InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Enigma of Power ❯ Disturbances in the Night ( Chapter 6 )

Sesshomaru had decided to talk to Lady Subaru and it was not a lecture he was enjoying. The riddle presented by Kagome's vanishing act had sent Subaru into an uproar. She'd started railing at him about laws and rules and boundaries on magic and finally managed to come to the conclusion that the well was actually a deformity in time. Unwilling to tell her about his mind link with the girl he had stopped his pursuit there and tried to leave, but his old magic teacher would have none of it.

"Sesshomaru you must bring me this girl."

"Bring her? To you?"

"Yes, if she can activate the time distortion than she must possess some innate powers. I wish to train her."

"But she is human."

"You seem to be the only one of the two of us who thinks that matters one whit. She has potential, and I will not allow it go to waste, do you understand me?"

He nodded slowly, knowing full well that she could easily punish him for disobeying. "I will bring her to you."

"Tonight."

"Tonight?"

"Yes, now get moving. I expect to see her before midnight."

He rose and exited only then allowing the sigh to pass his lips. His mind link told him she was near enough for him to fetch her if he took Ah-Un and flew nonstop and only if he was not delayed in any way and if the wind was with him. He knew there were far too many if's in all that, he would be forced to carry her through the void, a dangerous journey, but a necessary one. He was not precisely in the mood for such a journey, but mood or no, Subaru got what she wanted. He mounted Ah-Un and started toward her. Idly he wondered what had possessed Subaru's parents to give her such a name. In Athens, the scholars had called the same star formation the Plaetes. Why would you name a child after a constellation? He shook his head, uncomprehending.

The closer he got to Kagome, the more he sensed her distress. He landed near by in the forest and approached slowly. He found her curled up at the foot of a tree, weeping uncontrollably. She looked up at him, her tear stained face filled with both fear and hope. He took a few steps closer and knelt, not wanting to scare her. She was in a very fragile state of mind. The mind link brought him Kaigama's vision and he cringed internally. He reached out his hand toward her, tentatively brushing her hair from her tear stained cheeks.

"Tell me what grieves you. It is not Inuyasha, I can tell that much." He paused and she saw his nostrils flare as he inhaled. "Ah, Kaigama. I think I understand."

She squeezed her eyes closed then opened them. "She showed me a vision."

"Of what might be? She has done the same to me, miko. It is…unsettling to say the least. I had nightmares for months afterward, but it passes. It is only what might be, not what is. She showed it to you so that you might have a chance to change it. I can help you with that."

"How?"

"I have been instructed to bring you to Subaru."

"Su…Subaru?"

He could sense her confusion at the name and nodded slowly. "She was my teacher in magic, she wishes to meet you."

"Why?"

Annoyance filled him, but he carefully squashed it before it showed in his eyes. "I told her about the well and how you go through it to your home. She believes that you may possess innate talent and so wishes to train you if it proves that you do. She is the very best master in this matter, and is to be obeyed and respected."

"I don't want to go."

"I am afraid neither of us has a choice in this. As it is I will have to use a rather dangerous mode of travel to get us there by her deadline."

"And if we don't get there?"

He fought a growl. Her questions were eating up precious minutes. "No doubt she will turn us both into fish when we arrive just so she can watch us flop around as we slowly die."

She paled slightly and nodded, rising slowly to her feet. He rose as well and watched as she straitened her skirt and wiped the forest debris from her legs and back side. She made her way carefully out of the root system then paused.

"I promised Inuyasha I would return."

He sensed her turmoil. She had never broken a promise in her life. He sighed softly. "I cannot ask you to break a promise."

She nodded slowly and turned back toward camp. "I'll be back in a few minutes, I promise."

He nodded, surprised she would give him her word, though he did not allow it to show. It was bad enough he wanted to drop his emotionless mask every time he was near her, to actually acknowledge that she had an effect on him would be pure senselessness on his part. He watched as she vanished into the woods. Closing his eyes he inhaled deeply, drawing her scent from the air. Even the salt tang of her tears smelled pure and clear. She returned a moment later with her bow in hand and quiver full of arrows slung across her back. He wrapped his arm around her and leapt skyward. The journey through the void would only take a few minutes. He felt her arms tighten around his waist and she buried her face in his chest refusing to look down.

Carefully he broke the mind link, knowing that Subaru would sense it immediately. He watched her as he flew. Her black tresses danced in the wind, bringing to him the tantalizing scent of her. He bit the inside of his mouth, tasting blood, as he fought the urge to bury his face in her hair and truly take in her scent. It was only a few minutes before he landed just outside of the mansion Subaru called home. The rat faced winged youkai stood waiting for them. She gave Kagome a warm smile as they approached.

"Welcome dear child. I hope you found the trip pleasant."

Kagome bowed to the youkai. "It was…interesting most honorable one."

"A respectful student, that will certainly be a change." She gave Sesshomaru a loaded glare and gestured for Kagome to follow her inside. "Thank you for bringing her, Sesshomaru-sama. You may pick her up in three days." Sesshomaru gave the youkai a curt nod and walked away. Subaru nudge her in the ribs with her elbow. "You learn how to deal with that one quickly enough. Come child, we have much to discuss."

Inuyasha moved as quietly through the forest as he could, following the scent of Kagome's trail. She'd been gone for hours, though it was apparent she had returned for her bow some time ago. It was not unusual for her to go hunting, but it was strange that she was not back by now. Her scent ended at an old tree. Here it was strongest. Sniffing around, he stiffened suddenly. Sesshomaru had been here. Inuyasha tried to find where his scent went from there, but it just vanished into the sky, there was nothing for him to follow. Near desperation he punched the tree, hard enough to shake even the top branches.

"Temper, temper little brother."

Inuyasha whirled, drawing Tetsusaiga in the same motion. He snarled softly at Sesshomaru. "Where's Kagome? What have you done with her?"

"Subaru-sensei wanted to meet her, and you know the consequences of disobeying her."

Inuyasha shuddered, though his sword did not lower. "Why did she come to you? Why not me?"

"You honestly think she would deign to grace a talent less whelp such as yourself with her presence when I am not only more capable, but closer and more willing to obey?" Inuyasha growled and Sesshomaru allowed a tiny smile for his brother. "Does she know you care so? I will return her to this place in three days time. Unless Subaru does something she will be unharmed."

"Why should I trust you?"

"I could give you my word, but I doubt you will trust that. I suppose you will just have to act on a little faith, dear brother, and it couldn't hurt to learn some patience as well."

With these parting words, Sesshomaru leapt skyward, mounting Ah-Un with fluid grace and flying off to the East. Inuyasha roared at his departing form, but did not give chase. He sat down on a protruding root to wait. As far as he knew, Sesshomaru had never broken his word. His half brother may have been a cold-blooded murdering beast, but he did have his own sense of honor. If he said he would return Kagome unharmed, then that is what he would do. Sango, Miroku, and Shippou found him a few minutes later. Shippou leapt up on his lap and looked him over.

"What are you looking at, brat?"

"You don't look dying."

"Yeah so?"

"Why were you screaming like that?"

"Why? Well let's see, a mage ordered Sesshomaru to kidnap Kagome, which he did, and now we're supposed to wait here for three days for him to return her, that is, if the mage doesn't decide to turn her inside out or roast her up for dinner." He felt a snarl build but squashed it, he had no right to blow up at Shippou and knew it, just as surely as he knew he would never apologize for it.

"Kidnap! Why aren't you going after her?"

Inuyasha shook his head. "There's no point. You can only find Subaru if she wants to be found, and even then you're risking life and limb."

"But Kagome could be in danger."

Inuyasha propped his head on his hand. "She probably isn't. Subaru likes having students. She'd go to the ends of the Earth to find someone she considers worthy of her teachings. If she's had Kagome brought to her, it means that Kagome's skill with magic is far greater than anything we've realized. Far greater than Kikyou's certainly. She could be as strong as, say, Sesshomaru, when she gets back. There's simply no way of telling."