InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Whispered Dreams ❯ Is It Enough? ( Chapter 13 )

[A/N]

Yume: I suppose an apology would be no good here for how long I’ve made you wait. To say the least, I’m not dead, despite popular belief. At first, it was writer’s block. Then exams came up. Then when I was finally going to update again, my computer decides to catch a virus and everything went kaput.

CF: Yume-san and CF have been out of commission for over a month! Waaah!

Yume: Yeah, what a great way to start off the new year. Well, I think I got my comp back in order now, and it should be okay for the time being. I’m sorry for the hectic wait, and I’ll try to update everything to make it up to you all.

Recap!

Last time, Kagome and Inuyasha become fast friends. But the ghost’s unwillingness to reveal her precious demon lord has the hanyou VERY frustrated. Meanwhile, Sesshomaru’s meeting with the other lords leave him thoughtful about his future mate, and as he visits Kagome on the night of the full moon, he tries to revive her once more with the Tenseiga. A resolve is made within his heart—if Kagome remains in his arms by the time day breaks, he plans on making her his…

[Disclaimer]: O cruel fate. I am to be cursed with nothing but pen and paper—or in this case, computer, in which to express my woes that are spawned from my grief…the torment of not possessing that which I desire…the rights to Inuyasha.     ~*~   Whispered Dreams By: Youkai Yume   Chapter 13: Is It Enough?  

He did not know how long he slept, nor did he care for that matter. All the demon lord knew was that he had never had a more blissful slumber in all of his years. Sesshomaru had often found his nights restless, often turning in his futon as the waking hours of the darkness plague him with a discomfort he cannot fathom. More than once, he would find himself riddled with dreams that were not entirely nightmares, but he couldn’t describe them as pleasant either. They would be unexpected, obscure in meaning vague in their visions. Often times, they left him distraught and frustrated in the morning, and before the veils of sleep finally lifted from his brilliant golden eyes, he would be with nothing but a sense of emptiness.

Sesshomaru could never remember what he dreamed about, but there was one particular one that he remembered. The reason why it remained so clear in his mind was because SHE was in it. They were both on a cliff, overlooking a vast forest. His lands. The Western Lands. The sun was high in the sky, their rays touching over the canopy of trees. Despite the fact that it was daylight, Kagome was not in her transparent form. She couldn’t be, for Sesshomaru remembered holding her hand in the dream.

The girl would be immersed in admiring the beauty of the landscape, while he himself would be admiring her own. She would turn; her features alight in a soft smile, cheeks rosy, eyes sparkling with tenderness. Her lips would form words to him—words that he could never hear, but listened to nonetheless, watching her mouth intently.

Now, it would not start off like an unpleasant dream, for admittedly, the demon lord knew he was completely content. But somewhere along the way, Kagome’s smile would fade from her lips, only to be replaced by a frown. His golden eyes had flickered to her sapphire irises; confused to see them reflecting quiet sadness. Sesshomaru’s grip would tighten around her hand, but to his aching heart, he found that he wasn’t holding it. His fingers grasped nothing but air. He looked down to her hand to see that they were once more transparent. Her whole body went back to its’ translucent state. Tears fell from her cheeks, and he found himself in despair. Despair that he could not wipe them from her eyes.

Then she would do something that would fill him with shock, elation, and yet at the same time extreme torment. She would stand on her tiptoes…and kiss him. As much as a ghost could kiss a mortal. Sesshomaru could always feel the warmth of the simple act…it burned his skin, and he swore he could almost feel her lips against his. When she drew back in the dream, she would always leave him with a sense of loss. He craved her, for more of her. He always would.

Kagome would speak once more, but of course, he couldn’t hear her. But he could very well read her lips. ‘Good Bye,’ was what she said. Before he could react, she faded from sight, her outline of a body turning to shadows. The demon lord would reach out to grab her…but it would be too late. She had already disappeared.

He knew it was naught but a dream, but Sesshomaru couldn’t help but feel as if in that dream, she really did fade from his life. Kagome left him. It was a horrifying, gut-wrenching notion, one that brought something akin to fear into his demon soul. He wasn’t used to feeling such things, but then again…when it concerned Kagome, there were a lot of things he felt that he hadn’t before.

Sesshomaru guessed that was how Kagome must have felt when he was gone for such a long time—trying to run away from the emotions that he felt for her. Upon realizing this, the demon lord felt even more of a monster.

‘I promised her, I would never leave her…ever again…’ He thought somewhere in the far recesses of his subconscious. In an effort to draw her even closer to himself, Sesshomaru tightened his hold upon Kagome. To his delight, he found that her solid frame was pressed against his chest, and sought to embrace her even tighter. ‘Oh god, please…she’s still here…’

As soon as the thought echoed in his mind, her body dissipated from his grasp, and he groped nothing but air. The sun began to burn at his eyelids, ushering the coming of dawn. Yet, the Taiyoukai groaned in disappointment, not wanting the night to end, for surely it meant that Kagome possibly wouldn’t be with him. Without opening his eyes, his hands subconsciously began to grope around the cool grass for her warm body, only to find empty space.

‘No…’ He thought, and against his will his eyes finally opened to see the sun rising over the horizon. Sesshomaru sat upright, noting that Kagome was no where near him, nor was she anywhere in sight.

"Kagome?" The demon lord ushered, moving to stand. The familiar dread of when he thought Kagome was harmed the other day flooded through his body once more. "Kagome!" He called out again. The morning breeze brought the scent of orchids and vanilla to his nose, and he immediately calmed. At least he knew she wasn’t gone…

Following his nose, he realized that the scent was coming from above him. Looking up, Sesshomaru spotted the all too familiar figure of a girl sitting atop the blooming sakura branches. The sunlight filtered through the treetops, illuminating the forgotten princess with an ethereal light. Her scent was laced in that of deep sadness, her lips set in a bittersweet smile.

And Sesshomaru could see why. The rays of sunlight reflected right through her TRANSPARENT form. He couldn’t stop the sigh that escaped her lips, the torturous pain that clawed at his insides returning. But he hid it behind his emotionless mask well. He couldn’t let her see how much their second failure affected him. He couldn’t let her know how much the sight of her, knowing how close they had been, yet so far apart tormented him.

His hand by his side gripped Tenseiga bitterly for a second before slackening. Taking a deep breath, he called out to her once more. This time, softer, gentler. She peered down at him, as if stepping out of a dazed daydream, and gave him a sad smile.

"Ohayo, Sesshomaru-kun," She greeted in a whisper. Before she could blink, the demon lord was beside her on the tree branch, sitting as close to her that was possible for a demon to be with a ghost.

"Ohayo, Kagome-chan," He nodded, giving her a comforting smile. She averted her eyes back to the pink and golden sunrise, painting the skies with its brilliant color.

"Another day," Kagome started, her voice oddly empty. The demon lord didn’t take his eyes off of her, the aching growing worse with each second that he studied her melancholy aura.

"Hai…just another…ordinary day."

The ghost of a girl’s head bowed down so that her bangs shadowed her eyes. The demon lord caught a glimmer trailing down her cheek, falling to the earth, and faded before it hit the ground. He couldn’t even wipe away her tears…Such a life that was lived…the demon lord truly hated the cards that were constantly dealt to him.

"Such a shame…" Kagome muttered, a light chuckle escaping her throat despite of herself and she immediately turned the other way. "Gomen. I suppose in a sense, I sort of find this funny in a sort of sadistic way…Always getting our hopes raised for no good reason."

The demon lord’s eyes softened at this, and he shook his head, inhaling the sweet morning air. "In a way it is…but then, we are all, merely mortals. It is in our nature to do so, to desire things that we often can never have. And yet, being the fools that mortals usually are, we persist. Even though we know that it is all but impossible."

Sapphire irises glanced over at the seemingly calm Taiyoukai, whose lips were also set in a bittersweet smile, as if he had already accepted his fate.

"But…" The demon lord looked over at her at the sound of her voice, "Is it enough?" Her words were laced in deep sorrow, and sullen dread. He could do nothing but stare back, wishing nothing more than to say how sorry he was for putting her through this emotional roller coaster.

"This Sesshomaru will not lie to you," He said stoically. "It is never enough for me," She lowered her head once more, "But if that is the only way that I can ever be with you, then I suppose that’s all I can really ask for." He lowered his gaze to hers, so that she had no choice to look at his flawless face, which surprisingly was set in a smile. "I’m still here with you, aren’t I?"

This brought a smile to her lips as well, and she nodded, a light blush coming onto her pale cheeks. "Hai, you are. And that makes me glad," She admitted. "I half expected you to storm off in a huff again like last time."

"Oh ye, of little faith," Sesshomaru chuckled, glad that their uneasiness melted away. They both turned their attention back to the rising sun, which now touched the lands with its’ warm light. The two of them sat in comfortable silence, merely enjoying the other’s company in the early morning, as it always had been—ever since he was a child.

She would never know how much he cherished this routine, this ritual almost.

"Sessho-kun?" Her melodic voice asked him.

"Hn?"

"Why do you suppose…it didn’t work this time either?"

The Taiyoukai thought for a moment, pondering the error in his attempt last night. "I believe…that in order for the Tenseiga to work, the person in question has to be either mortally wounded, or dead. In addition to which, it is guaranteed that they need a body and a soul…"

"But I’m dead, I had a body, I’m pretty sure my soul is still here," Kagome observed.

"Yes, but last night you weren’t DEAD. Technically, you were a part of the living. I don’t think my sword can tell the difference, and to Tenseiga, you were perfectly fine," Sesshomaru clarified, tapping the hilt of his blade. "Useless thing really…"

"Oh, I think I get it," Kagome muttered, biting her lower lip. Running slender fingers through silver locks, Lord Sesshomaru gave a sigh and shook his head, giving the girl a reassuring look.

"It’s alright, Kagome. Do not dwell on the past. It was worth a try, and I couldn’t help but wonder, if only for a moment, what it would like to have you with me for a little while longer."

Surprised at his sudden straightforwardness, Kagome blushed and looked at her transparent feet, hands wringing in her lap. Sesshomaru noticed that she was biting her lower lip again, a habit that she could never really get rid of. He didn’t mind. He found it completely endearing, and something else as he continued to watch her swollen lip get assaulted from her teeth.

He swallowed.

"Kagome?"

She gazed up at him curiously.

"…The next time that there is a full moon…" The demon lord found his voice hitched in his throat as he tried to voice his thoughts, unable to look away from her tempting lips. "…May I..." His words seemed to trail off after that, and he was unable to finish the sentence. Kagome tilted her head to the side in confusion, waiting for the next word that never seemed to come.

"May you…what?" She prodded.

He looked away, almost embarrassed at even asking her in the first place. ‘May I kiss you?’ Was what ran through his head. Of course, he could never say it aloud, and he thought himself a fool for almost letting it slip, for giving into temptation even for a second.

"It’s nothing," He scoffed, jumping down from his perch and landed onto the ground. The ghost of a girl stared after him in silent confusion the entire time, her figure dimming for a second to disappear from the branch to his side. "Forgive me, but I have been gone from my domain for a quite a while. In my haste to see you, I have forgotten that I had guests at my castle. If I do not return—"

"They’ll start to worry about you," Kagome nodded, smiling. "I understand. You should get going."

He moved to stand directly in front of her, their bodies separated by mere inches. Her scent overwhelmed him, as it always did. "I shall see you tonight," Sesshomaru promised with a tone of finality.

Wordlessly, she watched as he set off toward the castle, his silver form fading into the woods. All the while, the girl couldn’t help but smile fondly at him. Yes, it was never enough, but as long as he was always there with her, perhaps it wasn’t so bad after all. ~*~  

His pride should have kept him away. He should have left her all alone with her precious mystery lord. The hanyou argued with himself that he was right, that she spent the night of the full moon all by her lonesome just as he predicted. But if the "milord" person actually came like Kagome had so faithfully believed…

Inuyasha couldn’t help it. He had prodded her to tell him who she was hiding for a while, and when she wouldn’t tell him, it made him even MORE curious. ‘It’s her business, why should I care?’ He thought to himself. Yet, despite that, he found himself heading back to the shrine at dawn’s first light. He found himself in fact caring—against his will.

What was that saying? "Curiosity killed the cat?" He wondered if the same concept applied to dogs…then came to the conclusion that cats were weak and couldn’t handle whatever it was curious about. He was strong; therefore, he’d be perfectly fine. Besides, when did he follow stupid sayings and analogies? They were always beyond his comprehension…

Needless to say, Kikyo has been showing signs of annoyance at his constant absence. He had to admit, Kagome wasn’t the only one who kept secrets. Inuyasha had never once spoken to the priestess about the ghost of a girl that he had begun to visit frequently. The one that he had formed a friendship with. The one that he unwillingly had grown attached to in such a short amount of time.

"Where are you always disappearing off to, Inuyasha? Why won’t you ever talk to me anymore? I hardly ever see you," Kikyo’s voice echoed in his head. The hanyou’s lips thinned, remembering the miko back home. A part of him felt extremely guilty. Guilty at always leaving her behind because he felt…because he felt like he was beginning to drift away. Inuyasha wasn’t sure when it had begun to happen, but it did.

All he could give her for an answer was his disconcerting silence. Kikyo only stared back with cold, calculating eyes, and he knew that she was probing him for an answer. Searching his amber orbs for some sign of the truth. That was why most of the time, he tried to sneak off before the miko knew he was gone.

‘Why am I keeping it a secret from Kikyo?’ The hanyou wondered to himself. Perhaps somewhere inside, he knew what the miko’s reaction would be. He knew and he was afraid…afraid for Kagome. He was almost afraid that the priestess would try to take her away from him.

Shaking his head, the half-demon decided to push all thoughts of her out of his mind. ‘Think happy thoughts,’ Inuyasha persisted, and continued on his way to the shrine. When he got the steps, he stopped, looking with conflicting eyes to the top. All of a sudden, Inuyasha felt a foreboding feeling in the pit of his stomach. As if something was at the top of the shrine that wasn’t meant to be seen by his eyes.

It crept all the way up to his spine, and a shiver passed through his body. As much as his feet wanted to move forward, he found himself unable to do so. Inuyasha let a sigh escape his lips. ‘Somehow, I just know that whoever it is that Kagome was expecting is up there with her.’ Although the more assertive part of him wanted to run up those steps, point and yell "AHA!" At the mystery culprit, the part with dignity and respect for his friend overrode him. Wow, creepy.

"Feh! I don’t need to spy on her…" Inuyasha huffed to himself, and turned heel to leave. Just as he was about to head back into the woods, a familiar scent carried by the breeze caught his senses. It was the familiar scent of orchids and vanilla. Kagome’s scent, of course. But…there was some other scent mixed in with hers; an all too familiar scent that brought a growl to his throat. It was that of violets and fresh pine.

The hanyou could never forget it if his life depended on it. As if following the train of his thoughts, a silver figure appeared at the top of the shrine steps. Immediately, Inuyasha took cover in the bushes, hoping that his brother didn’t spot him. He didn’t Sesshomaru had his head turned slightly to the side, talking it seemed to someone.

Amber eyes narrowed when he saw the transparent figure beside the demon lord. ‘So…this was who she was seeing,’ He growled to himself. He should have known…after all, he was in his brother’s lands, wasn’t he? What other lord did he know? Certainly a human lord wouldn’t go near Kagome. Not to mention…he had entirely forgotten the fact that he had caught Sesshomaru’s scent near the shrine when he first ran into Kagome. Gods, how dense could he be?

Things were beginning to make sense. That would explain why Kagome seemed to know about him even though they had never met. That would explain why Sesshomaru always disappeared at night when he was younger. It would explain why sometimes he smelled a feminine scent on his brother, and he had always assumed that he was out rutting some female demoness. He had to admit, this made much more sense…after all, his brother never even touched or even sent a sideways glance at his concubines that were given to him from the human daimyos as gifts.

Yes, everything was beginning to make sense. And yet, it brought the hanyou no comfort. He felt a bubbling sensation in his chest. One that burned and sent his blood boiling in an angered frenzy. But that wasn’t the emotion that clouded the most through his eyes. The most apparent that was reflected in his amber eyes was that of jealousy.

At the top of the shrine steps, Sesshomaru muttered something to the ghost of a girl; his eyes serious yet calm. Inuyasha strained his ears to catch what it was that was being said, but to no avail. Whatever it was, it brought a smile to Kagome’s lips, for she had a content look on her face as she gazed after his brother the whole time as he descended the steps.

Inuyasha sunk even lower in the bushes, trying his best to hide from his brother. He vaguely remembered how to mask his scent, but not enough to be definite in security. ‘Dammit, maybe I should’ve paid more attention to Sesshomaru when he was giving me lessons on this kind of stuff…’ He thought angrily in his head.

When the demon lord reached the bottom of the stairs, he seemed to freeze on the spot, his senses suddenly alert. Inuyasha unknowingly held his breath as Sesshomaru glanced from side to side before golden eyes rested on the very bush that he was occupying. For a minute, the hanyou feared that he had been found out. Surprisingly enough, the most that the Taiyoukai did was take one step forward before stopping.

Inuyasha watched as his brother turned his head to a different direction, nose picking up some unknown scent and followed it instead. When he was sure that Sesshomaru was out of earshot, the hanyou let out a sigh of relief.

Getting up from his hiding place, he turned his attention to the more important matter at hand. The ghostly figure at the top of the steps remained there for a couple of seconds more before she disappeared from the spot. Inuyasha had no doubt in his mind that she was back in her shrine.

Narrowing amber eyes, the hanyou moved swiftly up the stone steps. It was about time that he had a little chat with Kagome… ~*~  

Usually when the demon lord was with his best friend, he would be in a good mood and planned to be in one for the rest of the day. However, this wasn’t one of those days where he could be silently content, for the bitter responsibilities of his life were reminded. Mainly because a certain scent drifted his way. That of sulfur and blood—the scent of a certain other demon lord that Sesshomaru wished more than often not to be affiliated with.

Upon sensing the dark demon’s presence approaching the place of his secret solitude in which he held sacred above all else, Sesshomaru knew he had to come and find Naraku first. He couldn’t risk anyone finding out about Kagome, especially not Naraku. God knows what he would say—or do.

Vaguely, Sesshomaru wondered why the dark lord was not at the Western Domain where he had left the other lords. It wasn’t long before he spotted Naraku walking casually through the forest, almost humming as it were.

His crimson eyes shifted to where the Taiyoukai stood when he noticed that he wasn’t alone in his morning walk.

"Good morning, Sesshomaru-sama, I didn’t expect you to be out here so early," Naraku said silkily, smiling a smile that spoke of false courtesy and hidden meaning. The demon lord moved closer to where the darker lord stood, pulling his silver silk kimono with a swish.

"Nor did I expect you to be out here as well," He answered back stoically. "Tell me, why are you not back at the castle with the other lords? Or have they left already as well?"

Naraku played with his own wavy black tresses, red eyes glinting as he observed the silver Taiyoukai. "The other demon lords are still there. Probably just awakening now. No doubt, they will leave shortly after."

"You still have not answered my first question," Sesshomaru pressed.

He chuckled to himself, shaking his head. "I only went out for a short little walk before breakfast. Your lands are very beautiful this time of year, Lord Sesshomaru. I thought I might enjoy the scenery while I’m here." Naraku glanced around as he said this, "Besides, there is a rather unique scent that caught my attention…Orchids and vanilla, yes, that’s what it is…"

Sesshomaru stiffened at the dark demon lord’s words, though seemingly calm on the outside; golden eyes reflected a bit of tension. ‘Kagome’s scent…’

"Rather strange, don’t you agree? I don’t think orchids are in bloom this season. But you must have seen them, ne?" He said coyly, "You’re scent is absolutely covered in the sweet smell of it." His lips curved in an almost knowing smile as he saw the silver dog demon narrow golden eyes at him. He didn’t miss the flicker of worry that flashed over his orbs.

But it was quickly masked as Sesshomaru scoffed, turning his head to the side.

"Your senses are dulling, Naraku. Or rather, making you delusional. There are no orchids, though with the fresh new array of flora as of late, I suppose you could easily mistake them for orchids. It is after all, spring," Sesshomaru responded smoothly. "But is that really all?" the demon lord added with a warning tone to his voice, as if knowing that the dark Taiyoukai was up to something.

"My, suspicious, aren’t we?" Naraku laughed, moving to a nearby rock to sit down. "We’re allies, aren’t we? Or…has that changed as of yesterday?"

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "If you’re referring to the meeting last night, my refusal to your marriage proposition with your daughter was entirely my decision. Personal feelings towards you were not involved, and I hope that this doesn’t bring cause our alliance to wane," the demon lord said curtly.

"Of course not," Naraku nodded, "I was just…teasing." His voice held that of sickening mischief, and he chuckled one last time to himself before standing from his seat. "Besides, I should ask what you yourself are doing out here so early as well. As host to the other lords, I expected you to always be present with us, not taking a leisurely stroll."

Sesshomaru bit back the urge to swipe that smile off of Naraku’s face. He really was getting on his last nerve, questioning and probing him with those crimson eyes. Naraku was touching upon a subject that he’d rather avoid.

"That," He replied coldly, "is none of your concern. These are my lands, and I can do whatever I please."

"Touché," the dark demon lord bowed, "Forgive me for being curious." Naraku brushed past Sesshomaru, and started on his way back to the castle, looking expectedly at him. "It’s about time I get back. Perhaps you should do the same?"

"I shall escort you," He nodded, making sure that the dark lord is going where he said he would. With that, the two of them started off in a comfortable silence towards the Western Domain. Too bad it wouldn’t last, much to Sesshomaru’s disappointment.

"I have to be honest with you, Sesshomaru-sama. The scent of orchids wasn’t the only thing that brings me out here," Naraku started slowly, eyes glued to the path in front of them with a wistful smile on his lips. The demon lord said nothing, hoping that if he didn’t say a word, Naraku would follow his example and do the same. It didn’t work. "I sensed something else. Yes…a great power, pulsing, glowing in the very heart of your lands…"

This seemed to catch his attention, and glancing at the dark lord from the corner of his golden eye, showing mild interest. "Oh?"

Naraku’s eyes clouded over with some sort of unknown emotion. "Have you ever heard of the Shikon no Tama?"

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, the words ringing a bell somewhere in his mind. "I believe so. It is a legend, is it not?"

"Yes," Naraku nodded, "As the story goes, the jewel was forged when a powerful priestess fought a horde of formidable demons. At the brink of death, she used the last of her strength to seal them in solid stalagmite. In doing so, the jewel of four souls burst from her body, the very embodiment of her soul and the epitome of her power."

"Fascinating, I’m sure Naraku. But I fail to see what this has to do with anything."

"Oh, I’m not finished yet," he continued, "I’m getting there. You see, as pure as the priestess’s soul is, just a little tint of black and the jewel will darken. Like crystal clear water with just a speck of mud will make the water murky," Naraku closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. "Just a single shard of the sacred jewel brings immeasurable power. Imagine what the whole jewel can do? Legend has it; it has the ability to grant any wish that the holder desires.

Well, you can imagine what kind of attention something like that draws," he laughed, eyes glinting, and Sesshomaru knew he was also implying to himself. "To prevent it from falling into the wrong hands, over the years the jewel has been passed down from priestess to priestess to look after it in hopes of keeping it pure."

"Forgive me, Naraku-sama, but you have yet to show me how this concerns us," Sesshomaru bit out, getting rather impatient."

"Patience, milord," Naraku sneered, "I think you will find the next part quite interesting. You see, at some point in time, it was decided that it should be given in the care of a princess, whose innocence and kind heart was believed to be more pure than any priestess."

This little bit did indeed catch Sesshomaru’s attention, though his mask gave nothing away. A vague memory pulled in the back of his mind, surfacing a certain night when a lonely ghost revealed her tragic past to him. This story seemed to be…suspiciously accurate to how Kagome claimed she died.

"What…happened to this hime?" He inquired blandly, though the hint of interest didn’t go unnoticed by the darker of the demon lords. A wily smile appeared on Naraku’s lips.

"The girl disappeared one day, taking with her the jewel, and leaving a legend in her wake. Many believed that she simply ran away, using the jewel for her own selfish reasons. In any case, the supposed parents of the princess fell into a state of depression after she was gone. They never spoke of their daughter again, so it all remained a mystery."

Sesshomaru let out a sigh. The princess of legend was corrupt; she wanted to use it for her own selfish gain. It couldn’t possibly be his Kagome.

"Merely an old wives’ tale I’m sure," he waved it aside with a flick of his wrist. "Besides, even if it were true, you said it yourself. The princess took with her the jewel when she disappeared, so it virtually doesn’t even exist. Not anymore."

They were not just outside of Sesshomaru’s castle gates. The guards readily opened the doors for the two demon lords to enter. However, Naraku didn’t step onto the grounds. Not quite yet.

His smile deepened, crimson eyes glittering as if he knew something that Sesshomaru didn’t. "It’s no wives’ tale. I’ve seen the jewel for myself. It’s quite beautiful, Lord Sesshomaru."

"You’ve seen it?" Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow, his lips thinned.

"True, it was a long time ago when I did. I haven’t seen nor heard about it since, however. That is, until I entered your lands. I could sense it…it’s a very unique sensation, pulsing through your veins. There’s nothing like it."

"Maybe it was something you ate," the demon lord bit back rather sarcastically. This caused Naraku to laugh, his deep voice resonating throughout the forest.

"Good god, no. Actually, I wasn’t sure it was the Shikon at first. The sensation was very vague. But it was stronger than ever last night." He ran slender fingers through his black inky hair, inhaling deeply. "It still lingers…even now. I just had a strange feeling that it’s still here somewhere. Oh well, perhaps I was just imagining it."

With that, Naraku went through the gates, the smile never leaving his face. "Still, one cannot help but be…intrigued. Excuse me, Sesshomaru-sama. I shall make preparations to leave."

Sesshomaru stared after him, deep in his own thought as the words of their conversation swam in his head. It certainly left him a lot to ponder about. Could it be mere coincidence that Naraku sensed the legendary Shikon no Tama on the same night of the full moon? And how did Kagome die again? Wasn’t there some sort of jewel involved as well?

The demon lord wasn’t sure himself. The night she told him of her tragic past had been too long ago. He only remembered bits and pieces of the story, but not enough to be confident in his theory. Shaking it from his mind, the demon lord entered his own castle as well.

He had to see the others off, mainly Naraku. Having him here was more than uncomfortable. And if he had any connection at all with Kagome, then he definitely wanted the dark demon lord off of his lands.

Lord Sesshomaru found himself anticipating night to fall, as he usually did. Perhaps it was time he asked her one more time about her death, no matter how much of a painful subject to touch. For some reason, he felt the extreme need to check if Kagome was safe. But it would have to wait. The moon would not rise for hours. ~*~    

Despite the failed attempt that morning, Kagome found herself incapable of being depressed. After the reassuring look as well as words that Sesshomaru had given her, she couldn’t help but feel strangely happy. Although it was also a part of her deepest desire to once again experience life, she was perfectly content just being with the demon lord.

What these last few days of being without him taught her was how much she had taken for granted. Kagome would never ask for more now than merely to be in his presence. In a way the Tenseiga sort of strengthened their bond instead of weakening it like she had originally thought. It proved that no matter what; he would always come back to her. And she would always be waiting.

The ghost of a girl found herself humming softly to herself. A cheery tune compared to the depressing one that had been plaguing the night air as of late. She floated back into the shrine, barely able to wait for tonight when Sesshomaru would return.

‘Geez, I’m smiling like a maniac!’ Kagome noted to herself. But really…she was a lost cause. Kagome recalled how sweet and tender he had been with her last night. A blush crept upon her pale cheeks. She wasn’t used to the demon lord being so affectionate with her, and so openly about it too. ‘He was so warm…’ She thought, blushing even brighter when as she thought of the feel of his arms holding her throughout the night crept into her mind.

God…it had felt so wonderful…the scent of his hair, his breath on her skin, the warmth of his embrace. ‘W-Why am I thinking about him this way?!’ Kagome mentally chastised to herself. ‘He’s my best friend! And I…’ She paused, ‘…I couldn’t possibly be…’

"What’s so funny?" A course voice broke through her thoughts. Kagome’s transparent form flashed for a second in surprise before turning around to face her visitor—or intruder, however you wanted to look at it. She let out a relieved sigh upon seeing a pair of amber eyes.

"Inuyasha! Don’t scare me like that!" She glared, clutching her chest. "I thought you were someone dangerous!" A weak chuckle escaped her lips but soon died out when she realized that he wasn’t laughing along with her (which she found odd, because he loved scaring the daylights out of her).

"Oh? Dangerous?" He almost growled out, his eyes set in a gaze, which Kagome could only describe as angry.

"…Yeah…" She replied, her eyes narrowing in confusion. "Inuyasha are you okay?"

"Me? Oh yeah, yeah. But enough about me," He took one step towards the ghost, amber depths transfixed in a stare that seemed to pierce through her soul. It was as if he was trying to read her eyes. She suddenly found herself very uncomfortable. "I forgot to ask YOU about how your meeting with your ‘lord’ went," Inuyasha all but spat out the word lord, and Kagome swore she saw him bare his teeth partially.

A suspicious feeling pooled in her belly, and she became even more uncomfortable. He tapped his clawed finger impatiently against his folded arms, and Kagome feared for a second that he knew.

"Um, it was okay?" Kagome answered in a questioning tone, hoping that the hanyou was pleased by the answer.

"Really? Then tell me something because I’m dying to know," Inuyasha continued, "how’s my brother?"

Kagome let out a gasp, her hand coming up to cover her lips and her sapphire eyes wide with shock. The forest was strangely quiet that night, and it could only be described as awkward. After a few seconds Kagome regained her composure and averted her gaze to Inuyasha’s suddenly interesting feet.

"So…you know then…" She said quietly. He snorted and turned his back to her, his expression was that of a scowl.

"Came as a bit of a nasty surprise. Out of all the possible people that you wanted to see so badly that you had to ditch me, it had to be my BASTARD of a brother," He growled, his gruff voice getting louder by the second. "What the HELL WERE YOU THINKING?!" Inuyasha turned to her now, fists clenched and shaking, "He’s DANGEROUS Kagome!"

"He’s my FRIEND! And he’s NOT dangerous!" She yelled back, quickly coming to the defense of the demon lord.

Inuyasha snarled, "Just because he can’t kill you doesn’t mean that he’s not dangerous! You think he cares about you?! Trust me on this one, he’s just after something from you!"

"What could he possibly want from me? I have nothing! You don’t know him!"

"BULLSHIT!" Inuyasha took one step forward, a fire in his eyes that made even the ghost falter for a moment. "That’s a load of bullshit! Don’t you dare tell me that I don’t know him, HE’S MY BROTHER!!"

Inuyasha wasn’t sure why he felt so angry at Kagome. Why all of a sudden, he felt…betrayed. Yes, that was the feeling, like she had betrayed him in a way by trying to protect Sesshomaru. All he could do was continue to let the words fly out of his mouth, not caring if they hurt the girl or not. He just wanted to relieve his anger.

"I don’t know what lies he’s been feeding you, but you don’t know him like I do! He’s a heartless bastard! I know more than anyone."

"I can safely say that you don’t," Kagome retorted quite boldly. Inuyasha crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow and waited—just waited for her to justify what she meant. "You may have known him all your life, but I’ve known him longer! I’ve known him since he was only a small child, when he lost his mother and father. I’ve known him before he became demon lord, and I knew him before you were born." Kagome closed her eyes, remembering the young demon prince’s face so vividly in her mind; from his times of utter happiness to that of suffering. Yes, she knew Sesshomaru…very well. "And he is NOT heartless," Kagome said with a tone of finality, as if that was the end of it.

Of course, it was far from it. The hanyou hadn’t put in his final two cents yet. "Maybe not around you…" He said solemnly, looking away from her brilliant sapphire eyes. "You don’t know what he’s capable of! All the lives he’s taken or the dirty dealings he’s done! He’s not some innocent kid, Kagome! He’s a killer, a DEMON that doesn’t think twice about killing women and children!"

Kagome tensed, processing his words. A bitter smile played on her lips. "I don’t believe that," she said quietly. "I mean…I know that he’s a youkai, and that he’s not exactly a saint. But despite everything that he’s done, I know he has a good heart. I’ve seen it. So please…please try to understand…" She whispered desperately. Inuyasha only looked at her, conflict raging within himself.

"You don’t know the hell he puts me through sometimes…all those years of being looked down upon. Sesshomaru practically looked at me like I was unworthy to be of the same race, let alone being of the same blood!" Inuyasha spat, "Do you know what it feels like to be in someone’s shadow, Kagome?"

She could only stare back at him, a sad look coming over her face. "I…know that he wasn’t the perfect brother. And I know that a part of you will always hold a grudge against him for that. But it would be a lie to say that he doesn’t care about you, Inuyasha!" Kagome’s gaze rested upon his amber orbs.

"Feh!" Inuyasha scoffed, giving her an incredulous glare. "What makes you so sure?" He challenged.

"Because if he really was as heartless as you say, why would he even keep you in the first place? Why did he care for you when he could’ve have just thrown you out?"

The hanyou paused, "He was just obligated by father," He spat back.

"God, how dense are you, you BAKA?!" She shouted, her temper rising. "After he became demon lord, he could have done whatever he wished of you! Do you think he would have kept you out of the sheer memory of your father? He held a grudge against him for falling for a human, and your very presence reminded him of the betrayal that Lord Inutaisho dealt to his own mother!"

Inuyasha only listened, a bit of a surprise creeping into his thoughts, but he didn’t let it show.

"Why then, would he have kept you? He’s your brother, Inuyasha! Family! Think about it, both of you are the only one left in your clan. He couldn’t turn you away…" She disappeared for a brief second, only to reappear in front of the silent hanyou, her voice gentle. "Tell me, Inuyasha, that there was never an instant that you saw this one truth."

He growled, angrier with her than ever. How dare she defended his brother? He hated her for taking Sesshomaru’s side over his. But most of all, he was angry because he couldn’t find it in him to say it. ‘Because it’s not true…’ The memory of the night he caught the firefly came back into his mind, the one night where his brother showed an inkling of kindness. It was why he couldn’t kill him when Sesshomaru tried to take the Tetsusaiga, and he knew it was the same reason that his brother didn’t kill him either.

Kagome smiled softly; "He feels it. And…I know for a fact that you feel it too."

"Grrr," Inuyasha turned away once more, his fists shaking. He wouldn’t accept that she was right, that Sesshomaru does care. "Shut up! He still treated me like some kind of common mutt, and threw me out! And I will NEVER forgive him for that!"

It was Kagome’s turn to lose her patience. "Oh stop it with the lies! You RAN AWAY and you know it! It was your choice!"

"I HAD TO! After the way he looked down on me, I would have preferred it if he just abandoned me to begin with!" He shouted. He knew somewhere in the back of his mind that these words weren’t true, that he was again, only trying to let out all of his rage. But he couldn’t stop. "He doesn’t care about anyone but himself! Just look at how he treats you!"

Kagome narrowed her eyes at this, "What are you talking about?"

"You said so yourself, didn’t you? That he practically left you all alone for the past week? Giving you the cold shoulder?"

"He…He came last night!" She retorted.

"Feh, yeah! For his own convenience! He treats you like some kimono that he can just pick up from the closet whenever he’s ready to wear. He doesn’t see you as a friend, Kagome!"

"SHUT UP!" She screamed, tears prickling her eyes and for a wild second, Inuyasha felt something-icy cold wash over his face, spreading to the very tips of his toes. He shivered involuntarily and blinked. It was then that he realized Kagome had just attempted to slap him, but the most that her ghostly hand could do was pass through his head. He stared, with disbelief at the girl, who was now trembling, tears streaming down her face. "You’re wrong about him. That’s NOT how he sees me…"

Inuyasha glowered, "So, just how does he see you?"

Kagome froze. How could she answer him? Did she even know herself? She knew she should have said ‘as a friend…’ but that was somehow…inadequate. Not after the way he had looked at her yesterday. There was something in his eyes that spoke of something deeper than mere companionship. It was tender, sad with want, and…dare she say it? Perhaps even…lovingly? Whatever it was, she knew she felt it too. A deep blush spread across her pale cheeks. One that didn’t go unnoticed by Inuyasha.

"Forget this," He spat, bangs shadowing his hurt eyes. "It was stupid of me to try to get you to understand. No matter what I say." Inuyasha glanced back at the ghost of a girl, who had a head bowed.

‘Is this how our friendship is going to end? So quickly?’ she mourned.

"It’s obvious," his voice came in an almost rueful whisper, causing her to look up at him, "…that you care more for him, than you do for me." Kagome could only gasp in shock as their eyes met. Before she could say anything, he had already gone, leapt off into the forest without leaving an inkling of whether or not he would return or not.

But Kagome found herself unable to get the image of his face before he left. He looked so hurt…she couldn’t describe how it could be possible. She had never seen him look at her that way. ‘That wasn’t anger I just saw…’ She realized, recalling his fierce, amber eyes. ‘That was…jealousy.’

The ghost could do nothing but stare after the very spot where Inuyasha had been, a melancholy veil overcoming her face as she mourned over her broken friendship with the hanyou.

And a pair of calculating brown eyes watched her as she wept.

[End Chapter]

~*~

A/N:

CF: AGGGHHHHH! (rips out feathers) So many things….wrong with chapter…

Yume: I can’t say I liked this one, CF and I are trying to get back into the writing game. God it’s been so long…

CF: CF is rusty….(falls on ground, dead asleep, drool coming out of mouth) Zzzzzzzz…

Yume: Sorry for the over two month long wait. (laughs weakly) Again, virus to my computer…I had to erase everything off of my comp and recover my files. What a pain. But I’m back now! Hopefully to stay. And…(glances over at CF) my muse’s vacation is over.

Oh! Guess who those brown eyes belong to? (evil grin)

NEXT CHAPPIE!

Inuyasha tries to come to terms with his inner demons. Sesshomaru confronts Kagome once more about her death. Is the princess in the legend connected with Kagome? Or is it all coincidence? Meanwhile, Kikyo finds out why Inuyasha’s been in such a slump lately…but what does she plan to do about it?

Yume: I’ll try to update again on this fic soon! Gomen!!!

CF: Zzzzzz

Yume: Heh, out like a light. Oh well, she earned it. I guess there’s nothing left to say but PLEASE READ AND REVIEW! Thanks for all of my reviews last time as well. Try not to flame. And CF will kill me if I don’t say this, so…leave chocolate for the little brat, please?