Sesshomaru and the Forgiving Soul

(Mind Speech)

Chapter 19:

Kagome woke the next morning with a grave feeling. She felt that something terrible was going to happen today. She quickly summoned Mika and dressed in fighting clothes. She wore a battle suit similar to Sango’s. It was black with red accents. Her armor was gold. Kagome grabbed her bow and arrows before she left the room.

She stopped just outside her room and felt around the palace to see where every one was. Sesshomaru was in his study. Sango, Shippo and Rin were outside in the gardens. Miroku and Koga were at the training grounds. Kagome made her way quickly to Sesshomaru’s study and knocked.

“Enter.” Kagome slid open the screen and stepped inside. Sesshomaru wasn’t sitting at his desk but was standing by the window. He turned and glanced at her a moment before looking back outside.

“Sesshomaru.” He looked over his shoulder.

“You feel it too?” Kagome nodded and walked over to him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his back.

“Something terrible is going to happen today. I just wish that I knew what was going to happen.” Sesshomaru turned and wrapped his arms around her. He gently lifted her head to his.

“There is a way to find out.” Kagome’s eyes brightened. “You just need to meditate and search for the answer. I will help you.” Kagome nodded. Sesshomaru led her to the middle of the room that was relatively clear. He motioned for her to sit and she did. Sesshomaru arranged himself in front of her and held out his hand. Kagome gently placed her hands in his and closed her eyes.

“How does this work?”

“I’m going to create a bond between us that will allow us to talk to each other in our minds. That will allow me to guide you and if you allow it will also let me see what you see.” Kagome nodded but kept her eyes closed. After a few moments she felt it. It was like a part of herself had finally opened up to her and she was whole again. She felt him a moment latter. He felt like the calm before the storm. Kagome reached out to him with her mind and felt the instant response. She smiled and then slipped herself into a meditative state. She entered the forest that her mind took her and felt that Sesshomaru was standing by her side. As they entered the clearing she saw Midoriko. Midoriko stood and bowed low to them.

“Sesshomaru-sama, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am the miko Midoriko. Please sit.” She waved to the ground beneath a tree. Kagome was Sesshomaru was past her and to the tree. He sat and closed his eyes.

(Don’t worry, little miko. I’m still with you.) Kagome smiled and sat before the wise miko.

“What brings you here today?”

“I feel something terrible is going to happen. I know that it is something I must stop but I do not know what it is.” The older miko nodded and waved. In between the two women stood a small table with a bowl and a pitcher of water.

“This is a trick that you can use without seeking me out. Part of being a miko is having the power to see things that are going on. Unlike Kana’s mirror it will only show you things that the Kami’s have deemed necessary for you to see. Simply fill the bowl with water and hold it in your hands. Concentrate on what it is you wish to see and it will be shown.” Kagome nodded and took a deep breath. She lifted the pitcher and poured water into the shallow dish, careful not to spill any water out. She then picked the bowl up and cradled it between her hands.

Kagome closed her eyes and cleared her mind. She then concentrated on the one thing that she needed to know: who was in trouble? Kagome opened her eyes and looked into the bowl. For a moment it showed nothing and then the surface wavered. When the water settled again she saw Inuyasha sitting in the God Tree. She reached for Sesshomaru’s mind and showed him what she saw. Again the surface wavered and settled. Kikyo was standing in the water. She was looking to the God Tree with hatred and malice. Kagome felt her own soul burn with it. Kagome closed her eyes and set the bowl down. Looking up she addressed Midoriko.

“Thank you. We must be going.” Kagome stood and then found herself back in her own body. She opened her eyes and saw Sesshomaru sitting in front of her.

“He will die.” Sesshomaru’s voice was filled with sadness. Kagome shook her head and stood.

“Not if I can help it.” She made sure she had her bow and ran from the room. She went to the gardens and quickly found Sango and the children. Sango looked up and saw Kagome running toward her.

“Kagome! What’s wrong?”

“I need Kilala.” Sango nodded and whistled. A moment latter Kilala appeared and transformed into her large form. Kagome jumped on her back.

“Thanks Sango. Come on Kilala, we need to get to Inuyasha’s Forest.” Kilala took off toward the forest and Kagome hung on and thought of the battle ahead. She knew that she would have to kill Kikyo to save Inuyasha. And even after what Inuyasha had said to her she knew that she could not let him die. She opened her mind to Sesshomaru and felt his walls up. Kagome poked at his walls gently. She felt him open to her and felt the sadness coming from him.

(I’m going to save him.) She felt his sadness deepen.

(Bring him home.)

Kagome smiled and knew that Sesshomaru could feel her happiness. She felt Kikyo and closed her link with Sesshomaru. She saw Inuyasha’s forest approaching fast and directed Kilala to the God Tree. As Kagome landed she felt the release of miko power and quickly placed a barrier around her and the tree. She felt Inuyasha jump down to her side but stayed focused on Kikyo. Kikyo stepped from the trees and strung another arrow.

“Kagome. I was wondering where you ran off to. Why are you back though? To save Inuyasha? I heard that you choose his brother.” Inuyasha growled and Kagome wasn’t sure if it was directed at her so she ignored it.

“Kikyo, it doesn’t matter why I’m here. You are going to die today and give me back the rest of my soul.” Kagome took her bow and strung an arrow.

“I’m not here for you today.”

“I know that.” Kagome let her arrow fly and quickly stung another. The arrow was going straight for Kikyo but one of her soul collectors took the hit for her. Kagome dropped her barrier and stepped in front of Inuyasha.

“You are here to protect me.” Inuyasha whispered to her back. Kagome nodded and let another arrow fly. Again a soul collector took the hit. Kikyo fired an arrow and Kagome raised a barrier to block the blow. She then lowered it again to fire another arrow.

“This won’t go on forever, Kikyo. I’m stronger than you are and you have only so many of those things to safe you. I’ll hit that mark eventually.”

Kagome let another arrow fly and it sliced through her arrow and into another soul collector. Kikyo tried to fire another arrow and Kagome grabbed Inuyasha and flung him out of the way. I t grazed her arm but Kagome didn’t stop. Kneeling she strung another arrow and concentrated on the point. There she all of her power before releasing it. It purified the last remaining soul collectors and hit Kikyo dead on. Kikyo dropped her bow and felt to her knees clutching the arrow lodged in her chest. Kikyo’s touch eliminated the arrow and soul after soul started to fly out of her chest wound. Finally her body started to crumble and Kagome’s soul was shot back into her body. Where Kikyo just stood lay only a pile of graveyard soil and bones. Kagome took a deep breath and turned to face Inuyasha. Kagome reacted on instinct and threw up a barrier in time to block Inuyasha’s attack.

“I told you that you’d be better off never to see me again. You just don’t listen do you girl?”