped around her waist. A loud gasp escaped her lips when she felt her feet lift from the ground. Within less than a moment, she found herself outside of the well with Sesshoumaru standing in front of her. She looked up at him, her eyes wide, almost as if she were in a trance. Her breath caught in her throat as his hand slowly pulled away from her. She didn’t know if it was deliberate, unintentional, or even imagined, but his hand seemed to trail slowly across her back as he released her from his partial embrace.
His expression betraying nothing, the demon lord stared down on her. “What?” he asked after a long pause.
His voice brought Kagome out of her stupor, and she shook her head slightly. “Oh! Umm… sorry. I didn’t mean to stare.” she said quickly. “I just umm… I guess I was just kinda surprised that you actually helped me out of the well.” she admitted as she instinctively stepped away from him.
“Did you not ask for my assistance?” he asked sounding slightly annoyed.
“Well yeah, but… never mind. I need to get back to the village, so umm, I’ll see you later I guess.” she told him flippantly as she turned to leave.
“Why were you in the well?” he asked as if she had not spoken.
Startled by the unexpected question, the young miko turned back to him, a thoughtful frown on her face. That’s right, he didn’t know about the well did he? Around the village it was common knowledge, so she hadn‘t really considered the fact that he might not know.
“You don’t know about me, do you?” she asked absently. Though he didn’t actually respond, Kagome got the distinct impression that he was wondering what the heck she was talking about. “Umm, it’s kind of a long story so maybe I can explain it to you another time?”
The inu lord narrowed his eyes. Something about the girl’s demeanor was off tonight. She seemed to be trying to hide it, but her scent easily betrayed her. The girl was distressed.
“No. You will explain now.” he returned sternly.
The girl frowned. Any other time she would have taken issue with being ordered around, but something about his tone made her reconsider. “Umm…” she began uncertainly.
“Sit.” he ordered as he gestured toward the well. The miko stared at him. After a moment, her shoulders slumped in defeat, and she sighed quietly. She nodded her reluctant agreement and seated herself in the cool grass, resting her back against the well. Placing her small bag next to her, she folded her hands in her lap before looking up at him. “It really is a long story.” she tried again, “Are you sure you have time for this?”
Instead of answering verbally, the demon lord lowered himself to the ground to sit across from her. Kagome sighed again. “I’m not from this time.” she began quietly.
After about twenty minutes, she had told him of her origins, answered as many of his questions as she could, and explained how she came to be in this time. She also told him about her uncertainty regarding the well. Really, now that both Naraku and the jewel had been destroyed, she wasn’t really certain why the well still worked for her. Of course Masuyo had told her that she absorbed a lot of power when she’d destroyed the Shikon jewel. That could explain why she was still able to pass through, but it didn’t really explain why the time warp remained open in the first place. These days she just knew that each time she passed through, it could be her last. Eventually, she would either have to choose, or the choice would be taken away from her, and she would be trapped on one side or the other.
After her explanation, the pair settled into a semi-comfortable silence. Sesshoumaru took a moment to consider the story she had told him, and while it was definitely anomalous, he could find no reason not to believe her. He began to wonder what knowledge and information she might possess. Being of a future time could be monumentally advantageous. The light rustling of fabric against fabric caught his attention and he glanced at her from the corner of his eyes. “Why are you so agitated?” he asked impulsively. He hadn’t intended to ask such a thing, but now that the question had been voiced, he realized that he was actually curious to know the answer.
Kagome started, and stared at him. He was looking at her. His expression was characteristically bland, but his eyes seemed to bore into her. It was almost as if he already knew what was bothering her and simply wanted her to speak the words herself. The miko turned away from the intensity of his gaze. “I don’t really want to talk about it.” she lied. Really, she did want to talk about it, she simply did not think that the icy demon lord would understand.
“You are lying.” he pointed out coolly.
She didn’t answer to that and only turned further away from him. A long silence followed. “Tell me.” his voice was quiet.
Kagome drew in a deep breath. “You’re not going to let me leave until I do, are you?”
“You are free to do as you will. If you truly wish to return to the village, I will not stop you; however I suggest you consider the significance of what you would squander if you do.” The girl laughed; a short, humorless chuckle and the demon lord quickly realized that he did not like the sound.
Sesshoumaru was certainly full of himself. She supposed that that was his way of saying that he was lending her his ear, but from her perspective, he was simply being nosy. She should have expected no less than for him to make it seem as if he was doing her a great service by trying to get her to talk. Still, a part of her realized that he probably wouldn’t do this for just anyone, and really she didn’t know why he was doing it for her. She looked back at him then. This time he was staring off into the distance pretending he did not feel her gaze on him. ‘He won’t understand.’ she told herself, but really, what did she have to lose by telling him anyway?
“It’s Kaede.” she said before she could reconsider. There was a pause, and she somehow realized he was simply waiting for her to continue. “I umm…” she swallowed thickly. “I think I’ve figured out what’s wrong with her. I did some research back in my own time, and it seems that her symptoms are consistent with a very, very bad disease.” already she could feel her heart beginning to race again, but she willed herself to press on. “The disease is called liver cancer. Even in my time there’s no cure for it, only treatments. Even if…” she trailed off and placed a hand over her mouth as if speaking the words aloud would somehow hasten the woman‘s fate.
The girl’s eyes began to flutter rapidly, and Sesshoumaru knew she was fighting back tears. “She’s going to die, Sesshoumaru.” she blurted out suddenly. “She’s going to die.” she repeated, but this time she seemed to be speaking only to herself. The demon lord watched in silence as the miko began rubbing her arms beneath the sleeves of her haori as if to warm herself against the non-existing cold.
“You know what the worst part is?” she asked quietly. Without waiting for an answer she said, “I think she knows. She probably doesn’t know the name of the illness, but I think she knows what’s going to happen. All of this time she has gone out of her way to down-play her symptoms, and act as if everything is okay. Whenever anyone asks what’s wrong with her she always brushes it off, and now she’s taking medicine to dull her pain, and it’s not even going to…” she trailed off, and her little hands curled into fists. Sesshoumaru could see that the blood was rushing to her head causing her to flush bright red.
“You intend to confront her.” his calm voice cut through the heavy silence. It wasn’t a question, but Kagome took it as one anyway.
Her head snapped up and she glared at him. “Of course I’m going to confront her! It’s not right for her to keep something like this from me, from all of us!”
“Hn.” he breathed noncommittally as he turned his gaze to the sky once more. “Tell me miko, what would it have changed if she had told you?”
The girl’s mouth dropped open, but no sound came forth. “That’s not…” she stammered, “That’s not the point! She should have told me! At least… at least I could have…”
“Begun grieving sooner?”
Her breath left her in a rush. “N-NO! I could have been prepared!”
“You disillusion yourself if you truly believe what you are saying.” he looked at her then. “And I suspect that you do not.” She turned away from his knowing gaze. “Enlighten me; am I to understand that you find the old miko ill-equipped to make her own decisions? To divulge the state of her wellbeing as she sees fit? Is she not entitled to that?”
Kagome scowled at him. “Why are you defending what she did?!” she cried hoarsely. “It’s not right Sesshoumaru!!! This is important! She is DYING!!!” tears began to slip down her face. She was practically hyperventilating. Animatedly pointing toward the village she cried, “She’s dying and she knows it and she didn’t even tell me! She didn’t tell YOU! Aren’t you angry??!!” not giving him a chance to answer she continued, “You left Rin in her care and… and…” she deflated with a heavy pant and buried her head in her hands. Shaking almost violently, she pushed her hair away from her face before looking at him with teary red eyes. “Who’s going to take care of Rin after…after she’s gone? Aren’t you angry that she would keep something like that from you?” her voice shook with her distress.
Sesshoumaru stared at her. “Look at yourself miko,” he said instead of answering her question. “She has not yet departed this world, and already you mourn for her. Have you not considered that this is precisely what she sought to prevent?”
Kagome pounded her fist against the ground. “Damn it Sesshoumaru!! That’s not the point!!!” she ground out. “I am her FRIEND! I’m more than her friend! I’m like a daughter to her! She had no right keeping this from me!” Her chest heaving, and her breathing labored, the girl pulled herself up on trembling legs. “I need to leave.” she said quickly. “I don’t want to talk about this with you anymore.”
The demon lord stood as well, but said nothing more. The girl was clearly stricken with grief, and would no longer listen to reason. He watched as she quickly collected her traveling bag. Without looking at him again, she broke into a light jog, hastily making her way back to the village.
Just as he said he would, Sesshoumaru let her go.
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The early morning sun broke through a thin blanket of clouds signaling the dawn of a new day. The air was clean, crisp, and gently perfumed with the scent of wild flowers. It was going to be a beautiful day; at least to those who were in the mood to appreciate it.
Rolling over in her sleep, Kaede drew in a sharp breath as the woefully familiar pain made its presence known once again. The herbal medication from last night had long since worn off, and the gradually increasing ache had finally pulled her from the comfort of her rest. Fully awake now, the elder miko took a deep breath and exhaled slowly through her dry lips. For at least a moment, she did not move again, but as she continued to lie there on her mat, she realized that something was not right. It almost felt as if she was being watched. Her senses suddenly on high alert, the miko sat up abruptly barely holding back a cry of pain from the sudden movement.
She instinctively reached for her bow, but stilled her movements when her single eye shot open and landed on Kagome. She placed a hand over her chest attempting to calm her racing heart. “Child!” the priestess cried. “Ye nearly sent this old woman to an early grave!”
The younger miko narrowed her tired, bloodshot eyes. “What an interesting choice of words.” she said coolly as she tapped her fingers against the small wooden box she cradled in her lap.
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The Stubborn Miko
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As Kagome continued to stare down at the box, she considered what she should do. Suddenly she felt almost panicked. ‘I have to get out of here! I have to find out what’s wrong with her! If… if something were to happen to her…’ she couldn’t bring herself to finish the thought. She rose to her feet, and quickly headed for the door, slipping on her shoes before she stole away into the night.
From high in the moonlight sky her actions were being watched. The golden-amber gaze of the demon lord tracked her movements as she exited the old miko’s hut and darted through the village. She entered the woods without pausing before heading to the Bone Eaters well. Sesshoumaru watched with interest as she gathered her kimono from around her feet, and sat on the lip of the well. She flipped one leg over, and then the other before pushing off the edge, and plummeting into the darkness.
The other errand that required his attention had not consumed as much of his time as he had believed it would, leaving him with the opportunity to return and question, Kagome about the other miko who’s name he could not recall. Truly, the matter was none of his concern; he was simply curious, just as he found himself at this moment. Why had the girl jumped down the well? Slowly he began to descend from the sky. He touched down lightly in the soft grass before walking casually over to the well. To his surprise, the miko was nowhere to be found. It was dark inside the well, but still he was able to see that the girl was not there. He was no longer able to detect her aura, and only faint traces of her scent remained.
“Interesting.” he mused quietly to himself. The girl had disappeared. How was such a thing possible? His brows drew together slightly in contemplation as he considered this. Perhaps there was a portal hidden within the well? He decided after a moment. It didn’t seem likely, but what else could explain the girl’s disappearance? As he stared down into the inky darkness, he wondered where the portal might lead to, and how had she discovered its presence here. He would have to add these things to his now growing list of questions. Absently he wondered when she would return.
Perhaps he should remain in the area for a while. There was no particular reason he needed to rush back to the west. Over the years Jaken had proven himself quite capable of seeing to things in his absence. The toad was annoying, but he was fiercely loyal, and infallibly obedient. Oddly, he was one of the very few that Sesshoumaru genuinely trusted.
Turning his attention away from the well and its mysteries, the inu lord looked to the sky. He was soon reminded of the night when he had gazed upon the stars with the young miko. In fact they had been in this same location. She had been sitting on the lip of the well then. Now that he knew, or at least suspected that there was a portal within its depths, he found himself pondering what she had been doing that night. He wondered if she had been planning to enter the well that night also. Was the portal a secret? Had she been reluctant to enter the well while he was present? Each question seemed to make way for another. Giving little consideration to his actions, Sesshoumaru turned his back to the well and lowered himself to the ground. He would stay here until the girl returned, or until such time as it pleased him to leave; whichever occurred first. It was not often that he was left alone with his thoughts, so he would simply take this time to enjoy the temporary solitude.
The construction of his citadel was coming along nicely. He had been pleasantly surprised at how quickly things seemed to be coming together. Floor plans had already been created. Orders had been given, supplies procured, and laborers, even now were toiling away under Jaken’s no doubt annoying supervision.
For so long he had wished to reclaim the west, and begin building his empire, and while a part of him was immensely pleased that it was finally happening, another part was vaguely dissatisfied. The prospect did not seem as rewarding as he believed it would. It seemed strangely bland somehow. It was almost as if… something were missing. The power that he so desired was firmly within his reach, and yet it did not seem to be enough. He wanted… something else, something more, but he could not begin to imagine what that something might be. The feeling had first struck him some time ago, but he could not specifically recall when. He had considered the matter many times, but had been unable to come up with an answer. He had ruled out Tetsuaiga early on. The fang had been the only thing he had ever coveted and failed to obtain, but Bakusaiga was a much more formidable sword. He no longer had need of his father’s fang.
In his hands he held both the power of life and death, but still he desired more. Perhaps he was simply displeased that he could not lay claim to the demise of Naraku. He had fully expected the wretched abomination of a half-breed to meet his end beneath his blade, but it was not to be. It was strange how things turned out sometimes. How many times had he replayed the events of that night in his mind? In spite of his stolen power, and constant manipulation of people and situations, the half-demon was brought down by a simple human girl. To look at her, one would never believe that she was capable of such a feat, and he himself would not have believed it had he not witnessed it with his own eyes. The girl had even saved his life that night. It was still a bit of a blow to his pride to think on it, but it was true none the less. It grated on his nerves to know that Naraku’s was the only death that he desired but failed to claim.
That girl… she was just an ordinary human female, he had told himself. But really, he knew that not to be true. Even death itself had made exception for her.
A rapid movement in the sky drew his attention from his wandering thoughts. ‘A shooting star! Quick make a wish!’ The girl’s unbidden words echoed through his mind. ‘Ridiculous.’ He thought as he huffed quietly. Why would anyone indulge in such foolishness? And yet…
A tiny smile tilted his lips as he glanced around the empty clearing. Wishing alone would not accomplish one’s goals, only action could achieve such ends. But stars were mysterious things, and one could never truly know what powers they possessed. Reaching them seemed impossible, and yet if one stared at them long enough they would often find themselves tempted to try. If a falling star were truly able to grant a wish, it would have to grant a wish that he, Sesshoumaru was unable to make possible on his own. What could that be? Before he knew it, the daiyoukai was considering what he might wish for. It was nonsensical he knew, but pondering such things was strangely soothing.
Suddenly it came to him. He had never admitted it, and likely never would, but there was something he wanted. It was the one thing he had no hope of securing under his own power.
Alone in the quiet clearing, Sesshoumaru closed his eyes, and made a wish.
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With wide eyes, Kagome stared at the small black words on the screen. It was around nine o’clock when she returned from the feudal era, now it was approaching midnight. She had visited with her mom and grandpa only briefly before taking a quick shower and changing her clothes. It was Saturday, and her mom had informed her that Souta was sleeping over with one of his friends so she was free to use his computer. Now she was almost wishing that she hadn’t.
She was beginning to feel slightly queasy, and her heart was pounding in her chest. It was all beginning to make sense now; horrible, horrible sense. The abdominal pain, the loss of appetite, the weight loss. And now that she thought about it, Kaede’s skin, and her single remaining eye were beginning to appear slightly more yellow than usual. The symptoms were all there; right there in front of her, but the disease was not one she wanted to see. She quickly found herself bombarded by various emotions. Sadness, fear, and anxiety just to name a few; but beneath them all was anger. She almost felt as if the elder miko had betrayed her in some way. She knew it was foolish to think such a thing, but the feeling would not abate.
With trembling hands, Kagome quickly logged out of the computer. She collected the small bag of supplies she had gathered after her shower, and left her brother’s room. Her mother and grandfather had already retired for the night, so she scribbled a quick note and left in on the kitchen counter informing them that she was going back.
Moving almost frantically, Kagome ran out of the house, hastily locking the door behind her. She darted across the courtyard to the well house. Without stopping for breath, she threw open the door and went inside. She descended the short flight of steps and went over to the well. She wasn’t even sure what she was going to do once she returned, she just knew she needed to get back. For a moment, she stared down into the well and willed herself to calm. She took several deep breaths before launching herself over the edge, and plummeting into its depths. The well’s ancient power wrapped around her; its warmth and familiar glow helping to relieve some of her anxiety. She landed softly on the cold, hard-packed dirt. Her eyes were closed, and she did not rise right away. How was she going to do this? Kaede was… was…
Fighting back tears, Kagome placed a hand over her chest in an effort to calm her racing heart. ‘What can I do?’ she asked herself frantically. ‘What can I do??!!’
“What are you doing?”
A heavy gasp escaped her lips, and the young miko looked up. “Don’t do that!!!” she cried as she slumped against one of the walls of the well. “You scared me half to death!” After a few calming breaths, Kagome rose to her feet. She brushed away the dirt that had clung to her clothing before looking up at him again. “What are you doing here anyway, Sesshoumaru?”
“You have not answered my question.” he pointed out blandly.
“Yeah well, you didn’t answer mine either. Besides, I kinda have a lot on my mind right now.” She finished brushing off her clothes, and then turned her attention to him again. “Look, could you please help me out of here?” Gesturing to the vines in front of her she continued, “I could climb out on my own, but it’d be a lot easier if you helped.”
Sesshoumaru glared at her. ‘How very bold of her.’ he mused to himself. What made her believe she was worthy of his assistance? Oh right, she had saved his life, he recalled after a moment. How annoying that that pestering bit of information should return to him now.
Kagome stared up at him wondering what he would do. Normally she wouldn’t have dared to ask him such a thing, but in her current state of crippling fatigue, and emotional turmoil, she simply could not muster the energy to haul herself out of the well. ‘If he doesn’t help me,’ she thought, ‘maybe I’ll just sleep down here.”
“Move aside.”
The curt order was her only warning before a white blur landed in front of her. Her mind barely had time to register what was happening as a powerful arm wrapped around her waist. A loud gasp escaped her lips when she felt her feet lift from the ground. Within less than a moment, she found herself outside of the well with Sesshoumaru standing in front of her. She looked up at him, her eyes wide, almost as if she were in a trance. Her breath caught in her throat as his hand slowly pulled away from her. She didn’t know if it was deliberate, unintentional, or even imagined, but his hand seemed to trail slowly across her back as he released her from his partial embrace.
His expression betraying nothing, the demon lord stared down on her. “What?” he asked after a long pause.
His voice brought Kagome out of her stupor, and she shook her head slightly. “Oh! Umm… sorry. I didn’t mean to stare.” she said quickly. “I just umm… I guess I was just kinda surprised that you actually helped me out of the well.” she admitted as she instinctively stepped away from him.
“Did you not ask for my assistance?” he asked sounding slightly annoyed.
“Well yeah, but… never mind. I need to get back to the village, so umm, I’ll see you later I guess.” she told him flippantly as she turned to leave.
“Why were you in the well?” he asked as if she had not spoken.
Startled by the unexpected question, the young miko turned back to him, a thoughtful frown on her face. That’s right, he didn’t know about the well did he? Around the village it was common knowledge, so she hadn‘t really considered the fact that he might not know.
“You don’t know about me, do you?” she asked absently. Though he didn’t actually respond, Kagome got the distinct impression that he was wondering what the heck she was talking about. “Umm, it’s kind of a long story so maybe I can explain it to you another time?”
The inu lord narrowed his eyes. Something about the girl’s demeanor was off tonight. She seemed to be trying to hide it, but her scent easily betrayed her. The girl was distressed.
“No. You will explain now.” he returned sternly.
The girl frowned. Any other time she would have taken issue with being ordered around, but something about his tone made her reconsider. “Umm…” she began uncertainly.
“Sit.” he ordered as he gestured toward the well. The miko stared at him. After a moment, her shoulders slumped in defeat, and she sighed quietly. She nodded her reluctant agreement and seated herself in the cool grass, resting her back against the well. Placing her small bag next to her, she folded her hands in her lap before looking up at him. “It really is a long story.” she tried again, “Are you sure you have time for this?”
Instead of answering verbally, the demon lord lowered himself to the ground to sit across from her. Kagome sighed again. “I’m not from this time.” she began quietly.
After about twenty minutes, she had told him of her origins, answered as many of his questions as she could, and explained how she came to be in this time. She also told him about her uncertainty regarding the well. Really, now that both Naraku and the jewel had been destroyed, she wasn’t really certain why the well still worked for her. Of course Masuyo had told her that she absorbed a lot of power when she’d destroyed the Shikon jewel. That could explain why she was still able to pass through, but it didn’t really explain why the time warp remained open in the first place. These days she just knew that each time she passed through, it could be her last. Eventually, she would either have to choose, or the choice would be taken away from her, and she would be trapped on one side or the other.
After her explanation, the pair settled into a semi-comfortable silence. Sesshoumaru took a moment to consider the story she had told him, and while it was definitely anomalous, he could find no reason not to believe her. He began to wonder what knowledge and information she might possess. Being of a future time could be monumentally advantageous. The light rustling of fabric against fabric caught his attention and he glanced at her from the corner of his eyes. “Why are you so agitated?” he asked impulsively. He hadn’t intended to ask such a thing, but now that the question had been voiced, he realized that he was actually curious to know the answer.
Kagome started, and stared at him. He was looking at her. His expression was characteristically bland, but his eyes seemed to bore into her. It was almost as if he already knew what was bothering her and simply wanted her to speak the words herself. The miko turned away from the intensity of his gaze. “I don’t really want to talk about it.” she lied. Really, she did want to talk about it, she simply did not think that the icy demon lord would understand.
“You are lying.” he pointed out coolly.
She didn’t answer to that and only turned further away from him. A long silence followed. “Tell me.” his voice was quiet.
Kagome drew in a deep breath. “You’re not going to let me leave until I do, are you?”
“You are free to do as you will. If you truly wish to return to the village, I will not stop you; however I suggest you consider the significance of what you would squander if you do.” The girl laughed; a short, humorless chuckle and the demon lord quickly realized that he did not like the sound.
Sesshoumaru was certainly full of himself. She supposed that that was his way of saying that he was lending her his ear, but from her perspective, he was simply being nosy. She should have expected no less than for him to make it seem as if he was doing her a great service by trying to get her to talk. Still, a part of her realized that he probably wouldn’t do this for just anyone, and really she didn’t know why he was doing it for her. She looked back at him then. This time he was staring off into the distance pretending he did not feel her gaze on him. ‘He won’t understand.’ she told herself, but really, what did she have to lose by telling him anyway?
“It’s Kaede.” she said before she could reconsider. There was a pause, and she somehow realized he was simply waiting for her to continue. “I umm…” she swallowed thickly. “I think I’ve figured out what’s wrong with her. I did some research back in my own time, and it seems that her symptoms are consistent with a very, very bad disease.” already she could feel her heart beginning to race again, but she willed herself to press on. “The disease is called liver cancer. Even in my time there’s no cure for it, only treatments. Even if…” she trailed off and placed a hand over her mouth as if speaking the words aloud would somehow hasten the woman‘s fate.
The girl’s eyes began to flutter rapidly, and Sesshoumaru knew she was fighting back tears. “She’s going to die, Sesshoumaru.” she blurted out suddenly. “She’s going to die.” she repeated, but this time she seemed to be speaking only to herself. The demon lord watched in silence as the miko began rubbing her arms beneath the sleeves of her haori as if to warm herself against the non-existing cold.
“You know what the worst part is?” she asked quietly. Without waiting for an answer she said, “I think she knows. She probably doesn’t know the name of the illness, but I think she knows what’s going to happen. All of this time she has gone out of her way to down-play her symptoms, and act as if everything is okay. Whenever anyone asks what’s wrong with her she always brushes it off, and now she’s taking medicine to dull her pain, and it’s not even going to…” she trailed off, and her little hands curled into fists. Sesshoumaru could see that the blood was rushing to her head causing her to flush bright red.
“You intend to confront her.” his calm voice cut through the heavy silence. It wasn’t a question, but Kagome took it as one anyway.
Her head snapped up and she glared at him. “Of course I’m going to confront her! It’s not right for her to keep something like this from me, from all of us!”
“Hn.” he breathed noncommittally as he turned his gaze to the sky once more. “Tell me miko, what would it have changed if she had told you?”
The girl’s mouth dropped open, but no sound came forth. “That’s not…” she stammered, “That’s not the point! She should have told me! At least… at least I could have…”
“Begun grieving sooner?”
Her breath left her in a rush. “N-NO! I could have been prepared!”
“You disillusion yourself if you truly believe what you are saying.” he looked at her then. “And I suspect that you do not.” She turned away from his knowing gaze. “Enlighten me; am I to understand that you find the old miko ill-equipped to make her own decisions? To divulge the state of her wellbeing as she sees fit? Is she not entitled to that?”
Kagome scowled at him. “Why are you defending what she did?!” she cried hoarsely. “It’s not right Sesshoumaru!!! This is important! She is DYING!!!” tears began to slip down her face. She was practically hyperventilating. Animatedly pointing toward the village she cried, “She’s dying and she knows it and she didn’t even tell me! She didn’t tell YOU! Aren’t you angry??!!” not giving him a chance to answer she continued, “You left Rin in her care and… and…” she deflated with a heavy pant and buried her head in her hands. Shaking almost violently, she pushed her hair away from her face before looking at him with teary red eyes. “Who’s going to take care of Rin after…after she’s gone? Aren’t you angry that she would keep something like that from you?” her voice shook with her distress.
Sesshoumaru stared at her. “Look at yourself miko,” he said instead of answering her question. “She has not yet departed this world, and already you mourn for her. Have you not considered that this is precisely what she sought to prevent?”
Kagome pounded her fist against the ground. “Damn it Sesshoumaru!! That’s not the point!!!” she ground out. “I am her FRIEND! I’m more than her friend! I’m like a daughter to her! She had no right keeping this from me!” Her chest heaving, and her breathing labored, the girl pulled herself up on trembling legs. “I need to leave.” she said quickly. “I don’t want to talk about this with you anymore.”
The demon lord stood as well, but said nothing more. The girl was clearly stricken with grief, and would no longer listen to reason. He watched as she quickly collected her traveling bag. Without looking at him again, she broke into a light jog, hastily making her way back to the village.
Just as he said he would, Sesshoumaru let her go.
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The early morning sun broke through a thin blanket of clouds signaling the dawn of a new day. The air was clean, crisp, and gently perfumed with the scent of wild flowers. It was going to be a beautiful day; at least to those who were in the mood to appreciate it.
Rolling over in her sleep, Kaede drew in a sharp breath as the woefully familiar pain made its presence known once again. The herbal medication from last night had long since worn off, and the gradually increasing ache had finally pulled her from the comfort of her rest. Fully awake now, the elder miko took a deep breath and exhaled slowly through her dry lips. For at least a moment, she did not move again, but as she continued to lie there on her mat, she realized that something was not right. It almost felt as if she was being watched. Her senses suddenly on high alert, the miko sat up abruptly barely holding back a cry of pain from the sudden movement.
She instinctively reached for her bow, but stilled her movements when her single eye shot open and landed on Kagome. She placed a hand over her chest attempting to calm her racing heart. “Child!” the priestess cried. “Ye nearly sent this old woman to an early grave!”
The younger miko narrowed her tired, bloodshot eyes. “What an interesting choice of words.” she said coolly as she tapped her fingers against the small wooden box she cradled in her lap.
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