InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets of the Shinju (Part III): Loss of the Demon Soul ❯ Naraku's Reminder ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter Six

Naraku's Reminder

Sesshoumaru woke to again find Kagome still in her heavy dream state. He glanced at his brother, who went to sleep in a huff and was not paying attention to his surroundings. Moments later Kagome woke with a start and looked at him. She broke into tears and Sesshoumaru moved to sit beside her. "What did you see?" It took her a moment to answer him.

"I found Miroku. She has him in a room with a very strong barrier. It caused his wind tunnel to spread . Even if I get him out, he won't have much time left to live." She was sobbing again. Sesshoumaru looked thoughtful and then asked, "Why is it she is only going after the monk?" Kagome looked at him and then began to think about it.

"He was made weak trying to reach Hitomi to free your memory. He is probably the only one that she can keep such a firm hold on."

Sesshoumaru watched her as she again began to cry softly. He thought back to the times she had comforted him after Hitomi's attacks on his mind. He slowly reached out and took her hand, just as she had done to him. His human emotions were taking control of him and he felt very uncomfortable and began to grow angry with himself. He returned to his stiff manner, but allowed the girl to keep his hand. Finally, she told him that she wanted to try to get some more sleep; he looked at her suspiciously and then spoke.

"You should sleep. Going to him is futile as of now, and you are not doing him any good by weakening yourself." She glanced at him and then nodded her head. She moved to lie down and finally fell asleep.

At first light they were all awake. Kagome sat across from InuYasha and told him what she knew about Miroku. He took on a sad look and then spoke.

"We'll get to Toshi and find a way to drop the barrier. That stupid monk isn't going to die while I'm around."

He then got up and walked away. Kagome smiled inwardly at his comment. Though he tried to sound tough, it was obvious the thought of his friend's death bothered him greatly. Finally the three were again on their way. Kagome kept her senses sharp, hoping she would be able to protect them all if necessary.

She then looked to her right at InuYasha, in his human form, then to her left at Sesshoumaru who too was a human. Never would she have believed that she would be traveling with the two of them, but the thought of traveling with them both as humans was still nearly unbelievable.

After several hours of silent walking Kagome stopped abruptly, looking around her. The burn on her back began to tingle and she shuddered. She could sense a shard of the shikon jewel nearby. Both brothers turned and looked at her. She began walking again but kept her mind focused. Finally she stopped again, knowing that very soon a demon would attack them.

At the last moment she shoved InuYasha roughly towards Sesshoumaru and put a sprit barrier around them. She then pulled her bow and readied an arrow. Both brothers stood shocked for a moment and then InuYasha yelled for her to drop the barrier.

She ignored him and moved about thirty feet away from them. Soon she shot the arrow into the air. There was a bright flash and a jewel shard descended towards the ground. Seconds later there was a thud as a large bird like creature appeared on the ground dead. Apparently Naraku had sent this demon and it had some sort of invisibility spell over it. Kagome had merely fired towards the jewel shard. It wasn't until it hit the ground that the spell faded.

The tingling in her back subsided and she turned back towards InuYasha and Sesshoumaru releasing the barrier. Both watched her as she looked at the shard. She could tell instantly that it was the same one she pulled from Kohaku's back. This was Naraku's way of letting her know he hadn't forgotten about her. She shivered as she took the shard and placed it with the rest. She assumed that he would try to prevent them from getting to the priestess, and it would be up to her to make sure it didn't happen. Though neither brother would willingly admit it, they had no real defense. Neither had powers over their swords and were subject to injury and death if engaged in battle.

They again began traveling and didn't stop until the sun had set. Kagome again went to Miroku and spoke with him. He had weakened some, but not much had changed. When she woke she sensed Hitomi there. She looked over at InuYasha and could tell that he was having a peaceful dream if he was dreaming at all. Then she looked to Sesshoumaru and knew instantly where it was she was sensing the demoness.

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Sesshoumaru was standing in his home. He watched his father walking out of the door, heading off to the fields. His mind flew back to the conversation he and his father had just shared. His father had informed him that he was of the age that he would inherit his birthright. Sesshoumaru would be passed a sacred gem that ensured his future title of the lord of the western lands.

Lord Inutaisho had been very vague in detail, but assured his son that soon he would have the gem. The sacred shinju was passed to the first born son as soon as he reached the age of sixteen, unless there was no son to pass it to. Then it would go to the next in the blood line at an appropriate time.

On his sixteenth birthday the shinju would pass from father to son, as it had for generations. Though Lord Inutaisho would still hold the title of lord of the western lands until he died or passed it on himself. The gem, however, would move on to his son. Normally, the shinju was passed in a ceremony and the demon held onto the jewel.

However, Lord Inutaisho was very suspicious and had the gem hidden. It would move from himself to his son and no other would no of the shinju's whereabouts. The gem would remain inside of his son, where no one else could touch it.

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Sesshoumaru woke and saw Kagome sitting next to him. "What are you doing?" He asked her when he saw the look on her face.

"I was just watching you. Hitomi has been here again." He looked at her and then nodded his head.

"Yes, I was reliving a conversation I had with my father regarding the shinju. It was passed to me when I turned sixteen. My father had possessed it for many decades and it was time for me to take it." She looked at him and then nodded slightly. Both looked to InuYasha whom was starting to stir.

"We should go back to sleep. You, especially, will need your strength." He told her. Kagome stared into his eyes; sensing that something was troubling him.

"What's the matter, Sesshoumaru?" He sat for a moment and then spoke. "I'm not entirely sure. I feel as though the dream I had, held some importance and I'm not sure what that was." Kagome watched him closely and then decided that if Hitomi came back, she too would enter the dream to find out why she wanted him to have these memories.