Where Do I Go?

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Chapter 3 Decisions





Kagome couldn't help her heart skipping a beat when she realized it was Sesshomaru standing beneath Inuyasha's tree. She hadn't seen him for so long, but it must be even more of a shock for him. After all what was two years compared to over five hundred. She took a deep breath and turned back when she felt Shippo's hand upon her shoulder. "What is he doing here?" She smiled to ease his worry before answering, "Well Shippo from the looks of things I am about to find out." Glancing back she watched the tall elegant taiyoukai stride over to where she was sitting. Not wanting to be at too much of a disadvantage she stood dusting off the slacks she wore.





"It's a pleasure to see you have survived long enough to make it to my era. I must say though that I never thought you would seek me out." Sesshomaru looked down into the cerulean blue eyes that had haunted his dreams for the last five centuries, he noticed her intake of breath as he smiled and bowed before her. " I have come to ask for your help Kagome." He watched her eyes widen even further at his statement, truly he must seem out of character.





Kagome could not believe her ears, here was one of the coldest most arrogant youkai in all of Japan bowing before her and asking for her help. Not wanting to appear rude she closed her mouth, which had been hanging open. Taking a deep breath she thought of inviting him inside for tea where they could discuss what it was he needed help with when she noticed the slight curling upwards of his lips. She couldn't help it the laughter welled up and escaped before she could stop it. She could not believe that the cold western lord was actually smiling, sort of. Shippo was looking at her strangely and Sota just shook his head. When her laughter finally quieted down she wiped the tears from her eyes and invited him inside. Looking back at the two boys she bid them stay outside and practice while they talked.





Sesshomaru could not help the smile that lit up his face as he followed her inside, he knew he must seem different from the cold arrogance he had displayed to her in the past. He let his eyes make a slow perusal up and down her form as she led him into the kitchen. She looked good, a little thin maybe but she still had curves in all the right places. Gesturing that he should sit he continued to watch her as she readied the tea. He had noticed the shadows in her eyes when she looked at him standing beneath the Goshinboku. It had only been two years that she had been grieving, while he had come to terms with his grief centuries ago. Aside from that she had changed outwardly as well, she seemed quieter than before and tired. The death of her friends had surely taken its toll on her, and if he was guessing correctly then he knew she was having nightmares also. He hoped she was up to the task that she was about to be faced with, as the guardian of the jewel she was the only one who could defeat the enemy that all of them were going to have to face.





/What is taking so long? /



"Be patient, she is still adjusting to the shock of seeing me."



/That is why I told you that you should have Red and I talk to her. /



"Oh and if I let you come like you had suggested you would have been trying to talk her out of her virginity rather than about the task she must face."



/Please spare me! Just because you like to show a decided lack of interest in those of the fairer sex, does not mean that I am a philanderer! /



"You misunderstand fox, that is not what I meant. Besides I am not sure if I should let her out of my sight.."



/Oh ho what is this? The arrogant lord is actually showing an interest in a woman? And not just any woman a human miko at that! Oh this is too delicious! If you think you are keeping me from meeting this wonder of wonders you are sadly mistaken! /



"Get out of my head fox! I will contact you when the time is right.."









Sesshomaru tapped down the irritation that the fox had awoke in him. He would be damned if the kitsune thief got a chance to try his wily ways on Kagome. She deserved to be treated like a queen not a one-night stand. While lost in his thoughts he was startled when Kagome placed a steaming cup of citrus green tea in front of him, "Arigatou." Nothing else was said while she poured her own tea and joined him back at the table. They sat that way in silence for a few moments when finally Kagome broke it. "So what was it that could make you of all people or demon come to me for help?" Her eyes questioned his as she watched him drink from his cup and then lick his lips before putting the cup back on the table. Blinking she blushed realizing he had caught her staring, "I know that you have been through much and have not quite dealt with all of it, however the enemy that the youkai world is facing now threatens to overwhelm and invade the human world as well. I would not ask but you are the only one I know with the strength to take him on. I've seen what you can do, I know what you are capable of, and I know you that is why I was chosen by the council in our world to track you down and ask for your help." He let all that sink in for a moment before he continued on.





"The one I speak of is named Ronku and while his appearance would fool most into believing that he was human I've seen his true form. He is more manipulating, conniving, deceiving, and has more evil intent than Naraku ever did. His idea of fun is torture, rape, and causing misery wherever he goes. The council was formed out of us remaining taiyoukai to prevent his plans on merging the youkai world with this one." Kagome listened to what he said but somewhere inside she knew there was something he was keeping from her, if she was going to give him the help he needed he would have to be honest with her.









Standing from her chair she crossed to the window and watched as Shippo blocked another of her brothers attacks, "First off Sesshomaru, what is it you're not telling me? Secondly why do you keep referring to the youkai world and the human world as being separate?" Turning she pinned him with her gaze and it was in that moment he saw the extent that the battle with Naraku had had on this woman. Yes she had matured from the girl who had run along side his brother. The look in her eyes spoke of sorrow, wisdom, regret, and strength all in one. He glanced away from her all too knowing gaze and sighed, he should've known she would know he was holding back. In all the years she traveled with his brother she had been the only one to figure out that instead of trying to kill the foolish hanyou, he had instead been readying him for life as his chi-chue had done for him.







Letting his eyes lock on to her fathomless blue ones once more he told her what he had not wanted to. "The catch is even if you decide not to help me it won't matter, he is after the Shikon. If he has to go through you to get it he will, he will stop at nothing to obtain the key to rejoining the two worlds. You see a century after Naraku's demise the youkai population began to rise and with more human advancement and enlightenment we once again became a threat to their safety. After the fifth and final peace treaty failed the king of the heavens decided that the best way to keep the peace and to ensure any further unrest, was to split the one plane into two essentially creating the youkai realm. When he did this he put a fail safe into place and only the Shikon can rejoin the two. While the two realms are separate there are windows of opportunity that allows the two worlds to fuse around the edges allowing passage between the two. To monitor these there have been what they call "spirit detectives" enlisted to keep the peace in both worlds. I am working with one such team, and in turn I am also working with the council, as are two of the members in my group. I am asking for your help not only because you are the only one who can even possibly come close in power to him but to ensure your safety and that of those closest to you."









The tears came unheeded to her eyes as thought after thought raced through her already troubled mind. How? How after what happened in that battle could he ever believe her to be that strong? She had been able to do nothing as one by one her friends fell because she was too weak to save them. Even more important was how could she turn him down knowing the debt she owed him and knowing that her entire family would be put in harms way? She would not be able to survive a repeat of the battle two years ago; she had almost lost her mind after that, the nightmares, and the pain that never seemed to be far from her heart or her soul. Releasing a shuddering breath she turned back around to peer once again out the window. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw Shippo and Sota were not in the yard where she had left them. It was then that she heard Shippo screaming in her mind.







Sesshomaru barely had the time to register something was wrong by the shift of her breath and the sudden race of her heart beat before she was out the back door. When her feet hit the bottom step she felt the youkai aura that was off to her right a ways. Letting her miko instincts guide her she saw what looked like a horned youkai holding her brother and her kit by their throats. Freezing in place she felt the reaction of the shikon inside her as the fear was replaced with rage.





Sesshomaru skidded to a halt when he felt the rise in her aura, seeing the danger to her family he moved to stand next to her. She glowed a bright blue and when he saw her eyes he realized she was glowing from within. In a voice that sent shivers down his spine she told him to be prepared to catch the boys and then she swiftly went in for the attack. Noticing that the youkai while lower level was one of Ronku's he didn't hesitate to do as she said. When she appeared swiftly in front of the attacker he had very little time to blink as his convenient hostages were torn from his grasp and he was facing the woman he was told would give him no trouble at all. Something was wrong, this did not appear to be a woman so crippled with grief that she would simply hand over the jewel. She in fact looked extremely dangerous. That was his last thought as said danger plunged her hand through his heart and he disintegrated into nothing. Sesshomaru made sure the two boys were okay and was relieved to see that they had only lost consciousness.







/I see why you are so thoroughly enamored of her my friend. She is a Goddess brought to life! /



"What are you doing here fox? Did I not tell you I would handle this?”



/Relax, I was on my way to try and intercept the threat before he reached here but it would seem that Ronku has something up his sleeve....I am in shock as to how quickly such a sleight woman was able to kill a youkai three times her size. She is magnificent when she is angry; remind me never to make her that way! /





"Well since you are here you may as well come out and introduce yourself, however let Red be the one she sees. Your appearance would be a sad reminder of a love she lost recently."



/You are of course referring to your younger brother, don't worry that thought had already crossed my mind.... Sesshomaru I must warn you, if you do not lay claim to her then know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she will be my life mate. I do not say this to cause strife between us old friend but I am afraid it is too late for me to stop the feelings that she has invoked... I swear by kami I will never look at another woman again. /



Sesshomaru could not stop the growl that the statement had caused, and shook in anger at the audacity of the kitsune thief. While he may value Youko as a brother and a comrade he would not allow Kagome to be hurt once more by someone unworthy of her love. When he caught sight of her once again he watched the blue fade and her eyes return to normal. With tears coursing down her face she spoke,” Are they unharmed?!!" He nodded at her as he placed the two boys down gently, standing to go to her he watched as she collapsed in exhaustion. It was Red who caught her before she hit the ground and lifted her into his arms. "Why don't we move them all inside before they wake and then we can make some proper introductions."