InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Unexpeced Allies Part III: Trial of the Century ❯ Chapter 18

Chapter Seventeen:

A Blast From The Past

Kagome stood before her uncle the next day, watching as he looked over the Reioseiga. He nodded approvingly and tossed the sheathed fang to her.

"A very good weapon, Kagome," Uncle Kenji approved as he picked up his own sword. "It looks like it's been well taken care of. Have you been trained?"

Kagome tied the Reioseiga to her waist and nodded. "I've had training of a sort."

"Really?" Uncle Kenji asked, his head lolling to his left shoulder. "What kind?'

"A little magic, kendo, hand-to-hand. You know, the little stuff."

Kenji stared at her in surprise, then smiled good naturedly as he sheathed his sword. "Alright, let's try hand-to-hand first, ok?"

"Ok," Kagome said, releasing her hold on Reioseiga's hilt. She stood still, her hands loose as Kenji dropped into a boxer's stance. He inwardly smirked as he circled her, watching her as she stood before him. Her entire posture lacked defense as he attacked, his fist aiming for her exposed stomach. He wasn't planning to hit her hard, especially not with her in her human form, but hard enough for her to learn to not leave herself open. She suddenly blurred before him as his fist passed through the air where her stomach was moments before.

Kenji glanced to the side, only to find Kagome clear across the dojo, watching him with that same bored expression on her face. Kenji turned toward her and charged again, this time intent on knocking her feet out from under her. As his feet swept the ground, Kagome suddenly leaped up and flipped behind him, then landed a swift kick to his right kidney. Kenji winced and spun around, only to be hit open-handed across his jaw. Kagome jumped back as Kenji fired his fist at her again, watching her face intently. Kagome's face held no clue to her next move, nor did her eyes as Kenji came closer to her. She suddenly disappeared again, and this time he felt a swift blow to his left ribs.

Kenji crotched low and watched her as he transformed into his humanoid form. Kagome did as well, watching him with the look one has when some crazy bug does the Jitter right in front of you.

Kenji knew this stance.

The noble look in her eye, the straightness of her back and her expressionless face reminded him of a very good friend of his from long ago. Kenji stood and raised his hands in defeat.

"Alright, Kagome-chan. You win."

Kagome smiled, and the deadpan look on her face and stature broke instantly as she giggled. "How'd I do? Are you ok?"

Kenji brushed himself off as Kagome came closer, checking him for wounds. "I'm fine, Kagome. Just a little surprised. You fight like an inu youkai."

Kagome saddened at this. "My sensei was an inu youkai."

"Really?" Kenji said, a black eyebrow raised quizzically. "Was he a western lord?"

Kagome bolted up, shock written on her face. "How did you-"

"You fight like an old friend of mine. I haven't seen him for almost 200 years. Do you know of whom I speak?"

Kagome nodded and Kenji patted her head gently. "Don't worry about him. I'm sure he's around here somewhere. I just haven't heard anything about him in a long time, that's all." He picked up his katana and raised it toward her. "Let's see how good you are in everything else."

+++++++

Kagome trained with her Uncle Kenji for a year as Shippou trained with Kenji's friend. As time progressed, each became stronger in their own arts until they're teachers finally accepted how much they'd grown. Kenji taught her to use her ballet training to fight as well, stating that 'a graceful enemy is a sight to behold, and a deadly one at that.'

{SF: Grampee said some crap like that to me one day. I still don't understand.}

Kagome eventually adopted Shippou by youkai terms, transfusing her blood to his. The second she did so Shippou made the Choice, changing into an Immortal/kitsune hanyou with chocolate wings tipped in white. His appearance otherwise didn't change much, except for the blue rim around the green in his eyes.

Tonight, just like any night, Kagome sat in the branches of the Sacred Tree in her humanoid form, watching the stars as she listened to Shippou sigh in his sleep. She sighed as she leaned back against the tree trunk.

"I miss you," she whispered to the stars. There seemed to be so many in the past, but now there were so few. "Do you miss me?" she asked the sky, or asked the someone in her heart. Kagome turned toward a faint rustle in the tree beside her and found Narasa landing beside her.

"Hi, jichan. Can I still call you jichan?" Kagome asked. Narasa chuckled. "Of course, Little Feather. I've missed calling you that. What troubles you?"

Kagome gazed back at the sky, tears forming in her eyes. "Ahhh…now I understand," Narasa whispered. "You are turning eighteen tomorrow and you're depressed."

Kagome gave a lethargic laugh. "No, jichan. That's not it at all."

Narasa nodded and wrapped a snow white wing around her. "I know, Little Feather. I know what troubles you." He released her suddenly, taking her hand and standing up. "Come with me, Kagome. There's something you should see."

Kagome nodded and together they flew north over modern Tokyo. Kagome marveled over the way the sparkling of the city lights twinkled at her from so many hundreds of feet above the air as they sped across the wind currents over the city. Kagome sighed and gazed ahead of her at her grandfather with a sigh.

'Who would have thought that my connection with Sesshoumaru and the past was living right in my own home,' she mused as the black volcano came into view. Narasa landed beside Kagome as they settled on the ledge of the cave. He led Kagome down past the feathers to the receiving cavern and down to the cavern where Kagome yanked the Reioseiga free. He instructed her to get into the pool and wait as he left her alone in the cave.

"Hello Kagome. We have missed you," Ligeia said. Kagome jumped in surprise, then relaxed in the waist-deep water.

"Hello Ligeia. I've missed you as well. Do you know why Jichan led me here?" she asked. The wall before her shimmered, then lit up in a blue ki as Kagome watched. A flat 52-inch crystal was suspended on the wall, the blue ki swirling inside it forming a small figure.

"We have a message for you, Kagome."

The blue ki inside the smooth crystal became Sesshoumaru, with her yellow pack beside him. He was sitting on the cave floor in the receiving room, his legs stretched out before him and bent slightly at the knees. His arms hung over his knees as he looked around, and he seemed to be dressed in a gi similar to the one she conjured up when they escaped Kenirous' dungeon. The figure sighed audibly as Sesshoumaru looked around.

"I remember," he said, his voice heavy and thick "when Rin first brought me to this place. It was her birthday, and but four days after I sent you back through the well. She insisted I bring her here."

Kagome watched fascinated as the 'TV' version of Sesshoumaru sighed and looked around again. It was then that she noticed the small orange scrap of cloth in his hands.

"Yes," he said. "I remember quite well."

Sesshoumaru's Flashback

"Sessoumaru-sama, put your hand there!" Rin instructed. Sesshoumaru did as she said, secretly wondering why he would obey a child. As his fingers touched the gigantic feathers, they warmed under his hands, then cooled just as quickly. Rin grinned and ran ahead into the darkness.

"RIN!!! Come b-" Sesshoumaru stood stunned as the feathers glowed, then more raced down the hallway to light her way down the tunnel. Sesshoumaru followed cautiously as they came to the receiving cavern. Rin giggled as Sesshoumaru stepped inside, leaving his slippers beside Rin's.

"Welcome back, Rin," a feminine voice called out to them. Sesshoumaru pulled Rin closer to him, drawing the Toukjin as he did so. Rin giggled and stepped away from him.

"That's Ligeia, Sesshoumaru-sama. Say hi Ligeia!"

Sesshoumaru stared at Rin curiously, then around him as the feminine voice spoke again.

"Hello Seishou-sensei."

Sesshoumaru visibly relaxed, the nickname seeming to disarm him totally as Rin skipped toward the dining cavern.

//////

"Rin insisted on spending as much time as possible here, in her 'nee-chan's' home. I never told her, but I always felt your presence here as well."

Kagome stifled a sob as Sesshoumaru clutched his knees like a little boy.

"Even after Rin mated and had pups of her own, she still insisted that I bring her here. She had her first pup here. She married here." At this Sesshoumaru lowered his head to his arms, his voice muffled and pained.

"And it was here, last night, that she died."

A tear slid down Kagome's cheek as she watched him lift his head, the hurt in his eyes reflecting through the crystal.

"She asked for you everyday, and even on her deathbed she wanted to know if she would see you again. I told her I was not sure." He sighed, his shoulders slumping as his clawed hands fidgeted with the black sash of his gi.

"I do not regret sending you back to your time. I did it to protect you, whether or not you believe that is up to you. I would never hurt you, and would give my very life to save yours, which was why I did what I did. I would rather you live without me than die for me." He ran his hands through his hair, allowing them to slide slowly down his face.

"Not for someone like me."

Kagome gave a quiet sob as he looked toward the yellow pack. He opened it and pulled out a small golden heart-shaped locket, holding it up for her to see.

"Hahaue gave me this not long after Rin's birthday. She informed me that this was a present from you, and inside was a painting of you. I rarely take it off." He replaced the necklace around his neck and looked forward again.

"My hands are stained with the blood of thousands, my soul dark and tainted. Yet you, and Rin, still loved me.

"Someone as pure as you, and as innocent as she, loved me.

"I never knew what I had in you until I did not have it anymore. I am sure you or Shippou still have the protection stone but it is not enough for what you have given me." Sesshoumaru's arms returned to his knees again, only this time he stared straight ahead, seeming to peer right into Kagome's soul.

"In the case we do not meet again, I want you to know that I loved you. I denied it at first, fighting against the reality even after you were kidnapped. It was only after you went through the well that I realized how strong my feelings were for you. Forgive me, koi, for hurting you. " He sighed in long suffering and turned to Kagome's pack again.

"Now that Rin is gone, I suddenly feel alone. How strange."

His hands passed over his face again as Kagome waded closer to him. Tears slid down her face to the water as Sesshoumaru hid his face in his hands, the most vulnerable Kagome had ever seen him.

"What am I going to do now?" he whispered like a lost child. The image faded slowly away as he stood up and reached down for the pack. Kagome whirled around, trying to find where the image came from.

"Ligeia! Play it again!" Kagome commanded, her hands running over the crystal as Sesshoumaru finally disappeared.

"I'm sorry. I cannot."

Kagome pounded on the crystal over and over again, demanding that Ligeia replay the message, or at least show her where it came from. Narasa heard the commotion from his room and moved quickly toward her. Kagome cried despondently as she slowly sank to the bottom of the pool. Narasa quickly dragged her out and waited as she sputtered for air. She continue to cry until she dozed off, whispering Sesshoumaru's name in her sleep.

----

SF: Awww-ack! {::turns blue as Kagome chokes her to death::}

Kagome: {::as Ag and the others try to pry her off::} Why!? What are you trying to do here, kill me?

SF: {::taking in a much needed gust of air::} Um, I thought that's what you were doing.

Silver Fox: {::winces when Kagome kicks him in the shin::} Could you not rile her up please? We are trying to keep her from killing you.

SF: Yeah yeah, I hear you. I'm not paying you any attention though. Um, I don't have a recommendation, due to the short life of this story. From now on, all the recommendations will be on 'TBW' if you want to see.