InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Time After Time ❯ Bokuseno's Trust ( Chapter 1 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: kanna37 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 03.05.2011 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.6K | Visits: 592 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 03.05.2011 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.6K | Visits: 592 | Status: Work In Progress
Chapter 1: Bokuseno's Trust
Sesshoumaru stopped, and stared into the middle distance as though it held all the answers of life, even as Ah-Uhn came to a halt behind him. Neither Jaken, nor Rin, bothered questioning their lord - he walked when he chose, and stopped at will, as well.
This time, however, his gaze was actually looking for something in particular - something he'd deliberately come seeking, on the advice of the one known as Bokuseno.
He had sought the ancient tree youkai out for consultation about Naraku.
The hanyou had become more than a nuisance since he'd gained most of the shikon, and the incarnations he repeatedly created more difficult to defeat. As much as he hated to admit it, only his half-brother's pack, and he himself, had anywhere near enough power to stand against the half-breed spider now - and it wasn't enough.
The jewel gave him too much power to destroy, too much power to create and regenerate himself to be defeated by such a small force.
And that didn't even include the incarnations, and his hoards of lower-level youkai.
While they were just pests, and not serious opponents, still, they were in sufficient numbers to be categorized as an army - one the half-breed really didn't need.
That was why he was standing here now - on the advice of the ancient Bokuseno. Typically cryptic, the tree would only state that it was time, and that he needed to make a journey here, to the northern mountains.
He said that it was here that he would gain the help required against the threat of the spider.
He'd also said that his brother would be needed as well; Sesshoumaru disregarded that - he had no intention of traveling with the whelp if he could help it.
Oh, not that he still truly hated Inuyasha - there was a modicum of grudging respect that the fool had earned - after all, he'd survived all odds against him for years, and defeated opponents he shouldn't have even been able to touch.
Their father's blood had bred true, it seemed, even diluted with that pathetic, powerless human blood.
But the point was that he still didn't want to travel with the little mutt - he was loud-mouthed, foul-mouthed, uncouth, and smelly most of the time. The only restraining hand that had any effect on his brash half-sibling was that of the tiny woman-child-miko, Kagome.
Another grudging modicum of respect - human, but so much more, even he could not deny that, though he liked it not.
He still could not understand how she, who was so clean, could stand to be around the whelp - he wasn't one for bathing as much as he should. It was shameful, really.
With a disgruntled sigh, the inu lord began moving once more, knowing that his journey was almost at an end. He could see the mountain cave that was his destination from here - and feel the power within.
It was familiar...
He wondered what he would find when he finally arrived...
And why his bastard brother was supposed to be with him.
---sSs---
With an exhausted, almost dispirited sigh, Kagome climbed over the lip of the well, and kicked off, entering the time-stream, headed for home.
The group had returned to the village after a horrible battle with several of Naraku's new incarnations, in order to heal and stock up on supplies. Not a single one of them had escaped the battle unharmed, and Miroku would be down for days.
It was the same thing as always - too much poison.
Sango was also hurt, defending her betrothed's unconscious body had left her vulnerable, and Kagome had done all she could to help with what arrows she had in between helping Inuyasha, and defending herself.
They had made it out alive, and destroyed a few more of those endless incarnations, but in the end, it wouldn't even matter - the spider would only create more.
Things were at a desperate impasse, and Kagome knew that if they didn't soon receive a miracle, there was little chance they'd win.
On top of all that, there was the endless circle of Inuyasha and Kikyou to deal with, and the embattled girl's heart couldn't take much more.
She was just so tired - to the point of almost hoping that the battle with Naraku would end with not only his death, but her own. She wanted to rest, more than anything in the world... she wanted peace. To stop hurting.
At this point, if it were indeed her fate to fall in that last battle, as long as the spider was also crushed, she was just about accepting of it.
Fate had placed an awful burden on the small shoulders of the young woman from the future - things that even an older and experienced, trained miko, namely Kikyou, hadn't been able to deliver. Which was why she was in that mess, anyway - if Kikyou hadn't failed in her duty fifty-some years before, Kagome wouldn't be where she was now.
And Kikyou and Inuyasha both claimed that Kikyou was the better incarnation. Kagome snorted at that as she climbed wearily out of the well, safely back in her time. As if... if she had been, then why had kami had to drag her back five hundred years into the past to make up for Kikyou's deficiencies?
But could either of those two see that? Hell, no... it was easier to push those mistakes onto Kagome and claim it was all her fault.
Grrr... sometimes I just want to strangle them both and forget them. You'd think Inuyasha would have gotten it when I healed Kikyou from Naraku's miasma - I had to do it, because Kikyou couldn't. That should tell them something right there... and the next time Inuyasha wants to compare me to her, I'm going to bite back, and tell him so.
With a sour look, she dismissed thoughts of the hanyou and Kikyou, and let herself out of the well shrine, heading absently for her house. Now was her time - she could do what she wanted, without listening to Inuyasha whining and complaining. And first off - a bath... then food, and then, a nap.
Everything else could wait.
---sSs---
Sesshoumaru stared, completely shocked, at what lay waiting for him in the cave, though his face did not move. It was the absolute last thing he would ever have thought of finding here...
When he had arrived, he'd stood outside the cave, studying it, wondering what he should do to gain entrance - and whether it was safe for Rin to be there. The energies emitting from it were not in any way threatening, and in fact, were even more familiar to him close up. They were his father's energies, and he had thought that mayhap, his sire had left him another weapon - perhaps, a great sword that would ensure victory?
What he had not expected to see was his sire himself. If this is truly him, and it feels so, then... what of the resting place of the Tessaiga? And though this is his body... I feel no soul here. So... where is it?
It was then that the Tenseiga gave a pulse of energy, and he touched his palm to the hilt, recognizing that the sword wished to speak to him.
It didn't speak in words, the consciousness within wasn't that advanced. What it did do was communicate ideas... concepts. And what he gathered was that his father's soul still existed in this realm - it hadn't crossed over.
That was why the whelp was needed - because his Great and Terrible father's soul was bound within the blade his brother carried. Sesshoumaru frowned inwardly at that.
That was why the blade would not respond to me - because he wanted Inuyasha to have it, and not this one. I was going against his wishes in trying to take it.
Putting that aside for now, he listened to Tenseiga - and found it utterly poetic that Naraku's doom would come at the hands of the Taisho, and his sons.
A small last pulse from Tenseiga had him frowning again - apparently, the three Inu, and the little priestess would be required. His frown quickly smoothed out, however - he could admit that the woman would be very useful - and she was the only one pure enough to destroy that abomination called the Shikon.
If his baka sibling's dead priestess got her hands on it, it would probably be the end of the world - she was far too tainted to let anywhere near it.
He sighed, and turned his thoughts back to his brother, the body of his father before him, and what needed to be done.
So this was Bokuseno's trust... to hide my father's secret 'til it was time. I should never have accepted father's seeming demise so easily - he always was one to plan, and then make another plan, and another... until everything was covered.
Rather like Naraku.
Though I daresay father is even better at it than the spider - after all, he has been doing it for a thousand years longer...
With one final glance at his sire's body, he turned on his heel and led his quiet group from the stone grotto.
Time to go gather the half-breed - and his father's soul.
---sSs---
Inuyasha was fuming.
Kagome still wasn't back, and the three days he'd allotted her to go home had passed - yesterday.
The monk was better, and pretty much ready to begin traveling again, as was Sango, and still, no Kagome. As far as he was concerned, this was getting old - she was supposed to be here with him, not in the future with that Hobo character.
The future Hobo wasn't any better than the current Hobo in the hanyou's opinion - they were both pansies, and not worthy of Kagome. Of course, no one was worthy of Kagome in his eyes... though Kagome herself would be shocked speechless to hear that thought.
No, he kept her thinking she was a big pain in the ass... and she was that, too. Especially when she sat him. He really hated that, but he could, grudgingly, and silently, agree that sometimes, he actually deserved it.
At any rate, all thoughts of sitting aside, Kagome was supposed to be here, with him, and so now, he was going to go drag her back to where she was supposed to be - by his side. No excuses.
"Oi, monk! I'm gonna go get the wench. Make sure you have everything ready, 'cause we're leavin' tomorrow at sunup!" Before Miroku could say a word, the hanyou was already gone in a flash of red and silver, and he shook his head in mild annoyance. Would the baka ever learn?
Sango narrowed her eyes on the disappearing fire-rat, a tinge of anger lighting her eyes. "What the hell's he complaining about, anyway? Not like he didn't spend the last couple of nights playing footsies with that dead woman and her creepy shinidamachu."
Kirara just mewed in agreement as Shippo nodded, mirroring Miroku's stance without realizing it. Sango held a laugh in at the two. "Yeah... that baka's going to lose Kagome - and it'll be his own fault. I think he already has - she just hasn't realized it yet," he said, a flash of something old in his eyes.
Miroku looked down at his small companion in surprise. "You sense that as well, Shippo? Her waning patience with Inuyasha?"
The little kitsune blinked up at him. "Mhmm. Kagome's growing up, you know, and bakayasha's, well... not, if you know what I mean."
Indeed, the others in the group knew exactly what he meant, and they all stared thoughtfully towards the well...
It wasn't an hour later a cursing, growling hanyou was heard nagging his way back from the well, with an obviously stressed and hassled miko walking ahead of him, attempting to ignore his loud mouth.
From the look on her face, though, it didn't appear to be working too well, and the group was highly aware that the first sit of the day was probably pending.
Fortunately for Inuyasha, just as Kagome was winding up to yell that dreaded yet fascinating word, they were tugged around by the feel of overpowering youki - Sesshoumaru's.
Hoping to avoid a confrontation, Kagome dropped her pack the moment she noticed his aura, and walked up to the inuyoukai. "What can we do for you, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
Sesshoumaru considered her for a moment, then looked reluctantly at his brother, then back to her. He'd rather talk to her - she would at least respond without screaming and profanities.
"Rin, Jaken, come," he said, and waited for the dragon to bring his small followers from back in the trees. Then he looked at Kagome. "This one has something of importance to discuss - but it would not be well for certain parties to gain an understanding of my words. Can you place a barrier to keep Naraku and his spies out?"
Kagome was a bit surprised, as were all of them; Sesshoumaru wasn't one for long talks - that was the longest they'd heard him speak in quite a bit of time, so, instinctively knowing that it must be important, Kagome nodded.
"Hai, I can do that. Come and join us, Sesshoumaru-sama." She jerked her head up at the sound of Inuyasha growling, and growled right back, then threatened him with the word if he didn't behave. Grumbling, the hanyou plopped down and glared at everyone.
Within moments, her glare had softened, and she closed her eyes, bringing up a blue barrier large enough to cover the group. Sesshoumaru looked at it for a moment, then nodded in approval.
Once everyone was seated, Sesshoumaru wasted no time in beginning his story. "This one had gone to speak with Bokuseno, the eldest of us, to see what he could tell me of Naraku, and how to defeat him. With few words, he directed me to a place in the northern mountains, and stated that I would find my answers there."
Inuyasha shifted impatiently, and Kagome cast him a warning glare, at which he once again subsided.
Everyone else was spellbound by the inu's words, and waited for him to continue almost breathlessly.
"After making my way to the place he had spoken of, I found a most interesting - and unexpected - sight: the body of our father, Inuyasha - his true body. It is bespelled-" he broke off as Inuyasha broke in, incredulous.
"Wait... what?! What about where we found Tessaiga? I don't get it!"
"If you would not interrupt, I would be able to finish." He waited a moment for the hanyou's spluttering to taper off with another warning glare from Kagome, then continued again.
"When I reached his resting place, Tenseiga spoke to me, telling me that this was father's design, and that his spirit was still on this plane - he has not crossed over. His spirit is held within Tessaiga, Inuyasha - and to revive our father, we need to both be present. Tenseiga will bind his spirit back to his flesh when both swords are unsheathed in the presence of his body."
There was a long moment of stunned stillness from the entire group as they all considered what this could mean for them. The Inu no Taisho was arguably the strongest youkai that had ever lived - and to have him as an ally against Naraku would be invaluable.
It might be their only hope.
Kagome was the first to speak, and she met Sesshoumaru's calm gaze firmly. "We were planning to leave in the morning - is that acceptable?"
Before he could answer, Inuyasha broke in. "What the hell, Kagome?! Maybe I don't think this is such a good idea - shouldn't we all talk about this?"
She rounded on him immediately. "No," she snapped. "We should all make ready to leave in the morning. We're losing, Inubaka, if you hadn't noticed," she said sarcastically, "and we need all the help we can get to defeat Naraku and his incarnations. Your father is just the miracle I was thinking we were needing - and that I've been praying for."
Miroku nodded solemnly. "Indeed, Inuyasha, I agree with Kagome. At this point, we need every bit of help we can get."
The rest of the group broke out in a supporting babble, and Inuyasha crossed his arms with a sulky, almost bitter look on his face. "Fine. Don't listen to me."
Sango raised hiraikotsu threateningly. "I don't know what your problem is, baka, but so help me..."
Sesshoumaru stood and motioned for Rin and Jaken, then paused, waiting for Kagome to lower the barrier. "His problem, as you say, slayer, is that the miko made the decision, and without the customary temper tantrums he usually throws before doing anything." He turned to cast a sidelong glance at Kagome. "Tomorrow morning is acceptable, miko. First light?"
She nodded as they all stood, ignoring Inuyasha's bad-tempered muttering and cursing. "First light, we will meet you here, Sesshoumaru-sama. Good evening."
"It goes without saying that this should not be spoken of aloud," he stated quietly.
"Good evening." As the barrier dropped, he moved off into the trees, disappearing as silently as he always did, Rin trotting at his heels happily, and Jaken running to keep up.
After a few moments of silence, Kagome turned to her friends, and said, "Well, I think that I need to go back home and gather a bit more supplies. It looks as though we're going to have several extra people - and be gone for quite a while, too."
Inuyasha started to rant, but before Kagome could sit him, Sango did the honors, simply knocking him over the head with hiraikotsu. "Monk, you go with Kagome to the well, and wait for her to help with the extra stuff she's bringing back. I'll stay here and keep Inuyasha incapacitated."
Miroku just nodded, not needing to be told twice; Sango had her business face on, and one didn't argue with her when she did.
With a grin, Kagome shook her head. "Thanks, Sango. I was getting ready to sutra his mouth shut." A funny look crossed her face then, and she giggled. "I wonder if I could make a sealing spell so specific as to seal just a certain someone's mouth?"
Everyone burst out laughing at that, even Kirara finding that funny - and Shippo most of all.
~oOo~
A/N: And there we have the first chapter of my new Inupapa/Kagome fic. I hope everyone enjoyed my last one, Wicked, and that you all will also enjoy this one. Tentatively, I will be posting once a week on this, although, depending on how it goes, I may speed it up a little. For now, though... expect posts to be pretty punctual.
Amber
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Sesshoumaru stopped, and stared into the middle distance as though it held all the answers of life, even as Ah-Uhn came to a halt behind him. Neither Jaken, nor Rin, bothered questioning their lord - he walked when he chose, and stopped at will, as well.
This time, however, his gaze was actually looking for something in particular - something he'd deliberately come seeking, on the advice of the one known as Bokuseno.
He had sought the ancient tree youkai out for consultation about Naraku.
The hanyou had become more than a nuisance since he'd gained most of the shikon, and the incarnations he repeatedly created more difficult to defeat. As much as he hated to admit it, only his half-brother's pack, and he himself, had anywhere near enough power to stand against the half-breed spider now - and it wasn't enough.
The jewel gave him too much power to destroy, too much power to create and regenerate himself to be defeated by such a small force.
And that didn't even include the incarnations, and his hoards of lower-level youkai.
While they were just pests, and not serious opponents, still, they were in sufficient numbers to be categorized as an army - one the half-breed really didn't need.
That was why he was standing here now - on the advice of the ancient Bokuseno. Typically cryptic, the tree would only state that it was time, and that he needed to make a journey here, to the northern mountains.
He said that it was here that he would gain the help required against the threat of the spider.
He'd also said that his brother would be needed as well; Sesshoumaru disregarded that - he had no intention of traveling with the whelp if he could help it.
Oh, not that he still truly hated Inuyasha - there was a modicum of grudging respect that the fool had earned - after all, he'd survived all odds against him for years, and defeated opponents he shouldn't have even been able to touch.
Their father's blood had bred true, it seemed, even diluted with that pathetic, powerless human blood.
But the point was that he still didn't want to travel with the little mutt - he was loud-mouthed, foul-mouthed, uncouth, and smelly most of the time. The only restraining hand that had any effect on his brash half-sibling was that of the tiny woman-child-miko, Kagome.
Another grudging modicum of respect - human, but so much more, even he could not deny that, though he liked it not.
He still could not understand how she, who was so clean, could stand to be around the whelp - he wasn't one for bathing as much as he should. It was shameful, really.
With a disgruntled sigh, the inu lord began moving once more, knowing that his journey was almost at an end. He could see the mountain cave that was his destination from here - and feel the power within.
It was familiar...
He wondered what he would find when he finally arrived...
And why his bastard brother was supposed to be with him.
---sSs---
With an exhausted, almost dispirited sigh, Kagome climbed over the lip of the well, and kicked off, entering the time-stream, headed for home.
The group had returned to the village after a horrible battle with several of Naraku's new incarnations, in order to heal and stock up on supplies. Not a single one of them had escaped the battle unharmed, and Miroku would be down for days.
It was the same thing as always - too much poison.
Sango was also hurt, defending her betrothed's unconscious body had left her vulnerable, and Kagome had done all she could to help with what arrows she had in between helping Inuyasha, and defending herself.
They had made it out alive, and destroyed a few more of those endless incarnations, but in the end, it wouldn't even matter - the spider would only create more.
Things were at a desperate impasse, and Kagome knew that if they didn't soon receive a miracle, there was little chance they'd win.
On top of all that, there was the endless circle of Inuyasha and Kikyou to deal with, and the embattled girl's heart couldn't take much more.
She was just so tired - to the point of almost hoping that the battle with Naraku would end with not only his death, but her own. She wanted to rest, more than anything in the world... she wanted peace. To stop hurting.
At this point, if it were indeed her fate to fall in that last battle, as long as the spider was also crushed, she was just about accepting of it.
Fate had placed an awful burden on the small shoulders of the young woman from the future - things that even an older and experienced, trained miko, namely Kikyou, hadn't been able to deliver. Which was why she was in that mess, anyway - if Kikyou hadn't failed in her duty fifty-some years before, Kagome wouldn't be where she was now.
And Kikyou and Inuyasha both claimed that Kikyou was the better incarnation. Kagome snorted at that as she climbed wearily out of the well, safely back in her time. As if... if she had been, then why had kami had to drag her back five hundred years into the past to make up for Kikyou's deficiencies?
But could either of those two see that? Hell, no... it was easier to push those mistakes onto Kagome and claim it was all her fault.
Grrr... sometimes I just want to strangle them both and forget them. You'd think Inuyasha would have gotten it when I healed Kikyou from Naraku's miasma - I had to do it, because Kikyou couldn't. That should tell them something right there... and the next time Inuyasha wants to compare me to her, I'm going to bite back, and tell him so.
With a sour look, she dismissed thoughts of the hanyou and Kikyou, and let herself out of the well shrine, heading absently for her house. Now was her time - she could do what she wanted, without listening to Inuyasha whining and complaining. And first off - a bath... then food, and then, a nap.
Everything else could wait.
---sSs---
Sesshoumaru stared, completely shocked, at what lay waiting for him in the cave, though his face did not move. It was the absolute last thing he would ever have thought of finding here...
When he had arrived, he'd stood outside the cave, studying it, wondering what he should do to gain entrance - and whether it was safe for Rin to be there. The energies emitting from it were not in any way threatening, and in fact, were even more familiar to him close up. They were his father's energies, and he had thought that mayhap, his sire had left him another weapon - perhaps, a great sword that would ensure victory?
What he had not expected to see was his sire himself. If this is truly him, and it feels so, then... what of the resting place of the Tessaiga? And though this is his body... I feel no soul here. So... where is it?
It was then that the Tenseiga gave a pulse of energy, and he touched his palm to the hilt, recognizing that the sword wished to speak to him.
It didn't speak in words, the consciousness within wasn't that advanced. What it did do was communicate ideas... concepts. And what he gathered was that his father's soul still existed in this realm - it hadn't crossed over.
That was why the whelp was needed - because his Great and Terrible father's soul was bound within the blade his brother carried. Sesshoumaru frowned inwardly at that.
That was why the blade would not respond to me - because he wanted Inuyasha to have it, and not this one. I was going against his wishes in trying to take it.
Putting that aside for now, he listened to Tenseiga - and found it utterly poetic that Naraku's doom would come at the hands of the Taisho, and his sons.
A small last pulse from Tenseiga had him frowning again - apparently, the three Inu, and the little priestess would be required. His frown quickly smoothed out, however - he could admit that the woman would be very useful - and she was the only one pure enough to destroy that abomination called the Shikon.
If his baka sibling's dead priestess got her hands on it, it would probably be the end of the world - she was far too tainted to let anywhere near it.
He sighed, and turned his thoughts back to his brother, the body of his father before him, and what needed to be done.
So this was Bokuseno's trust... to hide my father's secret 'til it was time. I should never have accepted father's seeming demise so easily - he always was one to plan, and then make another plan, and another... until everything was covered.
Rather like Naraku.
Though I daresay father is even better at it than the spider - after all, he has been doing it for a thousand years longer...
With one final glance at his sire's body, he turned on his heel and led his quiet group from the stone grotto.
Time to go gather the half-breed - and his father's soul.
---sSs---
Inuyasha was fuming.
Kagome still wasn't back, and the three days he'd allotted her to go home had passed - yesterday.
The monk was better, and pretty much ready to begin traveling again, as was Sango, and still, no Kagome. As far as he was concerned, this was getting old - she was supposed to be here with him, not in the future with that Hobo character.
The future Hobo wasn't any better than the current Hobo in the hanyou's opinion - they were both pansies, and not worthy of Kagome. Of course, no one was worthy of Kagome in his eyes... though Kagome herself would be shocked speechless to hear that thought.
No, he kept her thinking she was a big pain in the ass... and she was that, too. Especially when she sat him. He really hated that, but he could, grudgingly, and silently, agree that sometimes, he actually deserved it.
At any rate, all thoughts of sitting aside, Kagome was supposed to be here, with him, and so now, he was going to go drag her back to where she was supposed to be - by his side. No excuses.
"Oi, monk! I'm gonna go get the wench. Make sure you have everything ready, 'cause we're leavin' tomorrow at sunup!" Before Miroku could say a word, the hanyou was already gone in a flash of red and silver, and he shook his head in mild annoyance. Would the baka ever learn?
Sango narrowed her eyes on the disappearing fire-rat, a tinge of anger lighting her eyes. "What the hell's he complaining about, anyway? Not like he didn't spend the last couple of nights playing footsies with that dead woman and her creepy shinidamachu."
Kirara just mewed in agreement as Shippo nodded, mirroring Miroku's stance without realizing it. Sango held a laugh in at the two. "Yeah... that baka's going to lose Kagome - and it'll be his own fault. I think he already has - she just hasn't realized it yet," he said, a flash of something old in his eyes.
Miroku looked down at his small companion in surprise. "You sense that as well, Shippo? Her waning patience with Inuyasha?"
The little kitsune blinked up at him. "Mhmm. Kagome's growing up, you know, and bakayasha's, well... not, if you know what I mean."
Indeed, the others in the group knew exactly what he meant, and they all stared thoughtfully towards the well...
It wasn't an hour later a cursing, growling hanyou was heard nagging his way back from the well, with an obviously stressed and hassled miko walking ahead of him, attempting to ignore his loud mouth.
From the look on her face, though, it didn't appear to be working too well, and the group was highly aware that the first sit of the day was probably pending.
Fortunately for Inuyasha, just as Kagome was winding up to yell that dreaded yet fascinating word, they were tugged around by the feel of overpowering youki - Sesshoumaru's.
Hoping to avoid a confrontation, Kagome dropped her pack the moment she noticed his aura, and walked up to the inuyoukai. "What can we do for you, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
Sesshoumaru considered her for a moment, then looked reluctantly at his brother, then back to her. He'd rather talk to her - she would at least respond without screaming and profanities.
"Rin, Jaken, come," he said, and waited for the dragon to bring his small followers from back in the trees. Then he looked at Kagome. "This one has something of importance to discuss - but it would not be well for certain parties to gain an understanding of my words. Can you place a barrier to keep Naraku and his spies out?"
Kagome was a bit surprised, as were all of them; Sesshoumaru wasn't one for long talks - that was the longest they'd heard him speak in quite a bit of time, so, instinctively knowing that it must be important, Kagome nodded.
"Hai, I can do that. Come and join us, Sesshoumaru-sama." She jerked her head up at the sound of Inuyasha growling, and growled right back, then threatened him with the word if he didn't behave. Grumbling, the hanyou plopped down and glared at everyone.
Within moments, her glare had softened, and she closed her eyes, bringing up a blue barrier large enough to cover the group. Sesshoumaru looked at it for a moment, then nodded in approval.
Once everyone was seated, Sesshoumaru wasted no time in beginning his story. "This one had gone to speak with Bokuseno, the eldest of us, to see what he could tell me of Naraku, and how to defeat him. With few words, he directed me to a place in the northern mountains, and stated that I would find my answers there."
Inuyasha shifted impatiently, and Kagome cast him a warning glare, at which he once again subsided.
Everyone else was spellbound by the inu's words, and waited for him to continue almost breathlessly.
"After making my way to the place he had spoken of, I found a most interesting - and unexpected - sight: the body of our father, Inuyasha - his true body. It is bespelled-" he broke off as Inuyasha broke in, incredulous.
"Wait... what?! What about where we found Tessaiga? I don't get it!"
"If you would not interrupt, I would be able to finish." He waited a moment for the hanyou's spluttering to taper off with another warning glare from Kagome, then continued again.
"When I reached his resting place, Tenseiga spoke to me, telling me that this was father's design, and that his spirit was still on this plane - he has not crossed over. His spirit is held within Tessaiga, Inuyasha - and to revive our father, we need to both be present. Tenseiga will bind his spirit back to his flesh when both swords are unsheathed in the presence of his body."
There was a long moment of stunned stillness from the entire group as they all considered what this could mean for them. The Inu no Taisho was arguably the strongest youkai that had ever lived - and to have him as an ally against Naraku would be invaluable.
It might be their only hope.
Kagome was the first to speak, and she met Sesshoumaru's calm gaze firmly. "We were planning to leave in the morning - is that acceptable?"
Before he could answer, Inuyasha broke in. "What the hell, Kagome?! Maybe I don't think this is such a good idea - shouldn't we all talk about this?"
She rounded on him immediately. "No," she snapped. "We should all make ready to leave in the morning. We're losing, Inubaka, if you hadn't noticed," she said sarcastically, "and we need all the help we can get to defeat Naraku and his incarnations. Your father is just the miracle I was thinking we were needing - and that I've been praying for."
Miroku nodded solemnly. "Indeed, Inuyasha, I agree with Kagome. At this point, we need every bit of help we can get."
The rest of the group broke out in a supporting babble, and Inuyasha crossed his arms with a sulky, almost bitter look on his face. "Fine. Don't listen to me."
Sango raised hiraikotsu threateningly. "I don't know what your problem is, baka, but so help me..."
Sesshoumaru stood and motioned for Rin and Jaken, then paused, waiting for Kagome to lower the barrier. "His problem, as you say, slayer, is that the miko made the decision, and without the customary temper tantrums he usually throws before doing anything." He turned to cast a sidelong glance at Kagome. "Tomorrow morning is acceptable, miko. First light?"
She nodded as they all stood, ignoring Inuyasha's bad-tempered muttering and cursing. "First light, we will meet you here, Sesshoumaru-sama. Good evening."
"It goes without saying that this should not be spoken of aloud," he stated quietly.
"Good evening." As the barrier dropped, he moved off into the trees, disappearing as silently as he always did, Rin trotting at his heels happily, and Jaken running to keep up.
After a few moments of silence, Kagome turned to her friends, and said, "Well, I think that I need to go back home and gather a bit more supplies. It looks as though we're going to have several extra people - and be gone for quite a while, too."
Inuyasha started to rant, but before Kagome could sit him, Sango did the honors, simply knocking him over the head with hiraikotsu. "Monk, you go with Kagome to the well, and wait for her to help with the extra stuff she's bringing back. I'll stay here and keep Inuyasha incapacitated."
Miroku just nodded, not needing to be told twice; Sango had her business face on, and one didn't argue with her when she did.
With a grin, Kagome shook her head. "Thanks, Sango. I was getting ready to sutra his mouth shut." A funny look crossed her face then, and she giggled. "I wonder if I could make a sealing spell so specific as to seal just a certain someone's mouth?"
Everyone burst out laughing at that, even Kirara finding that funny - and Shippo most of all.
~oOo~
A/N: And there we have the first chapter of my new Inupapa/Kagome fic. I hope everyone enjoyed my last one, Wicked, and that you all will also enjoy this one. Tentatively, I will be posting once a week on this, although, depending on how it goes, I may speed it up a little. For now, though... expect posts to be pretty punctual.
Amber
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