Thawing Her Heart

I do not own Inuyasha or any of it's characters.
I would like to thank all of my reviewers for your wonderful encouragement!
Linda
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I hope you all enjoy the next installment!


Chapter 14 The Awakening


Silently Kagome drifted off to sleep beneath the tree where Shippo had left her. She found herself encased in another dream. Facing her double once again she noticed that while almost everything about them was identical the color of their eyes were not. Hers had become a dark violet while the other her had almost pitch-black irises. She stood there waiting for her double to speak. She did not have to wait long. “So I see the strength is returning, how did it feel to almost best a powerful taiyoukai? No matter, once I have complete control we will win for sure. All you have to do is give up the fight Bitch!” Suddenly Kagome felt another presence at her back. Turning she faced yet another image of herself.

Part three was all she could dub this new addition as her mind whirled in shock. Softly gazing back at her she saw the pity in part three’s eyes, turning over to part two the eyes morphed with rage. Kagome noticed that the new her had one green eye and one blue. She flinched when the new her spoke, “ you will not force her! Now be gone with you!” and just like that she was. The new addition faced Kagome once again to speak but this time her voice was gentle. “ I can tell by your eyes child that you have many questions. Please walk with me awhile and I will explain as best I can.” Following her they made their way to the same clearing Kagome had been before in her previous dream. The other sat and patted the grass softly next to her. Once Kagome settled herself comfortably she could keep quiet no longer. “Why are there three of me in my mind? Am I going insane? When will it stop hurting??” When the last was spoken in a soft whisper she finally let the sobs pour forth from her bruised soul while ironically enough she comforted herself. Kagome almost laughed at that thought as the other placed her arm around her shaking shoulders. Slowly the sobs receded and she composed herself as much as possible pulling away from the comfort.


Now she turned and peered at the visage so eerily similar to her own as part three spoke. “ I assure you, you are not losing your mind, and we are real. How ever the previous one who has shown herself to you is not a part of you. She is the spirit of the blades you wield.” Kagome shook her head. “How is that possible? She was there before I began carrying them?” Taking a deep breath her copy continued, “I am sorry for that truly, for it is my fault that she is. I am going to reveal to you all, but you must listen for I have very little time. I am you and you are I, just as you are the reincarnation of Kikyo you are the reincarnation of myself. I was once known as Izumi of the Inu Youkai. I was actually one of the founders of the clan. I was mated to my heart but all was not well in our time. He perished in a battle with another taiyoukai known throughout our lands as merciless and cruel. He also had pledged for my hand as mate, my father recognizing him for what he was refused. When I was mated to another he was furious and began his war. It was he who killed my mate and my father. Left without family except for my young son I was forced into a union with him by the council governing at the time. When he came for me he pushed my son onto another and vowed I would not need him, as he would fill my time with his own brood. Going with him my only thought was that at least my son would be safe." She stopped for a moment catching her breath to continue, "When we were halfway to his lands he dispatched an assassin to do away with my child as to assure himself that my love’s proud Inu Youkai line would perish. Something inside me snapped then and I attacked him, gaining the advantage in his surprise I held my blades, the very ones you now wield to his throat and promised him death if he did not rescind the orders. Satisfied that he had done so I was not prepared for the beating I received as soon as we reached his dwelling. In my grief and rage on the night he mated me I plunged my own dagger through my heart and cursed his line. I waited centuries in a fog until I was reborn in you but I was not the only soul. Noticing the hatred in the other half of your second soul when the witch Urasuei brought the dead miko back to life it was I that severed the thread between the two halves. In doing this your goodness and purity was allowed to shine ever more. I must tell you that the Katanas you have inherited from me hold a rage I was able to control in my time. With my help you may do so as well, but you must not let the despair overcome you. Let the pain go and shine once again in your purity. Only then will you be able to face the evil from our past. I have lingered to long in my story I must leave you now, be assured you will overcome this pain. You will be able to control the inner spirit of the blades known as Kyo-Kuu katanas.” With her last statement she disappeared leaving behind her a very confused Kagome.

Sesshomaru sniffed out the miko’s scent and was surprised she was still in the gardens beneath the tree. He had slowly made his way towards her when he smelled the sudden smell of salt on the air. Realizing she was crying he was filled with a sense of relief and concern Relief that she wasn’t as cold as before and concern for the obvious emotional pain. Smothering the sudden urge to gather her up in his arms he continued to where she was resting. He watched in fascination as two crystal drops rolled down her cheeks. His breath hitched in his throat however when she opened her eyes and he noted her eyes had changed once again. Instead of the dark violet from before he encountered green on the left and blue on the right. Quickly masking his shock he informed her that the young fox cub had asked after her well being. He watched her slowly rise turn on unsteady limbs, catching her before she could fall he simply carried her into the palace and placed her in his study. He informed her that the young kit would join her shortly and left.


As he strode towards Rin’s rooms he finally remembered where he had thought he had seen those eyes before. Not just the eyes but the miko’s face as well. Reaching out he pushed open the doors and took in the scene inside the room. Rin sat with her arms around the young Kit who just sat there shaking, from the looks of concern and puzzlement on his wards face he knew that Shippo could not have told her what was wrong. Suddenly green flashed against gold and he almost took a step back from the rage he saw contained in the young demon’s eyes. Then he remembered himself and who he was, the young one would do well to learn that he was Lord Sesshomaru of the western lands and he had killed others for much less infractions. Narrowing his gaze he took a step forward when he remembered his wards presence and sighed almost in defeat. It seemed the lesson would have to wait until he could get the fox alone. “ Your mother is waiting for you in my study, I suggest you go to her as she will need your comfort.” He watched as the rage dulled and sorrow replaced it. He again fought the urge to comfort another not of his blood when he turned and left.


Shippo made his way to the study and stopped just inside the door, peering at the woman he saw as a mother. She had changed once again; only this time all he could sense from her was pain and sorrow, not the coldness of before. He couldn’t stop the tears when she faced him and he launched himself into her open arms. Crying into her shirt he clutched at her until his sobs had finally quieted. “ Kagome I was so scared that you were gone! I cannot forgive Lord Sesshomaru or myself for the pain in your eyes. I was the one who thought you would be safer here with him than with Inuyasha and again you were hurt. But the worst is I could not protect you as I vowed I would. Instead the one I see as mother is hurting and there is nothing I can do to take the pain away!” He brought his gaze back up to hers and finally noticed that her eye color was once again different. Not brown, not violet as before, now the left was green and the right was blue. He stared at this in puzzlement. It was then he realized her scent had changed as well. She no longer smelled of just roses and spice there was also a hint of sakura blossoms there as well. “Shippo listen to me, there was nothing wrong with your decision to let Sesshomaru bring me here. As a matter of fact I am glad you did. In doing so I have learned many new things about myself. As for what happened to me neither you nor Sesshomaru are to blame. The fault lies solely on Lord Kotaru for what he did. I will not have the two of you at odds over this. Believe me when I say that Sesshomaru is not as cold or harsh as he would have many believe, underneath his calm exterior beats the same heart filled with emotions just like yours and mine. The difference between us is that we are free to display them while he is not. If he did others would think him weak and attempt to destroy him. Do you understand?” Nodding at her he finally voiced his questions, “Kagome why are your eyes blue and green? Why were they violet before? Why do you smell like you are youkai?” puzzled she could not answer him. “ Shippo can we leave those questions for another time? I have trained hard today and would like nothing more than a hot bath, a warm meal, and a soft bed tonight.” He stared at her like he would object before finally nodding in agreement. When they started down the hall towards her rooms he asked if he could stay with her tonight. She smiled down at the child of her heart if not her blood and nodded. They walked hand in hand into her chambers.


Sesshomaru made his way to the oldest part of his castle. It was the only piece of the structure that he had not had to rebuild almost a century before. He gazed at the paintings hanging opposite the windows of this hall. Stopping in front of his father’s portrait he let his mask down as he looked on at the beloved features of his sire so like his own. When he had been younger he was told that he more resembled his mother but in time that had changed till he now except for the royal coloring of purple to the crescent on his head. His father’s had been scarlet. Shaking the memories from his mind he continued on stopping briefly at each portrait before reaching the one he had been searching for. Slowly the memory of the first time he had encountered this portrait resurfaced.


~~~~~~FLASHBACK~~~~~~


He had only been around fifty at the time but had appeared to be 10 in human years. He remembered his father had brought him here stating it was time he learned the beginnings of his proud clan. He remembered the story now as he stood peering at the beautiful female youkai in the portrait. “ Our line was brought into being centuries before by two powerful Inu Youkai, the power that the two possessed only seems to grow with each new generation born my son. The young woman you see before you is Izumi, the founding mother of our clan. The man next to her is her mate, the founding father, and from whom you receive your name. Theirs is a tragic tale, and one I myself was fascinated with when my sire told it to me. They were life mates but they were also in love, a rarity in that day and age. Together they had a son, he is in the portrait in the left. Their happiness was not to be however as a lord from another territory had wanted Izumi for himself, through treachery and deceit he managed to slay both her mate and her father and succeeded in his attempts to force her to him. She went but left her son behind so as to protect him. She died the first night in her new mates home and to this day no one knows how. The following hundred years were rife with death as the other lord waged war against his rivals pup. Inuyasha as the son was called, met him head on in each battle; never giving an inch to the evil lord he repeatedly defeated that one’s attempts at total control. Finally one hundred fifty years to the day of his mother’s death he succeeded in vanquishing his and his fathers’ foe, and peace reigned once again in his lands. The speculation over the years has been that Lady Izumi cursed her new mate with her death and the result was that none of his line has ever survived long enough to create more than a whisper of trouble.


~~~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~~~~


Snapping back again to the present he studied the image of the woman smiling happily back at him from where she sat with her mate behind her his hand upon her shoulder. He was certain now that the face and the eye’s were the same as the miko’s. He raised his eyes to the man behind her and was shocked at what he saw, where in his youth he had been entranced by his ancestress’ beauty he had never truly studied the face of the man he was named for. Now he realized he could be looking into a mirror, as he saw the same gold gaze staring back at him. Studying the portrait carefully he saw the hilt of the tennsaiga at his side, while on the waist of the lady was the katana’s known as Kyo-Ku the very same that the miko claimed as her own. What did this mean?


Kagura found herself entering the borders of the western lands as once again night fell she called the youkai to her once again as she descended to the ground for another night of rest. It had become apparent that Inuyasha was following her yesterday when she had caught just the slightest niggling of his presence. She wondered if he also was on his way to his brother’s palace. If that was where he was headed then she may not get the chance to warn the miko as she intended. She would have to deal with the hanyou before they got to his brother’s barrier.

Inuyasha crouched in the branch as he watched Kagura settle in for the night. Closing his eyes he rested to prepare himself for the following day of swift travel.


Kouga watched Inuyasha from his perch downwind of the hanyou. On his way to see if Kagome was all right he had noticed the hanyou traveling in the same direction, what bothered him more though was that Kagura was also on her way to Sesshomaru’s lair. He decided to push on for the night and make it there before either so that he could warn the western lord before they arrived. Whatever it was they were up to he was sure it involved Kagome. He masked his scent and passed them as his thoughts returned to the woman he loved, the ice feeling from her was gone only to be replaced by hurt and sorrow. He was wondering what could cause a sorrow greater than the one he had felt before that stupid hanyou had broken her heart. One thing was for sure, she better not have come to any harm or by Kami he would take her from Sesshomaru’s estates whether she wanted it or not!


Sango’s gaze fell upon her new husband as he bathed in the pond near the village. She would never tire of looking upon him and only wished her friend was there to share in her joy. She had come down here for a reason but now that reason escaped her as Miroku turned and found her at the shoreline. Grinning he made his way to where she stood he watched the flush that spread across her face as she gazed upon his nude form. He strode forward and wrapped his arms around her and before she could protest he turned and started back into the water. He had seen the sorrow that had flashed in her eyes and knew it could only be from thinking about Kagome. So he chose the best way he knew to distract her, once he had her waist deep in the pond he brought his hand up to her face and pulled her into a heated embrace as he used the other one to strip her of her kimono.

I had fun with this one enjoy!