Something Missing

Thanks to Angel_Moonlight, Chrisi, and Shanalir. You guys are always reviewing, and I appreciate it.

I hope all of you are enjoying my story, and do tell me if something is unclear or not grammatically correct. I don’t mind flames or constructive criticism, so don’t hold back. Tell me what you really think. Here is chapter 7.


Chapter 7: Conversations


***One week later***

Sesshoumaru studied Jareth. Jareth was sitting in his computer room, part of his suite in the castle. Jareth’s suite included a sitting room for guests done in shades of red with four doors leading from it. One door was his bedroom, which also contained his opulent bathroom, the other a walk in closet connected to his bedroom almost as big as his sitting room (‘cause we all know Jareth is a clothes whore), and the last is his computer room. That room consisted of two fifteen inch monitors set on a desk, and about four of the biggest, high tech monitors not on the market yet developed by Taisho corp, each showing a different website. it had about five different keyboards, different mouses, about twelve CPU’s, a networking station, and enough wire to stretch from the moon and back.

Jareth was just sitting in his supremely comfortable rolling computer chair. He was resting his chin on his gloved hands and appeared to be just staring into space. Sesshoumaru frowned. That is all his brother-like figure has been doing for the last week. ‘Ever since he went to the club after I announced Sephiroth’s imminent death.’ Since both Sesshoumaru and Jareth were immortal, they did not get too attached to mortals, and the primary reason was sitting there like a lump. When faced with the reality of imminent death of a close friend or loved one, the immortal, whose emotions and attachments were deeper then ordinary, fell into a depression.
Sesshomaru could only think that the reason his number one computer whiz was doing nothing was because of depression about Sephiroth’s speeding aging and subsequent death in a few decades.

Jareth turned around. His violet/blue gaze rose to meet Sesshoumaru’s golden eyes. He rose and walked out of the open door to curl up on a crimson chaise lounge. Sesshoumaru took a seat opposite him, the deep crimson framing his white hair and skin to perfection.

“You seem to be troubled, brother.” Sesshoumaru stated.

“Yes. I must confess that I am most curious about a woman I met last week. She appears to be merely human, but her resemblence to a very old, close friend of mine is uncanny. And so, I am overcome with memories.” Jareth confessed.

Sesshoumaru was slightly surprised that his hypothesis was so far off base.

“Why do you allow a wench to distract you so?”

“She said that she knew me. I am most curious about a human woman who so resembles one of my dearest friends from the Sidhe court and confesses to know me. We have arranged to meet later tonight.”

“Very well. Have you completed hacking the Kazaana corp database? They are in a very good position for a takeover and their assests would be of great benefit to us.”

Jareth looked at Sesshoumaru with a blank face, but felt annoyance on the inside. ‘I thought when we became co-CEO’s of Sesshoumaru’s that he would quit treating us as employees. But he still feels the need to control Sephiroth and I.’ “No, I have not completed the job. I am very close, but their coding is spectacular, superior to anything I have seen outside my own computers.” He replied.

Sesshoumaru nodded. “Inform me when you are finished. Enjoy yourself tonight.” he said as he rose and walked out of Jareth’s suite. Jareth shook his head and went to shower.

***meanwhile, in the kitchen***

Kagome poured the oatmeal she prepared into a bowl and added a generous helping of chocolate syrup. She set the bowl beside the plate with the pickles and oranges on the island in the middle of the island and sat on a stool. ‘Pregnancy is hell.’ she thought as she dug her spoon into the oatmeal. She was enjoying her treat when Sephiroth walked in.

She looked up in surprise. She did not think that one of the masters of the house would eat in the kitchen, much less prepare his own dinner. She watched as he took out a pot and set water to boil. He took a large skillet and tossed in some pieces of cubed beef and added bourbon, various herbs and powdered sesame seeds(1. See below). He poured rice into the boiling water and resumed stirring the beef and bourbon. Kagome alternated watching this beautiful creature cook and eating her own concoction.

“Do you have a problem? Why are you staring at me?” Sephiroth startled Kagome when he spoke. She looked from his muscled back, perfectly outlined by his tight black wife beater, to meet his cold eyes. She shook her head in the negative. “I am just so surprised to see a man cook. Inuyasha could barely boil water.” She said.

He snorted. “I thought that you were above such stereotypes. I am quite a good cook, thank you very much.” He said as he drained the rice and put it on a plate. He then poured the beef and bourbon sauce on top. He carried his plate to the table and sat on the other stool.

“How interesting.” Kagome said. She always appreciated someone who ignored stereotypes.

“Allow me to prove it.” He said as he held out a forkfull of the rice for her to try. “It should be better than chocolate oatmeal.”

“Pregnancy cravings, you know.” she said. She opened her mouth for Sephiroth to insert the fork. “Mm. I think I have a new craving.” she said as the flavors hit her tongue. She licked her lip to catch a little of the sauce. His eyes followed the movement, spell-bound for a moment. He gave himself a mental shake and turned his attention to his meal.

“So, Sephiroth, where are you from?” She said to break the silence.

“And why should I tell you?” he said coldly.

“You don’t have to. I have just been so lonely for so long. Even after I married Inuyasha, he was gone all the time. I just need someone besides Midoriko and Tailin to talk to.” Her eyes widened and her heart almost stopped at what she had revealed. ‘Crap! I told him about the spirits of the jewel!’

‘Don’t worry Kagome. This one is meant to know. He is honorable and strong. He will not try to take advantage of you or tell others.’ The bass voice of the demon within the jewel, Tailin, said.

‘But I thought that it would be dangerous for anyone with power, and this man has a lot of power, to know about. You said that they would slice open my heart to retrieve the jewel and use it for themselves.’ Kagome thought in confusion.

‘You are the jewel. The perfect balance of the four forces, and the contrast of demon and miko, are present in your body. You are the living expression of the crystal within your heart. That is why our reki and our jaki is able to express itself in your powers. That is why you are immortal. If you were merely it’s guardian, it would sit in your heart as it has in all of your ancestors. You would not be able to access it’s powers. But, since we are able to express ourselves in you the crystal itself is no longer powerful. It is merely a resting place for our spirits instead of the talisman of power it was.’ Midoriko said.

‘That is why you need a protector. Since you are the jewel, if you were taken or consumed by a demon that demon would have immeasurable power. We taught you how to defend yourself and conceal the jewel’s power until you found someone worthy of knowing the secret and protecting yourself.’ Tailin added.

‘But, why do I need protection. I have been doing just fine so far, I haven’t needed anyone else.’
Kagome pointed out.

‘Because up till recently we have been able to help you shield your powers. But, your powers are increasing quite a bit, and we will not be able to shield the power. In addition to that, I can feel a new threat to the jewel. That is why you must tell the warrior the truth of us and your power, so he can help you protect yourself.’ Midoriko explained.

This mental conversation took place only in seconds. Sephiroth was somewhat taken aback by the emotions flying across the woman’s face. Anxiety, confusion, annoyance, and realization.

“Sephiroth, I realize that you come from an interesting place, so I hope the story I am about to tell you doesn't come as too much of a shock." Kagome began.

"How do you have any idea where I come from, human? You just asked me where I was from." Sephiroth interrupted.

"By listening at doors. You and your 'brothers' really should look into paying more attention to your surroundings. And I was going to let you tell me to show that you trust me before trusing you with my story, but the voices in my head told me to go ahead and tell you." Kagome said casually.

A faint smile graced his lips. 'I like this girl, she has spunk.' Sephiroth thought.

"Listen to me now, I have something to tell you.” she said. She told him all about the jewel, the spirits within it, and her training in how to use and conceal the power of the jewel, as well as the miko and demon powers she received from it as he ate his bourbon beef.

“So, I am supposed to help protect you, the immortal representation of the jewel of four souls?” He said after she was done.

“Yes.”

“Well, your spirits messed up when they chose me. I am going to die relatively soon, and I see no point in spending my little remaining time here. I want to explore the world a little before I die.”

Kagome’s eyes widened. She tried not to feel hurt by his blunt words, but was unsuccessful. Sephiroth’s sharp eyes noticed the flash of pain she quickly covered, and felt kinda bad about upseting a pregnant woman.

“Kagome, I will protect you as well as I can while I am here, but I will leave soon. Sesshoumaru recently told me that although I have barely aged while I am here, I will soon begin aging as a human. The alien DNA within my body is deteriorating on this planet, and cannot supplement itself from trace molecules in the air from the crash as it could on my planet. Soon I will be old and decrepit. Do you really think that I will be able to help you defend yourself then? And besides, if there will be so much power that two spirits that are as powerful as you described them cannot shield it then why can you not take care of the threats yourself?”

“Because while I am trained as much as I can be in the abilities that I inherited from Tailin and Midoriko I am not formally trained in battle. I have had no one to physically train me, since that requires another person to do so and there has been no one that the spirits or me have trusted enough to tell the secret to besides my parents.”

Sephiroth was curious. “What kind of abilities did you inherit from the spirits?” he asked.

Kagome smiled. “I have the ability to imbue any weapon with my reiki, the ability to read aura’s and purification from Midoriko. I also have a few energy based attacks from Tailin like the light whip, blades of wind, and the ability to use an enemy’s aura against them.”

“How can you turn a person’s aura against them? For that matter, what exactly is an aura?” (AN: I am taking several liberties here. I really don’t know a lot about auras)

“A person’s aura is a field of the person’s energy that surrounds them. If one could read aura’s then the color and intensity would tell much about the person’s personality, emotions, and power level. I can take that energy field and turn it against the person by making it pierce the person with what feels like a thousand knives or I can make it burn around the person like fire, or I can constrict it around the throat and choke an enemy to death. That is only a small example of what I can do with aura’s, or any of my powers. Tailin and Midoriko were the most powerful beings of their time and I have all of their power, plus that with which I was born.”

Sephiroth looked at her with shock. One of the most powerful women, no, beings in the world and Sesshoumaru treats her as little better than dirt?

Neither noticed the dark shadow that stood in the doorway through their conversation turn and walk away.


AN:
1. Though bourbon chicken does exist, this is not the way I imagine one would prepare it. This is a fictitious dish that I came up with off the top of my head. I like beef, bourbon seemed like a good liquor, and I picture the powered seeds as a kind of flour to act as a thickening agent. If someone braver than I tries to make this dish, tell me how it turns out, please.
AN2: if someone knows how to do bold on here, please tell me.