InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Path You Follow ❯ Mortality ( Chapter 2 )

The Path You Follow

Author's note: Here's chapter 2! Woohoo! Things are kind of hectic here with school and everything so it takes me longer to update. What really takes me a long time is the fact that sometimes I write part of a chapter and leave it on hold for a few days when I get busy. While writing my first story I made up a rule for myself: No chapter should be less then 6 pages typed on Microsoft Word. But, if you don't mind having shorter chapters then I could probably update more often. So give me your input! Thanks and please read and review.

Last time: "Did I hurt you?" she shook her head in a negative answer before standing to leave.

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay," she said. "Gomen for waking you. Oyasumi nasai, Inuyasha."

She left the room in a hurry, with her heart beating rapidly and the wrist he had touched still held to her chest.

Chapter 2: Mortality

~*~

"See, Shippou? These berries over here are poisonous and they can give you a stomachache. The moss growing on this tree over here is used to make a paste that can soothe wounds. Are you paying attention?" Rin asked, putting her hands on her hips as she had seen Kagome do so many times when the older miko was irritated.

"Uh-huh," replied the young kitsune who was too busy picking up acorns to notice that the miko-in-training was watching him. "You said tree moss will give you stomachaches."

An acorn met with the back of his head.

"Itai! What'd you do that for, Rin-chan?" said Shippou, rubbing the back of his head.

Kagome watched the two children with a bemused smile on her face. Somewhere above her in the treetops was Inuyasha while at her side stood Sesshoumaru. As much as possible she ignored the two brothers who hadn't said a word to each other since the other day's mishap.

"You weren't even paying attention to Rin!" the little girl yelled, pointing to her nose. Kagome sighed, `she had been talking normally just a second ago, what happened?'

A bump started to form on the back of Shippou's head and he sat at the base of a tree pouting. She was about to go and comfort the young youkai when Rin sat down next to him.

"Gomen, Shippou-chan, I didn't mean to hurt you." The kitsune turned his head away from the little girl, but watched her out of the corner of his eye. She started to pick up a few acorns that were strewn around her.

"I'll help you collect acorns." She said firmly, crawling around on her hands and knees looking for the big brown seeds. Soon Shippou, who had given up on staying mad at her, joined Rin in the collecting of acorns.

"You two could really learn something from them," Kagome said, facing the taiyoukai at her side. She heard Inuyasha snort from his perch above her. Sesshoumaru remained silent, watching the interaction between the two children.

"Rin has pretty good aim. Maybe I should start teaching her how to use a bow." Kagome chewed on her bottom lip as she thought aloud.

"I'm guessing she's about ten years old now," the miko glanced at Sesshoumaru who shrugged. "I think she can handle it."

Another shrug from the stoic taiyoukai and Kagome just sighed.

"Feh, if she's anywhere near as stubborn as you are then it should be easy," Inuyasha shouted from his tree.

"Oh, Inuyasha," Kagome called out in a sweet voice.

"No, wait Kagome! I didn't mean-,"

"OSUWARI!"

Inuyasha fell to the earth, creating a decent sized hole. Kagome stomped over Inuyasha and headed back towards the castle. Telling the children to follow, Sesshoumaru went after her. Rin and Shippou lingered behind a little while to study the hole Inuyasha's face was planted in.

"Sugoi! I hope Kagome-sensei teaches me how to do that too!" Rin said, sending a glance Shippou's way.

The kitsune youkai fidgeted nervously and prayed that day would never come; he didn't like the way Rin was looking at him.

~*~

The lunch table was rather quiet as Kagome, Shippou and Rin ate their meal. Sesshoumaru had gone to his office as he usually did in the afternoons, Inuyasha was still sulking somewhere and Sango and Miroku had yet to make an appearance.

Just as Kagome was considering the implications of Miroku and Sango both missing at the same time Sango entered the dining room alone. She was dressed in her armor and had hiraikotsu strapped on to her back with Kirara resting on her shoulder. Alarmed by the grave look upon the taijiyaa's face Kagome stood and met her halfway.

"Sango-chan, what's wrong?" The older girl just shook her head and looked away.

"Nothing, Kagome-chan. Don't worry, it's just that tomorrow is the. . . the anniversary of my father's death. It's been three years, and I'm going to go pay my respects at his and Kohaku's graves."

Tears shone in Sango's eyes as she spoke of her family and Kagome couldn't help but feel guilty. Sango's family was gone, but she still had her family and she let them worry about her. It had been six months since she last saw her mother. Seeing Sango's sadness made her crave for the company of her family.

`I should go visit them.' She thought to herself as she gave her friend a comforting hug.

"It's alright Sango-chan. Would you like for me to go with you? I don't want you to go there alone."

"Iie, Houshi-sama has offered to accompany me and he can perform a service for them. I feel guilty, waiting three years to finally have a proper ceremony. They deserve better then that."

"I'm sure they'd forgive you Sango. They wouldn't want you to be so sad. I know my mom. . . she wants me to be happy, all parents want their children to be happy." Sango nodded as she turned to leave. But she stopped at the doorway and turned her head to speak over her shoulder.

"You should go and visit your family, Kagome-chan. We are only human and our time with those we love is limited."

"I know Sango," Kagome's voice was a whisper. Miroku stood just beyond the doorway and he bowed to Kagome before turning to leave with Sango following behind him.

She turned back to the children who were still eating and had long since picked the food off of her plate. Sesshoumaru was standing there watching her. Wondering if he had heard what Sango had said, she ran to wrap her arms around his waist. His claws ran through her silky hair and he rested his chin on the top of her head.

"I need to visit my family," she whispered into his chest. He nodded, although his shoulders stiffened at the thought of her being away from him. Abruptly, he released her from his embrace and gently pushed her away.

"We'll leave for the well tomorrow morning," he said. Kagome only nodded, confused as to why he had pushed her away. Her question was answered when Inuyasha strolled into the room with Yukiko.

"Make sure you bring back some ramen if you're going back to your time because this stuff is crap." He said, picking at Shippou's plate. He looked up at an irritated Sesshoumaru and his eyes widened a bit.

"Oh yeah, almost forgot," Inuyasha said, sticking his hands into his sleeves, "some baka youkai from the East left this with me."

The hanyou handed his older brother a scroll.

"Another message from the Eastern lands?" Kagome asked, "Why does he keep sending you messages now? What it is about?"

"It's about Rin."

"What about Rin?"

"He wants an alliance."

"Stop being so vague!" Kagome pouted and Sesshoumaru sighed.

"Remember the morning after you came back from the well when a messenger from the north came?" Kagome nodded as she answered.

"He wanted to make some sort of an alliance with you through Rin."

"The eastern lord wants the same thing." The miko looked confused.

"But. . . I thought youkai, especially taiyoukai don't like humans?"

"Precisely, which is why I would not consider it. They are both after something."

Kagome looked thoughtful for a moment as Inuyasha and Yukiko sat and watched the verbal exchange.

"They want father's lands." Inuyasha offered.

"The Western lands cannot be gained through Rin. As far as any of them are concerned, you are the next in line for lord of the West."

The hanyou's mouth hung open in surprise. Were his ears failing him or did Sesshoumaru just say he was next in line for the West? Kagome smiled at him, happy that they were not fighting at the moment.

"Do not look so surprised, Inuyasha. After all we do share the same father."

"Rin wants to go to the garden!" proclaimed the little girl who had long since grown bored with the conversation.

Kagome told the two children they could play in the garden for the rest of the afternoon, Yukiko and Inuyasha volunteered to watch them. Actually, Yukiko volunteered and asked Inuyasha if he would like to join them. The hanyou had answered with a `feh' and a shrug before standing to follow them.

Left alone, Sesshoumaru took Kagome's hand and led her up into their chambers. Once the door had closed behind her, Kagome was in the taiyoukai's arms. His mouth came crashing down onto hers and she parted her lips willingly. Her small hands grasped at his haori as his tongue entered her mouth. Just as he began to untie her obi, she pulled away from his grasp.

"Did you hear me and Sango talking in the dining room?" Her eyes held a soft look of sadness that made her look vulnerable. Sesshoumaru nodded silently, letting his eyes study the emotions flashing in her blue orbs.

"We need to talk," she said, trying to convey to him the importance of her words without verbally saying, `this is important.'

His lips lifted in one of his rare smiles as he reached for her.

"I think we've done enough talking for today."

Kagome's eyes narrowed and she took a step back from him. He frowned, thinking, `Have I done something wrong?'

She looked away from him, staring at her feet. It didn't help that she hardly knew what she wanted to say. But Sango's words had struck something within her, `We are only human and our time with those we love is limited.'

`I am only human,' Kagome thought, `but Sesshoumaru is a youkai.'

Of course the knowledge had always been in the back of her mind, but they had never spoken of it. Not since she had come to live with him. Her eyes traveled back to him. She almost laughed at the confused look he was giving her. A small frown, almost like a pout was on his lips and his brows were furrowed in thought. Absently, he was running his claws through a tuft of his silver hair.

"Aishiteru." She whispered, smiling up at him and stepping forward. He took one of her hands in his, liking the look of her tiny human hands in his larger claws. Bending slightly, he kissed the knuckles of her hand.

"Aishiteru, Kagome."

Her hands framed his face and she used her thumbs to trace his markings before guiding his lips to hers in a sweet, chaste kiss. Her worries momentarily forgotten, she took hold of his haori and led him to the bed.

~*~

There was screaming from inside the hut. Faintly, Kagome heard Kaede's voice from within. Moments later a flustered man exited from the hut, nearly knocking Kagome down. Behind her Sesshoumaru growled.

"Kagome-sama!" the man bowed deeply.

"What's wrong?" she asked, pointing towards the entrance.

"Please, Kagome-sama you must help my wife. Kaede-sama has already been up all night with her. . ."

Nodding, Kagome turned to Sesshoumaru.

"You can go if you want. I'll see what I can do to help Kaede-baachan and I'll go to the well tonight and come back tomorrow evening."

The stoic youkai nodded and told her he'd stay near the village until she came back. With that he turned on his heel and walked out. Taking a deep breath, Kagome prepared herself and entered the hut.

The metallic scent of blood permeated throughout the room making her want to vomit. It took Kagome a minute to compose herself before approaching Kaede. She kneeled next to a young woman who lay on the floor, panting and groaning.

She put a hand on the old woman's shoulder.

"Kaede-baachan, what can I do to help?"

"Ah, Kagome." She said, standing and taking Kagome to the opposite side of the small hut, "I doubt there is much to be done. This young woman has been in labor since late afternoon yesterday and I do not know what is wrong. There is too much blood. . . We would be lucky if one of them makes it through the day."

Kagome nodded and they went back to the woman. As gently as possible, Kagome moved the young woman's head to her lap and took her hand. She studied her face; even contorted in pain, the girl was pretty. Her eyes were wide with fear and her dark hair was plastered against her pale cheeks. Kagome couldn't even imagine going through childbirth; after all she was only 18. But then, the girl resting her head on Kagome's lap couldn't be any older then 16.

There was nothing she could do for the girl but hold her hand and put a cool towel to her forehead to wipe away the perspiration. Never had she felt so helpless. Not even in her darkest moments when she had longed for death. Then, she had at least had control over her life to a certain extent, but now she had no say in the life or death of the girl and her child.

So she stayed there all day, letting the girl squeeze the life from her hand and crying with her. Silent tears fell from her eyes as the nameless girl cried out in agony, the tears continued into the afternoon until the young woman passed out. In fact, the tears never stopped. They fell constantly down her cheeks as she sat in the small hut that was filled with the smell of blood and the sound of sobbing. That evening she pried the girl's lifeless hands from her own warm ones and looked upon the cold, silent child that had been brought into the world. It rested next to its mother, their deathly pale skin matching one another's in the faint glow of the moonlight.

The tears continued as she ran into the woods surrounding the forest. Stumbling on tree roots and rocks, she fell to her knees and buried her face in her hands. Shaking with the force of her sobs she was still able to smell the horrid scent on her. Blood and death; it clung to her clothes and skin.

Even when Sesshoumaru found her and took her into his arms she could still feel the icy fingers on her hand. They clung to her and she wanted to run away from them even though she was aware that they couldn't be real. She had left those chilly hands back in the hut. Even so, the tears didn't stop until late that night when she fell asleep within Sesshoumaru's embrace.

The look upon the youkai's face was even more grave than usual as he studied Kagome's face as she slept. He put a hand upon her abdomen so that he could feel her rhythmic breathing. His eyes held concern as if he were afraid that the young miko in his arms might simply vanish into thin air.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Review Responses:

Aira: ^_^ Well that answers part of the question about the Eastern lord. Sorry to keep you waiting for the update. There are just too many things and people keeping me away from my computer! P.S. -thanks for adding to my MediaMiner reviews!

Helen: I'm glad you liked the alternate beginning scene. Usually I can't write anything funny into my stories either it doesn't go with the plot or I just can't think of anything remotely funny. I guess comedy just isn't my thing. Oh well, thanks for the review!

Riomi: I promise I haven't forgotten about the evil spirits, the cherry and the kuroi miko. I'll get to them within the next few chapters. . . hopefully. In my outline chapter two was supposed to have like three more important events, but it would be way too long so it ended where it is now. . . So with my there is no telling when exactly I'll get to a certain point in my stories. ~*tear~* I'm so touched that you like my writing. I love all my reviewers!!!!!!

Sesshi and Youko lover: I'm happy to hear that you like the story so far. I was really afraid that the sequel wouldn't live up to `bliss' because it had done way better then I ever imagined it would. Part of the reason it took me a while to get this started was because I was apprehensive about posting just anything. I wrote the prologue alone about five times before finally deciding on what I posted. I'm still afraid that the sequel won't be as good as `bliss' but I'm doing my best. Thanks for the review. ^_~

RED HAT: Wow, you remembered that? Hehehe, yep everything you said in the review was accurate. There is a reason for making things the way they are in the story and I am planning to explain things soon. Right now on the side of my story I'm also creating all these things having to do with youkai society that I will be throwing into the story so eventually all should be revealed. . . About Sesshoumaru using Kagome, I never thought of it that way but I can see where you would come to that conclusion. I plan to clear that up later to. Thanks for the review and good observations!

Tessa3: Whew! I'm relieved that the fight scene was okay and that you liked the alternate scene. ^_^ Yay yay yay yay yay!!!!! Sorry to keep you waiting for this chapter, I'd say `hope you enjoyed it' but it's kind of a depressing chapter, neh? I'm so excited about finishing this story, now all I have to do is find time to write it out! Thanks for the review.

Spirit element: Thank you for your review! I'm glad you liked my little venture into comedy. I just love saying `osuwari' even if no one I know falls face first into the ground when I say it. . . Ah, well a girl can dream, can't she? ^_~

Sweecenck: Sorry for making you wait for the update. I'm soooo very happy you like the story thus far and thanks for the review!

EvilNekoEatsYourSoul: I was in a rather chatty mood so I made the responses a bit long. Heh, oh well. . . Oh yeah, `bliss' has over 11,000 visits on MediaMiner!!! I'm sooooooo happy!!!!!!!! Yayayayayayayay!!!!! It makes up for having it erased from fanfiction.net, I was soo angry with them for a while because all my wonderful reviews were trashed. Anyways, now any lemons in any of my stories will be posted on my homepage (only for fanfiction.net). MediaMiner readers will still have lemons posted since it is allowed there.