InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Ripples ❯ Walking Man ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 4: Walking Man

Dinner went well, with only one minor interruption when Jaken was tripped by a giggling child. Kagome excused herself and went back to her reading. The children were put down by a grumbling Jaken for a noonday nap. Sesshoumaru retired to his study to finish some tedious, yet necessary diplomatic matters. He had just gotten to the point that he'd decided that all the whiney lords and their diplomatic `friendships' could go rot in Hell when Kagome suddenly burst into his study. He jumped a foot in the air, spilling some ink and glaring daggers at the offensive, yet oblivious woman.

"In the future, wench, I would greatly appreciate it if you refrained from disturbing me like the hounds of Hell are on your heels," he growled harshly.

"Sesshoumaru-sama! You'll never believe what I've found out."

"Nani?"

"This book here says that not only are Guardians immortal, but they exist outside of time! Time has no meaning for them and they can appear as young or old as they wish."

The taiyoukai who was busy mopping up the ink mess on his desk paused and stared at her. "So you are ageless."

Kagome came over and sat across from him, nodding her head. "Yeah, and that's not all. Apparently once a Guardian chooses a spouse or a mate, the spouse/mate also exist outside of time. It's like that to prevent the Guardian from ever knowing the heartbreaking sorrow of ever losing the person they love most. Their children aren't timeless, that would be impractical, but the Guardian and her mate are bonded forever. They share the same fate. If one is killed, it is not long before the other will follow into death. This is why it is very rare for a Guardian to choose a life-mate, because the decision is irreversible and forever."

"Does it say what happened to the last Guardian who chose a life-mate?"

She scanned the book and shook her head. "No, it seems that there is no record of a Guardian ever taking a life-mate. Once the bond is formed, they share each other's power to a certain degree. Or rather, they don't share their power, their power is complete, whole. They can communicate telepathically, and they know each other's feelings. They always know where the other is, and know immediately when the other is in danger. The book says that they become deadly when someone threatens their life-mate. A rage takes over and they pretty much wipe out anything that even remotely looks threatening. Usually the Guardian and her life-mate are calm and peaceful, but usually there is the peaceful, gentle mate and the passionate, aggressive mate. Until a Guardian chooses a life-mate, she will have both mates' characteristics to ensure survival."

"So that explains how you are two different people, Lynx and Kagome. Lynx will merge with Kagome when you take a mate. You'll have her fighting abilities, but you'll no longer have her aggression or eagerness for a fight." Sesshoumaru surmised.

Kagome sat back in her chair and brushed her bangs out of her eyes. Taking a life-mate was serious business. She felt sorry for the Guardians before her who had had to live a life alone, but such was her fate. She couldn't ask anyone to be that bonded to her and constantly put him in danger. It would be selfish.

The demon lord looked at Kagome and guessed what she was thinking. Slowly, she shut the book and rose from her seat. Bowing as she left, Kagome went in toward the dojo to relieve some of the tension. Shippou came wheeling around a corner and crashed right into her.

"Gomen, Mom. Hey, what's the matter?"

She said nothing as she knelt down and swept him into her arms. She hugged him silently, her head buried in his tiny shoulder. Confusion washed over the boy, but he cautiously hugged her back. Kagome felt like a weight had been hung around her heart. She was destined to be alone forever and there was nothing she could do about it. Shippou pulled back and put his little paws on her cheeks.

"What's wrong?"

Ruffling his hair, she looked away. "I just love you, Shippou, you're my little angel." With that, she stood and walked to the dojo.

Shippou watched her leave and then turned around to see Sesshoumaru leaning against a wall, brooding. The kit's eyes narrowed and he marched resolutely over to the towering demon. The little fox kicked the older demon in the shins and pointed a tiny finger up at him as he began his tirade.

"Listen here, mister. I don't care if you are the vicious Demon Lord of the Western Lands and can break me in half. If you ever hurt my mother, I'll find someway to make your life miserable. I don't know how, but I will, even if I have to haunt you! What did you do to her?"

The tall demon looked on in amusement as the small kitsune proceeded to threaten him with misery, bodily harm, and emotional destitution if Kagome was hurt at his hands. Quirking an eyebrow, he bent down and caught the paw about to hit him on the knee. Shippou eeped and looked at him with wide eyes before narrowing them with determination.

"I did not harm your mother, kit."

The fox sniffed suspiciously. "You didn't? Well then who did?"

"Her own cross in this life hurt her. She found out that it would be very difficult for a Guardian to exist as anything but alone. That is a heavy burden to bear."

Shippou turned and looked back at the way his mother had gone. "But she has me."

"Hai, but she feels guilty for putting you in danger and for wanting to keep you when she thinks you would have a better life with someone else."

The kit turned horrified eyes on his own golden ones. "You mean she thinks someone else could take care of me better? I don't want to stay with anyone else. She's never let me get hurt before and I know she wouldn't so what's the big deal?"

"Perhaps she feels that she is depriving you of growing up with your own kind. She can't teach you anything about being a kitsune."

"I DON'T CARE ANYTHING ABOUT THAT! I LOVE HER AND SHE LOVES ME AND THAT SHOULD BE THE END OF EVERYTHING!!!" He yelled as he burst into tears.

Kagome came running down the hall. "Shippou! What on earth are you yelling about?" She said as she scooped him into her arms. "What's wrong, little kit? You never cry."

Shippou clutched the front of her shirt tightly and sobbed. "I want to stay with you forever! I don't care about learning how to be a kitsune or any of that other junk. I think we're just fine like we are and I don't want you to send me away!"

"You don't want to learn how to perfect your fox fire, and all your tricks? Only a kitsune can teach you those things. You wouldn't have to get up at all hours of the night or get into dangerous situations. You could just be a kid, like you're supposed to be."

Shippou sniffled and stopped crying. "You mean, you would be sending me away so I could learn how to help you better? Then I could come back and we could be a real team? I could help you get the bad guys?"

Kagome's heart sank even lower when she realized that he would probably want to leave now. "Hai, you could learn how to fight and do all kinds of things. But maybe you'll want to go to college instead of staying with me. You could come back smarter than me and maybe go to work for your uncle."

"You think Uncle Sesshou would let me work for him? That would be so cool! I could work for him and live with you and see you both all of the time. Now that I know you aren't sending me away because I'm a burden, I think it would be fun! When can I start?"

"As soon as we can visit our own time, I'll see about finding a good teacher. Perhaps we could go to the well tomorrow?" She said as she looked at Sesshoumaru.

He nodded his consent and watched as the boy jumped up and hugged Kagome tightly. Then he went bounding off to tell Rin his news. Kagome stood and followed him with her eyes until he was out of sight. Then she began walking toward her room. Sesshoumaru felt a twinge of what? Pity? In the general direction of his heart.

"I'll be ready to leave at dawn. I won't be gone more than a day."

"Fine, I shall escort you to the well." He turned to leave, but paused when her small voice reached his ears.

"I'm doing the right thing, right?"

Glancing back over his shoulder, he took note of her vulnerable stance and averted eyes. She looked like she was completely alone in the world.

"Letting him go? It is not the easiest path, but the right path seldom is. I do not look forward to the day when Rin chooses a mate."

Kagome looked at him. "I did not ask to be a Guardian."

"Perhaps that is why you are."

"Goodnight, Sesshoumaru," she said as she slipped into her room and slid the door shut.

"Pleasant dreams, Guardian, Kagome," he whispered in his room as he drifted into sleep.