InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Secrets of the Shinju (Part I): Sesshoumaru's Stolen Memories ❯ Shattered Glass ( Chapter 17 )

Chapter Sixteen

Shattered Glass

InuYasha, Sango and Miroku were up at dawn and began traveling. Today Miroku was moving much quicker than usual. He knew they were extremely close. They would be there within hours.

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Sesshoumaru woke in the early morning hours and told Kagome to get some sleep. He planned to stay awake and could see that she had drained nearly all of her energy in the hours she had been protecting him with her spirit barrier. She lay with Kilala and slept until the sun was up. Again they began traveling. In the late afternoon she felt a sudden jolt of power near by. She looked at him and suddenly realized something drastic had just happened to him. He turned to look at her and she knew immediately what it was.

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Miroku saw the castle in the distance. "She's inside that castle, we must get to it." The three took of quickly and within the hour arrived at the door. InuYasha shoved it open and the three began searching. Miroku led them to a room in the far back of the castle. The pain he now felt was excruciating, but he entered the room anyway. Inside there was a woman with dark hair standing with her back to them. She turned immediately and they quickly realized that she was not a woman. Her eyes were black and she had demon markings on her skin. She moved towards them and then a malevolent smile passed over her face. "It's so nice to meet you all. How have you been sleeping as of late?" She then looked toward Miroku and he winced as his pain intensified. InuYasha looked around frantically for the object she was holding his brother's memories in. He saw dozens of jars lying around, but none appeared to hold any significance. Sango too searched the room.

Miroku saw the mirror that she had been gazing into. "InuYasha, we must break the mirror. That is where she holds the memories." InuYasha looked at Miroku as if he were crazy. "What mirror, Miroku?" The monk glanced quickly at InuYasha and Sango. They looked around the room but did not see her mirror. He moved swiftly towards it, and Hitomi was there in the same instant. They waged a battle with her for a few moments before Miroku got free and shattered the mirror with his staff. There was a bright flash and then the shards of glass began falling to the floor. Hitomi also disappeared, though the monk knew she was not dead. The pain he had been feeling from the barriers suddenly disappeared and he dropped to his knees. The three remained in silence for a moment before InuYasha spoke. "Where the memories freed when you broke that mirror?" The monk nodded, "Yes, I believe so. Though this was too easy, had she really wanted to protect that mirror she could have. We need to head back now; I have a bad feeling about this."

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Kagome stopped walking and suddenly cowered back as Sesshoumaru spun on her. She knew instantly that he had his memory back. He looked as though he would kill her on the spot. "Human, I should strike you down this instant for the loss of my sword." He glared at her, and she felt tears welling up inside of her. She had been stupid to allow herself to care for him, when she knew this would happen. He took a step towards her threatening, and Kilala was instantly between them growling at him. He unsheathed his claws and eyed the cat up menacingly. He glanced at his left hand then back to Kagome.

Suddenly he retracted his claws. "Human, you may remain with me until we have reached the priestess. She has information about my family history that I desire to know." He turned and walked away from her, and she ran to catch up. They walked for nearly an hour before he turned to her. "Use your power to find the priestess." Kagome tried to focus her power, but felt threatened by him and couldn't. He grew angry with her and again she stepped away from him. Kilala stepped in front of Kagome and let out a low growl her hair standing on end. He watched the cat closely and then again told Kagome to use her powers. She felt safer with Kilala guarding her and this time she let her power run free. Priestess Toshi was in a village west of them. It would take them nearly two more days on foot. He ordered her to get on Kilala so that they could fly there. She did as she was told, and they took off for the village by sky.

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Hitomi returned to Naraku. She had all the information that she needed and willingly let the monk return the demon's memories. He would probably kill the priestess now anyway, and that thought delighted her. She gave Naraku the information and a smile passed over his face. "Of course, it's so obvious. Where else would the great Lord Inutaisho leave the shinju? I will send a puppet out immediately to retrieve it."

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Kagome could sense the priestess as soon as they got near her. She told Kilala where to go and Sesshoumaru followed. They stopped at a tiny village, and she could tell right away that demons were not welcome here. A few villagers stared hatefully at Sesshoumaru but he didn't seem to notice. They walked to the shrine and were greeted by the most beautiful woman Kagome had ever seen. She had long black hair that shone blue in the sunlight. Her eyes were crystal blue and at times almost appeared transparent. She smiled brightly at Kagome but took on a troubled look when she glanced at Sesshoumaru. "You are indeed a descendent of Yamamoto. Though you do not hold the purity of former generations. You do not care for humans. What a pity." She shook her head sadly and then invited them to follow her into the shrine.

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Toshi began describing to them the life of Bishamon Yamamoto. As she told them of priestess Hoshiko and the shinju, he became enraged. "Are you implying that my ancestors were humans, woman?" She looked at him and told him that was correct. "I will not stand here and listen to such lies." He turned and stormed out of the shrine. Toshi turned to Kagome. "He must remain protected. The shinju is in him. His father left a tomb in the pupil of one of his sons. The other received the shinju." Kagome stood there for a moment taking it in and then ran after Sesshoumaru.