InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Remnants of the Spider ❯ Inciting the Chase ( Chapter 33 )
[ 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: 7.4K | Visits: 260 | 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: 7.4K | Visits: 260 | Status: Work In Progress
Remnants of the Spider
Inciting the Chase __________________________________________________________________ ______
“I knew it!!” the irate declaration was echoed by the slam of a sizable fist as it pounded against innocent, unsuspecting floorboards. Thick dark brows drew down while the tips of white fangs were bared, the combination creating an impressive scowl.
Having just discovered Kagome’s suspicions that Naraku had left another demon behind to avenge his death, Inuyasha was the first to share his thoughts on the matter.
“I knew it!!” he announced again. “That bastard went down entirely too easy, I knew he’d find some way to come back!!”
Kagome felt her eyebrow twitch in annoyance. “Easy?” she asked dangerously. “I would hardly use the word ‘easy’ to describe it.”
Miroku rubbed the back of his neck, his features contorting into a troubled expression over the dreadful memory. “I am inclined to agree with Lady Kagome on that particular subject.”
Feeling slightly ashamed for his thoughtless comment but hiding it beneath his deepening scowl, the hanyou shoved his arms into his sleeves. “That’s not what I meant! Naraku was never one to go without a back up plan! The fact that he left another demon behind to do more of his dirty work shouldn’t be a big surprise to any of us!” he huffed and turned away from them to stare petulantly at a blank expanse of wall.
Kikyou placed a calming hand on his shoulder, and Kagome averted her eyes uncomfortably. “He is right.” the elder miko said gently. “Naraku is not the kind of foe who would accept defeat graciously. Whatever this demon is planning, I am certain it goes beyond revenge.” she added, her concern evident in the shallow crease of her brows.
This news was not good and she was beginning to question whether Naraku was truly dead or not. Even if he was, it was entirely probable that this was the first step in some convoluted scheme that would end in the dreaded hanyou re-emerging into the land of the living. She was not sure how he could accomplish such a thing, but Naraku was just the sort of person who would have planned for the eventuality of his demise. His insatiable lust for power would have made death unacceptable for him. In life he had always been a frustratingly evasive creature who avoided danger by having someone else fight for him. She feared to think that even death itself may not be able to keep a firm grip on him.
“It’s not just him.” Kagome added solemnly. “Daisuke said that a miko would be needed to see the keys. As long as she’s powerful enough, even a dark miko could see them.”
The young priestess needed to say nothing further for all of the room’s occupants to know who she was talking about.
“Do you really think Tsubaki might be involved?” Sango asked cautiously.
Kagome gave a light shrug. “There’s no way to tell, but…”
“Who cares??!!” Inuyasha cut in rudely. “All we have to do is find the one who’s behind it and I’ll take care of em’! He flexed his claws meaningfully.
“It would be rather difficult to ‘take care of’ whoever is behind this when we don’t even know who they are.” Miroku pointed out with as much patience as he could muster at the hanyou’s heavy-handed approach.
“Keh!” was his automatic response.
Kagome rolled her eyes. “Look… I’ve thought this over, and… it seems like the best thing to do is just collect the keys and destroy them.” she shook her head. “I just don’t know…”
“NO WAY!!!” the hanyou interrupted again. “How do you know this Dai-suké,” he spat the name with distaste, “is not trying to trick you himself?! Who‘s to say he can be trusted?!”
The miko did not answer right away. This was also something she had considered, but in the end, she supposed it didn’t really matter.
“I’ve thought of that too,” her response was subdued. “But if he is telling the truth, we could soon have a real problem on our hands. And, if it really is Naraku who’s behind all of this, we’ll have an even bigger problem still.”
With the completion of her statement, quiet tension filled the air. For what must have been ten minutes or more no one said a word. Kagome spent that time considering what needed to be done, but really, she already knew. There were just a couple of very big details to work out.
Kagome took a deep breath exhaling slowly through dry, slightly parted lips. She slowly looked around the room before her eyes stopped on Kikyou. The elder miko noticed, and she immediately sat up straighter. The women stared at one another for a short time before Kagome finally opened her mouth to speak.
“Kikyou…” she began hesitantly, “I really hate to ask you to do this but…”
Time seemed to slow down for the elder priestess. Since this conversation began she had considered the fact that she too was powerful enough to see the keys. She was not sure of the events to come, all she knew was that she owed Kagome her life. Whatever she asked of her, she would do it, no matter how difficult. When that wretched demon-witch had brought her back to life, she had shown nothing but malice and cruelty toward Kagome and she had never deserved such treatment. She was willing to atone for her abhorrent behavior in any way she could.
Kagome paused, her featured slowly hardening in determination.
“Would you watch over my village while I’m gone?”
All eyes turned to Kagome, then to Kikyou, and back to Kagome again. Even Kikyou’s lips parted in surprise. She had expected the younger priestess to ask her to look for the keys in her stead! It was something she did not wish to do, but she would have! Kagome had a young girl to care for! Why wouldn’t she stay?
Confusion evident on her lovely features, Kikyou was hesitant to reply. “I… Are you certain you wish to go? I… I could go for you. You shouldn’t have to…”
“No!” Kagome cut her off right away. Taking a moment to calm down, the young miko started again. “No.” she said again, her voice much softer this time. “I couldn’t ask you to do something like that. I don’t… I don’t know what will happen out there. You’ll be much safer if you stay here.”
“But what about you??!!” asked Sango, her voice colored with concern.
Kagome shrugged again. “I’ll be fine.” she said quietly, but her dejected posture did nothing to convince those around her. “Besides, Daisuke asked ME to do this. Plus, if someone is out to avenge Naraku, it’s me they’ll be after. It’s been really peaceful around here lately, and I’d like it to stay that way. If I leave… it’ll be safer for everyone.”
“Lady Kagome…” Rin began quietly. The young miko turned to look at her. She and Shippou were each sending her pleading looks, but Kagome would not be swayed. “It’ll be fine.” she said quietly. “I promise.”
Not believing her one bit, but knowing she would gain little to argue with her mentor, the girl crawled over to her and wrapped her arms around her. Kagome returned her embrace resting her chin atop the girl’s dark hair. She was going to miss Rin.
An uncomfortable ached bloomed in Inuyasha’s chest as he watched them. It was like the little girl was saying goodbye to her.
“You are NOT going out there by yourself to the four corners of the world to collect some fuckin’ keys! Just because there have been no demon attacks around here, that doesn’t mean there aren’t in other places!! Are you TRYING to get yourself killed??!!”
“Shut up Inuyasha!” she yelled, annoyance quickly overshadowing all other emotions. “You don’t get to tell me what I will and what I will not do! The fact is, I’m in danger whether I go or not! At least if I leave everyone else will be safe!”
Miroku raised a hand before Inuyasha could put in another word. “I understand your logic Lady Kagome, but I for one cannot allow you to do this alone. I do not know if you are being lured into a trap or not, but if you are truly serious about going on this mission, I am going with you.” fortitude hardened his features. “I would not be alive today if it was not for you, and I will not allow you to face possible danger alone.”
“I’m going too!” Sango added. “You saved all of us! It’s only right that we help you do this!”
“You can’t!” Kagome argued. “What if…”
“Look…!” Inuyasha cut her off for a third time, “If none of us can tell you what to do, then you can’t tell us what to do either! We’re going whether you want us to or not!”
Kikyou nodded in agreement. “You have already sacrificed yourself for us once Kagome. You should not have to risk doing such a thing a second time.”
Kagome looked at them all, noting with a level of resignation that they would not be convinced to change their minds. Her large eyes drifted from one determined expression to another before they finally landed on an expression she could not identify. That expression belonged to Sesshoumaru. He simply stared back at her, and never said a word. __________________________________________________________________ ______
Endless black depths at her feet and the shining moon at her back, Kagome sat on the lip of the Bone Eaters Well. She had spent the better part of fifteen minutes staring into the darkness wondering what her family might be doing at this very moment. When she was hit with another wave of melancholy, she abandoned this train of thought, and instead focused on the starlit sky.
She attempted to force her mind into the comforting void of nothingness, but fragmented thoughts continued to seep through the barrier of blankness in which she tried to surround herself. The thing she tried to forget the most was the one thing that continued to pry its way into her conscious mind.
She was all alone now.
Kagome had experienced feelings of loneliness before, but now, she really was alone and she felt it acutely. It was rather painful, she realized with pensive despondency. She felt lonelier now than she had ever felt in her life.
Seeing her friends had been great, but a little painful at the same time. They were all in pairs now, everyone but her. Maybe she was being petty, but seeing them all together like that just reminded her of how truly alone she was. When they weren’t around, it was a lot easier to forget about that. She sighed wistfully.
‘Things will get better.’ she promised herself. ‘When this mission is over, things will get better.’
Their little meeting lasted longer than she had anticipated, but they finally managed to come to an acceptable arrangement.
Kagome, Miroku, Sango, and Inuyasha would go to collect the keys. Kikyou would stay behind to watch over both her own village, and Kagome’s. The younger miko hated leaving her with the responsibility of two villages, but Kikyou insisted that it would not be a burdensome task for her. Kikyou’s village was small, and there was a medicine woman who resided there. The woman was of advanced age, but she was skilled in medicinal arts and was more than adept at tending wounds. The aging woman also had a young apprentice who could assist her, so unless something requiring miko powers was needed, Kikyou could spend the bulk of her time in Kagome’s village.
This made the young priestess feel a lot better about leaving, but what happened after the meeting was enough to bring tears to her eyes.
After everything was settled, her friends decided to return to their homes to collect supplies and to inform their respective villages of the situation and their impending absence. They would all return by dawn, give Daisuke their decision, and then set off for the first key.
Once her friends were gone, Kagome set about informing her own villagers of her upcoming mission. She assembled them all to a shrine not far from where Kaede was buried and told them the basics of the quest she was asked to undertake. Many were saddened to hear of her impending departure and concerned over the nature of her mission, but it seemed to set their minds at ease to know that Kikyou-sama would be there until she returned. When the assembly was over, several men and women lingered behind to wish her a safe journey. They told her that they would offer prayers for her success and speedy return.
She thanked them all, their kind words and sincerity having warmed her heart. Then, feeling worlds better than she had all day, the young miko returned to her little hut. When she went inside however, her heart skipped an unhealthy number of beats.
There was no one there.
She had left Rin, Shippou and Sesshoumaru behind, telling them that she would be back soon, but when she returned they were all gone.
It didn’t take long to realize that something else was missing. Looking around the main room, she noticed that all of Rin’s kimonos, her little hair ties, and her shoes… they were all gone. Feeling slightly panicked, Kagome quickly exited the hut and looked around for any signs of where they might have gone. When that failed, she took a moment to calm herself before flaring her powers in a soft rippling wave which spread out in all directions.
She was searching for demonic auras, and to her initial dismay, she only found one. She sighed heavily and looked to the sky. Why would Sesshoumaru take Rin without telling her? Well, she decided after a moment, there was at least one person around here who could answer the many questions that were slowly flooding her mind.
Suddenly feeling very tired, but refusing to rest before she got her answers, Kagome headed toward the outskirts of the village. The demon had been heading in the opposite direction, but he must have sensed her approach because he stopped moving to wait for her.
As she crested a small hill, the male’s familiar form came into view.
“Tsunjin…?” she asked when she saw him.
“Kagome-sama,” he greeted giving a respectful bow as she continued her approach. She returned his bow with one of her own before asking, “Have you seen Sesshoumaru? When I got back, Rin, Shippou and…” she trailed off looking back toward the village as if hoping she had overlooked something but fearing that she had not. “Th--they were all gone! I-I can‘t sense them anywhere in the village.” she finished, looking as if she would start crying at any moment.
The elemental instinctively reached forward wishing to comfort her. His fingers were a hair’s breath from her small shoulder before he recalled his lord’s warning not to touch her. With great reluctance, he pulled his hand away, opting to use his words instead.
“Please do not cry Kagome-sama.” he said gently.
She did not answer, but he could tell that she was trying to hold on to whatever strength she had left. There at the edge of her village in the dying light of day, the powerful little miko looked more vulnerable than he had ever seen her. She was like a tiny porcelain doll. She looked so tired, so…fragile. It was as if someone had placed an enormous weight on her shoulders and left her to bear the cumbersome burden alone. In that moment the elemental wished more than anything that he could be the one to comfort her, but he knew that it was not his place. With gritted teeth, he held his hands stiffly at his sides.
“Where are they?” the miko’s quiet words drew him from his dangerous reverie.
“Lord Sesshoumaru has returned to the West. Rin-sama, and the fox-child are with him.”
The fire demon was nearly undone when Kagome’s head lowered, her dark bangs covering her eyes as she stared at the ground. “I see.” she said after a long pause. “Ah-Un too?” she asked, her voice cracking a little.
Tsunjin felt his chest constrict unpleasantly. How desperately he wanted to gather the woman in his arms and assure her that everything would be okay. The urge was painfully difficult to suppress.
“Yes.” he answered at last.
“I see…” she said again, her eyes still fixed on the ground. He thought she would just stand there forever until she finally raised her head and asked, “So… why are you still here?”
Kagome stared at up him. The question seemed to have caught him by surprise, and for a moment he looked as if he would not answer.
“Before Sesshoumaru-sama departed, he instructed me to continue my patrol of this village until otherwise instructed. He added that from now on, I am to patrol the neighboring village as well.”
Kagome frowned at his explanation. “Why?” her confusion was evident.
“Lord Sesshoumaru has never been one to explain his actions. He told me nothing more than what I have just shared with you.”
Kagome nodded her understanding, and the two fell into silence again.
“Do you…do you mind if I walk with you for a little while?”
This time she could definitely see surprise in his eyes, and if she was not mistaken, his cheeks seemed to have darkened ever so slightly.
Tsunjin stared at the little miko, her innocent request still floating around in his mind. He had learned early on that Kagome-sama tended to befriend nearly everyone who came in contact with her and while he would have adored such a relationship with the kind-hearted woman, honor demanded that he refrain. Tsunjin’s attraction to Kagome went deeper than simple friendship and as he was forbidden to pursue her, he felt it prudent to keep a certain distance between them.
“I…” he hesitated, “I do not believe that is a good idea, Kagome-sama. His heart broke just a little bit more when the miko lowered her head again, evidently believing that he did not wish for her company.
“Okay.” she said quietly not even bothering to question his decision. Without another word, she brushed passed him heading toward the nearby forest.
“Kagome-sama!” the fire demon called after her, “I must caution you not to leave the safety of the village!”
But the miko did not listen, nor did she respond. She kept on walking until she was at the Bone Eater’s Well.
Now, as she stared into the endless skies, she absently wondered why she wasn’t crying. She was all alone. Her friends would return in the morning, but for right now she was alone. There was no one around to talk to her, no one back at the hut waiting for her. There was just her. She looked down into the well and frowned.
“I should just go home right now!” she whispered fiercely. She hadn’t seen her family in weeks, and the only reason she didn’t leap into the void, was because she probably wouldn’t want to come back, and she knew that wasn’t really an option at the moment. Not only that, but she knew her family would want to know how things were going. She would be forced to relive all of the things she currently wanted to forget.
Her family didn’t know about Kaede’s death, and she knew that her mother would want updates on everyone, and she would blurt it out whether she wanted to or not. She didn’t want to talk about that right now. Even if she managed to avoid that conversation, she knew they would ask about Inuyasha. She didn‘t really want to talk about him either.
Her family didn’t know about the recent changes that had taken place. They didn’t know that everyone had gone off to start their own lives, leaving Kagome to the miserable, miserable loneliness that was eating away at her heart. She sighed heavily.
Kagome was moping, she knew, but right now she just couldn’t muster the strength to care. She reasoned that Sesshoumaru had likely taken Rin back to the west because he didn’t want to leave her with Kikyou. He didn‘t know the elder priestess very well, so Kagome could hardly blame him for that, but the least he could have done was told her they were leaving! Of all the inconsiderate things to do!! How could he just take the kids and run off like that??!!
She blinked back angry tears. Shippou had probably gone to be with Rin, though why that big mean old dog let him, she couldn’t begin to imagine. In the end, she supposed it didn’t really matter. She was here, and they weren’t.
The miko tensed suddenly. She felt her spine stiffen as the air around her began to change. There was a chill at her back that had nothing to do with the soft breeze that sent tendrils of her long dark hair dancing around her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked without turning around to face the one with whom she spoke.
“I could ask the same of you.” was his cool reply. “Should you not be resting for your journey?”
“What do you care?” she snapped quietly.
The daiyoukai said nothing to this, only continued his leisurely approach.
Kagome finally turned to face him. She was unsurprised, yet a little disappointed to see that Sesshoumaru looked as unruffled as ever. His features were characteristically bland, his arms draped casually at his sides, and his strides were measured and unhurried. Some of her anger faded as she became somewhat entranced simply watching as he closed the distance between them. His puffy white pants drew and held her attention in a way which may not have been quite natural. They made a quiet swishing sound as one leg crossed in front of the other again and again until he was standing right in front of her.
“There was something you wished to discuss with me.” he said evenly.
“Oh,” Kagome huffed as she broke from her daze. She folded her arms over her chest refusing to look at him. “So that’s why you came back.
The daiyoukai neither confirmed nor denied her words. Instead, he simply watched a she swung her legs over the well planting her feet in the slightly damp grass. She was still sitting on the lip of the well, but she had turned so that she was facing away from him, her chin slightly elevated. Oddly, the demon lord found himself wondering what she was thinking.
“I don’t think we should be friends anymore.” she stated abruptly.
He had expected her to say something like that, but hearing it from her lips… it grated on his nerves in a way he had not anticipated.
“Why?” the demon asked aloud.
She shook her head as if to jar his question from her mind. “It doesn’t matter.”
The demon’s displeasure of the situation was growing rapidly, but to his further dismay, he found himself uncertain as to what he should do about it. Harming her was not an option so he settled for a withering glare.
“It does matter, and you will tell me.”
For a long time the miko said nothing. Her defiant behavior was something he had encountered before. It was as provoking now as it had ever been, but now it was not his anger it incited. It spoke to something deeper, something more primal. Though he tried to ignore it, his very flesh itched with the undeniable urge to…
“The magic is fading you know,” she spoke conversationally, drawing him from his perilous thoughts.
She was disturbingly calm now. Turning slightly she looked down into the well. “It’s still pretty strong right now,” she continued as if they had not been discussing something else only moments ago, “ but it’s weaker than it used to be, I can feel it. I don’t know when it will happen, but eventually the well is going to stop working. I think… I think once this mission is over… I think I’m going to go home. If the well is going to stop working, it’s probably best that I am on the other side when it happens, don’t you think?”
His frown deepened. “Do not attempt to change the subject. You have not answered my question, and you will not leave until you do.” he told her, his tone revealing that his patience was nearing its end.
His words shattered the abstract tranquility in which she tried to bury herself. In one quick motion, Kagome stood and rounded on him.
“I don’t have to answer to you!!” she yelled, but the waver in her voice suggested that she was more hurt than angry. She stomped her foot like a petulant child and fisted her hands at her sides. “You took Rin and Shippou away and didn’t even tell me, now you have the nerve to try and tell me what to do??!! You’ve got some nerve, you know! Do you have any idea how much it hurt to come back and find you all gone?!”
In a rare display of genuine surprise, his eyes widened slightly. Though her words triggered several feelings, one of which might have been guilt, he would not engage this particular conversation now. She was attempting to distract him, and he would not allow it.
“That is not what we are discussing at the moment.”
He stepped forward, and Kagome quickly moved away. “Stay away from me!” she warned, her voice slightly hoarse with her apparent distress. “And don’t touch me! You don’t have the right to touch me!”
Sesshoumaru ignored her. He easily closed the distance between them wrapping a clawed hand around the upper portion of her right arm to keep her from pulling away.
Kagome was on the brink of yelling at him some more when she looked up and noticed the unusual look he was giving her. She could tell he was about to say something, but he seemed to be having difficulty piecing together the right words. She stilled her fruitless struggle and stared up at him, waiting to see what he would say.
“This friendship…” he began uneasily. “It is not something I am familiar with. I cannot…I cannot correct my errors unless you tell me what they are.”
Kagome’s jaw nearly fell off her face. With just a few hesitantly spoken words he had disarmed her completely. He thought he had done something wrong, she realized with vague horror. Not only did he think he had done something wrong, but he was essentially asking her to help him fix it! She had considered many scenarios when she had decided to end their friendship, but this was NOT one of them. She hardly knew what to think let alone what to say!
“I…” she faltered, this time it was she who scrambled to find the right words. “You haven’t made any errors.”
“Then why do you wish to end this friendship?”
She looked away from him then. “Let’s just drop it okay? I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
“Tell me why, Kagome!” he demanded. He tightened his grip on her arm and shook her slightly for emphasis.
She shut her eyes tightly and turned her face away from him. “Please… please just go! Go home and forget about me! It’d be easier that way.”
“I will not leave you!” he all but growled.
“YES YOU WILL!!!” the words bypassed her brain and exploded from her lips before she could consider them.
“You will leave me!” she shrieked again. She looked at him then, her eyes brimming with tears. “You’ll leave me just like everyone else! You don’t like humans!! I don’t know why you’ve put up with me for this long!” she tried to pull away from him, but to no avail. “Let go of me Sesshoumaru! I--”
Whatever she was going to say next would remain a mystery. A startled gasp rushed from her lungs as she suddenly felt herself being pulled forward. His left hand on her right arm and his right on her left hip, he pulled her, causing her to stumble forward until she was flush against the armor that covered his chest. She looked up, intending to ask him what he was doing, but the intense golden gaze that stared back at her was enough to still her tongue. His hand soon released her hip before gliding slowly up her back. She gasped lightly when his clawed fingers came to rest just at the nape of her neck.
Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion, but really, it probably only took a few seconds. She didn’t even have time to try and push away from him before a pair of warm, surprisingly soft lips pressed firmly against her own.
Her heart began to beat wildly in her chest.
‘W-what is he doing??!!’ she thought manically.
The functioning part of her mind pointed out that she knew what he was doing, the real question was why was he doing it.
Her mind shut down completely when his left hand released her arm only to snake securely around her waist. He held her so close she could hardly breathe. A gentle breeze brushed against them causing his silken tresses to brush against her cheek. She shivered, and instinctively fisted her hands in the cool silk of his clothing. He pulled back just a little bit causing their lips to separate with a light ‘smack.’ She thought he would let her go then but instead he kissed her again, this time drawing her lower lip into his mouth. He suckled the delicate flesh lightly before allowing their lips to slowly, slowly separate for a second time.
She stepped, or rather stumbled away from him, and this time, he let her go. She was positive her cheeks had turned a shade of red yet to be named, but she could not take her eyes off of him.
He looked… surprised, she realized as she struggled to catch her breath. In fact, he looked almost as surprised as she felt.
She cautiously backed away from him, not knowing what to say or do. Her fingers instinctively rose to her lips. Bizarrely, she was surprised to find that her lower lip was still damp from when he had drawn it into his mouth.
“You---you kissed me!” she accused, her eyes wide as saucers.
“Yes.” he breathed. He seemed almost as confused as she.
The pair stared at one another, neither seeming to know what to say or do next. The miko didn’t know why, but she was suddenly on the verge of panic. ‘Why would he do that?? Why??!!’ she asked herself over and over again, but there was only one answer. It was an answer she could not accept because… well, she didn’t know why, but it just… it couldn’t be true!!
“I…I have to go.” she said as she continued to move away from him. This time he made not move to stop her, and Kagome soon pivoted on her heels and broke into a jog, quickly making her way back to the village.
Sesshoumaru watched her go.
“That…” he mused to the empty space the miko had recently occupied, “Was unanticipated.”
As he watched her retreating form shrink into backdrop of the night, he vaguely wondered if he was referring to the fact that he had kissed her, or her reaction to it.
He spent the next few moments thinking it over before he finally gave a light shrug.
“Hn.” he murmured to himself before he began a leisurely stroll toward the village. __________________________________________________________________ ______
Inciting the Chase __________________________________________________________________ ______
“I knew it!!” the irate declaration was echoed by the slam of a sizable fist as it pounded against innocent, unsuspecting floorboards. Thick dark brows drew down while the tips of white fangs were bared, the combination creating an impressive scowl.
Having just discovered Kagome’s suspicions that Naraku had left another demon behind to avenge his death, Inuyasha was the first to share his thoughts on the matter.
“I knew it!!” he announced again. “That bastard went down entirely too easy, I knew he’d find some way to come back!!”
Kagome felt her eyebrow twitch in annoyance. “Easy?” she asked dangerously. “I would hardly use the word ‘easy’ to describe it.”
Miroku rubbed the back of his neck, his features contorting into a troubled expression over the dreadful memory. “I am inclined to agree with Lady Kagome on that particular subject.”
Feeling slightly ashamed for his thoughtless comment but hiding it beneath his deepening scowl, the hanyou shoved his arms into his sleeves. “That’s not what I meant! Naraku was never one to go without a back up plan! The fact that he left another demon behind to do more of his dirty work shouldn’t be a big surprise to any of us!” he huffed and turned away from them to stare petulantly at a blank expanse of wall.
Kikyou placed a calming hand on his shoulder, and Kagome averted her eyes uncomfortably. “He is right.” the elder miko said gently. “Naraku is not the kind of foe who would accept defeat graciously. Whatever this demon is planning, I am certain it goes beyond revenge.” she added, her concern evident in the shallow crease of her brows.
This news was not good and she was beginning to question whether Naraku was truly dead or not. Even if he was, it was entirely probable that this was the first step in some convoluted scheme that would end in the dreaded hanyou re-emerging into the land of the living. She was not sure how he could accomplish such a thing, but Naraku was just the sort of person who would have planned for the eventuality of his demise. His insatiable lust for power would have made death unacceptable for him. In life he had always been a frustratingly evasive creature who avoided danger by having someone else fight for him. She feared to think that even death itself may not be able to keep a firm grip on him.
“It’s not just him.” Kagome added solemnly. “Daisuke said that a miko would be needed to see the keys. As long as she’s powerful enough, even a dark miko could see them.”
The young priestess needed to say nothing further for all of the room’s occupants to know who she was talking about.
“Do you really think Tsubaki might be involved?” Sango asked cautiously.
Kagome gave a light shrug. “There’s no way to tell, but…”
“Who cares??!!” Inuyasha cut in rudely. “All we have to do is find the one who’s behind it and I’ll take care of em’! He flexed his claws meaningfully.
“It would be rather difficult to ‘take care of’ whoever is behind this when we don’t even know who they are.” Miroku pointed out with as much patience as he could muster at the hanyou’s heavy-handed approach.
“Keh!” was his automatic response.
Kagome rolled her eyes. “Look… I’ve thought this over, and… it seems like the best thing to do is just collect the keys and destroy them.” she shook her head. “I just don’t know…”
“NO WAY!!!” the hanyou interrupted again. “How do you know this Dai-suké,” he spat the name with distaste, “is not trying to trick you himself?! Who‘s to say he can be trusted?!”
The miko did not answer right away. This was also something she had considered, but in the end, she supposed it didn’t really matter.
“I’ve thought of that too,” her response was subdued. “But if he is telling the truth, we could soon have a real problem on our hands. And, if it really is Naraku who’s behind all of this, we’ll have an even bigger problem still.”
With the completion of her statement, quiet tension filled the air. For what must have been ten minutes or more no one said a word. Kagome spent that time considering what needed to be done, but really, she already knew. There were just a couple of very big details to work out.
Kagome took a deep breath exhaling slowly through dry, slightly parted lips. She slowly looked around the room before her eyes stopped on Kikyou. The elder miko noticed, and she immediately sat up straighter. The women stared at one another for a short time before Kagome finally opened her mouth to speak.
“Kikyou…” she began hesitantly, “I really hate to ask you to do this but…”
Time seemed to slow down for the elder priestess. Since this conversation began she had considered the fact that she too was powerful enough to see the keys. She was not sure of the events to come, all she knew was that she owed Kagome her life. Whatever she asked of her, she would do it, no matter how difficult. When that wretched demon-witch had brought her back to life, she had shown nothing but malice and cruelty toward Kagome and she had never deserved such treatment. She was willing to atone for her abhorrent behavior in any way she could.
Kagome paused, her featured slowly hardening in determination.
“Would you watch over my village while I’m gone?”
All eyes turned to Kagome, then to Kikyou, and back to Kagome again. Even Kikyou’s lips parted in surprise. She had expected the younger priestess to ask her to look for the keys in her stead! It was something she did not wish to do, but she would have! Kagome had a young girl to care for! Why wouldn’t she stay?
Confusion evident on her lovely features, Kikyou was hesitant to reply. “I… Are you certain you wish to go? I… I could go for you. You shouldn’t have to…”
“No!” Kagome cut her off right away. Taking a moment to calm down, the young miko started again. “No.” she said again, her voice much softer this time. “I couldn’t ask you to do something like that. I don’t… I don’t know what will happen out there. You’ll be much safer if you stay here.”
“But what about you??!!” asked Sango, her voice colored with concern.
Kagome shrugged again. “I’ll be fine.” she said quietly, but her dejected posture did nothing to convince those around her. “Besides, Daisuke asked ME to do this. Plus, if someone is out to avenge Naraku, it’s me they’ll be after. It’s been really peaceful around here lately, and I’d like it to stay that way. If I leave… it’ll be safer for everyone.”
“Lady Kagome…” Rin began quietly. The young miko turned to look at her. She and Shippou were each sending her pleading looks, but Kagome would not be swayed. “It’ll be fine.” she said quietly. “I promise.”
Not believing her one bit, but knowing she would gain little to argue with her mentor, the girl crawled over to her and wrapped her arms around her. Kagome returned her embrace resting her chin atop the girl’s dark hair. She was going to miss Rin.
An uncomfortable ached bloomed in Inuyasha’s chest as he watched them. It was like the little girl was saying goodbye to her.
“You are NOT going out there by yourself to the four corners of the world to collect some fuckin’ keys! Just because there have been no demon attacks around here, that doesn’t mean there aren’t in other places!! Are you TRYING to get yourself killed??!!”
“Shut up Inuyasha!” she yelled, annoyance quickly overshadowing all other emotions. “You don’t get to tell me what I will and what I will not do! The fact is, I’m in danger whether I go or not! At least if I leave everyone else will be safe!”
Miroku raised a hand before Inuyasha could put in another word. “I understand your logic Lady Kagome, but I for one cannot allow you to do this alone. I do not know if you are being lured into a trap or not, but if you are truly serious about going on this mission, I am going with you.” fortitude hardened his features. “I would not be alive today if it was not for you, and I will not allow you to face possible danger alone.”
“I’m going too!” Sango added. “You saved all of us! It’s only right that we help you do this!”
“You can’t!” Kagome argued. “What if…”
“Look…!” Inuyasha cut her off for a third time, “If none of us can tell you what to do, then you can’t tell us what to do either! We’re going whether you want us to or not!”
Kikyou nodded in agreement. “You have already sacrificed yourself for us once Kagome. You should not have to risk doing such a thing a second time.”
Kagome looked at them all, noting with a level of resignation that they would not be convinced to change their minds. Her large eyes drifted from one determined expression to another before they finally landed on an expression she could not identify. That expression belonged to Sesshoumaru. He simply stared back at her, and never said a word. __________________________________________________________________ ______
Endless black depths at her feet and the shining moon at her back, Kagome sat on the lip of the Bone Eaters Well. She had spent the better part of fifteen minutes staring into the darkness wondering what her family might be doing at this very moment. When she was hit with another wave of melancholy, she abandoned this train of thought, and instead focused on the starlit sky.
She attempted to force her mind into the comforting void of nothingness, but fragmented thoughts continued to seep through the barrier of blankness in which she tried to surround herself. The thing she tried to forget the most was the one thing that continued to pry its way into her conscious mind.
She was all alone now.
Kagome had experienced feelings of loneliness before, but now, she really was alone and she felt it acutely. It was rather painful, she realized with pensive despondency. She felt lonelier now than she had ever felt in her life.
Seeing her friends had been great, but a little painful at the same time. They were all in pairs now, everyone but her. Maybe she was being petty, but seeing them all together like that just reminded her of how truly alone she was. When they weren’t around, it was a lot easier to forget about that. She sighed wistfully.
‘Things will get better.’ she promised herself. ‘When this mission is over, things will get better.’
Their little meeting lasted longer than she had anticipated, but they finally managed to come to an acceptable arrangement.
Kagome, Miroku, Sango, and Inuyasha would go to collect the keys. Kikyou would stay behind to watch over both her own village, and Kagome’s. The younger miko hated leaving her with the responsibility of two villages, but Kikyou insisted that it would not be a burdensome task for her. Kikyou’s village was small, and there was a medicine woman who resided there. The woman was of advanced age, but she was skilled in medicinal arts and was more than adept at tending wounds. The aging woman also had a young apprentice who could assist her, so unless something requiring miko powers was needed, Kikyou could spend the bulk of her time in Kagome’s village.
This made the young priestess feel a lot better about leaving, but what happened after the meeting was enough to bring tears to her eyes.
After everything was settled, her friends decided to return to their homes to collect supplies and to inform their respective villages of the situation and their impending absence. They would all return by dawn, give Daisuke their decision, and then set off for the first key.
Once her friends were gone, Kagome set about informing her own villagers of her upcoming mission. She assembled them all to a shrine not far from where Kaede was buried and told them the basics of the quest she was asked to undertake. Many were saddened to hear of her impending departure and concerned over the nature of her mission, but it seemed to set their minds at ease to know that Kikyou-sama would be there until she returned. When the assembly was over, several men and women lingered behind to wish her a safe journey. They told her that they would offer prayers for her success and speedy return.
She thanked them all, their kind words and sincerity having warmed her heart. Then, feeling worlds better than she had all day, the young miko returned to her little hut. When she went inside however, her heart skipped an unhealthy number of beats.
There was no one there.
She had left Rin, Shippou and Sesshoumaru behind, telling them that she would be back soon, but when she returned they were all gone.
It didn’t take long to realize that something else was missing. Looking around the main room, she noticed that all of Rin’s kimonos, her little hair ties, and her shoes… they were all gone. Feeling slightly panicked, Kagome quickly exited the hut and looked around for any signs of where they might have gone. When that failed, she took a moment to calm herself before flaring her powers in a soft rippling wave which spread out in all directions.
She was searching for demonic auras, and to her initial dismay, she only found one. She sighed heavily and looked to the sky. Why would Sesshoumaru take Rin without telling her? Well, she decided after a moment, there was at least one person around here who could answer the many questions that were slowly flooding her mind.
Suddenly feeling very tired, but refusing to rest before she got her answers, Kagome headed toward the outskirts of the village. The demon had been heading in the opposite direction, but he must have sensed her approach because he stopped moving to wait for her.
As she crested a small hill, the male’s familiar form came into view.
“Tsunjin…?” she asked when she saw him.
“Kagome-sama,” he greeted giving a respectful bow as she continued her approach. She returned his bow with one of her own before asking, “Have you seen Sesshoumaru? When I got back, Rin, Shippou and…” she trailed off looking back toward the village as if hoping she had overlooked something but fearing that she had not. “Th--they were all gone! I-I can‘t sense them anywhere in the village.” she finished, looking as if she would start crying at any moment.
The elemental instinctively reached forward wishing to comfort her. His fingers were a hair’s breath from her small shoulder before he recalled his lord’s warning not to touch her. With great reluctance, he pulled his hand away, opting to use his words instead.
“Please do not cry Kagome-sama.” he said gently.
She did not answer, but he could tell that she was trying to hold on to whatever strength she had left. There at the edge of her village in the dying light of day, the powerful little miko looked more vulnerable than he had ever seen her. She was like a tiny porcelain doll. She looked so tired, so…fragile. It was as if someone had placed an enormous weight on her shoulders and left her to bear the cumbersome burden alone. In that moment the elemental wished more than anything that he could be the one to comfort her, but he knew that it was not his place. With gritted teeth, he held his hands stiffly at his sides.
“Where are they?” the miko’s quiet words drew him from his dangerous reverie.
“Lord Sesshoumaru has returned to the West. Rin-sama, and the fox-child are with him.”
The fire demon was nearly undone when Kagome’s head lowered, her dark bangs covering her eyes as she stared at the ground. “I see.” she said after a long pause. “Ah-Un too?” she asked, her voice cracking a little.
Tsunjin felt his chest constrict unpleasantly. How desperately he wanted to gather the woman in his arms and assure her that everything would be okay. The urge was painfully difficult to suppress.
“Yes.” he answered at last.
“I see…” she said again, her eyes still fixed on the ground. He thought she would just stand there forever until she finally raised her head and asked, “So… why are you still here?”
Kagome stared at up him. The question seemed to have caught him by surprise, and for a moment he looked as if he would not answer.
“Before Sesshoumaru-sama departed, he instructed me to continue my patrol of this village until otherwise instructed. He added that from now on, I am to patrol the neighboring village as well.”
Kagome frowned at his explanation. “Why?” her confusion was evident.
“Lord Sesshoumaru has never been one to explain his actions. He told me nothing more than what I have just shared with you.”
Kagome nodded her understanding, and the two fell into silence again.
“Do you…do you mind if I walk with you for a little while?”
This time she could definitely see surprise in his eyes, and if she was not mistaken, his cheeks seemed to have darkened ever so slightly.
Tsunjin stared at the little miko, her innocent request still floating around in his mind. He had learned early on that Kagome-sama tended to befriend nearly everyone who came in contact with her and while he would have adored such a relationship with the kind-hearted woman, honor demanded that he refrain. Tsunjin’s attraction to Kagome went deeper than simple friendship and as he was forbidden to pursue her, he felt it prudent to keep a certain distance between them.
“I…” he hesitated, “I do not believe that is a good idea, Kagome-sama. His heart broke just a little bit more when the miko lowered her head again, evidently believing that he did not wish for her company.
“Okay.” she said quietly not even bothering to question his decision. Without another word, she brushed passed him heading toward the nearby forest.
“Kagome-sama!” the fire demon called after her, “I must caution you not to leave the safety of the village!”
But the miko did not listen, nor did she respond. She kept on walking until she was at the Bone Eater’s Well.
Now, as she stared into the endless skies, she absently wondered why she wasn’t crying. She was all alone. Her friends would return in the morning, but for right now she was alone. There was no one around to talk to her, no one back at the hut waiting for her. There was just her. She looked down into the well and frowned.
“I should just go home right now!” she whispered fiercely. She hadn’t seen her family in weeks, and the only reason she didn’t leap into the void, was because she probably wouldn’t want to come back, and she knew that wasn’t really an option at the moment. Not only that, but she knew her family would want to know how things were going. She would be forced to relive all of the things she currently wanted to forget.
Her family didn’t know about Kaede’s death, and she knew that her mother would want updates on everyone, and she would blurt it out whether she wanted to or not. She didn’t want to talk about that right now. Even if she managed to avoid that conversation, she knew they would ask about Inuyasha. She didn‘t really want to talk about him either.
Her family didn’t know about the recent changes that had taken place. They didn’t know that everyone had gone off to start their own lives, leaving Kagome to the miserable, miserable loneliness that was eating away at her heart. She sighed heavily.
Kagome was moping, she knew, but right now she just couldn’t muster the strength to care. She reasoned that Sesshoumaru had likely taken Rin back to the west because he didn’t want to leave her with Kikyou. He didn‘t know the elder priestess very well, so Kagome could hardly blame him for that, but the least he could have done was told her they were leaving! Of all the inconsiderate things to do!! How could he just take the kids and run off like that??!!
She blinked back angry tears. Shippou had probably gone to be with Rin, though why that big mean old dog let him, she couldn’t begin to imagine. In the end, she supposed it didn’t really matter. She was here, and they weren’t.
The miko tensed suddenly. She felt her spine stiffen as the air around her began to change. There was a chill at her back that had nothing to do with the soft breeze that sent tendrils of her long dark hair dancing around her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked without turning around to face the one with whom she spoke.
“I could ask the same of you.” was his cool reply. “Should you not be resting for your journey?”
“What do you care?” she snapped quietly.
The daiyoukai said nothing to this, only continued his leisurely approach.
Kagome finally turned to face him. She was unsurprised, yet a little disappointed to see that Sesshoumaru looked as unruffled as ever. His features were characteristically bland, his arms draped casually at his sides, and his strides were measured and unhurried. Some of her anger faded as she became somewhat entranced simply watching as he closed the distance between them. His puffy white pants drew and held her attention in a way which may not have been quite natural. They made a quiet swishing sound as one leg crossed in front of the other again and again until he was standing right in front of her.
“There was something you wished to discuss with me.” he said evenly.
“Oh,” Kagome huffed as she broke from her daze. She folded her arms over her chest refusing to look at him. “So that’s why you came back.
The daiyoukai neither confirmed nor denied her words. Instead, he simply watched a she swung her legs over the well planting her feet in the slightly damp grass. She was still sitting on the lip of the well, but she had turned so that she was facing away from him, her chin slightly elevated. Oddly, the demon lord found himself wondering what she was thinking.
“I don’t think we should be friends anymore.” she stated abruptly.
He had expected her to say something like that, but hearing it from her lips… it grated on his nerves in a way he had not anticipated.
“Why?” the demon asked aloud.
She shook her head as if to jar his question from her mind. “It doesn’t matter.”
The demon’s displeasure of the situation was growing rapidly, but to his further dismay, he found himself uncertain as to what he should do about it. Harming her was not an option so he settled for a withering glare.
“It does matter, and you will tell me.”
For a long time the miko said nothing. Her defiant behavior was something he had encountered before. It was as provoking now as it had ever been, but now it was not his anger it incited. It spoke to something deeper, something more primal. Though he tried to ignore it, his very flesh itched with the undeniable urge to…
“The magic is fading you know,” she spoke conversationally, drawing him from his perilous thoughts.
She was disturbingly calm now. Turning slightly she looked down into the well. “It’s still pretty strong right now,” she continued as if they had not been discussing something else only moments ago, “ but it’s weaker than it used to be, I can feel it. I don’t know when it will happen, but eventually the well is going to stop working. I think… I think once this mission is over… I think I’m going to go home. If the well is going to stop working, it’s probably best that I am on the other side when it happens, don’t you think?”
His frown deepened. “Do not attempt to change the subject. You have not answered my question, and you will not leave until you do.” he told her, his tone revealing that his patience was nearing its end.
His words shattered the abstract tranquility in which she tried to bury herself. In one quick motion, Kagome stood and rounded on him.
“I don’t have to answer to you!!” she yelled, but the waver in her voice suggested that she was more hurt than angry. She stomped her foot like a petulant child and fisted her hands at her sides. “You took Rin and Shippou away and didn’t even tell me, now you have the nerve to try and tell me what to do??!! You’ve got some nerve, you know! Do you have any idea how much it hurt to come back and find you all gone?!”
In a rare display of genuine surprise, his eyes widened slightly. Though her words triggered several feelings, one of which might have been guilt, he would not engage this particular conversation now. She was attempting to distract him, and he would not allow it.
“That is not what we are discussing at the moment.”
He stepped forward, and Kagome quickly moved away. “Stay away from me!” she warned, her voice slightly hoarse with her apparent distress. “And don’t touch me! You don’t have the right to touch me!”
Sesshoumaru ignored her. He easily closed the distance between them wrapping a clawed hand around the upper portion of her right arm to keep her from pulling away.
Kagome was on the brink of yelling at him some more when she looked up and noticed the unusual look he was giving her. She could tell he was about to say something, but he seemed to be having difficulty piecing together the right words. She stilled her fruitless struggle and stared up at him, waiting to see what he would say.
“This friendship…” he began uneasily. “It is not something I am familiar with. I cannot…I cannot correct my errors unless you tell me what they are.”
Kagome’s jaw nearly fell off her face. With just a few hesitantly spoken words he had disarmed her completely. He thought he had done something wrong, she realized with vague horror. Not only did he think he had done something wrong, but he was essentially asking her to help him fix it! She had considered many scenarios when she had decided to end their friendship, but this was NOT one of them. She hardly knew what to think let alone what to say!
“I…” she faltered, this time it was she who scrambled to find the right words. “You haven’t made any errors.”
“Then why do you wish to end this friendship?”
She looked away from him then. “Let’s just drop it okay? I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
“Tell me why, Kagome!” he demanded. He tightened his grip on her arm and shook her slightly for emphasis.
She shut her eyes tightly and turned her face away from him. “Please… please just go! Go home and forget about me! It’d be easier that way.”
“I will not leave you!” he all but growled.
“YES YOU WILL!!!” the words bypassed her brain and exploded from her lips before she could consider them.
“You will leave me!” she shrieked again. She looked at him then, her eyes brimming with tears. “You’ll leave me just like everyone else! You don’t like humans!! I don’t know why you’ve put up with me for this long!” she tried to pull away from him, but to no avail. “Let go of me Sesshoumaru! I--”
Whatever she was going to say next would remain a mystery. A startled gasp rushed from her lungs as she suddenly felt herself being pulled forward. His left hand on her right arm and his right on her left hip, he pulled her, causing her to stumble forward until she was flush against the armor that covered his chest. She looked up, intending to ask him what he was doing, but the intense golden gaze that stared back at her was enough to still her tongue. His hand soon released her hip before gliding slowly up her back. She gasped lightly when his clawed fingers came to rest just at the nape of her neck.
Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion, but really, it probably only took a few seconds. She didn’t even have time to try and push away from him before a pair of warm, surprisingly soft lips pressed firmly against her own.
Her heart began to beat wildly in her chest.
‘W-what is he doing??!!’ she thought manically.
The functioning part of her mind pointed out that she knew what he was doing, the real question was why was he doing it.
Her mind shut down completely when his left hand released her arm only to snake securely around her waist. He held her so close she could hardly breathe. A gentle breeze brushed against them causing his silken tresses to brush against her cheek. She shivered, and instinctively fisted her hands in the cool silk of his clothing. He pulled back just a little bit causing their lips to separate with a light ‘smack.’ She thought he would let her go then but instead he kissed her again, this time drawing her lower lip into his mouth. He suckled the delicate flesh lightly before allowing their lips to slowly, slowly separate for a second time.
She stepped, or rather stumbled away from him, and this time, he let her go. She was positive her cheeks had turned a shade of red yet to be named, but she could not take her eyes off of him.
He looked… surprised, she realized as she struggled to catch her breath. In fact, he looked almost as surprised as she felt.
She cautiously backed away from him, not knowing what to say or do. Her fingers instinctively rose to her lips. Bizarrely, she was surprised to find that her lower lip was still damp from when he had drawn it into his mouth.
“You---you kissed me!” she accused, her eyes wide as saucers.
“Yes.” he breathed. He seemed almost as confused as she.
The pair stared at one another, neither seeming to know what to say or do next. The miko didn’t know why, but she was suddenly on the verge of panic. ‘Why would he do that?? Why??!!’ she asked herself over and over again, but there was only one answer. It was an answer she could not accept because… well, she didn’t know why, but it just… it couldn’t be true!!
“I…I have to go.” she said as she continued to move away from him. This time he made not move to stop her, and Kagome soon pivoted on her heels and broke into a jog, quickly making her way back to the village.
Sesshoumaru watched her go.
“That…” he mused to the empty space the miko had recently occupied, “Was unanticipated.”
As he watched her retreating form shrink into backdrop of the night, he vaguely wondered if he was referring to the fact that he had kissed her, or her reaction to it.
He spent the next few moments thinking it over before he finally gave a light shrug.
“Hn.” he murmured to himself before he began a leisurely stroll toward the village. __________________________________________________________________ ______