Fallen

Chapter 6


The din of city life rose as the sun began it's trek through the sky. Sesshomaru wasn't thrilled with his new role in this situation but as the woman was the weakest of the two of them it fell to him to protect her if he too wished to survive. He watched the movement of the servants, his keen eyes missing nothing, as they were laid out a grand meal in the room they'd been led too. The woman wasted no time in digging in to the meal as though she was starving. Though tray after tray was offered Sesshomaru declined the offer with a gruff “This Sesshomaru doesn't eat human food.” Instead of backing down he was offered wine by the same elderly servant he'd allowed to serve the miko. Cautiously he accepted the sweet smelling beverage sniffing it curiously before taking a small sip. Pleased he took a deeper drink.


A soft light voice rang through the air as a feminine voice sang in strange cords and minors. It was a odd melody. There seemed a hint of praise in her song like the type that would be sung in the shrines of home. Kagome relaxed some as she stopped eating to listen. “this must be a temple.” she relayed to him quietly. He fought the urge to roll his eyes. He'd figured that out before. “We need to figure out who they pray to. If we can I might be able to figure out where we are.”

The servants did not speak more than necessary to serve and though willing to assist in any way possible Kagome could not figure out the right way to ask where they had landed. With all of the experience she had with traveling to the Sengoku Jidai she was wary of changing anything by saying to much. Kagome was also acutely aware that Sesshomaru knew nothing of her origins and she mostly wanted to keep it that way. With a frown and a sigh Kagome approached the singer who was watching the two of them curiously.

The young fair haired girl fell the her knees and trembled. Kagome sighed quietly beginning to feel frustrated. “You can raise your head. There is no need for that.” The girl gasped but kept her face to the floor. “I wouldn't dare to look upon thy countenance holy one.” she said quickly. Kagome sighed. First it had been all of the villagers with their endless drones of 'Priestess sama and Lady Kagome now apparently it was Holy One'. Ugh, Kagome hated titles. They were so impersonal. She tried a different method. “What is your name?” she asked. The girl flinched “Althea, Holy one.”

“Althea, can you tell me where we are? And how we got here?” she asked in the same kind tone. The girl shook her head. “I know not. Holy One. The High priest Galen would know better than I. Shall I call him for thee?” the girl asked with wide brown eyes. Kagome nodded as she moved back to her floor cushion to wait. Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed. “Do not leave my side without my permission again onna.” Kagome glared at him as her ire rose sharply. “I don't have to...” A sudden bowing of the servants cut her off as an elderly man entered the room he was followed closely by a younger man.

The old man moved slowly but with dignity as he made his way to the floor before their table. Kagome spoke up before he could kneel. “Stop. You don't need to bow. Please it must be far easier for you to just stand.” He reminded the of her Gramps and she wouldn't have let him bow either and not just because he was family. He glanced up at her in surprise and then a trace of gratitude flooded his eyes. The younger man watched her closely, his gaze intense. The elder man glanced over at young man, “Calix, one kneels before deity.” he reminded quietly. The younger man tossed his shoulder length blonde hair as he pressed his fist to his chest and sank to his knees. “Forgive me Holy One, I was distracted by thy beauty.”

Kagome's gut twisted as she looked at the younger man. He felt off. His eyes were cruel and calculating and his aura screamed darkness to her sensitive aura. Kagome didn't know anything about this society however she was pretty sure that a Holy One taking out a priest was not acceptable. Sesshomaru could probably get away with it. He'd just look around at everyone with that cold glare of his and everyone would run in terror. She nodded to the man hiding her discomfort with a weak smile. He smiled at her with an oily leer before lowering his eyes.

Though he appeared to be totally bored with everything happening Sesshomaru noted the miko's reaction to the blonde man's words. He could feel her unease and then the spike of her anger when he smiled a smile that had even himself strangely on edge. Unconsciously he moved closer to the girl and turned cold eyes to the priest who seemed to see him for the first time. He nearly smiled at the panic that filled the humans eyes as he raised his pristine white claws casually to examine them. “You will tell us our present location.” he ordered coldly.

“Certainly most honored one. Thee and thy most glorious consort fell from the stars to our humble shores. We the people of Atlantis are honored by thy presence.” the elder priest said calmly.

Kagome sucked in a sharp breath. She felt dizzy and the room began to spin “Atlantis?” she asked weakly. Sesshomaru frowned as he felt Kagome's dizziness in his own head. “Calm yourself.” he said under his breath for her ears. Kagome took another breath. “Would you excuse my companion and I?” she asked finally standing and walking swiftly from the room. Sesshomaru followed silently.

“This is all your fault!” she snapped through clenched teeth as she whirled to face him once they had reached the room in which they'd awakened. The bored look on his blank face shot her irritation through the roof. “Do you have any idea where we are?” she demanded. When he said nothing she continued. “We are currently standing on a virtual land mine. The city of Atlantis sank in to the ocean. That's why its a lost city. If you had listened to me and not forced me to read that spell we would be in Japan. And not in the ancient ancient times.” her face paled suddenly as she recalled the spell. Looking around she spotted her pack and retrieved the scroll. She read the words silently. “No! This can not be happening!” she wailed.

He watched her impassively. Of course he had no idea where they were. Apparently he was along for the ride. He had no damn say in any of this. He'd been bound to her and now dragged to a strange land with her. It all came back to Her. Ugh he was ready to tear his hair out but of course he didn't even flinch. Such a display was beneath him. He caught the parchment projectile as it flew at his head. And silently he followed her example. After he'd read the words twice he wanted to trash the room and break things in his displeasure. He wanted to punch the walls but barely refrained. “Are you finished whining?” he asked through his gritted teeth.

Kagome looked at him then, really looked and then began to laugh. He was just as frustrated as she was, but all she could really do was to laugh. He wasn't screaming or ready to burst in to tears as she was but his eyes spoke volumes as did the clenched teeth and the tick in his jaw that she was certain he didn't know of. He raised his eyebrow at her as she nearly fell over still shaking with mirth. He wanted to shake his head and roll his eyes but if he was completely honest he too wanted to laugh at their folly. How many centuries had it been since he laughed? As tears streamed down her face and she continued to laugh he felt his lips quirk slightly before schooling his features.

“Onna control yourself. We must determine a way to return to...Japan.” he said forcing his voice to not betray his own emotions. She coughed but her laughter wound down to slight snickers. And then disappeared as quick as it had come. “Right. Don't you get it? It said 'paths' Plural. More than one. And Time and Space. We could be traveling forever.” Sesshomaru frowned “Nothing will hold this Sesshomaru where he does not wish to be.” Kagome sighed it seemed that some truths needed to be told or he was never going to understand.

“Sesshomaru, where do you think I come from?” She asked walking over to where her bag sat. It was hard for most to accept that she was a girl of the future without some proof. He blinked, his eyebrows coming together in a show of annoyance before he replaced his look of boredom. “We do not have times for games, Miko.” he said finally, though he was dying to hear the answer to the puzzle that had eluded him for years. He wanted those answers desperately. He'd followed a day behind the pack whenever they went to Edo. So he'd only caught the scent of her at the old dry well just as everywhere else in the village. It had always baffled him as to what interest any humans would have in such a useless hole in the ground.

Kagome shook her head as she withdrew a couple of books from her pack. “It's not a game and its not a trick. Where do you think I come from?” she asked again. A slight shift to his shoulders was her only answer. He was not about to say 'I don't know'. Kagome smiled a little. “It's okay. Not many do. I mean it's not like it comes up in conversation. Hi! I'm Kagome Higurashi oh and by the way I'm from the future.”


Sesshomaru's eyebrows shot up in surprise. He was expecting something but not that. He'd never even considered the idea. Demons had no such power. Or at least he'd never heard of such an ability. The future? His mind spun with all the possibilities that it presented. But he reigned himself in. “Have you proof?” he demanded harshly. He could not detect a lie but the idea was too fantastic to be true. He had not lived as long as he had by blind faith. With out proof he'd simply consider she'd lost...

A heavy item was held out to him. He took it slowly. “And this would be?” he questioned. Kagome shook her head, “Its a book. History actually. See here is the chapter on the Sengoku Jidai, the time you live in. And...” she flipped to the front of the book. “This is my time.” He scanned the page quickly. “How many years between?” he asked curiously. In his interest he'd dropped his mask of indifference and Kagome smiled. “Well as of now, five hundred and two almost three years.” He narrowed his eyes searching the pages in front of him. “How...?” he began to ask but she shook her head. “Please understand, I cannot tell you how I cross times. I have those I must protect.” He nodded slowly. He could respect such and it was really not like him to pry. As he looked at the book though everything seemed to click in to place. The well had to be the key. Somehow that hole in the ground meant something.

Kagome sat on the bed with her head on her hand as she watched him eagerly study the text in front of him. While he was engrossed in the book his mask was gone and Kagome was more than willing to just watch his face. As long as she didn't draw attention to it maybe he'd relax for a bit. Kagome felt like jumping for joy and yelling in a certain hanyou's face that she had been right. Thinking of Inuyasha brought that familiar twinge of pain to her abused heart. Still there was more to Sesshomaru than what he showed. And more importantly, there was good. Yes, he was cold and pompous but he did have a heart. Kagome smirked lightly pushing aside her pain. His face looked younger with his eyes unguarded, Kagome noted silently.

He frowned as he realized her eyes were on him. Why was she watching him read? Was he really so fascinating? Why had she told him at all? Did she know something he didn't about their current situation? Was that it? Had she merely wanted to give a distraction? He looked up at her and frowned the silent questions would get him nowhere. “Onna, why do you speak of this now?”

Kagome snorted “Why? Well because, I wanted you to know that as I am a time traveler you can trust me when I say that we won't be going anywhere until we either accomplish something or the Gods decide to send us on our way. That's usually how it works.” she said with a shrug.

But that opened a whole bout of questions in her mind. Why did the well still work? She had the jewel back, so why hadn't the well closed. Her task was complete wasn't it? She'd followed her task through to the end right? Her time traveling days should be over, so why? Why Sesshomaru? What was so important that the Kamis bound them together? She shook her head and looked back at Sesshomaru. He was frowning at the two texts he held. Absently Kagome reached up to finger the jewel at her throat and froze as her fingers met air and bare skin. For a moment she panicked but an odd sense of calm filled her as well.

Kagome climbed off the bed and sat next to him on the floor. Reaching over she gently took the scroll from him. With a sigh she pulled on the rolled end and it gave. She tugged again and it opened another roll. “Hey look. I think it's a list of some sort.” Kagome said excitedly as she tried in vain to read the strange letters. At the top of the list was the only thing she could read besides a small sentence, which read ; “Worry not of things left behind, they rest in the hands of the Gods.” Assuming that it referred to their clothes and the jewel as well as anything else they had on them before, she dismissed it, turning her attention back to the list.

“Treasure of the sea, gift of the Gods? What does that mean?”