Serene Lies

AN:/ So, a sincere apology to anyone who read the original chapter 4. It was GOD AWFUL! So I took the last two...er.. three?... anyways two or three days to just go over it and make some (ALOT) of changes. I like this chappy because there is WAFFiness (in my opinion). AND it explains the first three chapters... YAY!!! Anyways, couple of little thingies before I let you go.

First off, I have written another story, a one-shot called "Torn". It IS a DARKFIC so please be aware; if you can't stand torture or any such thing, then don't read it. But overall, I think it is pretty good (possibly one of the best things I've written so far... though that may not be saying much). Anyways, it is a first for me so reviews or ratings would be greatly appreciated.

Next on the list, my LOVELY reviewer. Thank you for once again reviewing my story. InuGuardian and evilpinatag, I hope you enjoy this along with the rest of my wonderful readers (although I would like to know if you enjoy it >.>).

And lastly, I was considering writing a small ficlet as a side of this story of Sesshomaru's first day in modern Japan. It would be a humor one-shot, so any yay/nayers?

That is all for now. I hope you enjoy reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. SO without further ado, I present to you Chapter 4: Her Saving Grace

Bon Appetit!
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Sesshomaru sat on the edge of the wooden well, staring pensively at the space beneath the stairs, unobservant of his surroundings. That cursed woman was tugging at some foreign emotion in Sesshomaru that he hadn’t felt since he was a child, a feeling that was driving to him distraction. However, memories of his childhood were unpleasant; he made it a habit (to coin the human’s phrase) not to dwell on those painful memories. That woman, he thought angrily, that woman was a cold-hearted bitch who took more time killing humans and indulging her vendetta against beautiful young women, than she had loving her own son.

His mother and father’s marriage had been one of convenience, not of love, and Sesshomaru was the one to suffer his mother’s wrath, especially when his father took a lover. Not that he could blame him. If Sesshomaru was honest, his father only tolerated his frosty mother because of him, which in turn made Sesshomaru bitter towards everyone else. He was tired of being tolerated for someone else’s sake; that’s why he let Rin and Jaken travel with him. They needed him, wanted to be with him.

Closing his eyes, he banished the morose thoughts from his mind, focusing instead on this strange world that belonged to that unusual woman. Sesshomaru was sure that some of the bizarre objects and behaviors of the mortals here was due to the spell placed upon Kagome by Naraku; like those strange metal beasts for instance. Sesshomaru had been startled at first, thinking that it was alive, eating humans and then making their escape. It was only after he’d seen humans getting out of them as well that he realized that they had been some advanced mode of transportation.

Overall, Sesshomaru had grudgingly admired all the modern conveniences that these humans seemed to have invented; though he still had his doubts.

He felt her draw closer to his position and tensed his body. It was discomfiting, the way her warm aura seemed to envelope and purify him; the worst part was that his beast seemed to be content with this unusual purification. Staring at the warm pink cloud that shone brightly even through the closed door, he felt a pinprick of irritation. Everything was happening too quickly.

Sesshomaru couldn’t bring her back yet, not with the current state of her mind; she needed to access her spiritual power and the memories that Naraku had banished from her mind, although it seemed she was already starting to overpower the spell that had her captured here. It had surprised him (and though he wouldn’t admit it, pleased him) when she had recalled Naraku and the danger he posed to her.

His cold eyes were glued to the spot where she sat just outside, waiting for her next move. He felt her curiosity light up and she stood, moving quickly towards the well house. Surprised by her speed, he whipped around and jumped down the well just as the door slid open. The well acted as a link to reality as it had acted as a link from the present to the Feudal Era for Kagome.

Everything appeared black for a moment until he opened his eyes, looking at the two women sitting before him, watching him attentively.

“Welcome back Sesshomaru-sama.”

* * *

Kagome sat in front of the simple doors of the shed observing the structure that was home to the ancient well, created from the tree of ages, or the “Sacred Tree” that grew outside the main house. Her grandfather had always told her to stay away from the well, saying it held incredible spiritual power. However this spiritual power was deformed by the dark demonic presences that struggled to free themselves from their prison, making the shrine not only a place of healing and meditation but a protective ward from the demonic aura. Kagome had always thought that it was a ridiculous story, but seated in front of it now, she was having second thoughts. A faint glow had begun to emanate from the small shed, black and pale pink swirling about each other in a battle to suppress the other.

As her gaze drifted, she noticed another presence; a dark blue aura coming from within the shrine. Moving quickly, she tore open the doors just in time to see a flash of white disappear into the well. Gasping, she ran down the steps and stared into the abyss of the well, a shock of surprise running through her. There was nothing there.

“Fuck off! Stop messing with my head!” she cursed, turning away from the well. Kagome was tired of these games of cat and mouse; the need to know what was going on was overwhelming. The feeling of wrongness saturated the air around her, causing frustration and anger to prickle at Kagome. Stomping out of the well house, she slammed the door shut. Holding the door handle with one pale hand, Kagome’s eyes stared down unaware of her actions. So much had happened in the last four days; between the deaths of her parents and the fear of capture by Naraku, Kagome felt a crushing urge to just give up. It was hard to be strong when it seemed that everything was determined to go wrong. Her shoulders slumped and she turned away, dropping down on the steps.

Kagome rested her chin in her palm, her elbows digging into her knees, staring out at the shrine’s grounds. At one end, the sacred tree swayed gently in the breeze, the yellow blossoms winking at her through the thick foliage. Displayed in all its glory within its picket fence enclosure, it was truly a sight to behold. Even before she could remember, that tree had had provided comfort to her family, its aged beauty calming anything as simple as frazzled nerves to heartache. Unable to help herself, Kagome moved towards the tree, stepping over the spiked tips of the fence and fell against the tree like a child taking refuge in her mother’s embrace.

“Kagome?” a soft, rough voice asked. She looked up, surprised that she was not alone. Kagome’s grandfather stood on the other side of the fence, wringing his hands, unable to look her in the eyes. She knew exactly how he felt; how could he look at her when she reminded him of his own daughter. Even she had trouble meeting his gaze, not wanting to recall the faces of those she had lost. It had only been four or five days since their deaths. Kagome couldn’t even remember the days anymore she had been so caught up in everything that had been going on that she hadn’t even realized that she hadn’t seen her grandfather once since the day of Souta’s fair.

Inspecting him closely, Kagome realized for the first time how old her grandfather actually looked. The deep lines in his face cast shadows over his age-browned skin; the brown eyes set into the lined face seemed to hold the wisdom of a thousand years within their depths. Kagome felt bad for him; he was suffering so much more than she was, yet here he was wringing his hands with indecision on how he ought to comfort her.

“I’m sorry, Gramps, I didn’t even realize… This must be so much harder for you then for me because for me, this was a definite outcome. One day, I would have had to bury my mother and possibly my younger brother, but that is an inevitability. I cannot begin to imagine what it must be like to have to bury your own child and I pray to God I never have to find out,” Kagome whispered, tears welling up at the painful memories. Her grandfather finally looked at her, tears spilling over his lined cheeks.

“Kagome,” he said raggedly. Commanding her attention, he looked at her sternly. “It is time for you to wake up. You have spent too much time in this dream world of yours. You have spent too much time lost in fantasy.”

“I know Gramps,” Kagome whispered sadly. All this time, she had been so caught up in her own fantasies that she had failed to recognize reality and the harshness that it brought to those who saw it regularly. She regretted that it took the death of her mother and brother to finally see how cruel reality could be.

“You misunderstand me, my girl.” Kagome looked up and saw that her grandfather looked different; the tears in his eyes disappeared completely as they hardened with resolve.

“Kagome, a week ago you were attacked by the demon Naraku who placed you under a spell, sending you back here. From his castle, he manipulated your mind, attempting to make you forget. And part of you has, you have forgotten something vital.” He stepped inside the picket fence and knelt in front of her. His eyes pleaded with her.

“But how do you know all this; if this is all in my mind and I can’t remember anything, than how is it that you can say this to me?” Kagome moved away, afraid of what she was being told. How could this be a dream, it was too real; the emotions she had experienced, the death of her family. Then she remembered the broken memories and the fear she had felt hen she had realized that Ryuku was actually Naraku.

“I am part of your mind; I am the pieces of your memory that were erased by Naraku. I appear in the form of your grandfather because like his aging body, I am broken and fading, unaware of that which composes my corporeal form. What I do know is that you need to go back; you need to go back to the Feudal Era. That is where you will find your answers and restore me to my original state.” He began to fade away, an encouraging smile gracing his features. “It is time to go home.”

Kagome nodded. Her surroundings slowly faded until there was nothing in the darkness but for her and the sacred tree. A soft pink aura slowly swirled around the tree, its warm glow heating her body; it was then that Kagome became aware that the same pink cloud radiating from her pale skin.

“The spiritual power of the Sacred Tree is directly linked to me?” Kagome’s eyes widened as the aura surrounding her streamed from a spot over her heart and towards a similar stream that twisted its way from the tree. They clashed between her and the ancient tree, slowly swirling and enlarging into a maelstrom of purity. Squinting to see to the heart of the swirling mass of aura, Kagome noticed that it was solidifying into a small sphere. As the whirl of aura began to fade, the small pink sphere floated in the air before Kagome, her eyes widening with recognition.

The Shikon no Tama; Kagome reached out to it, grasping the small jewel in her pale hand. The moment the shikon jewel touched her skin, it glowed brightly, a beam of light creating a path that led directly to the ancient well. Kagome’s eyes widened considerably. The old well; that’s right, its made from the tree of ages! But what am I meant to do? Am I supposed to go down into it? Kagome felt afraid at the prospect. What if she were to fall and hit the bottom, breaking her legs? And even if she made it to the bottom without hurting herself, how was she going to get back out?

A breeze swirled around her and the tree, a small yellow blossom falling from the trees high branches and falling into her lap. Kagome glanced at the tree, her eyes softening towards its calming presence. Thank you, Sacred Tree, for your guidance. Firming her resolve, Kagome stood up and followed the pink trail leading to the well. She stepped into the old shrine, making her way down the stairs and sitting on the edge of the well, her legs dangling above the darkness. She swallowed past the lump in her throat, bracing herself for the fall.

It is time to go back . Kagome shrieked as a ghostly hand reached out of the well and grasped her arm, pulling her screaming down into the well. As she neared the bottom all went black.

* * *


Sesshomaru’s eyes narrowed dangerously as he whipped his head towards the door of the hut. Over the past few days, he’d had to listen to the endless chatter of Sango and Miroku, not to mention the annoying half-breed’s endless questions about how Kagome was faring. However, Sesshomaru hated being indebted to humans, which was the ONLY reason why he had agreed to help Kagome. He recalled bitterly Kaede’s persuasive argument as to why he should help; if it wasn’t for the favor that he owed the stupid woman, he would be dealing with… his other problems.

“Ye are bound to me by a life’s debt. I am not asking ye to die for me, only to help Kagome; you are the only one powerful enough to overtake his spell. Would you sacrifice your honor over some stupid little grudge against your brother?” Kaede stood stubbornly in front of him, one hand on her hip, the other holding her bow. Sesshomaru’s golden eyes darkened as he stared contemptuously at the fragile old woman who attempted to intimidate him. He wouldn’t admit it but a small tug of concern for the strange priestess plagued the back of his mind.

“I will help you, but only because I detest being indebted to anyone, especially humans. And no I would not sacrifice my honor or anything else for that damned half-breed,” he said smoothly. He wouldn’t admit it to the woman but when he had witnessed the power of necklace binding InuYasha, he had felt a slight trepidation (Any demon would be afraid of such a spiritual power, he thought defensively) at the thought of her trying it on him.

He was glaring at the woman in question when a familiar scent reached his nose. At his sudden change in demeanor, the other people gathered in the hut around Kagome’s body went silent.

“Sesshomaru?” Kaede asked tentatively.

“She’s here,” he whispered. Before anyone could move, Sesshomaru was out of the house and taking off into the woods. If he left her too long, other demons in the forest would go after her soul; and glowing as it was with her pale pink aura, she shone like a beacon through the forest. Hearing a soft cry, he hastened his pace, bursting in the clearing.

A low class demon was bent over her glowing body, its disfigured form shaking with barely controlled lust for the immense spiritual power emanating from her spirit. It was laughed darkly.

“Your pure soul will be mine, little miko.” Before it could move to consume her, a slash of white light whipped through the air, cutting the demon cleanly in two. As it fell to the ground, Kagome looked up, meeting his golden gaze.

“Sesshomaru?” She stood up, taking the reluctant hand that he offered her. He glanced at her as she tentatively grasped his hand, almost as if she wanted to confirm to herself that she was real. He squeezed tightly, a small comforting gesture that allowed her to relax.

“I know that you are not particularly fond of humans, so I have to wonder why are you holding my hand? In fact, why are you helping me at all?” Kagome felt him tense in her grip as she badgered him. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye; she seemed so fragile in her ghostly form. Sesshomaru did not want to frighten her but he also knew that ignorance was not always bliss.

“I am holding your hand because without your connection to me, not only are you susceptible to the demons in the area but you will slowly fade until you become a wraith. Your soul will wilt and all that will be left is your memories in physical form to drift through the world, stuck in time.” Kagome stiffened with fear. He sighed quietly, not wanting the girl to recognize any emotion in him, even if it was annoyance. “I am helping you because I am indebted to someone.”

And that is the only reason.

Kagome and Sesshomaru continued on in silence, hands gently clasped together. Sesshomaru tried to ignore the feeling that her small hand in his caused, but the warmth that radiated from her soul was overwhelming. It was so strange; usually wandering spirits that had not died felt cold and weak to him, but Kagome’s soul was strong. Grudgingly, he admitted he may feel admiration towards the young woman, especially after all that Naraku had put her through.

When they neared the edge of the village, Kagome stopped, looking at the familiar yet strange village before them. Sesshomaru felt her fear again but knew that this time it was for an entirely different reason; she felt as if she should know this place but could not remember.

“Sesshomaru, before we go to where my body is lying I just want to say something.” Sesshomaru turned towards her and was shocked as she moved closer and hugged him. Startled by her unexpected embrace, Sesshomaru made no move to push her away. Instead he let himself relax for but a moment and placed hesitant arms around her. He indulged himself in the very human emotions of holding someone, knowing that the chance to do so again would not come any time soon.

“I just wanted to thank you or everything. I know it doesn’t mean much, but I thought you should know that I appreciate everything you have done for me.” She pulled away from him, flushing deep pink at his unwavering gaze. Uncomfortable with the intimate atmosphere, he turned away from her with his usual “hn.” Kagome clutched his hand tightly; he was more than just the protector of her soul, he was also something recognizable among her broken memories.

He was her saving grace.

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AN:/ Soooooo? is it good, is it good? PLEASE tell me <3 ^^