What the Darkness Brings
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InuYasha › Het - Male/Female › Sesshōmaru/Kagome
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Category:
InuYasha › Het - Male/Female › Sesshōmaru/Kagome
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
20
Views:
25,304
Reviews:
83
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
2
Disclaimer:
I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.
Chapter 5: Skulls of Red
What the Darkness Brings
By: I Agree
Disclaimer: I own nothing
PART I: The Consequence of Recovery
A.N. I forgot in the last chapter… ::clears throat and holds up a card:: I, I Agree, apologize for anything I screwed up – medical-wise – in the last chapter. I am in the graphic arts field. Medical arts are my sister’s forte. Thank you, have a good day and enjoy.
AAAAAA
Chapter 5: Skulls of Red
Twenty years away from home was indeed a long time, even for him.
Cold golden eyes took in the highest mountain, taking note of any changes he might have to kill someone for. He grimaced at the sight of a very obvious guard standing at attention high on the main mountain. Fool, he was putting the entire fortress at risk. Why couldn’t Jaken find competent youkai to guard his home? The last impudent bastard who was given the job had fallen asleep. He was, of course, dead within moments of Sesshou-Maru finding out. No one had slumbered on the job again.
With an angry sigh and a last look to the blatant bastard, Sesshou-Maru went through one of the hidden entrances of the many tunneled mountain. He motioned to one of the guards just within the entrance, and immediately the wani demon stepped forward, bowing deeply. “At your service, milord.”
“There is a sika guard by the seventh entrance. Is he new?”
“Hai, milord.”
Sesshou-Maru nodded, “Inform Commander Usui of his lack of covert skills and have him transferred to some other department in the military sector more suited to his expertise.”
The guard nodded submissively, “If that is your wish.”
He waved the crocodile off, watching indifferently as he bowed deeply and hurried to complete the directive. The taiyoukai went on his way, going down the descending halls of stone carved in the mountains. After some time, a bit of light began to brighten the tunnel and not too long after, the main cavern of his home came to view.
It never ceased to impress him, this marvelous feat of his ancestors. The sight before him was one of the most impressive things he had seen in his long lifetime. Within a cavern at least ten times the size his own father’s true form, Sesshou-Maru’s home was the most hidden and at the same time the most beautiful. Carved into the stone of two high and wide mountains meeting was the Western Japanese Palace. Its stone landscaping was decorated by crystal stalagmites and stalactites fashioned in the most interesting forms, unusual plant-life of likes he could never see on the surface world, and a river of crystalline water running many feet deep though one could still see the bottom. The entire cavern was riddled with spells and enchantments to keep it in this form, for it would have long ago died because of the light giving crack high in the caverns ceiling. He was unsure of the semantics of it, however, he knew only light was let in, and none of the minerals or vitamins which could kill the wildlife within the cave. His home, however, was the only reason he ever came back.
He dreamed of the day he could be rid of the creatures and family members he loathed. Until then, all he had to do was avoid his home…
Unless he really needed to. Like now.
With an internal sigh, he entered the large cavern, his presence noticed by his vassals immediately. The fools bowed as he passed, stopping their productivity for the pointless gesture. He knew he was the lord. He also knew they feared and/or respected him. Why make it obvious and slow down the progress of repairs or whatever they were doing? To be honest, he only put up with it because his father had.
And because his mother hated it when they showed him more respect than she.
With a smirk, Sesshou-Maru stepped onto the veranda, sliding open the heavy stone door with ease. He made an immediate turn towards his infirmary, ignoring the ‘hidden’ servants who passed him on the way to their duties. Reaching out, he grabbed a small hitsuji servant and pulled her out of the artificial shadows. “My mothers location.”
Her eyes averted to the ground, “S-she is in the onsen milord.”
That would give him about twenty minutes of peace before she got out to confront him over nothing. It never failed either… unless she was visiting with some lady or lord. With the particular thought in mind he arched a brow; “With company?”
The little sheep nodded meekly and with some satisfaction, Sesshou-Maru released the young girl and continued on his way. A ways off from her, he smirked. With his mother in the hot springs accompanied by another would keep her away long enough to complete some paper work along with his original intent. How handy.
Sliding open another stone door – though it was smaller than the main door – the taiyoukai was greeted with many diligently working youkai. The stench of illness and blood assailed him, but it was nothing like what he had previously scented with the miko. It was just more concentrated here. Her sickness smelled like nothing he’d ever had the displeasure of knowing. Shaking the thought aside, Sesshou-Maru joined in with the healing of the few guards who had injured themselves, and the human servants who had fallen ill.
Some hours later, after Sesshou-Maru was assured of the health of each of the patients, he called attention to his assistants. “Which of you would be willing to assist this Sesshou-Maru with a project?” He nearly smirked when all of them claimed to be willing. “I must warn you. A priestess is involved.”
He wasn’t very surprised when most all of the youkai rescinded their offers of assistance. He was surprised, however, when his most timid of helpers stepped forth. He eyed the young, grey haired rat youkai with a bit of amusement, but motioned for him to follow. He and the rat exited the citadel without a word, then out of the entire mountain, only stopping when Sesshou-Maru was assured of their privacy.
His eyes bored into the rats violet ones. Instantly he smelled the nervousness and fear. “Are you willing to remain with a miko for the rest of her entire life?”
Shock – and oddly enough sadness – tainted the earthy scent of the rat, “Y-yes, milord.”
“Your name?”
“N-Nezumi, milord.”
The inu lord blinked in surprise, “Rat? Your name is Rat?”
The little one gave a meek smile, “Mother didn’t have much of an imagination.”
Sesshou-Maru accepted the explanation without a word to it, “The priestess is, for now, unable to move. Her spine had been cracked slightly. I do not want her on her feet for awhile. Your duty will be to clean up after her, change her bandages, and all the things one must do for an individual confined to a futon. You will answer to her, not her packmates. Use your judgement, however, if you feel one of their orders or suggestions is better for her welfare, then follow. Understood?”
Nezumi nodded in agreement, “If I may inquire a few things milord?” When Sesshou-Maru nodded, the rat continued, “Will you administer therapy?”
A pleased smirk crossed his lips, the boy was intelligent. “Yes.”
The rat nodded, then his expression became one of unease. “About her being a priestess… I understand your half-brother is a hanyou, however, how do you think she will react with a full bred about her?”
Precautionary as well, what a good youkai. “Inu-Yasha’s pack consists of him, a taijiya, a monk, a full bred kitsune youkai and full bred fire mononoke. You will be welcomed without much fuss.” He appreciated the surprise in the eyes of the younger. He had felt the same when he saw the unusual congregation. “Any further questions?”
His inquiry seemed to snap him from his shock, “N-no, milord.”
“Very good. Pack up your things, you’ll leave with Ah-Un immediately. Do not tell any of what you are to do, there must be absolute secrecy. Return here when you are done, Ah-Un and I will be waiting.”
Nezumi bowed obediently and waited to be dismissed. Sesshou-Maru did so, very pleased with this little rat demon who volunteered himself for something so strange. He turned on his heel to fetch his beast of burden, finding yet another reason it pleased him somewhat to come home. Loyalties such as the one Nezumi displayed were rare. He just might miss the boy.
~
She was dreaming, she knew. She wasn’t in any pain, she was walking, and she was a child again. She shouldn’t be walking yet, and how would she get to the well without noticing? She knew Inu-Yasha wouldn’t let her move after an injury like this, he went ballistic when she sprained an ankle.
But really, it hadn’t been the fact she was walking without pain, or she was by the well which told her she was dreaming. It was the fact that her Papa was sitting on the ground, leaning comfortably against the Bone Eaters Well.
Her heart clenched at the well missed sight, and she felt her child’s body move towards them, running to get to them. Her father looked up and gave her a bright smile, fixing the glasses on the bridge of his nose before reaching out to her. ‘There’s my little girl. I was wondering where you were.’
Immediately she ran into his arms, snuggling into his warmth. Oh, how this was missed. They stayed like that for a great long time, cuddling like a father and daughter should. ‘Daddy?’
‘Yes, Sweet Pea?’
Her fingers curled into his shirt, anchoring herself to him. ‘Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be with Grandmama?’
‘I’m here to take you home.’
Her eyes raised to his, ‘Home?’
He only nodded, unwinding her hand from his shirt and holding it in his own.
A sudden chill settled into her body, ‘Am I going to die Daddy?’
‘Hopefully.’
Out of the corner of her eye she saw something sway behind him. Curious she turned her head to see what it was. Vaguely, she recognized what the thing was but the moving appendage didn’t register fully into her mind. ‘I miss you.’
‘I know, dear. But you don’t have to anymore.’ His voice had changed, becoming a familiar, deeply sinister voice instead of the gentle voice of her father. That caught her attention all too well and she looked up to see the face of Naraku smiling maniacally down at her.
‘Your not my father.’ Her voice had changed too. Instead of the high pitched childs voice she had claimed when she was younger, she was talking in the voice of a normal seventeen year old.
‘You don’t have a father.’ The tentacle she had noticed before wrapped around her waist and lifted her above the well whose mouth was suddenly an open jaw of a skull. ‘Your father left you all those years ago.’
Kagome looked down into the dark depths of the well, not seeing the bottom of it like she used to be able to. Where was the bottom? Who pulled it out? ‘My Papa is in Heaven.’
‘Your father is dead.’
The tentacle holding her up disappeared, and she fell into the depths of the well. No comforting light greeted her on the journey down the seemingly bottomless pit, filling her with a sense of dread. She heard only voices on the way down, some laughing, some screaming. When it all started to become too much she covered her ears with her hands, grimacing when she realized the voices were not from the outside, but from within. Eventually, the voices quieted and the end was near. She watched, unafraid as the bottom came hurdling towards her, the bones of dead youkai decorating the dirt replaced by a deep pool of blood. When she impacted and the warmth surrounded her, her insides chilled in warning. Stupidly, her dreamself tried to take a breath, but when she inhaled the copper liquid and choked, she woke with a gasp.
Blinking the sleep from her eyes, Kagome slowly became aware of her surroundings. If she could guess from how bright it was in the hut – she really shouldn’t, she wasn’t too good with the guessing thing – it was about midday. How long she had been asleep? She had no idea. Why had she been sleeping?
Ah… right. Her back had been hurt. She frowned slightly. Her back didn’t hurt, in fact it was pleasantly numb. Experimentally, Kagome placed her hands on either side of her chest and pushed herself up. Immediately she was met with a firm hand on her shoulder blades holding her down. Startled, she looked over her shoulder. Inu-Yasha’s concerned eyes bored into hers.
“You shouldn’t move yet. It may feel alright but if you move you’ll agitate it.”
Numbly she nodded and relaxed, resting her cheek on a hand. “Sesshou-Maru… he fixed me?”
Inu-Yasha’s hand disappeared from her back and he sat back, “… Yeah.”
She nodded again unsure of what to say that wouldn’t further annoy her friend. Right now he would still be reeling about the fact Sesshou-Maru had been able to heal and help her where he nor his close pack members hadn’t been able to. Hell, she was still confused about it. One of their mortal enemies decided to ensure her survival. From what she could tell, he succeeded.
The demon was just a complete mix of mysteries. One moment he was all broody, the next he was giving an evil smile. And with no reason at all! (Though she had the sneaking hunch the though of Jaken or some other stupid vassal of his in pain was what made him smile so). And he was always bent on more power when she knew he was one of the strongest demons.
Not only that, but the major thing confusing her was little Rin. What was the deal?! Was he just waiting for her to ‘ripen’ so he could make a meal out of her? If that was so, poor girl. Not to mention it was disgusting. Well, at least for her it was. That would be complete cannibalism on her part. Or was he going to have some ‘relations’ with her when she got older… ew. Didn’t they have a daughter/father relationship right now? That would be as close to incest as they could get! Gross.
“How are you feeling?”
Inu-Yasha’s sudden question startled her out of her thoughts, “Eh?” …of course an intelligent answer given by Kagome. Congratulations Kagome on furthering your stupidity!
He reached out and put his hand on her forehead, and from the way his fingers trembled, she knew it was more to touch her than to check her temperature. She allowed it, knowing he needed to reassurance that she was still alive and she was going to be well. “I asked how you were doing.”
“Oh,” She blinked, “Um… Fine I guess. I can’t really feel my back, so that’s good.”
He gave her a wavering smile, “That’s good. The bast-“ He winced and glanced away, “Sesshou-Maru gave me a plant that helps with that.”
She smiled at him sympathetically, “Inu, I understand you hate your half-brother for whatever reason. Just because he healed me doesn’t mean you should like him. And you two made a deal didn’t you? That means he gets something out of this too.”
He looked just a bit more relieved. Seeing this, she winked at him conspiratorially, “And besides, he’s not here to defend himself.”
Weakly, Inu-Yasha smiled, but it was obvious she destroyed the agonized tension built up between them while she had been… ill. It had been hard for him, she knew, to see her like this. It’d been difficult for her as well, not knowing how to help him.
“You’re going to get better.” It was a command rather than a comment or question.
It was an order Kagome was willing to follow to the T. She held out her hand and he grabbed a hold of it, squeezing lightly. She frowned as the small gesture caused her earlier dream to flood back into her memory. “I-Inu…”
“Yeah?”
She looked up to him with worried eyes, “Have you been to see Mother?”
Rather sheepishly, the hanyou shook his head.
She looked down to their joined hands, “Have you been down the well at all?”
Again, he shook his head, “No, I haven’t been to your world at all, I really was too worried to leave you.”
She blushed at his admittance but the coldness had seeped into her bones too well to be cast off easily, “Can… can you go check the well for me? The European lady did something to it I think.”
Understanding and fear clouded her best friends features and quickly he stood, “I’ll be back. I’ll send the others in as I go.”
She smiled shakily, “Thank you that would be nice.”
Not two moments after he exited the hut, Shippou barreled in, whining the entire way, and burrowed himself into the indent of her waist. His words were inaudible, but what she could understand were the louder phrases such as: ‘I thought you were going to die!’, or ‘Don’t do that again!’
She smiled ruefully as Miroku entered the hut, dragging in Sango by the wrist. The monk took one look at her and relief broke over his visage, his eyes raising to the heavens in an obvious prayer of thanks. When he looked back down to her, his eyes were filled with tears. He released his lovers hand and knelt by her side, leaning his head on her shoulder in an attempt of a hug, “Thank the gods.”
Kagome smiled sheepishly, “Thank Sesshou-Maru-sama first.”
He nodded profusely, rubbing the back of his hand across his eyes to keep himself from crying, “I will do that.”
Sango’s nervous fidgeting caught her attention and Kagome looked up just in time to see the girl she considered the sister she never had wiping away a tear. Guilt flooded her at the blunt reminder of her begging request, and reached out for her older sister. “Sango-chan, come here.”
Immediately, the taijiya was by her side as well, kneeling prostrate before her as she sobbed, “Please forgive me Kagome! Please! I’m so sorry!”
Kagome reached out and clutched at her friends hand, barely noting that Miroku moved away slightly to allow them some space. “I asked you to Sango. I begged you to. What could you have done?”
The older woman looked up, tears staining her cheeks, “I could have ignored you! I could have told you no!”
Kagome gave her a watery smile, “But it meant a lot to me that you didn’t.”
“It means I have no qualms killing my friends!”
She squeezed her hand tightly but her voice was soft and cajoling when she spoke, “If you have no problem killing any of us, I would be dead now. But you didn’t. You didn’t kill me no matter how much I begged and pleaded.”
“It doesn’t change the fact that I almost did!”
Kagome sighed internally. Hating herself just a bit for putting her friend through this. What kind of monster was she? How could she ask anyone who cared for her to take her life? It was just like asking her to kill any one of them. She didn’t have it in her. She pulled Sango just a bit closer, her sight blurring with tears. “This is my fault Sango.”
Miroku spoke up softly, giving the wisdom both the girls needed. “Pain is a heavy influence. I have no doubt any of us would be begging for death under such constant duress.”
“I wouldn’t have survived half as long without begging for that form of relief.”
All three of them jumped at the sudden appearance of Inu-Yasha and they turned (with the exception of Kagome) to face him. The young priestess bit her lower lip in fear when she saw the unsure look on his face. “Inu-Yasha? Did you tell Mama that I’m here and okay?”
Inu-Yasha took in a shaking breath, looking down at the floor. When he looked up, the anguished look upon his face told her everything she needed to know. “K-Kagome… I’m sorry… I tried several times but…”
He removed his arms from the sleeves of his haori, pulling out a very familiar red something from its depths. The European woman’s skull. The air in her lungs shuddered from her in an odd sob, but she did not cry, only stared horrified at the grinning skull. Inu-Yasha couldn’t get through? Would she be able to get through? Was it just him that couldn’t do it?
A bit of white in the skull’s teeth caught her attention and shakily, Kagome raised a hand for it. Pulling the whiteness gently from its place, she found it to be a bit of parchment. With hesitant fingers, she opened it.
‘A skull of blood and a home denied to remind you of whom you deal with.’
Kagome finally, truly understood why each of her friends and allies wanted the once human hanyou dead. The hatred, anger, and sorrow flowing through her body gave her enough perspective on what they had – and still – felt. Kagome averted her face from them as tears welled up in her eyes, not wishing for them to pity her anymore. But it was their sympathy which had them remaining silent, Sango gently running a soothing hand through her hair as she let the tears fall.
~
Shinju was a dedicated mother, determined to make a good mother to her little daughter still weak in the lungs after birth. When her daughter fell ill of pneumonia, she never lost heart. She never gave up on her daughter.
When she had a son, she never allowed her daughter to regress, never allowed her daughter any jealousy. She paid the proper amount of attention due to each of them, letting both know that each of them was loved equally and unconditionally.
When her beloved husband died, she made sure, through the tears and pain, her children knew exactly what happened to their father. There was to be no misunderstanding that their Papa was gone, and they would join him again in Nirvana someday.
And when, at fifteen, her daughter was pulled down an ancient well to another time by an oni, Shinju was supportive of her. There was a greater purpose for her daughter, she had no right interfering with that aspect of her life. So Shinju was her support, listening to the stories of losses, love, deaths, births, and evil with support, love, and advice to spare.
But there is only so much a mother can do when her child stops returning to her true time.
Kagome Kagome
Kago no naka no Tori wa
Itsu Itsu deyaru?
Yoake no ban ni
Tsuru to Kame ga subetta.
Ushiro no shoumen dare ?
Translation:
Kagome, Kagome,
The bird in the cage,
When will you come out?
In the evening of the dawn,
The crane and turtle slipped.
Who stands right behind you now?
AAAAAA
To My Reviewers:
Adultfanfiction:
TeaLeavesGreen: I don’t know if this will shock you… but this is a ‘fanfiction’ of an ‘anime’ about ‘demons’. So what if I chose not to do homework for something I do for fun. I have enough to do with two jobs and college anyway. I understand that history is important, you don’t have to tell me, I love history. But I don’t think it matters if I mess with the timeline of a world about demons and a girl who can go from one time to another. I took some creative license, don’t judge me for doing things my way in a fictional world. You do have a right to dislike my story, I’ll admit it. Just as I have a right to dismiss your criticisms and laugh because you find an insignificant character in my story to be offensive.
Tiffinie: You Have My Name! XD! Only spelled differently… YAY! Yeah, I know what you mean about Inu. I felt that he was a bit too ‘I’m going to beat you up!’ so I wanted to give him a nicer side. I couldn’t be mean to him anyways, I just love his puppy ears!
Cocoke5: Glad you love it and are keeping with me! It be peeps like you that make me smile and want to write more.
A-Single-Spark (or ASS…. Heh)
Isis: Thank you very much! But I must say, I don’t have all the chapters very well planned out. Some of the info in my chapter by chapter is only a sentence long. However that’s far off, so I’m not too worried about that right now. Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoy!
Vyncent: Well thank you for staying with me! It’s appreciated. To be honest though, I think I have lost some readers. That’s fine though. It honestly doesn’t bother me since I write mostly for me anyway. And the added information is the reason I changed a whole lot (you’ll be seeing much of the old chapters in Part II, by the way). It was getting too difficult to explain what had happened previously and stick to the storyline. Thanks again!
Kotainuchan: O-o-oh! But ‘blah’ is so eloquent and pretty! Lolz. Yeah, Chapters 6-10 are indeed very short and not very revealing. I’ll get on that straight away! ::salutes and marches off to write::
Fanfiction.net:
Melodi Moon: Broken records are fun so don’t worry about that! I do the impression all the time! Especially when I want something from my boyfriend XD! (‘Can I have it? Can I have it? Can I have it? Can I have it? Can I have it?’) Thank you for your review and for your wonderful comment on Sesshou-Maru! I was aiming for that so I’m glad to hear someone say I got it spot on!
Sesshoumarubaby18: Updated!
Thoughts13: I’m glad you feel that way! I’ll just keep it my little secret that most of the stuff I write in here is pulled out of my ass on the spot. ;)
Please Regard Me Kindly,
I Agree
By: I Agree
Disclaimer: I own nothing
PART I: The Consequence of Recovery
A.N. I forgot in the last chapter… ::clears throat and holds up a card:: I, I Agree, apologize for anything I screwed up – medical-wise – in the last chapter. I am in the graphic arts field. Medical arts are my sister’s forte. Thank you, have a good day and enjoy.
AAAAAA
Chapter 5: Skulls of Red
Twenty years away from home was indeed a long time, even for him.
Cold golden eyes took in the highest mountain, taking note of any changes he might have to kill someone for. He grimaced at the sight of a very obvious guard standing at attention high on the main mountain. Fool, he was putting the entire fortress at risk. Why couldn’t Jaken find competent youkai to guard his home? The last impudent bastard who was given the job had fallen asleep. He was, of course, dead within moments of Sesshou-Maru finding out. No one had slumbered on the job again.
With an angry sigh and a last look to the blatant bastard, Sesshou-Maru went through one of the hidden entrances of the many tunneled mountain. He motioned to one of the guards just within the entrance, and immediately the wani demon stepped forward, bowing deeply. “At your service, milord.”
“There is a sika guard by the seventh entrance. Is he new?”
“Hai, milord.”
Sesshou-Maru nodded, “Inform Commander Usui of his lack of covert skills and have him transferred to some other department in the military sector more suited to his expertise.”
The guard nodded submissively, “If that is your wish.”
He waved the crocodile off, watching indifferently as he bowed deeply and hurried to complete the directive. The taiyoukai went on his way, going down the descending halls of stone carved in the mountains. After some time, a bit of light began to brighten the tunnel and not too long after, the main cavern of his home came to view.
It never ceased to impress him, this marvelous feat of his ancestors. The sight before him was one of the most impressive things he had seen in his long lifetime. Within a cavern at least ten times the size his own father’s true form, Sesshou-Maru’s home was the most hidden and at the same time the most beautiful. Carved into the stone of two high and wide mountains meeting was the Western Japanese Palace. Its stone landscaping was decorated by crystal stalagmites and stalactites fashioned in the most interesting forms, unusual plant-life of likes he could never see on the surface world, and a river of crystalline water running many feet deep though one could still see the bottom. The entire cavern was riddled with spells and enchantments to keep it in this form, for it would have long ago died because of the light giving crack high in the caverns ceiling. He was unsure of the semantics of it, however, he knew only light was let in, and none of the minerals or vitamins which could kill the wildlife within the cave. His home, however, was the only reason he ever came back.
He dreamed of the day he could be rid of the creatures and family members he loathed. Until then, all he had to do was avoid his home…
Unless he really needed to. Like now.
With an internal sigh, he entered the large cavern, his presence noticed by his vassals immediately. The fools bowed as he passed, stopping their productivity for the pointless gesture. He knew he was the lord. He also knew they feared and/or respected him. Why make it obvious and slow down the progress of repairs or whatever they were doing? To be honest, he only put up with it because his father had.
And because his mother hated it when they showed him more respect than she.
With a smirk, Sesshou-Maru stepped onto the veranda, sliding open the heavy stone door with ease. He made an immediate turn towards his infirmary, ignoring the ‘hidden’ servants who passed him on the way to their duties. Reaching out, he grabbed a small hitsuji servant and pulled her out of the artificial shadows. “My mothers location.”
Her eyes averted to the ground, “S-she is in the onsen milord.”
That would give him about twenty minutes of peace before she got out to confront him over nothing. It never failed either… unless she was visiting with some lady or lord. With the particular thought in mind he arched a brow; “With company?”
The little sheep nodded meekly and with some satisfaction, Sesshou-Maru released the young girl and continued on his way. A ways off from her, he smirked. With his mother in the hot springs accompanied by another would keep her away long enough to complete some paper work along with his original intent. How handy.
Sliding open another stone door – though it was smaller than the main door – the taiyoukai was greeted with many diligently working youkai. The stench of illness and blood assailed him, but it was nothing like what he had previously scented with the miko. It was just more concentrated here. Her sickness smelled like nothing he’d ever had the displeasure of knowing. Shaking the thought aside, Sesshou-Maru joined in with the healing of the few guards who had injured themselves, and the human servants who had fallen ill.
Some hours later, after Sesshou-Maru was assured of the health of each of the patients, he called attention to his assistants. “Which of you would be willing to assist this Sesshou-Maru with a project?” He nearly smirked when all of them claimed to be willing. “I must warn you. A priestess is involved.”
He wasn’t very surprised when most all of the youkai rescinded their offers of assistance. He was surprised, however, when his most timid of helpers stepped forth. He eyed the young, grey haired rat youkai with a bit of amusement, but motioned for him to follow. He and the rat exited the citadel without a word, then out of the entire mountain, only stopping when Sesshou-Maru was assured of their privacy.
His eyes bored into the rats violet ones. Instantly he smelled the nervousness and fear. “Are you willing to remain with a miko for the rest of her entire life?”
Shock – and oddly enough sadness – tainted the earthy scent of the rat, “Y-yes, milord.”
“Your name?”
“N-Nezumi, milord.”
The inu lord blinked in surprise, “Rat? Your name is Rat?”
The little one gave a meek smile, “Mother didn’t have much of an imagination.”
Sesshou-Maru accepted the explanation without a word to it, “The priestess is, for now, unable to move. Her spine had been cracked slightly. I do not want her on her feet for awhile. Your duty will be to clean up after her, change her bandages, and all the things one must do for an individual confined to a futon. You will answer to her, not her packmates. Use your judgement, however, if you feel one of their orders or suggestions is better for her welfare, then follow. Understood?”
Nezumi nodded in agreement, “If I may inquire a few things milord?” When Sesshou-Maru nodded, the rat continued, “Will you administer therapy?”
A pleased smirk crossed his lips, the boy was intelligent. “Yes.”
The rat nodded, then his expression became one of unease. “About her being a priestess… I understand your half-brother is a hanyou, however, how do you think she will react with a full bred about her?”
Precautionary as well, what a good youkai. “Inu-Yasha’s pack consists of him, a taijiya, a monk, a full bred kitsune youkai and full bred fire mononoke. You will be welcomed without much fuss.” He appreciated the surprise in the eyes of the younger. He had felt the same when he saw the unusual congregation. “Any further questions?”
His inquiry seemed to snap him from his shock, “N-no, milord.”
“Very good. Pack up your things, you’ll leave with Ah-Un immediately. Do not tell any of what you are to do, there must be absolute secrecy. Return here when you are done, Ah-Un and I will be waiting.”
Nezumi bowed obediently and waited to be dismissed. Sesshou-Maru did so, very pleased with this little rat demon who volunteered himself for something so strange. He turned on his heel to fetch his beast of burden, finding yet another reason it pleased him somewhat to come home. Loyalties such as the one Nezumi displayed were rare. He just might miss the boy.
~
She was dreaming, she knew. She wasn’t in any pain, she was walking, and she was a child again. She shouldn’t be walking yet, and how would she get to the well without noticing? She knew Inu-Yasha wouldn’t let her move after an injury like this, he went ballistic when she sprained an ankle.
But really, it hadn’t been the fact she was walking without pain, or she was by the well which told her she was dreaming. It was the fact that her Papa was sitting on the ground, leaning comfortably against the Bone Eaters Well.
Her heart clenched at the well missed sight, and she felt her child’s body move towards them, running to get to them. Her father looked up and gave her a bright smile, fixing the glasses on the bridge of his nose before reaching out to her. ‘There’s my little girl. I was wondering where you were.’
Immediately she ran into his arms, snuggling into his warmth. Oh, how this was missed. They stayed like that for a great long time, cuddling like a father and daughter should. ‘Daddy?’
‘Yes, Sweet Pea?’
Her fingers curled into his shirt, anchoring herself to him. ‘Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be with Grandmama?’
‘I’m here to take you home.’
Her eyes raised to his, ‘Home?’
He only nodded, unwinding her hand from his shirt and holding it in his own.
A sudden chill settled into her body, ‘Am I going to die Daddy?’
‘Hopefully.’
Out of the corner of her eye she saw something sway behind him. Curious she turned her head to see what it was. Vaguely, she recognized what the thing was but the moving appendage didn’t register fully into her mind. ‘I miss you.’
‘I know, dear. But you don’t have to anymore.’ His voice had changed, becoming a familiar, deeply sinister voice instead of the gentle voice of her father. That caught her attention all too well and she looked up to see the face of Naraku smiling maniacally down at her.
‘Your not my father.’ Her voice had changed too. Instead of the high pitched childs voice she had claimed when she was younger, she was talking in the voice of a normal seventeen year old.
‘You don’t have a father.’ The tentacle she had noticed before wrapped around her waist and lifted her above the well whose mouth was suddenly an open jaw of a skull. ‘Your father left you all those years ago.’
Kagome looked down into the dark depths of the well, not seeing the bottom of it like she used to be able to. Where was the bottom? Who pulled it out? ‘My Papa is in Heaven.’
‘Your father is dead.’
The tentacle holding her up disappeared, and she fell into the depths of the well. No comforting light greeted her on the journey down the seemingly bottomless pit, filling her with a sense of dread. She heard only voices on the way down, some laughing, some screaming. When it all started to become too much she covered her ears with her hands, grimacing when she realized the voices were not from the outside, but from within. Eventually, the voices quieted and the end was near. She watched, unafraid as the bottom came hurdling towards her, the bones of dead youkai decorating the dirt replaced by a deep pool of blood. When she impacted and the warmth surrounded her, her insides chilled in warning. Stupidly, her dreamself tried to take a breath, but when she inhaled the copper liquid and choked, she woke with a gasp.
Blinking the sleep from her eyes, Kagome slowly became aware of her surroundings. If she could guess from how bright it was in the hut – she really shouldn’t, she wasn’t too good with the guessing thing – it was about midday. How long she had been asleep? She had no idea. Why had she been sleeping?
Ah… right. Her back had been hurt. She frowned slightly. Her back didn’t hurt, in fact it was pleasantly numb. Experimentally, Kagome placed her hands on either side of her chest and pushed herself up. Immediately she was met with a firm hand on her shoulder blades holding her down. Startled, she looked over her shoulder. Inu-Yasha’s concerned eyes bored into hers.
“You shouldn’t move yet. It may feel alright but if you move you’ll agitate it.”
Numbly she nodded and relaxed, resting her cheek on a hand. “Sesshou-Maru… he fixed me?”
Inu-Yasha’s hand disappeared from her back and he sat back, “… Yeah.”
She nodded again unsure of what to say that wouldn’t further annoy her friend. Right now he would still be reeling about the fact Sesshou-Maru had been able to heal and help her where he nor his close pack members hadn’t been able to. Hell, she was still confused about it. One of their mortal enemies decided to ensure her survival. From what she could tell, he succeeded.
The demon was just a complete mix of mysteries. One moment he was all broody, the next he was giving an evil smile. And with no reason at all! (Though she had the sneaking hunch the though of Jaken or some other stupid vassal of his in pain was what made him smile so). And he was always bent on more power when she knew he was one of the strongest demons.
Not only that, but the major thing confusing her was little Rin. What was the deal?! Was he just waiting for her to ‘ripen’ so he could make a meal out of her? If that was so, poor girl. Not to mention it was disgusting. Well, at least for her it was. That would be complete cannibalism on her part. Or was he going to have some ‘relations’ with her when she got older… ew. Didn’t they have a daughter/father relationship right now? That would be as close to incest as they could get! Gross.
“How are you feeling?”
Inu-Yasha’s sudden question startled her out of her thoughts, “Eh?” …of course an intelligent answer given by Kagome. Congratulations Kagome on furthering your stupidity!
He reached out and put his hand on her forehead, and from the way his fingers trembled, she knew it was more to touch her than to check her temperature. She allowed it, knowing he needed to reassurance that she was still alive and she was going to be well. “I asked how you were doing.”
“Oh,” She blinked, “Um… Fine I guess. I can’t really feel my back, so that’s good.”
He gave her a wavering smile, “That’s good. The bast-“ He winced and glanced away, “Sesshou-Maru gave me a plant that helps with that.”
She smiled at him sympathetically, “Inu, I understand you hate your half-brother for whatever reason. Just because he healed me doesn’t mean you should like him. And you two made a deal didn’t you? That means he gets something out of this too.”
He looked just a bit more relieved. Seeing this, she winked at him conspiratorially, “And besides, he’s not here to defend himself.”
Weakly, Inu-Yasha smiled, but it was obvious she destroyed the agonized tension built up between them while she had been… ill. It had been hard for him, she knew, to see her like this. It’d been difficult for her as well, not knowing how to help him.
“You’re going to get better.” It was a command rather than a comment or question.
It was an order Kagome was willing to follow to the T. She held out her hand and he grabbed a hold of it, squeezing lightly. She frowned as the small gesture caused her earlier dream to flood back into her memory. “I-Inu…”
“Yeah?”
She looked up to him with worried eyes, “Have you been to see Mother?”
Rather sheepishly, the hanyou shook his head.
She looked down to their joined hands, “Have you been down the well at all?”
Again, he shook his head, “No, I haven’t been to your world at all, I really was too worried to leave you.”
She blushed at his admittance but the coldness had seeped into her bones too well to be cast off easily, “Can… can you go check the well for me? The European lady did something to it I think.”
Understanding and fear clouded her best friends features and quickly he stood, “I’ll be back. I’ll send the others in as I go.”
She smiled shakily, “Thank you that would be nice.”
Not two moments after he exited the hut, Shippou barreled in, whining the entire way, and burrowed himself into the indent of her waist. His words were inaudible, but what she could understand were the louder phrases such as: ‘I thought you were going to die!’, or ‘Don’t do that again!’
She smiled ruefully as Miroku entered the hut, dragging in Sango by the wrist. The monk took one look at her and relief broke over his visage, his eyes raising to the heavens in an obvious prayer of thanks. When he looked back down to her, his eyes were filled with tears. He released his lovers hand and knelt by her side, leaning his head on her shoulder in an attempt of a hug, “Thank the gods.”
Kagome smiled sheepishly, “Thank Sesshou-Maru-sama first.”
He nodded profusely, rubbing the back of his hand across his eyes to keep himself from crying, “I will do that.”
Sango’s nervous fidgeting caught her attention and Kagome looked up just in time to see the girl she considered the sister she never had wiping away a tear. Guilt flooded her at the blunt reminder of her begging request, and reached out for her older sister. “Sango-chan, come here.”
Immediately, the taijiya was by her side as well, kneeling prostrate before her as she sobbed, “Please forgive me Kagome! Please! I’m so sorry!”
Kagome reached out and clutched at her friends hand, barely noting that Miroku moved away slightly to allow them some space. “I asked you to Sango. I begged you to. What could you have done?”
The older woman looked up, tears staining her cheeks, “I could have ignored you! I could have told you no!”
Kagome gave her a watery smile, “But it meant a lot to me that you didn’t.”
“It means I have no qualms killing my friends!”
She squeezed her hand tightly but her voice was soft and cajoling when she spoke, “If you have no problem killing any of us, I would be dead now. But you didn’t. You didn’t kill me no matter how much I begged and pleaded.”
“It doesn’t change the fact that I almost did!”
Kagome sighed internally. Hating herself just a bit for putting her friend through this. What kind of monster was she? How could she ask anyone who cared for her to take her life? It was just like asking her to kill any one of them. She didn’t have it in her. She pulled Sango just a bit closer, her sight blurring with tears. “This is my fault Sango.”
Miroku spoke up softly, giving the wisdom both the girls needed. “Pain is a heavy influence. I have no doubt any of us would be begging for death under such constant duress.”
“I wouldn’t have survived half as long without begging for that form of relief.”
All three of them jumped at the sudden appearance of Inu-Yasha and they turned (with the exception of Kagome) to face him. The young priestess bit her lower lip in fear when she saw the unsure look on his face. “Inu-Yasha? Did you tell Mama that I’m here and okay?”
Inu-Yasha took in a shaking breath, looking down at the floor. When he looked up, the anguished look upon his face told her everything she needed to know. “K-Kagome… I’m sorry… I tried several times but…”
He removed his arms from the sleeves of his haori, pulling out a very familiar red something from its depths. The European woman’s skull. The air in her lungs shuddered from her in an odd sob, but she did not cry, only stared horrified at the grinning skull. Inu-Yasha couldn’t get through? Would she be able to get through? Was it just him that couldn’t do it?
A bit of white in the skull’s teeth caught her attention and shakily, Kagome raised a hand for it. Pulling the whiteness gently from its place, she found it to be a bit of parchment. With hesitant fingers, she opened it.
‘A skull of blood and a home denied to remind you of whom you deal with.’
Kagome finally, truly understood why each of her friends and allies wanted the once human hanyou dead. The hatred, anger, and sorrow flowing through her body gave her enough perspective on what they had – and still – felt. Kagome averted her face from them as tears welled up in her eyes, not wishing for them to pity her anymore. But it was their sympathy which had them remaining silent, Sango gently running a soothing hand through her hair as she let the tears fall.
~
Shinju was a dedicated mother, determined to make a good mother to her little daughter still weak in the lungs after birth. When her daughter fell ill of pneumonia, she never lost heart. She never gave up on her daughter.
When she had a son, she never allowed her daughter to regress, never allowed her daughter any jealousy. She paid the proper amount of attention due to each of them, letting both know that each of them was loved equally and unconditionally.
When her beloved husband died, she made sure, through the tears and pain, her children knew exactly what happened to their father. There was to be no misunderstanding that their Papa was gone, and they would join him again in Nirvana someday.
And when, at fifteen, her daughter was pulled down an ancient well to another time by an oni, Shinju was supportive of her. There was a greater purpose for her daughter, she had no right interfering with that aspect of her life. So Shinju was her support, listening to the stories of losses, love, deaths, births, and evil with support, love, and advice to spare.
But there is only so much a mother can do when her child stops returning to her true time.
Kagome Kagome
Kago no naka no Tori wa
Itsu Itsu deyaru?
Yoake no ban ni
Tsuru to Kame ga subetta.
Ushiro no shoumen dare ?
Translation:
Kagome, Kagome,
The bird in the cage,
When will you come out?
In the evening of the dawn,
The crane and turtle slipped.
Who stands right behind you now?
AAAAAA
To My Reviewers:
Adultfanfiction:
TeaLeavesGreen: I don’t know if this will shock you… but this is a ‘fanfiction’ of an ‘anime’ about ‘demons’. So what if I chose not to do homework for something I do for fun. I have enough to do with two jobs and college anyway. I understand that history is important, you don’t have to tell me, I love history. But I don’t think it matters if I mess with the timeline of a world about demons and a girl who can go from one time to another. I took some creative license, don’t judge me for doing things my way in a fictional world. You do have a right to dislike my story, I’ll admit it. Just as I have a right to dismiss your criticisms and laugh because you find an insignificant character in my story to be offensive.
Tiffinie: You Have My Name! XD! Only spelled differently… YAY! Yeah, I know what you mean about Inu. I felt that he was a bit too ‘I’m going to beat you up!’ so I wanted to give him a nicer side. I couldn’t be mean to him anyways, I just love his puppy ears!
Cocoke5: Glad you love it and are keeping with me! It be peeps like you that make me smile and want to write more.
A-Single-Spark (or ASS…. Heh)
Isis: Thank you very much! But I must say, I don’t have all the chapters very well planned out. Some of the info in my chapter by chapter is only a sentence long. However that’s far off, so I’m not too worried about that right now. Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoy!
Vyncent: Well thank you for staying with me! It’s appreciated. To be honest though, I think I have lost some readers. That’s fine though. It honestly doesn’t bother me since I write mostly for me anyway. And the added information is the reason I changed a whole lot (you’ll be seeing much of the old chapters in Part II, by the way). It was getting too difficult to explain what had happened previously and stick to the storyline. Thanks again!
Kotainuchan: O-o-oh! But ‘blah’ is so eloquent and pretty! Lolz. Yeah, Chapters 6-10 are indeed very short and not very revealing. I’ll get on that straight away! ::salutes and marches off to write::
Fanfiction.net:
Melodi Moon: Broken records are fun so don’t worry about that! I do the impression all the time! Especially when I want something from my boyfriend XD! (‘Can I have it? Can I have it? Can I have it? Can I have it? Can I have it?’) Thank you for your review and for your wonderful comment on Sesshou-Maru! I was aiming for that so I’m glad to hear someone say I got it spot on!
Sesshoumarubaby18: Updated!
Thoughts13: I’m glad you feel that way! I’ll just keep it my little secret that most of the stuff I write in here is pulled out of my ass on the spot. ;)
Please Regard Me Kindly,
I Agree