InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Enigma of Power ❯ Lessons ( Chapter 7 )

The poem is mine. Touch it and you die! (Sorry having a Sesshomaru moment here.) As I was saying. Any copying, quoting, or usage of anything here in without the author's permission will result in me showing up on your front door step with a giant ax in my hands. So please, to avoid a painful death and a messy clean-up, ask me if you want to borrow anything. Thank you, and have a nice day.

Kagome stood before Subaru, hoping the old youkai was as benign as she seemed. She was glad for a full night of sleep in a real bed, otherwise she wasn't sure she could have faced the youkai's scrutiny. She circled Kagome, giving her skirt a light tug and shaking her head. Finally she seemed satisfied and sat, gesturing for Kagome to do the same.

"The first thing we do is get you a proper kimono."

"I would really prefer not to, my Lady."

She snorted. "Like showing your legs like a common Grecian whore?"

"What! You've been to Greece? What is Athens like?"

The old woman started suddenly. "Athens? You know about Athens? I think you need to explain yourself a little."

"Well, I'm from the future. I was born with the Shikon no tama inside me." She lifted her shirt to show the woman the scar. "I was pulled through the well by a demon that tore it from my body. I have to have at least a fragment of the jewel with me in order to pass through the well between times, though it seems Inuyasha is not similarly constrained. No one else has ever really tried to pass through."

She nodded slowly. "I see. Very well I believe I can begin your training, are you sure about the kimono?"

Kagome touched her skirt. This was her armor, yet at the same time she wanted to please this woman for some inexplicable reason. Finally she nodded. Subaru clapped her hands and another winged rat-faced youkai appeared. He bowed to the elder.

"How may I serve you, Okaasan?"

"This is my son Sanji. Sanji, see to it Kagome-san has kimonos for the rest of her stay that are more appropriate to her station."

"As you command."

His eyes raked her and she hoped he was only measuring her up. He bowed his way out and Subaru nodded slowly. "Now child, let's see what we've got to work with."

She leaned forward and placed her fingers gently at Kagome's temples. The ancient youkai closed her eyes and Kagome did her best to relax. A few minutes later she felt a tingle in her fingertips. She tried to wipe them on her legs and rid herself of the feeling, but it would not go away. Subaru released her, her eyes wide in wonder.

"Amazing, absolutely amazing. Are you sure you're human?"

"Yes, I think I would know if I wasn't."

"Maybe, maybe not. We shall see." She replaced her fingers on Kagome's temples. "Now I want you to close your eyes and concentrate on the sound of my voice." Kagome closed her eyes and tried to relax in the youkai's grip. "There is nothing but the sound of my voice, neither room, nor body, nor world exist. All is the sound of my voice. Find the darkness within your mind, the well with no bottom. You are falling into it, following the sound of my voice into the darkness."

Kagome experienced the strange feeling of floating. There was no ground, no up or down, no air even. Her body was so far away as to be completely inconsequential. Drifting in the darkness she watched as Subaru appeared before her and took her hands gently.

"We are in an in between place. This is the line between life and death, the terrestrial and the ethereal. It is here that magic exists. You exist within both places, and so it is easier for you to find this place. Now that I have shown you the way, there is no limit to what you can do."

"No limit?"

"None. Sesshomaru is limited because he cannot exist on the ethereal plane, though he can manipulate it. Inuyasha cannot find this place at all, his mind is too undisciplined, though some day I hope to teach him. You though, seem to live in this place though you do not realize it. Open your eyes."

Kagome had a moment of difficulty getting her now distant body to obey her. She gasped softly at what she saw. The world flowed around her in multi-colored currents.

"That is the energies that move the world. Go ahead, touch them."

She lifted a hand and ran her fingers through an air current. A wind pushed against her body. "Amazing!"

"It is not so hard, is it? You will spend the rest of your time here, learning how to reach this place alone and what the different flows do. Now comes the tricky part. You must fully leave this place. If you do not, your own current could be lost in the over all flood and there would be no way for you to return."

Kagome nodded and closed her eyes again. She envisioned a well opening over her. Carefully she rose back up to her body, making sure she was fully in her body before opening her eyes again. She glanced around her, shocked to see it was night.

"It took you almost four hours to return to your body."

"Four hours?" She gasped, pressing a hand to her throat where she could feel the two chains and their burdens.

"Don't worry, that is all right. I would prefer you take a long time. Speed will come with time and practice. Don't ever rush it."

She nodded slowly. "I think I understand."

"Well, it's time we eat then it's off to bed with you. Don't worry, I took the liberty of making sure all your food is cooked properly and more to human tastes than youkai."

Kagome blanched at the very idea. "Thank you. You are too gracious."

"Nonsense, besides, though we like our food slightly more raw than humans, our tastes are not so dissimilar." Sanji appeared with a tray of steaming food and set it down, taking a seat himself. "Ah, Sanji, perfect timing."

"I thought perhaps we could join Kagome-sama in her meal."

"Oh, you don't have to. I'm sure you must have other more important things to do."

Sanji gave her a warm smile, and his whiskered face was suddenly handsome. "But we could not allow you to dine alone, gentle Lady."

Kagome flushed and began to examine her knees. "Thank you for all your kindness. I only hope I am worthy of it."

The meal was one of the most pleasant she'd experienced in a long time. The two youkai were actually interested in her adventures with Inuyasha and the others. They listened to her description of Naraku with unconcealed concern. Subaru shook her head sadly.

"This Naraku and Kikyou sound like people Sesshomaru should be dealing with, not you. It is obviously their intent to take over these lands and subjugate all the peoples in them. Which reminds me Sesshomaru will be here tomorrow, I hope you don't mind."

Kagome stomped on nervousness and smiled. "Of course not."

"He felt it was his duty to check in on you. About time that arrogant pup began to learn his responsibilities."

Kagome nodded slowly. "If he helped us with Kikyou, there is no end to the advantage he could give us. Inuyasha will never let us face her."

Sanji shook his head slowly. "It will take more than a short speech from Okaasan to make Sesshomaru change his ways. I have known him since he was a child of two. He is spoiled and arrogant, though he has a highly developed sense of honor. That and that alone, no doubt, is the reason he feels he must check on you."

Kagome nodded and fought a sigh. She supposed it was childish of her to think that Sesshomaru would ever even look at her twice. Still that didn't stop her from looking at him and dreaming, though she decided to give up on hoping. Sanji began to reload the tray and Kagome helped him, blushing a deeper shade of red each time her hands brushed his. He took a bowl from her, his fingers lingering a second too long on hers. Subaru cleared her throat lightly.

"Kagome, go with Sanji and he can show you your room."

Kagome took the tray and rose. "Thank you, good night Sensei."

"Good night."

Kagome deposited the tray in the kitchen and Sanji showed her a room, sliding the door open to reveal a futon and a chest.

"There is a yukata for you to sleep in as well as several kimonos. I took the liberty of bringing your bow here."

"Thank you."

He smiled at her. "You know you are quite lovely."

She shook her head. "No I'm not. I'm average in every way, black hair, blue eyes, average."

He touched her cheek gently. "If this is average then I think I would like to live in this world of yours. I would spend my life surrounded by beautiful women." She trembled at his touch. "Good night, Kagome-san, sleep well."

He leaned closer, his breath caressed her skin sending shivers down her spine then his lips brushed hers. He stepped back and turned down the hall. Kagome slid the door shut and sighed softly. She had never imagined that her first kiss, if that could be called a kiss, would be with a youkai that only had a passing resemblance to a human. She changed and fell into bed, falling asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. The next morning, as promised, Sesshomaru was there. Kagome had chosen to wear a pastel green kimono and felt glad for the extra material. Somehow it was very hard for her to meet Sesshomaru without blushing. She sat, bowing her head in greeting to Subaru.

"Very good. Today Sesshomaru will be assisting you. You will do the work yourself he is there to make sure you do not lose yourself. He is your anchor. I must remain external to you in order to help you learn how to control the energies of the world."

Kagome nodded and closed her eyes. She felt Sesshomaru touch her temples and tried to ignore his scent as she sank deeper in the well of her mind, surrounding herself in the place that was nothingness. Then she opened her eyes. Subaru nodded slowly.

"Most impressive."

The lesson was relatively short, taking only a few hours for her to fully learn how to manipulate the energies she could see flowing around her as well as how to make those flows yield up their identities to her questing mind. It still took her almost two hours to return to her body, but she was more than willing to make the trip slow, forcing herself several times to slow down and concentrate. Sesshomaru released her when at last she was back to herself. They were alone for the moment.

"You are very good at this, Kagome, better than…than me."

Kagome wondered just how hard it was for him to make that admission. "I am still learning. The power does not come easily to me."

"Yet, but it will someday."

He reached over and brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. Kagome was suddenly acutely aware of the fact that her heart was pounding in her chest. Sesshomaru lifted her hand in his and drew it to his face, inhaling deeply before pressing his lips against her palm, then her wrist. Kagome gasped softly at the strange sensations that shot through her. He released her a moment before Sanji and Subaru entered with food trays.

He ate dinner with them, and Sanji sat next to her once more. Now the youkai was openly flirtatious, going so far as to ask if there wasn't some way he could get in touch with her grandfather. Subaru gave her son a none-too-gentle prod.

"Stop overwhelming the girl. She has to deal with several things before she can think about a husband and children."

Sanji bowed his head to Kagome. "Of course, forgive me for being so forward."

"Not at all." She wasn't sure if she was ready for marriage, but here it was not uncommon for a girl to be married with several children by the time she was seventeen. "Please, Subaru-sensei, if you could tell me more about Greece. Tell me, you don't know anything about the Trojan War, do you?"

"Only the legends I fear, and that not very well." She sighed resignedly. "Perhaps you might tell me what you know and I could fill in some of the gaps."

Kagome nodded and began her telling with the famed Golden Apple of Eris, from there she stole Helen away to the far off shores of Troy with the Greek fleet at her heels. The war was fought for nine long years before the great quarrel between the Kings. She told of the death of Patroclus with tears in her eyes, and the death of Hector with grief in her heart. At the death of Achilles she wept outright. Then the Trojan horse was built and Troy fell, Priam slain on the steps of his palace, the streets of Troy running red with blood. Then she spoke of Odysseus, most clever of the Greeks and his great journey home. She carried them to distant shores where the Lotus Eaters lived and battles were fought. Then on to Circe and her bewitching ways. She stopped when at last he stood in his hall with his son, the bodies of the slain suitors at their feet.

Subaru nodded slowly. "It appears that your knowledge of the events is more complete than my own. Tell me, I sense a great deal of respect for Queen Penelope."

Kagome nodded and closed her eyes, trying to remember the words to the poem she had read so long ago.

The loom! The loom! The hated loom!

Shut up inside that cold dark room.

She works her work then in the night

Unfights that battle by torch light

And in the courtyard far below

Their drunken voices strike a blow

Of rage and hatred in her breast.

Her boy, alone, she now must raise

And he must grow without a father's praise.

Her duty to him and to her lands

Are the only forces to steady her hand

So she might perform her nightly task.

For this duty she did not ask

But she has it now.

Still she works the whole day through

For she has nothing else to do

But sit and weep and hope and pray

That her husband will return someday

And meet the son he never knew

Yet so much like his father grew

From boyhood into a man.

Oh how she longs for her husband to be here

And not just a memory she holds dear

Grief chokes the life force from her soul

And she wishes he would come and make her whole

And she could feel his touch all night long

And this darkness, would, like a nightmare, be gone

At the coming of the day.

For Telemachus, she lives her lie

Her honor unstained as the years pass by

Her work a wonder to behold

The shroud never long nor old

Weaving and unweaving until her fingers bled

But one treacherous maid her it said,

"This shroud, I swear, will never be done."

Subaru touched her knee gently. "Such respect for this woman, her husband was truly unworthy of her."

"Perhaps, but he loved her. That was rare enough to mean something. Menelaus did not love Helen. He was entranced with her beauty."

"It is still a very rare thing." She glanced outside and sighed softly. "It is very late, and you need sleep. I am only sorry that you will be here for just one more day. I feel as though I could listen to you for the rest of my life."

Kagome flushed and accepted the compliment silently. She murmured good night to them all and rose. Sanji watched her walk out then turned to his mother.

"I had no idea she was such a scholar."

Subaru nodded slowly. "Her knowledge is indeed vast. I wonder if she truly realizes just how vast it is. She told the story as though it were one she had lived through. I wonder if she knows that there are only a handful of people in the world who could repeat that story with half the detail she gave to us."

Sesshomaru snorted dismissively. "She's from the future, remember, perhaps the story is well known there."

"From what source? There is only one man I know of who could tell that story in it's fullness and he died so long ago as to have faded from the memories of men. I think I will do a delving tomorrow. I would like to have it in its entirety before I try to write it down. Sanji, do you truly wish to pursue this woman, or are you only trifling with her?"

"I do wish to pursue her."

"Then I give you permission to do so."

Sesshomaru snarled softly. "You would give him permission to mate a human?"

"She is not human. If you had been paying attention you would have seen that yourself. I don't know what she is. I have never encountered her kind before, but she is definitely not human."

Subaru rose and left the two younger youkai. Sesshomaru glanced at Sanji, trying to think of a way to phrase what he wanted to say. He would not allow this lesser being to touch Kagome, even if he had been friends with Sanji since they were both children. He was well aware that she was not human, just as he was equally aware that she was attracted to both of them and equally confused by that attraction.

"Sanji, what am I?"

"The Lord of the Western Lands." He replied carefully, unsure where Sesshomaru was going.

"And this house is where?"

"Within the Western Lands."

"Which means that everything in it is mine." He looked at Sanji, waiting for comprehension to take hold. "Do you understand what I am saying?" Sanji nodded stiffly. "I'm glad we had this little chat."

Sesshomaru rose and Sanji watched him walk out. He clenched his fist and snarled softly. This was far from over, after all, Kagome had more than a small say in this. The next day, after Subaru delved her, Kagome practiced leaving and returning to herself without an anchor. They ended early because Subaru was expecting several important youkai for dinner, and she wanted to give everyone time to change. Kagome had already decided on what she was going to wear and changed quickly. She opened the door to find a crestfallen Sanji standing in the hall.

"Kagome-san, I fear that I have been ordered not to pursue you. I am sorry that I lead you on."

She blinked in surprise. "Ordered? By whom?"

"Sesshomaru-sama. He is Lord of the Western Lands and I am nothing more than his subject. I must obey. I am truly sorry."

Kagome felt her temper begin to perk. She patted Sanji absently on the arm and started toward the dining hall. When she entered she spotted Sesshomaru in conversation with several other youkai. Picking up the nearest convenient object which happened to be a cup of hot tea, she hurled it at him. It broke against the back of his head and he turned, seeking the source of the attack.

"You son of a bitch." She snarled. "How dare you!"

She picked up another cup and threw it at him. He easily swatted it way and tried to figure out what was going on. Here she was in a deep blue kimono that perfectly matched her eyes that now snapped with undisguised anger. Her chest was thrust forward and her fists clenched.

"You arrogant bastard! Just that do you think it means to be a Lord?" She was yelling now, every eye was on her. "Do you think you can order these people about as though they are your servants? Do you think that you are better than them? Any of them? You are nothing more than a spoiled child! The first last and only duty of a Lord is to his people! They should be your first thought when waking and your last when falling asleep! But you don't ever think of them, do you? It's always about you, what you want, what you feel like doing! Your people are what make you a Lord and if you took the time to pull your head out of your ass, you'd know that!"

She whirled and stormed from the room. Sesshomaru's lips pealed back in a growl, but Subaru placed a hand on his shoulder. "Prepare to carry her home."

"But…"

"You hurt her, Sesshomaru. That has consequences. Do as I say."

Subaru released him and walked to Kagome's room. She did not know what had transpired between them but the anger, pain, and betrayal that lifted off of Kagome was as potent to her as it was to Kagome. She found the woman digging through her chest.

"If you are looking for your old clothes, you will not find them. You will take the kimono you are wearing. It is a gift."

Kagome rose and nodded. She was too angry to argue. "Thank you. I'm sorry I caused such a scene."

"He needed to hear it, my dear."

"I'm not human, am I?"

"No, you are not." Subaru produced a sword and handed it to her. "I think this weapon will suit you far more than that bow. A sword with which you can pierce the sky, finer made than Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga, but don't tell Toutousai that I said that."

Kagome managed a tentative smile and she took the blade and sheath. "Thank you, I don't think I can say it enough."

"Don't thank me yet, Sesshomaru is the only one who can carry you back to Inuyasha."

She winced then nodded. "Then this is good bye?"

"For now. Though something tells me Sanji will not let you go so easily."

Kagome blushed then, on impulse hugged the old youkai. "I am so glad to have met you, Subaru-sensei. More glad than I think you know."

Subaru returned the woman's embrace. "I understand I think."

She walked Kagome to the entrance where Sesshomaru waited with Ah-Un. She and Sanji watched as they took off into the night sky. More than anything, Subaru had wanted a daughter, but the gods had seen fit to bless her with a son instead. Still, she hoped that when her son did marry, if it was not Kagome, then it was someone like her. There was a fire to the girl that drew people, and a pureness of soul that was rarer and more precious than any earthly possession.