One Wish

A hint of a lingering scent, and he was in pursuit. He would follow her to the ends of the earth. He followed that hint of a scent he would never forget, and was rewarded. Standing in the valley entrance was his love. He dropped to the ground behind her, and watched as she stiffened.

“Kagome…”

She turned slowly, and he took a step back. Her face was lovely as ever, but her eyes were so cold and hollow. Was this really his mate?

“So you have hunted me down at last.” He didn’t reply, and she smiled a smile devoid of any joy. “This is where it all began.”

Sesshomaru looked past her to the valley shroud in eternal twilight. It was dark and foreboding, and somehow in all of his many years he had never seen it. The land below was lush and fertile with trees, and still untouched by the ravages of humans. In the very back he could make out a small temple that seemed so harmless, but he knew it was anything but. He noted how there was only one way in or out, as even above the atrocious place was a barrier that would paralyze even him temporarily as it tried to purify him. This was where they hanyou had taken her thinking it was harmless?

“I have never seen this place before.”

“Nor would you. It can only be found if you know where to look, and are specifically seeking it.” Kagome replied, and turned back to the place.

“Why are you here?”

“I can never seem to walk away.” She replied, and he could hear her old self in it. “No matter how far I travel I am always drawn back.” She was quiet a moment. “Did you know that tonight is the anniversary?” Then she began walk down to the place she could never escape.

Sesshomaru followed. “Anniversary?”

“Exactly 480 years ago Inuyasha brought me here, and Kikyou pulled her soul from my body.” Her tone was almost dreamy as she continued toward the temple.

Sesshomaru followed his senses on high alert. Something here danced just beyond his senses, but try as he might he couldn’t catch it. It wasn’t quite there. “Kagome why are you here?”

“Every ten years I come back. Every ten years I watch.” She replied as she led him deeper.

“But why?”

Kagome paused, and turned to him. “Do you know what it’s like to feel a soul desperate to be free, but tortured in its death? Do you know what it’s like to know that would have been you? Do you know what it’s like to be captured, and killed because you loved a demon? To have your child made human as if his demon heritage was filth. To be denied the eternity you deserve because twisted priests decided it wasn’t for you?”

Sesshomaru was floored. “No.”

“You will tonight. You will feel what they did. You will feel what I did.” Then Kagome turned, and headed toward the temple again.

“Why do this to yourself?” He asked catching up with her.

Kagome sighed. “Because it calls me back. I can’t resist; I have tried. But because I am one of them I am called and must come. I am one of those women, and I must help them. Until I do I must suffer along with them because when I was brought here I was made like them. My eternity was taken too.” She stopped as they broke through the over growth which still didn’t invade the pathway. She looked up at the temple, and knew that Sesshomaru could feel the evil that pervaded this place just as well as she could.

Kagome set about gathering firewood with Sesshomaru- he wouldn’t let her from his sight- and preparing for the wait. As the darkness closed around them, ignoring their fire, Kagome wondered how he would take it.

Just before the whispers began Kagome stood. Sesshomaru rose next to her, and then the chanting whispers filled the air. “It’s time.” She walked into the temple with Sesshomaru hot on her tail.