Encroaching Darkness

“I seem to be waking up in strange places,” Kagome muttered, her eyes barely cracking open.

She wanted to stay asleep. She could feel her body throbbing with pain. The cover that was over her, briefly brushed over a bandage, slightly irritating the wound she sustained on her back. Her neck had a crick in it the size of Honshu and her boobs were kind of sore from laying on her stomach. She had no clue what time it was, but she knew one thing: she was definitely blind.

She blinked a few times and tried to discern any shapes or shades. She wondered at first if the room had no windows and if it was night, but as she pulled her other senses together, she realized it was daytime. The air smelled of warmed leaves and grass, and the air was not chilled like the evening.

“You have awakened priestess. Fear not, you have been secreted away into the village near the castle. In my home, all are loyal to me. You will be safe until Lord Sesshoumaru has returned. It is important that you rest so you may recover quickly. I vow to keep your presence hidden until that time. Master Jaken usually does not visit prisoners and at least to my recollection, he has not in the past three hundred years,” Kagome heard Isamu explain and realized that her face was not towards him.

Kagome cleared her throat and replied, “Thank you. I hope Sesshoumaru lets me purify that toad. Unfortunately, even in that matter, I would need some help. I can’t see. Naraku’s incarnation, Hakudoushi cursed me three days ago with blindness. I’m afraid I’ve become more of a burden.”

She turned her face towards the dog demon and gasped.

His aura filled with green and blues.

“That is quite unfortunate. You are no burden to this Isamu. You will probably regain it when the vile Naraku is smited from the land. If it is any consolation, I know you and our lord will succeed. He would not willingly train someone if he did not think they would have any potential,” Isamu replied and then noticed her expression. “Why are you looking that way at me?”

“I see blues and greens in the form around you. Well, at least I think that is where you are,” Kagome said, and then tentatively reached out to touch the demon.

She found that she could see her hand and it had blue, violet, some red, white, and at her fingertips, a bit of pink.

“Perhaps you are not entirely robbed of your sight. You are a being with a powerful ki. You may be able to see auras. Seeing as you are flabbergasted, this was probably something you had, but never focused on. Your lack of physical sight has been replaced by your spiritual eyesight,” Isamu concluded thoughtfully.
“It is better than nothing at least. I hate the dark,” she replied.

Isamu smiled slightly, the expression never noticed to his newly blinded charge, and then rose from his seat, “I must return to my duties. A servant will come shortly with food and will help you turn over. The healer will also be back this evening to redress your wounds.”

Kagome weakly nodded and viewed Isamu’s aura disappear from her room. Kagome silently prayed in thanks to any kami who had part in her move from the prison. She knew that when the cards were dealt for her path in life, she would have many curbs to make her falter. This was in both her former life in the future and in her current life stuck in Sengoku Jidai. The aspect of her current ailments did not faze her much. Of course, accepting it was not easy, but Kagome had always prided herself on the fact that she was versatile. She learned it from her mother who smiled everyday and supported everyone around her. It was how Kagome found the strength to get through the horrors that she had experienced so far while trying to destroy Naraku and also complete the Shikon no Tama.

Isamu hunted down Jaken to make his report for the day. He was late, but it was not unusual for him to arrive with his daily report as his duties involved almost every inch of the palace. He was in charge of his own regiment of five hundred warriors, so he had to gather reports from his underlings before taking care of his other nonmilitary duties. The whereabouts of the prisoners were a part of his report as well as the outer patrol news and any spies. If Jaken was Lord Sesshoumaru’s right hand, then Isamu was his left when it came to running the Western Domain. It was strange for Jaken to be in such a high position as the kappa youkai was considered a lower form of demon, unable to attain the humanoid form that he and many of his inu youkai peers could achieve. Jaken had come into service under the former Inu no Taisho and had somehow formed an alliance with a lot of the more repugnant oni. The alliance was crucial as lower youkai were vast in number. Though many were cowardly when in the face of battle, the few that remained in past battles against the moth demons of the mainland, and the panther demons of the south had been what pushed the balance of victory in favor of the Western Lord. Most of Japan in actuality was considered part of the Western domain, but it had been divvied up to strong higher level youkai that the former Inu no Taisho trusted. It had been many centuries since this had occurred, and so many youkai not educated in much of demon history or politics never knew this fact. Isamu was well educated, as he grew up alongside Lord Sesshoumaru. He was related to the stoic lord through the former Inu no Taisho’s youngest brother. Like regular dogs, the inu youkai bore litters. Isamu was the firstborn of the first litter between his sire and dam. His parents bore eleven litters throughout seven hundred years totaling over eighty offspring.

With Lord Sesshoumaru’s upbringing it was no different, except he was firstborn, of a litter that was destroyed by his dokkasou. His mother was a poison bearing dog demon. She had been expecting six pups, but had birthed one followed by a melted chaos of fur, flesh, and teeth. It was why Sesshoumaru was named “The Destroyer of the Circle of Life.” His mother’s womb had been scarred and she never birthed another litter, even to any of her lover’s after the former Inu no Taisho’s death.
Isamu never pitied his friend, but was saddened how he knew that the demon prince grew up lonely. Dog demon’s enjoyed pack life. Lord Sesshoumaru grew up quite serious, finding camaraderie with the soldiers or scholars, and sometimes with pups his age, like Isamu.

As the dog demon came out of his thoughts, he entered the main study to make his report. Jaken sat on top of a few cushions in front of a low table. The kappa youkai sifted through a few documents before noticing the dog demon in his presence.

“Your report, Isamu- san?” Jaken blandly requested.

Isamu handed a few of his underlings reports.

“Nothing unusual reported by the outer patrol than small skirmished brought on by youkai fleeing from the vile Naraku. As for the prisoners, our newest acquisition purified the guard on duty. This was done unconsciously. A new guard has been assigned and the priestess is back in her room. I have sent for a healer to tend to her, but I believe we will not have any further troubles from her. General Takashi’s report is combined in those papers as he is with his mate and first litter visiting relatives in the north. I have assumed command over his regiments in the meantime,” Isamu informed, keeping his report brisk and to the point.

“Very well, make sure to send a regiment of Takashi’s to fortify our border patrol. Lord Sesshoumaru detests Naraku’s presence and it would be best to send some so any human or youkai villages under our lord’s protection are not threatened. It is bad enough the majority of Japan is plagued by that hanyou,” Jaken said offhandedly, and Isamu nodded in agreeance. “Also, Rin wishes to visit the village. Perhaps have your mate look after her. I find that these documents have piled up and have kept me from my extra duty of watching over Lord Sesshoumaru’s ward. If he gets word that I have neglected Rin, I do not relish being pummeled.”

Isamu bowed slightly and replied, “I will keep Lady Rin until our lord returns. She will find it a joy to play with my sons and daughters. My mate has been asking to see her… something about sewing the girl a new kimono.”

The dog demon turned heel and left to retrieve Rin. Having Rin around would be a benefit to the priestess under his care. He also enjoyed the young human’s company as she was the first ningen to not fear him. She was a fresh change in his lord and for the palace as she spread her innocence and cheer everywhere.

He found the young girl easily ensconced within her personal garden. Every time he had visited the place he swore he had never seen a better garden. Lord Sesshoumaru had procured plant seedlings from around the islands and mainland for Lady Rin. She loved flowers and had learned from a flower youkai how to plant a successful garden. The garden Rin tended to was quite small compared to the imperial gardens, but he knew that Lord Sesshoumaru sometimes allowed his ward to prune the flowers and trees to keep her happy. Rin often sent many bouquet of flowers to his mate to decorate their home. Isamu often thought of her like a niece, treating her with present during festivals. His mate often made kimono or yukata for Rin and had fun dolling the young girl up. For a ningen, she was lovely. He often chuckled to himself on how he knew Lord Sesshoumaru would have his hands full come time Rin would be of age to court any male.

“Lady Rin,” Isamu softly called.

Rin turned around and grinned, “Isamu-kun! Rin has missed you! Look, Lord Sesshoumaru had the groundskeeper dig a small pond for Rin. There are baby koi in there. Look how beautiful they are!”

Isamu glanced and smiled warmly, “Indeed they are, Lady Rin. They are a fine addition to your blooming garden. Each time this Isamu has visited, it seems more beautiful. Are you sure you are not secretly a flower demon?”

“Silly Isamu-kun! Rin is ningen, not a flower youkai!” Rin giggled.

“I have come to tell you that Master Jaken has been spirited away by the piles of paperwork left for Lord Sesshoumaru. Being that our lord is away, he will have to tend to those duties. He has asked me to take you to my home until Lord Sesshoumaru returns,” Isamu informed the dark haired girl.

“Rin is glad to come to Isamu-kun’s home. Rin promised to teach Michiko-chan how to plant a nice garden,” Rin said happily and took Isamu by the hand.

“My Michiko will indeed enjoy your lessons, Rin-sensi,” Isamu winked down at the young ward. “We have a special visitor in my home, but you will have to wait to find out.”

“Ooh! Rin will be impatient to meet this special visitor of yours,” she answered, eagerly pulling him into the palace and down the hall to retrieve a few of her necessities for her stay.

After Rin had gathered her necessary items, they made way to the village right outside the Western Citadel. Mostly youkai lived in the village, but there were some ningen who lived there that had been descendents of trusted humans throughout the centuries. Isamu’s home was not grand, a testament to his belief in trying to stay humble despite being in good standing with Lord Sesshoumaru. His home was larger than most and had amenities like a hut built around a hotspring in the back of his home, but nothing was extravagant. Most of the items within his home was made by his family or had been handed down through the ages.

As they entered his home, Rin ran to hug his mate, almost toppling her over. That in itself was a feat for a ningen to accomplish, but they always humored the young girl because she was dear to them.
“Rin wants to see the special visitor,” she said enthusiastically.

“Isamu-kun, show our little flower the guest, but be mindful of the woman. I have recently tended to her, so she may be a bit groggy,” Michiko replied, gently ushering Rin back to him.

Isamu nodded and bent down to be eye level with the young girl.

“Lady Rin, this guest is very special. If you see her, do not tell anyone about her being here, especially Master Jaken. Can you do that?” he asked.

Rin smiled and replied, “Hai, Isamu-kun! Rin knows how to keep a secret. Rin will not tell anyone, not even Jaken-sama.”

Isamu found Rin to lack any hesitation and smiled warmly, “Then let us go see her.”

He led Rin down the hallway and to the right until he came to a door with a barrier that only he and Michiko could part. With little effort, he brought the barrier down and slid the door open for Rin and him to enter. As soon as Rin peered in, she saw the guest and ran in.

“Kagome-chan! Rin thought you went away with Lord Sesshoumaru!” Rin cried happily, but then stopped by the miko’s futon as she noticed that Kagome was heavily bandaged. “Oh, what happened to Kagome-chan?”

Rin’s happiness quickly turned to tears.

“Rin-chan?” Kagome asked softly, still laying on her stomach.

Kagome could make out Rin’s aura. She could feel Rin’s deep concern and sadness for Kagome’s own predicament.

“Don’t worry about me, Rin-chan. I’m just glad you’re here. I’ve been terribly lonely,” Kagome replied, trying to soothe the young girl.

“Rin remembers that Kagome-chan said that she cannot see well,” Rin stated, and Kagome remembered when Rin had tried to get her to discern the type of flower she had picked back before she came to the palace.

“I can’t see anymore, little one. It’s okay though. I’m just glad you’re here and we will become good friends,” Kagome smiled, but inside, she wished she could sit up to hug the bright brown eyed girl.

“Don’t worry, Kagome-chan. Rin will stay with Kagome-chan always. Soon Lord Sesshoumaru will return and we can all be friends,” Rin smiled.

Isamu smiled at the two humans and slowly backed out of the room to allow the females time alone to bond. It lightened his heart to see how Rin and Kagome interacted.

‘Like a pack. They look and act so much alike. It is a blessing to see such light in the darkness of these times.’