InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Remnants of the Spider ❯ Understanding ( Chapter 23 )
[ 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: 11.11.2009 | Pages: 4 | Words: 6.0K | Visits: 262 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 11.11.2009 | Pages: 4 | Words: 6.0K | Visits: 262 | Status: Work In Progress
Remnants of the Spider
Understanding _________________________________________________ _______________________
Golden eyes stared sightlessly at a newly constructed wall. The scents of recently cut timber and fresh polish met his nose as he tapped his claws lightly against a low table. Cushioned by several lush silk covered cushions, the demon lord sat in his new study, vaguely listening to the squawking tones of Jaken as he ordered some hapless demon to put his back into whatever it was he was doing.
Normally when he returned from his travelings, he would hold at least a short briefing with the imp in order to be filled in on any and all events and progress which had taken place in his absence. This time however, he could not bring himself to endure the diminutive retainer’s presence. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. He was clearly able to see for himself the progress that had taken place while he was gone, so there was really no need to have Jaken give information which he could easily discern with his own eyes. The briefings were simply formal procedure. Procedure which he sought to bypass this day as his mind was otherwise occupied.
‘I think… I think he’s just using you to get under my skin.’
‘He wouldn’t do something like that…’
Unsolicited, the words echoed over and over in Sesshoumaru’s mind. Had he considered such things, he would have suspected that the miko trusted him. The fact that she seemed well at ease in his presence was a clear indication of such. Her words to Inuyasha however, encompassed so much more than that. Not only did she trust him, but she was also willing to defend him at a time when she believed him absent and unable to do so for himself.
As if he, Sesshoumaru, needed anyone to defend him, and against the likes of Inuyasha no less! Ridiculous! Still, the fact that she sought to do so would not leave his mind. It prodded at something inside of him and triggered a feeling in him which he could not quite identify. It was disquieting, but not entirely objectionable. In fact, he decided, it was disquieting, because it was not objectionable.
Moreover, there was another unpleasant feeling associated with the entire situation. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that there was a ring of truth to Inuyasha’s words. Truly, the only reason he had lingered behind was to hear the outcome of his mildly suggestive words to the miko. Now he was feeling somewhat… regretful over his actions. He could not quite understand it, but he suspected that his discontent was due to the idea that he had likely betrayed the miko’s trust. Why would such a thing be of importance to him? Perhaps it wasn’t. But if that was truly the case, why had thoughts of this matter lingered on his mind since last night? Recollection of the girl’s words had haunted him the entirety of the night and most of this morning. Why?
The miko… ‘Kagome’ his mind supplied unexpectedly, was a kind, brave and honorable woman, even he could not deny that. She did not deserve dishonesty from him either in words or actions. Of her own volition she had befriended him, and while he had never wished to be connected with a human, or even a demon in such a way, he could find no fault in her for that. She did not seem to have any hidden agenda and oddly, she seemed to genuinely enjoy his company. This was why he felt this irritating unease over his actions.
To his credit however, his behavior had not been entirely disingenuous. Now that he thought about it, her reactions to him had been mildly… endearing… for lack of a better word. But had he found the woman in any way distasteful, even the prospect of annoying his hanyou sibling would not have prompted him to behave as he had toward her.
‘Yes…’ he finally decided. ‘so Inuyasha’s statement was only partially true then.’ He was not using the woman to irritate his brother, he was merely exaggerating his natural behavior around her to achieve that end. Perhaps he was splitting hairs, but his restlessness was alleviated all the same. He would simply avoid altering his behavior in such ways in the future.
______________________________________________________________ __________
The midmorning sun shown cheerfully down into a small clearing. The chirping of birds, and buzzing of small insects was muted against the low thrum of excitement that ran through the young miko’s veins.
“Okay, pull the string taut, aim and release.” Kagome instructed, her wide chestnut eyes watching with barely reined anticipation. The melancholy of last night was now all but forgotten as she began this first day of training with her young charge.
Her eyes focused on the makeshift target ahead of her, Rin pulled the arrow back against the bowstring. ‘Breathe, just breathe…’ she reminded herself mentally as she exhaled through slightly parted lips. Then, she released. The girl barely flinched as she heard the now familiar “thwang” of the bowstring returning to its normal position next to her cheek. With wide eyes she watched as the arrow whizzed through the air, it’s trajectory altering only slightly from what she had intended.
“I hit it again!” she cried excitedly.
The arrow landed far from the center, but she had at least hit the target.
Clapping her hands together, Kagome turned a bright smile on her. “You’re doing a lot better now, but your stance still needs a little work. Here,” she said as she moved to take the girl’s place. “Watch me.” The girl moved aside, her eyes wide with attentive admiration as she watched her mentor assume her stance. The long bow held securely in her left hand, Kagome used her right to draw an arrow from her quiver. Rin was almost spellbound as she took in the miko‘s fluid motions. In her eyes the woman was nothing short of majestic as she carefully positioned the arrow against the string of her bow. She was dressed in her usual black hakama and white haori while her usually unbound hair was gathered in a low ponytail at her back. A gentle breeze ruffled her hair and clothing, but did nothing to distract her from what she was doing
She planted her feet, pulling the arrow tight against the string and taking aim at her target. “Watch.” Kagome ordered quietly, her eyes still focused on the target’s center. Rin nodded mutely, noticing that her mentor’s arrow began to glow even before she released it. She heard the “thwang” of the bowstring just as a bright pink projectile rocketed through the air. Her lips parted in a silent gasp at the raw power she could both see and feel as Kagome’s arrow tore through the air. The arrow plunged deeply into the target’s center, it’s bright pink power finally flickering and dissipating around it.
“Wow…” the girl breathed silently. No matter how many times she saw the priestess do this, it looked just as amazing as the time before. “Lady Kagome,” she asked, her eyes still wide with amazement, “Do you think I will be as good at archery as you one day?”
Kagome smiled. “Of course you will!” she answered immediately, the firmness of her voice leaving little room for doubt. “It just takes practice. You did really good this morning, but this was just the first day. Your aim will get better and better, and your powers will increase as you grow older.”
Returning her smile, the girl nodded her understanding.
“We’ll do a few more practice shots and then we need to head back to the village. We still have a lot of dried herbs to grind, and then after that you can help me make lunch. Hopefully Shippou will make it back from his lessons to join us.”
At the mention of the kit’s name, a light blush spread across the girl’s cheeks, which Kagome instantly noticed. Helping her into position, Kagome tried to keep her voice as casual as possible when she asked, “You umm… you like Shippou, don‘t you?”
She felt the girl stiffen, as she helped her raise her left arm into position. The question caught her completely by surprise and nervousness quickly overtook her. “H-he’s really nice.” Rin answered somewhat evasively, but Kagome saw right through it.
She stood back, watching with interest as the girl began to show more than the usual amount of interest in the target ahead of her.
“So…” Kagome pressed, not the slightest bit remorseful that she was breaking the girl’s concentration. “Have you told him you like him?”
A small cough escaped the girl’s lips, and the arrow accidentally slipped from her fingers. It flared significantly brighter than any of her previous attempts, but went no further than a few feet before plunging into the ground. Several strands of grass were singed away as the bright flash of spiritual power flickered against the earth before slowly dying out.
“Wow!” Kagome exclaimed excitedly, clapping her hands together. “That was a really good one!!”
Her previous embarrassment forgotten, the young miko in training ran to the spot where her arrow had landed noting the shallow indentation where the grass had been seared. Rin’s eyes widened with disbelief. “I did that?” she asked breathlessly.
“Your spiritual powers can be affected by your moods.” Kagome explained from behind her. “But as you grow older and more powerful, it’s something you’ll have to learn to control. It can work for you if you are angry or determined, but it can work against you if you are nervous or afraid.”
Rin nodded again. “That was amazing,” she breathed, “I never saw it flare like that before!”
A brilliant smile formed on the miko’s lips. “It only gets better and better with time and practice!” she exclaimed excitedly.
They had spent nearly half the morning practicing, and while Rin’s aim left much to be desired, her enthusiasm more than made up for it. The girl’s exuberance was downright contagious, and Kagome enjoyed every minute of her training just as Rin apparently did.
Together in the tranquil clearing, they practiced a few more shots before Kagome decided it was time to end the session.
“Alright Rin,” she announced “Would you mind helping me collect the arrows so we can head back?”
“Not at all.” Rin answered as she ran forward to collect the arrows from the target along with the ones that were scattered on the ground at the base of their chosen tree.
Kagome began to collect the arrows closest to her, and replacing them back in her own quiver. She had never trained another miko before, and had she seriously thought about it, the idea probably would have been extremely intimidating. But with Rin, it wasn’t like that at all. Perhaps because the girl was such an eager learner. Whatever the case, she was finding it to be a more enjoyable experience than she would have imagined. A small smile found her lips as she placed the final arrow into her quiver.
“Ready--?” she turned around to see if her charge was prepared to leave. Her eye widened as a small gasp cut off her words. She saw what was about to occur, but it happened so quickly that there was no time to intervene. One of the prominent tree roots caught the girl in mid-stride sending her plummeting to the ground.
“OW!” she cried as she wrapped her hands around her left leg just beneath her knee. Her eyes shut tightly, she curled into herself in the grass. A startled gasp escaped Kagome’s her lips and she was by her side in an instant.
“Are you okay?” she asked, concern showing in the etch of her brows.
The girl sat up, cautiously removing her hands to reveal an abrasion roughly the size of her own small thumb.
“Oh no!” Kagome winced reaching forward, but resisting the urge to touch the red elongated wound.
“I-It’s okay Lady Kagome!” Rin tried to reassure her. “It doesn’t hurt very much.”
But Kagome was hardly listening. “Here, let’s get you back to the village.” she said quickly as she helped the girl to her feet. “I’m pretty sure I already have some disinfectant salve. Are you okay to walk?”
Rin smiled at her genuine, but excessive concern “Really, Lady Kagome, it’s not that bad. I can walk just fine. It just stings a little.”
“Are you sure?” she asked as they began to make their way back. “I knew I should have brought my first aid kit with me!” she said the latter part to herself as she looked worriedly down to the girl’s leg again.
“I’m sure Lady Kagome, please don’t worry so much. It’s only a little scratch.”
The elder female did not answer, but instead rushed back to the village, hoping that her pace was not too much for the injured girl. The two soon made it back. Thankfully none of the villagers stop them along the way and they were able to make it back to the hut in reasonable time. Once inside, Kagome immediately went to work tending the small wound. Using fresh water she store for cooking, she gently washed Rin’s leg before applying salve and wrapping it with a long strip of clean white gauze. Carefully tucking the loose end into place, the miko sat back on her heels to inspect her work. She could already see the dark spot in front of the bandage where the wound was still bleeding. She groaned quietly. “Sesshoumaru’s going to kill me when he sees this.”
The girl frowned. “You shouldn’t say such things Lady Kagome. Lord Sesshoumaru wouldn’t hurt you. It’s only a little scratch.”
Kagome smiled wryly. “He may not kill me,” she conceded, “but I’m sure he won’t be happy to find out you got hurt while you were with me.”
Rin sighed. Lady Kagome was really nice but apparently she could be a bit dramatic sometimes. It really wasn’t so bad at all, it was hardly more than a scratch. The two sat in silence for a short time before she recalled the last time she had seen Lord Sesshoumaru. She had asked if Lady Kagome told him about her powers, and her mentor had smiled at him. She hadn’t really thought about it before, but there was something about the way her mentor had smiled at him…
A small mischievous little grin found the girl’s lips.
“Lady Kagome,” Rin asked, attempting to sound nonchalant as she reclined against a nearby wall, “You… like Lord Sesshoumaru… don’t you?”
Kagome’s eyes rounded at the unexpected question. “I-- he-- why would you--? I-- he-- he’s not so bad… I guess.” She finally managed, obviously flustered.
Rin’s smiled broadened slightly. “So…” she drawled lazily, “have you told him you like him?”
If it were possible, Kagome’s eyes widened even further, her cheeks turning an interesting shade of red. “Um… I-I think it’s time to start lunch!” _____________________________________________________________ ___________
As it often did, dusk found the miko and her young charge in a small basin on the outskirts of their village home. Shimmering hues of pink flowed languidly above them in an almost mesmerizing dance. Staked into the ground at the edge of their pool, a single arrow supported the barrier that provided them a measure of peace and privacy. Through trial and error, Kagome had learned to infuse enough power to maintain a barrier for about half an hour or so. Normally holding up a barrier would require constant focus and concentration, but this way it was self sustaining.
Just outside the luminous dome, Ah-Un curled into itself in the soft grass. By all appearances, the creature would appear to be napping, but the reality was that his senses were on high alert, and if necessary, it could spring into action at any moment. Though the demon’s protection was not strictly needed, it always accompanied them to their evening bath. The basin that they had chosen for their personal use ran off of a nearby stream, and though the water was never freezing, it tended to be reasonably cool. Being a dragon youkai, Ah-Un was easily able to warm the water for them
‘I need a haircut.’ Kagome thought as she wrung the excess water from her long dark tresses. There were times when the young miko longed to return to her true home beyond the well, but she just couldn’t find it in her heart to leave. This was her life, at least for now. There was no way to know what the future would bring, and really there was no sense in worrying about it. She had learned that much.
‘Take each day as it comes.’
Normally bath time was a time to relax, but tonight she did not feel nearly as content as she usually did. During the day she had managed to keep herself pretty busy, and so she had not been plagued by the feelings of loneliness which were haunting her now.
Shippou had not made it back in time for lunch today, but he did make it back before dinner. And as they often did, he and Rin volunteered to go pick herbs beforehand, leaving Kagome alone with her thoughts. Oddly, she was reminded of Rin’s little offhanded remark about her liking Sesshoumaru. The question had been asked so innocently, but she knew the girl was just getting back at her for her asking about Shippou.
‘Sneaky little brat!’ she thought with a small smile.
Still, nothing could have prepared her for how flustered the question had made her. She could admit that she… liked Sesshoumaru. It was nothing serious; it was okay to like him. Besides, he wasn’t such a bad guy, not like she had initially thought. Like she told Inuyasha, they had become friends, and she liked him as such. So… why did it feel like she was not being entirely honest with herself?
‘Don’t get into this again Kagome!’ She scolded herself mentally.‘Sesshoumaru and I are friends. Just friends. There is NO way we could ever be more than that. I don’t even want us to be more than that. Why would I want that?!’
She gave herself a mental shake. ‘Stupid loneliness!!’
This was all Shippou’s fault! Him and his darned chivalry!
After he and Rin had returned from collecting herbs, he had asked to speak with her alone. Uncertain as to why he seemed so serious, she had quickly agreed, attempting to keep any signs of worry from her face. Shortly thereafter, the two of them left Rin with Ah-Un, while they traveled a short distance away from the hut.
“Kagome…” he had began uneasily, “I-I don’t think I’ll be spending the night with you guys anymore.”
Kagome’s brows had risen noticeably. “Oh, and why is that?” She asked genuinely curious.
He had looked away from her, seemingly unable to meet her eyes. A long uneasy silence passed between them before he finally began to speak again. “I um… like Rin. A lot, and um… I don’t… I don’t think it would be proper for me to do that anymore.” He blurted the rest out quickly.
Kagome had covered her mouth with an oversized sleeve in hopes of hiding her smile. “Ah…” she had responded sagely. “So you want to…” she left the rest unsaid, waiting for him to fill in the missing words.
The kit blushed. “I know we’re still kinda young, but I want to start a proper courtship with her.”
A chuckle escaped her lips.
The fox frowned up at her. “You’re laughing at me!” he accused heatedly.
Kagome smiled down on him. “I’m not laughing at you, I‘m laughing with you.” she said lightheartedly as she nodded politely to an old man who happened to be passing by.
“But I wasn’t laughing!” the kit protested vehemently.
“Then I was laughing for you?” she asked, amusement clear in her voice. The kit frowned, but she could tell he was not genuinely upset. She smiled at him. “Don’t mind me Shippou. I’m not making fun of you; I think what you’re doing is really sweet.” She had looked away from him then to stare off into the distance. “Rin likes you a lot, you know?”
The kit’s eyes had brightened with hope. “She does? Really?!”
She looked back down on him. “Of course she does! Who wouldn’t love you?!” She asked as she ruffled his fluffy red hair.
“Hey!” he complained halfheartedly, pulling away from her offending hand. He brushed his hair back into some semblance of order before he became serious once more. “Inuyasha usually stays in the woods between this village and Kikyou’s, so I’ll probably just start camping out with him.”
Kagome nodded absently. This was news to her but she refrained from saying so, as it did not seem to be of any particular importance. Thinking about it now, she didn’t know why she had assumed that Inuyasha stayed with Kikyou. These were different times, and such things would be seen as it improper.
“I‘ll have to there with you guys, but after that…” Shippou was saying.
“Oh right… we’d better get back to then.” She answered vacantly, her mind having barely resurfaced from wherever it had been.
She had known the two of them liked each other, but in their own way they each had confirmed that their affection was more than simple friendship. She was happy for them, she really was, but that selfish little feeling had chosen to rear its ugly head once again. What was she going to do with herself? She had tried to tell herself that simply being happy for her friends was good enough; that sharing in their happiness, would be her happiness, but unfortunately it didn‘t quite work out that way. She hadn’t initially realized it, but vicarious joy seemed to bring an unwelcome side affect along with it.
‘And thus the crushing loneliness.’ she sighed miserably. Besides herself, everyone around her had found their special someone. Everyone except…
“Umm, Lady Kagome I think it’s time to get out now.”
The miko started at the sudden interruption of her trip to the land of self pity. She looked up just in time to see the barrier flicker before dying out completely. With its absence, the now darkened sky loomed above them, the only real illumination being a small crescent moon.
“Right.” she said vacantly, her eyes still fixed on the sky. After a moment, she seemed to snap out of it, and without another word the miko exited the pool and began to dry off. Rin silently followed suit. She could tell that her mentor had something on her mind as she was never usually this quiet. But, if Rin had learned anything from years of traveling with Lord Sesshoumaru, it was when to leave someone to their thoughts.
And so the two females finished drying off in silence before each donned a plain white kimono which served as their sleeping attire. Rin collected her own bathing supplies while Kagome did the same. Lastly, the miko settled her bow and arrows in their proper places, before the three began the short trip back. Ah-Un was more than capable of carrying them both, but Kagome seemed to prefer walking this evening.
Unhappy with her most recent train of thought, Kagome forced herself not to think at all. It worked out quite well at first, the peaceful blankness serving as a temporary protection against the melancholy that flowed through her heart. As most quick fixes tended to be however, this course of action turned out to be quite erroneous, as such a state caused her instincts to completely bypass her brain.
As soon as she felt the powerful brush of youki, her bow was already in her hands, an arrow notched and ready. She whipped around in the space of a heartbeat, her hair barely having a chance to settle against her back before the arrow began to glow.
“I did not realize my presence here was no longer welcome.” came the even voice of Sesshoumaru.
Kagome’s eyes rounded with horror. “Oh!” she cried as she began to lower her weapon. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t realize it was you!”
“Hn.” he breathed dryly. He watched as she replaced the items in their previous positions. Though he made no move to show it, he had been rather impressed with her display of speed and power. Only the centuries of self-imposed stoicism had kept his eyes from widening in surprise when he found himself staring down the business end of a brightly glowing arrow.
“Good evening Lord Sesshoumaru.” said Rin, her voice unknowingly drawing them both back to the present.
“Rin.” he greeted simply, his head inclining slightly.
The girl gave him a bright smile. “How was your day?”
Recalling that much of his day had been spent thinking about the miko, he hesitated to answer. “It was… productive?” he finally managed. Though it was a statement, it sounded more like a question as the demon lord seemed uncharacteristically doubtful.
Rin looked between them and smiled again. At that moment, the girl seemed to realize something that neither of the adults did and her eyes took on a far away look. Frowning slightly, Kagome was just about to question her, when the girl began to speak again.
“Well,” she began, the bright smile still plastered to her lips, “I guess I’d better be heading inside. I’m terribly sleepy all of a sudden.” She stretched exaggeratedly, covering her mouth as she yawned. “Goodnight Lord Sesshoumaru, Lady Kagome.” And without waiting for an answer, the girl turned away, grabbing Ah-Un’s reins as she headed toward the hut which Kagome hadn’t realized until now was just a few yards away.
“What was that all about?” Kagome asked suspiciously, the question being posed more to herself than anyone else.
Sesshoumaru simply narrowed his eyes. He had learned that Rin was far more perceptive than he would like to believe. Had he given something away when he’d answered her question?
‘No matter.’ he decided after a moment, the miko did not seem to notice. It was bad enough he had devoted so much of his thoughts to her, but it would certainly not do for her to know of it. Drawing his attention again, the woman shifted, before turning toward the hut.
“What brings you here again?” she asked without turning back.
Such a gesture should have been offensive to him, but strangely her lack of deference stirred no anger within him. How… odd. He quickly made his way to her side, and the two walked leisurely back toward the hut finally stopping just outside the straw panel that served as its door. It was when she turned and gave him an expectant look that he recalled that she’d asked him a question.
“I wish to know of Rin’s progress.” he said, deciding the answer was true enough. Really, he was not entirely certain why he had returned to the village again. Perhaps he was developing a habit? Absently, he wondered what, if anything, he should do about this newest development. He could foresee no particular harm in it, but it probably was not a good idea to allow such a thing to continue. He would give it further thought at a later time, he decided.
“Well today was only our first day,” said the miko regaining his attention. “She’s actually pretty powerful, but her archery… it’ll get better in time.”
“Hn.”
“She um… she had a bit of an accident today. I think she’s still not used to wearing shoes.”
The daiyoukai resisted the urge to frown. The girl did not seem injured when he saw her a few moments ago. “Accident?” he asked evenly.
“She tripped and skinned her left leg.”
He nodded his understanding, noticing from the corner of his eyes that the miko was watching him intently, likely hoping to gage his response.
When he didn’t answer, Kagome gave an unconscious sigh of relief. “I’ll umm… I’ll be right back. I need to put this stuff inside. Still he said nothing, so Kagome went into the hut to unload her bathing supplies and weapons. Rin was already lying on her futon and the sound of heavy breathing could be heard with each rise and fall of her flat little tummy.
Kagome shot her a suspicious look, but decided to let her be. She was pretty sure the girl had not fallen asleep so quickly but saw no reason to expose her ruse. She quietly turned and exited the hut. She was only mildly surprised to see that Sesshoumaru was now seated on the left side of the door while Ah-Un was lounging on the right. The demon lord was staring off into the distance, and made no move to acknowledge her as she lowered herself to the ground. Kagome discreetly adjusted her kimono as she leaned slightly against the dragon’s back.
He was not observing her directly but the daiyoukai was well aware of her movements. Oddly, he hadn’t noticed until now, but the miko seemed unusually comfortable to be in his presence in what was very likely her sleeping garments. Such things were not common among those who were not… close, but then again she at one point wore clothing which was markedly less modest than this. He shrugged lightly.
The miko looked around her. The village was always so quiet at night. It seemed as if the whole world were already sleeping.
“I checked Rin’s leg again just before we went to take our bath,” the miko began airily, almost as if she were talking to herself. “And you know what…?” she turned toward him then, a shallow frown marring her brow. “It was almost completely healed.”
He looked at her then, their eyes meeting across the small space that separated them. “How?” came his simple inquiry.
“I was wondering the same thing myself. There’s no way the wound should have healed that fast.” she paused and looked away from him, her features furrowed in thought. Suddenly she looked toward him again. Lifting herself from the dragon, she leaned toward him as if to tell him as secret. “I think she and Shippou are in love.” she said quietly.
The demon lord felt his brows draw together ever so slightly, but before he could say anything the miko continued. “Do you know what Kaede told me before she died?” her eyes shifted back and forth and she seemed to consider whether or not she should continue. “When she was young, she had been in love with a demon.” she told him after a long pause.
An elegant brow rose slightly. This information was unexpected, but why was the miko telling him such things?
“Before she got sick, Kaede had been uncommonly healthy; strong too, now that I think about it. She told me that a powerful bond can be created between demons and humans if they can overcome their prejudice. I didn’t really give it much thought at the time, but I think I understand what she meant now.”
It was as if she had forgotten he was there, and was simply allowing her thoughts to flow from her lips. “His name was Toshiro… and he loved her very much. So much that…”
She looked at him then, her eyes wide with apparent realization. “If they had mated, Kaede would still be alive. I think… I think that when a demon falls in love with a human, the demon can share his or her powers with the human. That has to be what she meant when she said that she would have lived even longer had Toshiro not died first. And… that’s why Rin’s leg healed so quickly! It all makes sense now.”
The demon lord’s eyes widened marginally.
‘My wish…’ ___________________________________________________ _____________________
Understanding _________________________________________________ _______________________
Golden eyes stared sightlessly at a newly constructed wall. The scents of recently cut timber and fresh polish met his nose as he tapped his claws lightly against a low table. Cushioned by several lush silk covered cushions, the demon lord sat in his new study, vaguely listening to the squawking tones of Jaken as he ordered some hapless demon to put his back into whatever it was he was doing.
Normally when he returned from his travelings, he would hold at least a short briefing with the imp in order to be filled in on any and all events and progress which had taken place in his absence. This time however, he could not bring himself to endure the diminutive retainer’s presence. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. He was clearly able to see for himself the progress that had taken place while he was gone, so there was really no need to have Jaken give information which he could easily discern with his own eyes. The briefings were simply formal procedure. Procedure which he sought to bypass this day as his mind was otherwise occupied.
‘I think… I think he’s just using you to get under my skin.’
‘He wouldn’t do something like that…’
Unsolicited, the words echoed over and over in Sesshoumaru’s mind. Had he considered such things, he would have suspected that the miko trusted him. The fact that she seemed well at ease in his presence was a clear indication of such. Her words to Inuyasha however, encompassed so much more than that. Not only did she trust him, but she was also willing to defend him at a time when she believed him absent and unable to do so for himself.
As if he, Sesshoumaru, needed anyone to defend him, and against the likes of Inuyasha no less! Ridiculous! Still, the fact that she sought to do so would not leave his mind. It prodded at something inside of him and triggered a feeling in him which he could not quite identify. It was disquieting, but not entirely objectionable. In fact, he decided, it was disquieting, because it was not objectionable.
Moreover, there was another unpleasant feeling associated with the entire situation. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that there was a ring of truth to Inuyasha’s words. Truly, the only reason he had lingered behind was to hear the outcome of his mildly suggestive words to the miko. Now he was feeling somewhat… regretful over his actions. He could not quite understand it, but he suspected that his discontent was due to the idea that he had likely betrayed the miko’s trust. Why would such a thing be of importance to him? Perhaps it wasn’t. But if that was truly the case, why had thoughts of this matter lingered on his mind since last night? Recollection of the girl’s words had haunted him the entirety of the night and most of this morning. Why?
The miko… ‘Kagome’ his mind supplied unexpectedly, was a kind, brave and honorable woman, even he could not deny that. She did not deserve dishonesty from him either in words or actions. Of her own volition she had befriended him, and while he had never wished to be connected with a human, or even a demon in such a way, he could find no fault in her for that. She did not seem to have any hidden agenda and oddly, she seemed to genuinely enjoy his company. This was why he felt this irritating unease over his actions.
To his credit however, his behavior had not been entirely disingenuous. Now that he thought about it, her reactions to him had been mildly… endearing… for lack of a better word. But had he found the woman in any way distasteful, even the prospect of annoying his hanyou sibling would not have prompted him to behave as he had toward her.
‘Yes…’ he finally decided. ‘so Inuyasha’s statement was only partially true then.’ He was not using the woman to irritate his brother, he was merely exaggerating his natural behavior around her to achieve that end. Perhaps he was splitting hairs, but his restlessness was alleviated all the same. He would simply avoid altering his behavior in such ways in the future.
______________________________________________________________ __________
The midmorning sun shown cheerfully down into a small clearing. The chirping of birds, and buzzing of small insects was muted against the low thrum of excitement that ran through the young miko’s veins.
“Okay, pull the string taut, aim and release.” Kagome instructed, her wide chestnut eyes watching with barely reined anticipation. The melancholy of last night was now all but forgotten as she began this first day of training with her young charge.
Her eyes focused on the makeshift target ahead of her, Rin pulled the arrow back against the bowstring. ‘Breathe, just breathe…’ she reminded herself mentally as she exhaled through slightly parted lips. Then, she released. The girl barely flinched as she heard the now familiar “thwang” of the bowstring returning to its normal position next to her cheek. With wide eyes she watched as the arrow whizzed through the air, it’s trajectory altering only slightly from what she had intended.
“I hit it again!” she cried excitedly.
The arrow landed far from the center, but she had at least hit the target.
Clapping her hands together, Kagome turned a bright smile on her. “You’re doing a lot better now, but your stance still needs a little work. Here,” she said as she moved to take the girl’s place. “Watch me.” The girl moved aside, her eyes wide with attentive admiration as she watched her mentor assume her stance. The long bow held securely in her left hand, Kagome used her right to draw an arrow from her quiver. Rin was almost spellbound as she took in the miko‘s fluid motions. In her eyes the woman was nothing short of majestic as she carefully positioned the arrow against the string of her bow. She was dressed in her usual black hakama and white haori while her usually unbound hair was gathered in a low ponytail at her back. A gentle breeze ruffled her hair and clothing, but did nothing to distract her from what she was doing
She planted her feet, pulling the arrow tight against the string and taking aim at her target. “Watch.” Kagome ordered quietly, her eyes still focused on the target’s center. Rin nodded mutely, noticing that her mentor’s arrow began to glow even before she released it. She heard the “thwang” of the bowstring just as a bright pink projectile rocketed through the air. Her lips parted in a silent gasp at the raw power she could both see and feel as Kagome’s arrow tore through the air. The arrow plunged deeply into the target’s center, it’s bright pink power finally flickering and dissipating around it.
“Wow…” the girl breathed silently. No matter how many times she saw the priestess do this, it looked just as amazing as the time before. “Lady Kagome,” she asked, her eyes still wide with amazement, “Do you think I will be as good at archery as you one day?”
Kagome smiled. “Of course you will!” she answered immediately, the firmness of her voice leaving little room for doubt. “It just takes practice. You did really good this morning, but this was just the first day. Your aim will get better and better, and your powers will increase as you grow older.”
Returning her smile, the girl nodded her understanding.
“We’ll do a few more practice shots and then we need to head back to the village. We still have a lot of dried herbs to grind, and then after that you can help me make lunch. Hopefully Shippou will make it back from his lessons to join us.”
At the mention of the kit’s name, a light blush spread across the girl’s cheeks, which Kagome instantly noticed. Helping her into position, Kagome tried to keep her voice as casual as possible when she asked, “You umm… you like Shippou, don‘t you?”
She felt the girl stiffen, as she helped her raise her left arm into position. The question caught her completely by surprise and nervousness quickly overtook her. “H-he’s really nice.” Rin answered somewhat evasively, but Kagome saw right through it.
She stood back, watching with interest as the girl began to show more than the usual amount of interest in the target ahead of her.
“So…” Kagome pressed, not the slightest bit remorseful that she was breaking the girl’s concentration. “Have you told him you like him?”
A small cough escaped the girl’s lips, and the arrow accidentally slipped from her fingers. It flared significantly brighter than any of her previous attempts, but went no further than a few feet before plunging into the ground. Several strands of grass were singed away as the bright flash of spiritual power flickered against the earth before slowly dying out.
“Wow!” Kagome exclaimed excitedly, clapping her hands together. “That was a really good one!!”
Her previous embarrassment forgotten, the young miko in training ran to the spot where her arrow had landed noting the shallow indentation where the grass had been seared. Rin’s eyes widened with disbelief. “I did that?” she asked breathlessly.
“Your spiritual powers can be affected by your moods.” Kagome explained from behind her. “But as you grow older and more powerful, it’s something you’ll have to learn to control. It can work for you if you are angry or determined, but it can work against you if you are nervous or afraid.”
Rin nodded again. “That was amazing,” she breathed, “I never saw it flare like that before!”
A brilliant smile formed on the miko’s lips. “It only gets better and better with time and practice!” she exclaimed excitedly.
They had spent nearly half the morning practicing, and while Rin’s aim left much to be desired, her enthusiasm more than made up for it. The girl’s exuberance was downright contagious, and Kagome enjoyed every minute of her training just as Rin apparently did.
Together in the tranquil clearing, they practiced a few more shots before Kagome decided it was time to end the session.
“Alright Rin,” she announced “Would you mind helping me collect the arrows so we can head back?”
“Not at all.” Rin answered as she ran forward to collect the arrows from the target along with the ones that were scattered on the ground at the base of their chosen tree.
Kagome began to collect the arrows closest to her, and replacing them back in her own quiver. She had never trained another miko before, and had she seriously thought about it, the idea probably would have been extremely intimidating. But with Rin, it wasn’t like that at all. Perhaps because the girl was such an eager learner. Whatever the case, she was finding it to be a more enjoyable experience than she would have imagined. A small smile found her lips as she placed the final arrow into her quiver.
“Ready--?” she turned around to see if her charge was prepared to leave. Her eye widened as a small gasp cut off her words. She saw what was about to occur, but it happened so quickly that there was no time to intervene. One of the prominent tree roots caught the girl in mid-stride sending her plummeting to the ground.
“OW!” she cried as she wrapped her hands around her left leg just beneath her knee. Her eyes shut tightly, she curled into herself in the grass. A startled gasp escaped Kagome’s her lips and she was by her side in an instant.
“Are you okay?” she asked, concern showing in the etch of her brows.
The girl sat up, cautiously removing her hands to reveal an abrasion roughly the size of her own small thumb.
“Oh no!” Kagome winced reaching forward, but resisting the urge to touch the red elongated wound.
“I-It’s okay Lady Kagome!” Rin tried to reassure her. “It doesn’t hurt very much.”
But Kagome was hardly listening. “Here, let’s get you back to the village.” she said quickly as she helped the girl to her feet. “I’m pretty sure I already have some disinfectant salve. Are you okay to walk?”
Rin smiled at her genuine, but excessive concern “Really, Lady Kagome, it’s not that bad. I can walk just fine. It just stings a little.”
“Are you sure?” she asked as they began to make their way back. “I knew I should have brought my first aid kit with me!” she said the latter part to herself as she looked worriedly down to the girl’s leg again.
“I’m sure Lady Kagome, please don’t worry so much. It’s only a little scratch.”
The elder female did not answer, but instead rushed back to the village, hoping that her pace was not too much for the injured girl. The two soon made it back. Thankfully none of the villagers stop them along the way and they were able to make it back to the hut in reasonable time. Once inside, Kagome immediately went to work tending the small wound. Using fresh water she store for cooking, she gently washed Rin’s leg before applying salve and wrapping it with a long strip of clean white gauze. Carefully tucking the loose end into place, the miko sat back on her heels to inspect her work. She could already see the dark spot in front of the bandage where the wound was still bleeding. She groaned quietly. “Sesshoumaru’s going to kill me when he sees this.”
The girl frowned. “You shouldn’t say such things Lady Kagome. Lord Sesshoumaru wouldn’t hurt you. It’s only a little scratch.”
Kagome smiled wryly. “He may not kill me,” she conceded, “but I’m sure he won’t be happy to find out you got hurt while you were with me.”
Rin sighed. Lady Kagome was really nice but apparently she could be a bit dramatic sometimes. It really wasn’t so bad at all, it was hardly more than a scratch. The two sat in silence for a short time before she recalled the last time she had seen Lord Sesshoumaru. She had asked if Lady Kagome told him about her powers, and her mentor had smiled at him. She hadn’t really thought about it before, but there was something about the way her mentor had smiled at him…
A small mischievous little grin found the girl’s lips.
“Lady Kagome,” Rin asked, attempting to sound nonchalant as she reclined against a nearby wall, “You… like Lord Sesshoumaru… don’t you?”
Kagome’s eyes rounded at the unexpected question. “I-- he-- why would you--? I-- he-- he’s not so bad… I guess.” She finally managed, obviously flustered.
Rin’s smiled broadened slightly. “So…” she drawled lazily, “have you told him you like him?”
If it were possible, Kagome’s eyes widened even further, her cheeks turning an interesting shade of red. “Um… I-I think it’s time to start lunch!” _____________________________________________________________ ___________
As it often did, dusk found the miko and her young charge in a small basin on the outskirts of their village home. Shimmering hues of pink flowed languidly above them in an almost mesmerizing dance. Staked into the ground at the edge of their pool, a single arrow supported the barrier that provided them a measure of peace and privacy. Through trial and error, Kagome had learned to infuse enough power to maintain a barrier for about half an hour or so. Normally holding up a barrier would require constant focus and concentration, but this way it was self sustaining.
Just outside the luminous dome, Ah-Un curled into itself in the soft grass. By all appearances, the creature would appear to be napping, but the reality was that his senses were on high alert, and if necessary, it could spring into action at any moment. Though the demon’s protection was not strictly needed, it always accompanied them to their evening bath. The basin that they had chosen for their personal use ran off of a nearby stream, and though the water was never freezing, it tended to be reasonably cool. Being a dragon youkai, Ah-Un was easily able to warm the water for them
‘I need a haircut.’ Kagome thought as she wrung the excess water from her long dark tresses. There were times when the young miko longed to return to her true home beyond the well, but she just couldn’t find it in her heart to leave. This was her life, at least for now. There was no way to know what the future would bring, and really there was no sense in worrying about it. She had learned that much.
‘Take each day as it comes.’
Normally bath time was a time to relax, but tonight she did not feel nearly as content as she usually did. During the day she had managed to keep herself pretty busy, and so she had not been plagued by the feelings of loneliness which were haunting her now.
Shippou had not made it back in time for lunch today, but he did make it back before dinner. And as they often did, he and Rin volunteered to go pick herbs beforehand, leaving Kagome alone with her thoughts. Oddly, she was reminded of Rin’s little offhanded remark about her liking Sesshoumaru. The question had been asked so innocently, but she knew the girl was just getting back at her for her asking about Shippou.
‘Sneaky little brat!’ she thought with a small smile.
Still, nothing could have prepared her for how flustered the question had made her. She could admit that she… liked Sesshoumaru. It was nothing serious; it was okay to like him. Besides, he wasn’t such a bad guy, not like she had initially thought. Like she told Inuyasha, they had become friends, and she liked him as such. So… why did it feel like she was not being entirely honest with herself?
‘Don’t get into this again Kagome!’ She scolded herself mentally.‘Sesshoumaru and I are friends. Just friends. There is NO way we could ever be more than that. I don’t even want us to be more than that. Why would I want that?!’
She gave herself a mental shake. ‘Stupid loneliness!!’
This was all Shippou’s fault! Him and his darned chivalry!
After he and Rin had returned from collecting herbs, he had asked to speak with her alone. Uncertain as to why he seemed so serious, she had quickly agreed, attempting to keep any signs of worry from her face. Shortly thereafter, the two of them left Rin with Ah-Un, while they traveled a short distance away from the hut.
“Kagome…” he had began uneasily, “I-I don’t think I’ll be spending the night with you guys anymore.”
Kagome’s brows had risen noticeably. “Oh, and why is that?” She asked genuinely curious.
He had looked away from her, seemingly unable to meet her eyes. A long uneasy silence passed between them before he finally began to speak again. “I um… like Rin. A lot, and um… I don’t… I don’t think it would be proper for me to do that anymore.” He blurted the rest out quickly.
Kagome had covered her mouth with an oversized sleeve in hopes of hiding her smile. “Ah…” she had responded sagely. “So you want to…” she left the rest unsaid, waiting for him to fill in the missing words.
The kit blushed. “I know we’re still kinda young, but I want to start a proper courtship with her.”
A chuckle escaped her lips.
The fox frowned up at her. “You’re laughing at me!” he accused heatedly.
Kagome smiled down on him. “I’m not laughing at you, I‘m laughing with you.” she said lightheartedly as she nodded politely to an old man who happened to be passing by.
“But I wasn’t laughing!” the kit protested vehemently.
“Then I was laughing for you?” she asked, amusement clear in her voice. The kit frowned, but she could tell he was not genuinely upset. She smiled at him. “Don’t mind me Shippou. I’m not making fun of you; I think what you’re doing is really sweet.” She had looked away from him then to stare off into the distance. “Rin likes you a lot, you know?”
The kit’s eyes had brightened with hope. “She does? Really?!”
She looked back down on him. “Of course she does! Who wouldn’t love you?!” She asked as she ruffled his fluffy red hair.
“Hey!” he complained halfheartedly, pulling away from her offending hand. He brushed his hair back into some semblance of order before he became serious once more. “Inuyasha usually stays in the woods between this village and Kikyou’s, so I’ll probably just start camping out with him.”
Kagome nodded absently. This was news to her but she refrained from saying so, as it did not seem to be of any particular importance. Thinking about it now, she didn’t know why she had assumed that Inuyasha stayed with Kikyou. These were different times, and such things would be seen as it improper.
“I‘ll have to there with you guys, but after that…” Shippou was saying.
“Oh right… we’d better get back to then.” She answered vacantly, her mind having barely resurfaced from wherever it had been.
She had known the two of them liked each other, but in their own way they each had confirmed that their affection was more than simple friendship. She was happy for them, she really was, but that selfish little feeling had chosen to rear its ugly head once again. What was she going to do with herself? She had tried to tell herself that simply being happy for her friends was good enough; that sharing in their happiness, would be her happiness, but unfortunately it didn‘t quite work out that way. She hadn’t initially realized it, but vicarious joy seemed to bring an unwelcome side affect along with it.
‘And thus the crushing loneliness.’ she sighed miserably. Besides herself, everyone around her had found their special someone. Everyone except…
“Umm, Lady Kagome I think it’s time to get out now.”
The miko started at the sudden interruption of her trip to the land of self pity. She looked up just in time to see the barrier flicker before dying out completely. With its absence, the now darkened sky loomed above them, the only real illumination being a small crescent moon.
“Right.” she said vacantly, her eyes still fixed on the sky. After a moment, she seemed to snap out of it, and without another word the miko exited the pool and began to dry off. Rin silently followed suit. She could tell that her mentor had something on her mind as she was never usually this quiet. But, if Rin had learned anything from years of traveling with Lord Sesshoumaru, it was when to leave someone to their thoughts.
And so the two females finished drying off in silence before each donned a plain white kimono which served as their sleeping attire. Rin collected her own bathing supplies while Kagome did the same. Lastly, the miko settled her bow and arrows in their proper places, before the three began the short trip back. Ah-Un was more than capable of carrying them both, but Kagome seemed to prefer walking this evening.
Unhappy with her most recent train of thought, Kagome forced herself not to think at all. It worked out quite well at first, the peaceful blankness serving as a temporary protection against the melancholy that flowed through her heart. As most quick fixes tended to be however, this course of action turned out to be quite erroneous, as such a state caused her instincts to completely bypass her brain.
As soon as she felt the powerful brush of youki, her bow was already in her hands, an arrow notched and ready. She whipped around in the space of a heartbeat, her hair barely having a chance to settle against her back before the arrow began to glow.
“I did not realize my presence here was no longer welcome.” came the even voice of Sesshoumaru.
Kagome’s eyes rounded with horror. “Oh!” she cried as she began to lower her weapon. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t realize it was you!”
“Hn.” he breathed dryly. He watched as she replaced the items in their previous positions. Though he made no move to show it, he had been rather impressed with her display of speed and power. Only the centuries of self-imposed stoicism had kept his eyes from widening in surprise when he found himself staring down the business end of a brightly glowing arrow.
“Good evening Lord Sesshoumaru.” said Rin, her voice unknowingly drawing them both back to the present.
“Rin.” he greeted simply, his head inclining slightly.
The girl gave him a bright smile. “How was your day?”
Recalling that much of his day had been spent thinking about the miko, he hesitated to answer. “It was… productive?” he finally managed. Though it was a statement, it sounded more like a question as the demon lord seemed uncharacteristically doubtful.
Rin looked between them and smiled again. At that moment, the girl seemed to realize something that neither of the adults did and her eyes took on a far away look. Frowning slightly, Kagome was just about to question her, when the girl began to speak again.
“Well,” she began, the bright smile still plastered to her lips, “I guess I’d better be heading inside. I’m terribly sleepy all of a sudden.” She stretched exaggeratedly, covering her mouth as she yawned. “Goodnight Lord Sesshoumaru, Lady Kagome.” And without waiting for an answer, the girl turned away, grabbing Ah-Un’s reins as she headed toward the hut which Kagome hadn’t realized until now was just a few yards away.
“What was that all about?” Kagome asked suspiciously, the question being posed more to herself than anyone else.
Sesshoumaru simply narrowed his eyes. He had learned that Rin was far more perceptive than he would like to believe. Had he given something away when he’d answered her question?
‘No matter.’ he decided after a moment, the miko did not seem to notice. It was bad enough he had devoted so much of his thoughts to her, but it would certainly not do for her to know of it. Drawing his attention again, the woman shifted, before turning toward the hut.
“What brings you here again?” she asked without turning back.
Such a gesture should have been offensive to him, but strangely her lack of deference stirred no anger within him. How… odd. He quickly made his way to her side, and the two walked leisurely back toward the hut finally stopping just outside the straw panel that served as its door. It was when she turned and gave him an expectant look that he recalled that she’d asked him a question.
“I wish to know of Rin’s progress.” he said, deciding the answer was true enough. Really, he was not entirely certain why he had returned to the village again. Perhaps he was developing a habit? Absently, he wondered what, if anything, he should do about this newest development. He could foresee no particular harm in it, but it probably was not a good idea to allow such a thing to continue. He would give it further thought at a later time, he decided.
“Well today was only our first day,” said the miko regaining his attention. “She’s actually pretty powerful, but her archery… it’ll get better in time.”
“Hn.”
“She um… she had a bit of an accident today. I think she’s still not used to wearing shoes.”
The daiyoukai resisted the urge to frown. The girl did not seem injured when he saw her a few moments ago. “Accident?” he asked evenly.
“She tripped and skinned her left leg.”
He nodded his understanding, noticing from the corner of his eyes that the miko was watching him intently, likely hoping to gage his response.
When he didn’t answer, Kagome gave an unconscious sigh of relief. “I’ll umm… I’ll be right back. I need to put this stuff inside. Still he said nothing, so Kagome went into the hut to unload her bathing supplies and weapons. Rin was already lying on her futon and the sound of heavy breathing could be heard with each rise and fall of her flat little tummy.
Kagome shot her a suspicious look, but decided to let her be. She was pretty sure the girl had not fallen asleep so quickly but saw no reason to expose her ruse. She quietly turned and exited the hut. She was only mildly surprised to see that Sesshoumaru was now seated on the left side of the door while Ah-Un was lounging on the right. The demon lord was staring off into the distance, and made no move to acknowledge her as she lowered herself to the ground. Kagome discreetly adjusted her kimono as she leaned slightly against the dragon’s back.
He was not observing her directly but the daiyoukai was well aware of her movements. Oddly, he hadn’t noticed until now, but the miko seemed unusually comfortable to be in his presence in what was very likely her sleeping garments. Such things were not common among those who were not… close, but then again she at one point wore clothing which was markedly less modest than this. He shrugged lightly.
The miko looked around her. The village was always so quiet at night. It seemed as if the whole world were already sleeping.
“I checked Rin’s leg again just before we went to take our bath,” the miko began airily, almost as if she were talking to herself. “And you know what…?” she turned toward him then, a shallow frown marring her brow. “It was almost completely healed.”
He looked at her then, their eyes meeting across the small space that separated them. “How?” came his simple inquiry.
“I was wondering the same thing myself. There’s no way the wound should have healed that fast.” she paused and looked away from him, her features furrowed in thought. Suddenly she looked toward him again. Lifting herself from the dragon, she leaned toward him as if to tell him as secret. “I think she and Shippou are in love.” she said quietly.
The demon lord felt his brows draw together ever so slightly, but before he could say anything the miko continued. “Do you know what Kaede told me before she died?” her eyes shifted back and forth and she seemed to consider whether or not she should continue. “When she was young, she had been in love with a demon.” she told him after a long pause.
An elegant brow rose slightly. This information was unexpected, but why was the miko telling him such things?
“Before she got sick, Kaede had been uncommonly healthy; strong too, now that I think about it. She told me that a powerful bond can be created between demons and humans if they can overcome their prejudice. I didn’t really give it much thought at the time, but I think I understand what she meant now.”
It was as if she had forgotten he was there, and was simply allowing her thoughts to flow from her lips. “His name was Toshiro… and he loved her very much. So much that…”
She looked at him then, her eyes wide with apparent realization. “If they had mated, Kaede would still be alive. I think… I think that when a demon falls in love with a human, the demon can share his or her powers with the human. That has to be what she meant when she said that she would have lived even longer had Toshiro not died first. And… that’s why Rin’s leg healed so quickly! It all makes sense now.”
The demon lord’s eyes widened marginally.
‘My wish…’ ___________________________________________________ _____________________