InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sealed Away ❯ Truth ( Chapter 8 )

Here is the newest chapter! Gomen ne for taking so long!! I have been working on a lot of my stories, including challenge fics. I've also been running around, trying to find a job. Real life can intrude. ^_^ I hope that you enjoy this chapter. Inuyasha does not belong to me, all credit goes to Rumiko Takahashi for inventing the story and characters contained within.

Sealed Away

Chapter EightBy: Lazuli

lazulidreamer@yahoo.com

Kagome sighed as she thought about what was going to happen in a week. That damn festival of her parents again-although this time things were going to be different. She could hardly believe it had been a year since she had lost Inuyasha-but.. the wheel of time had turned once again until she was at the spot she had started. But how different things were!! Inuyasha would be happy for her, she knew that now. She had a friend-besides him. Someone alive and that cared for her with a depth that she couldn't understand or comprehend.

I really like him-it's scary the way I feel for him-it's almost as if I'm betraying Inuyasha, but I know that he would yell at me for thinking such a way. He was the one that pushed me to be happy-wanted me to be happy just as I wanted him to be. I gave up him so that he could be free. One day we'll be together again, but for now-I'll enjoy what Seirei is giving me-I care about him too much to discard him just because of my feelings of the past.

**

Seirei grinned to himself when he saw Kagome sitting next to the tree again, head buried in a book and totally oblivious to the world. This is going to be too easy. He made himself walk even quieter so she wouldn't detect him and came up behind her, noticing the small smile on her face. She must be really into that book. Just as he was about to pounce on her, she turned around, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Won't work." She grinned. "I have extra special senses." She patted the ground next to her. "I thought today was your day off." She stated. "Don't you want to get away from it once in awhile?" There was a teasing smile on her face.

"Aa, but I wanted to see you today. Mother wants to meet you." He tilted his head, looking a bit unsure. "I want you to meet my family, too …" Now he was really nervous and Kagome looked at him, confused as to what could make him so unsure about her coming to visit him.

"Have they heard about my past or something?" She asked. "They don't think it's right for you to be with me?" He shook his head firmly, dissuading her from that line of thought, but still seemingly unable to finish his thoughts. He tugged absently at a lock of hair that had strayed into her face and seemed to regain his courage.

"I.. I've been keeping something very important from you…" He pulled her up to her feet. "You'll find out when you get to my house-but I just want to let you know that… that I never meant to actually keep it from you-it was just habit, I guess." He gave her another smile. "So I'm here to take you away from work and get you over to my place."

Kagome gave him a confused look. "Seirei… what is it? You can tell me now." Seirei shook his head. "I'd rather if you met my family first." He squeezed her hand.

Kagome laughed a little. "You're acting so mysterious all of a sudden." She ran her free hand through her hair and conceded. "All right, then-you win. But first we have to get to my house so I can get ready, ne?"

Seirei nodded easily, seemingly relieved to have her take it in so easily. "Yeah, that's good!" He tugged at her hand, the grin back in place. "Let's go now!" She couldn't help laughing-his enthusiasm was contagious and let herself be dragged to her house and away from work.

**

Seirei looked up at the large shrine area, somehow more nervous now. It wasn't just the fact that he was about to tell Kagome his biggest secret. It was something else-something about the shrine itself. He had never been here before-he didn't know what could make him so uneasy. He started to follow her across the yard when he was physically blocked. There was nothing there to block him, but he was unable to move any further just the same. Shit. There's a holy barrier around this place. I can't go any further!

He hadn't expected this-he knew that Kagome lived at a shrine-but she had attested over and over again that her grandfather was no good at barriers and keeping evil spirits away. So he hadn't been worried about having any troubles with the shrine. Kagome finally noticed that he wasn't any closer to her and she turned around, giving him a strange look. "Seirei! Are you just going to wait there? You can come inside, you know."

Seirei gave her a tiny smile and shook his head hopelessly. "I.. I can't." He said, eyes lowering to the ground. Ah, hell… I wanted to wait to tell her when we got to my place. Now it's going to be all out in the open. This sucks. This more than sucks. Now she's… she's…. He looked back up at her confused face, her eyes searching his.

"Seirei… why can't you…?" She stepped closer to him, until she was right at the point where the barrier started for him. He showed her as carefully as he could, knowing that such holy barriers could shock him-miko or priestly powers were deadly to him-even as a hanyou. Small sparks of energy flew up when he tried to force his way through the barrier and he watched the shock play over Kagome's face, as she tried to take in the fact that this barrier-meant to keep out youkai-was keeping him out.

She seemed to make up her mind all at once though as she made a dismissing gesture with one hand, the other pulling him through the barrier which felt like warm water-it tingled along his nerves, almost making his hair stand up on end, but didn't hurt him so much that he couldn't move. It was only a few moments before he was on the other side of it, and he took a deep breath, trying to get over the experience of what could have been a very painful experience.

"It seems there is a lot you haven't told me." Kagome said quietly, and his head snapped up to look at the slightly hurt and confused expression on her face. "Nevermind about it, Seirei. It'll only take me a few moments get ready. Until then, you can talk to my family." She gave him one of her smaller smiles, leaving him feeling like a total jerk.

**

Kagome took a deep breath once she was in the sanctuary of her bedroom, eyes wide as she tried to get over the experience of Seirei-her best friend and closest companion, being blocked by the youkai barrier she had set up around the shrine. It wasn't as if she had wanted to set the barrier up-but her grandfather insisted, declaring that she needed to work on her powers-he had finally conceded that she had strong spiritual powers, but wouldn't give into the fact that his were almost null.

Why Seirei? I didn't think that there was anything evil about him. He doesn't feel evil and he's shown himself to be one of the most caring people I've ever met-since Inuyasha. I don't get why the barrier would block him. But that's all it was doing-was blocking-not harming or forcing away, simply denying him entry. If he was truly intending harm or had a dark aura, it would have forced him far away from the shrine. It's a contradiction upon contradiction.

As she ran the brush quickly though her hair, she stared at her reflection, almost as if she expected it to give the answers she needed. "This doesn't make sense." She whispered. "I have to ask him… is this what he's being keeping from me? But why…?" Her reflection didn't offer and answers and Kagome sat back with a sigh. "I'll get the truth out of him."

**

It was an half hour later when Kagome finally came down the stairs, and Seirei shot up, looking immensely grateful at her appearance. The shrine was really starting to bother him-energy prickled constantly along the edge of his nerves. He recognized it as Kagome's aura, though. It was familiar and warm to him-but at the same time it almost wanted to burn him-like the way a warm fire felt comforting, but if you sat too close to the flames, the heat scorched your face and hands.

Kagome's face was scrubbed as if she had tried to get rid of the traces of something… Seirei unnoticeably sniffed in her direction, but could only detect the smell of soap and water, but his delicate senses picked up the faint scent of distress- he didn't comment on it, though-just simply held his hand out to her. "Shall we go, my lady?" He asked teasingly.

Kagome nodded slowly, but she paused, something going on behind her face, her expressions. She gave him a careful look and held something out to him. "Hold this for a moment, will you?" She asked casually. "Grandpa wants me to seal up some areas of the shrine."

Before he could protest, she dropped several scrolls into his hand, and he hissed at the energy that filled them. He was suddenly frozen again and Kagome had a triumphant look on her face. Shit. I think I'm in trouble, now. What was that about Kagome accepting me, Mother?

"What are you, Seirei?" She asked quietly. There was a waiting look in her eyes-as if she knew what he was, but just wanted to her him say it to her, out loud. Inuyasha sighed, but that was the only physical movement that he was allowed. He couldn't even gesture with his hands over move his feet. The power that she held within her was strong-he was frozen to the spot.

"That's what I'm going to tell you at my house." His instincts screamed at him to try and run away from the miko's power. He calmly tried telling himself that it was Kagome before him-that she wouldn't hurt him, that they were friends and he was safe. He wanted to whimper though-but he swallowed it, shoved it to the back of his throat. "And… and I can't take you there unless you take away these scrolls, Kagome." Pain was starting to surround him in little swirls-the deadly miko energy trying to sink into him. I'm going to have scars after this.

Kagome blinked in surprise and then gave him a sheepish grin. "Gomen ne, Seirei." She plucked the scrolls easily out of his hand and he envied her casual use with the simple pieces of paper. They wouldn't burn her-they were infused with her essence.

Taking a deep breath, he rested his hands on his thighs, trying to bring back the feeling in his body. "Geez, Kagome. You're stronger than you look, eh?" He made his voice sound teasing so that she wouldn't see how seriously shaken he was by the unexpected display of power. Glad I'm her friend, or else I wouldn't be going home to my family.

Kagome laughed slightly. "I guess it never came up." She said weakly. Seirei simply grinned. "Just tone it down while you're with my family, ne?" He asked softly. "I don't think they would appreciate being sealed by a miko's power." He wasn't able to see the look on Kagome's face as he turned around and started walking out the door.

**

Kagome waited with Inuyasha for the bus to come and take them nearest to where he lived, but she was silent and her expression unreadable. Seirei kept on glancing at her, biting his lip in worry. Every time he opened his mouth to venture conversation, the look on Kagome's face stopped him. She looks hurt… I must've done something really bad to shock her like this. She acting like she doesn't trust me again-

The bus roared up at that point, Kagome quickly jumping aboard as he hurried behind. It was a short trip to his home, but they didn't talk at all. He did have the satisfaction of seeing the look of shock on Kagome's face as they stopped in front of one of the grander looking homes of the area. She shot him a disbelieving look. "You live here, yet you work at the library?"

Seirei grinned. "I like books." He said simply, tugging at her hand. He was glad to see some emotion filter back into her face and didn't waste his time dragging her inside. He saw Sango waiting for them both, and she was already setting out the cups for tea as if she knew ahead of time that they were going to be walking in at that moment. She saw his look and winked.

"I simply know the bus schedule. Hello, Kagome." She bowed at the young girl and Kagome returned the gesture, a bit bewildered. "She looks too young to be your mother." She whispered. Seirei held in his laughter by only the strongest of wills.

"Nah, Sango is one of our household help." He grinned at her and settled her on the couch. It was western style and full of thick pillows so that she almost sank into as she sat down. "Now, you wait here while I go talk to my mother." He turned to Sango who pointed to the kitchen. He nodded briskly and soon Kagome was alone to contemplate what was going to happen.

**

Seirei leaned against the counter, popping a few chips into his mouth as his mother fried something in the huge pan she used when making dinner for guests. She liked cooking-it was something that she said helped occupy her mind when her husband wasn't there. She fixed her son with a piecing violet gaze as she stirred the mixture of onions and mushrooms in the pan.

"So, have you told her?" She asked sternly. "The purpose of her coming her wasn't to scare her to death with the sudden appearance of your ears." Her voice was teasing, but it was obvious of how nervous he still was. "What happened, Seirei?"

"I went to Kagome's house-it's a shrine." He took a deep breath. "I got blocked by a barrier around the shrine-and then she seemed to figure out on her own-she gave me scrolls to hold." He held out his hands that still bore the marks of faint burns. Healing now-but much more slowly than they would if they had been caused by normal means. "I don't want to tell her what type of youkai that I am. That … that may be too much for her, Mother."

The woman nodded slowly and turned off the heat on the stove as she turned to him, wiping her hands on her apron. "It will have to be told soon, Seirei. I can see the look in your eyes-you want her as your mate-your wife and for that to happen, she has to accept you-all of you, despite the pain of her past."

Seirei nodded, troubled but knew that his mother was right. She pointed him towards the living room. "Introduce me to your guest, Seirei. We'll see how it goes from there."

**

Kagome shivered as she sank back into the thick cushions of the couch, waiting for Seirei to appear again. She could hear muffled conversation-heard her name a couple of times, seemingly louder than the rest of the din, as familiar words had a habit of doing. Biting her lip, she wondered what was going to happen. She knew what type of house this was. The auras overlaying it were obvious-it was the same as Seirei's when he touched the scrolls or was stopped by the barrier. Youkai… stronger than she had ever felt before-but there was a human one strongly mixed in with the youkai.

So many contradictions… Seirei himself is a contradiction. I never would have suspected him as a youkai, but all the signs point to that. She jerked her head up suddenly as Seirei returned to the room, this time with an older woman in tow, beautiful violet eyes-so much like Seirei's-focused on Kagome. Gasping silently, Kagome stood up as fast as she could, bowing deeply to the woman.

"So you are the one that my son is so infatuated with." The voice was rich with amusement and Kagome felt a blush spreading over her cheeks at the words. She straightened up and risked a look at Seirei, who was now as red as she was. The woman looked at the two of them with amusement.

"Mother…" Seirei started to say, but then shook his head. "Yes-this is Higurashi Kagome. She works in the library with me-and… I think she knows now." He was giving her a cautious look, almost questioning. Did you figure it out yet? Do you know what I am?

Kagome cleared her throat. "I… I think I have." Her voice was unsure as she looked at between the two of them. "I.. don't want to assume or anything, but-is… is Seirei-youkai?" She asked hesitantly. She sounded stupid to her own ears, and wished that she had the seemingly internal grace of this woman before her. Even her awkward phrasing didn't seem to bother her, but her smile widened as she turned to her son.

"She's sharp, Seirei." Her eyes danced with amusement. "It only took her four months." Her smile was light and teasing. "Seirei has tried very hard to hide his youkai heritage from you, Kagome. Not that he's ashamed of it…" Here she shot her son a look. "But to spare your feelings. So do not be angry at him for not telling you earlier."

Seirei nodded eagerly along with his mother. "Kagome… I knew that you … were a miko-and had a very strong tie to a youkai." His voice was soft. "So I tried to spare you that-I wasn't trying to deceive you in anyway, please believe me." His voice turned more pleading and Kagome laughed softly, squeezing his hand.

"Why should I be angry?" She countered. "You didn't do anything wrong-" She broke off, puzzled. "But you don't feel all the way youkai.. and your mother is obviously human…" Realization dawned on her, and another reason for Seirei's secrets made sense. "A hanyou."

Like Inuyasha… Inuyasha was a hanyou-human mother and youkai father. Is Seirei happier than my Inuyasha was? His mother is still alive at least-he seems to be happy. He's not hunted at least…She looked at him with wide eyes. "What does your hanyou form look like?"

She wasn't expecting the vehement shaking of Seirei's head. "No… I won't show you that." He said fiercely. He gave his mother a look as well. Apparently it was one of the things they had argued about-she was giving him disapproving looks.

"She'll figure it out soon enough when your father and brother come home." She pointed out. "Why not tell her now?" Kagome bit her lip, shaking her head. She had a feeling she didn't want to know. I may not like what the truth it. For all I know, he's a hideous bug youkai. She giggled inwardly at the thought of Seirei sporting antenna and trying to suck her blood like a flea.

"We went over this before…" Kagome took his hand. "I don't want to know right now." She said softly. "Seirei will tell me when the time comes." His look turned from the slightly sour expression it had been sporting with his mother, to a warm smile as he held her hands within his own.

"See, Mother? Kagome doesn't want to know." He pushed away the childish urge to stick his tongue out at his mother. Kagome giggled slightly and looked up at him. "Mother-I don't think it would be wise for Kagome to be meeting the rest of our family yet. She will figure out what I am…"

The woman nodded slowly, understanding dawning in her eyes. "And you don't want to hurt her-well…" She took a deep breath and then focused on Kagome. "Are you getting ready for the festival at your home?" She asked in an apparent change of subject.

Kagome refrained from rolling her eyes. "Yes… Mama wants me to help out every year-even after last year-" Her voice broke momentarily. "It seems that it's still as popular as ever, and so we're all working really hard." A brief smile crossed her lips. "Although some things have changed about it."

Seirei raised an eyebrow. "Oh, do tell… this should be interesting." At his mother's confused look, he explained one of the reasons for the festival. "About five hundred years ago, the shrine that Kagome lives at was a lot smaller… it was there for the sole purpose of guarding the Shikon no Tama. One day, a youkai attacked the village for the jewel, and his younger brother stepped in to save the village and the jewel. Unfortunately.. he was still seen as a threat and was killed. So instead of celebrating his heroic moments, the festival celebrates his death."

He was careful not to mention any names-he knew that it was Inuyasha-he could almost see the event clearly in his mind.

He could feel blood on his claws as he ears tilted to the sounds of the villagers around him, screaming for his death-his heart pounding as they chased him, the feeling of being cornered and wanting to strike back like any wild animal. Eyes turned sharply to the one that could take him down, the one that betrayed him and he snarled out, claws fixed to rip apart those that stood in his way. "Kikyou…" He hissed out. He then turned and ran, some part of him sane enough to tell him to run, to get away before something more horrible happened.

He jumped, startled as Kagome was shaking his should with a frightened look in her eyes. "Seirei!" Her voice was sharp with concern and confused blue eyes peered into his. He hadn't realized that he had drifted off-the feeling of those emotions had gripped him so fiercely…even his mother was giving him a strange look.

"How did you know here name?" He turned away from his mother and focused again on Kagome, her fingers clenched in the front of his shirt, a hint of desperation in her expression and voice.

"Huh?" It wasn't the smartest sound in the world but Kagome wasn't even focused on the fact that he sounded like an idiot. She was intent on getting that one answer out of him-something that was obviously vitally important to her.

"Her name…" She whispered. "You said… Kikyou… how do you know that it was her that sealed Inuyasha?" Her eyes searched his for an answer. "Please tell me, Seirei." Inwardly, she wondered at the way she was acting.

Was it really so important? He might have learned the history somewhere… but the way his eyes had unfocused-flashing with the color of burnished gold left in dying colors of the sunset. Not pure scarlet but not the simple amber that she would have expected from a youkai or his normal violet gaze. It scared her.

"I just knew it." He shrugged easily. "Maybe I read one of the stories-we are buried up to our eyebrows in all those history scrolls." He said with a grin, trying to ease her mood-lighten that almost fearful expression from her face. He was relieved to see her relax, grip loosening and a small smile on her face.

"Yeah, that's it… " Her voice was easy, but Seirei sensed the troubled tone and he wondered at himself. What was that? It was so intense… He squeezed Kagome's hands again gently.

"You're invited to dinner." He said easily. "My father and idiot brother won't be home for awhile-they're at the office downtown-but you're more than welcome to stay and eat with us." He wanted to clear that event from all of their minds. The air was humming with tension and it made him uneasy in the same way that miko energy made him uneasy.

To his immense relief, Kagome relaxed completely and smiled up at him. "Of course!" She grinned. "As long as you're not cooking." She poked at him teasingly. "I refuse to eat anything you put on a plate, unless it came out of a box. Even then I would be cautious."

Seirei made an insulted sound. "Keh, we can't all be as good of cooks as you." He pulled her to her feet. "Well, let's get some relaxing in. Mama or one of the servants will call us for dinner." He looked at his mother for permission, who nodded with a smile and an encouraging look. He flushed once more but still led Kagome out into the gardens in the back, and her eyes widened as she took it all in.

"Your home is so beautiful, Seirei…" Her gaze was appreciative before landing on him. "Thanks for having me over still-I know that I was acting strange and all…" Her voice trailed off uncertainly, but he just shook his head, pressing gentle fingers to her lips.

"Don't worry about it." He said easily. He removed his lips when he noticed Kagome blushing slightly. He grinned. "We've come a long way, haven't we?" He asked softly. "A long way from when I first saw you coming in the library drenched from the rain."

Kagome nodded slowly, looking up at the few stars that were appearing in the ever darkening sky. "I've loved every minute of it." Her voice was quiet, almost blending in with the dusk of the night. He turned to her, and sat next to her on the bench provided for the purpose of star gazing and holding the one you cared about.

Kagome leaned against him, some of the shocks of the day getting to her as he body just simply relaxed, trusting him and taking in the comfort of him being there. His arm went around her side, pulling her closer to him. The moment was poignant, and he didn't speak for fear of ruining the beautiful silence that had gathered around them. He knew that he loved Kagome… and was determined to make her see that she loved him too.

**