The Herald of Heaven and Earth

Chapter 8: Abductions and Alliances

Shippo stared down the path nervously wringing his hands. His mother and her two guardians had been gone for far too long and, he began to sense that something was wrong.

“Where are they," he thought to himself.

Rin had grown tired of listening to Jaken’s complaints of why his Lord had left him behind and had fixed her attentions on the little fox that sat so quietly by himself. When she was sure that Jaken wasn’t paying her any mind she quietly she stole away from his side.

Timidly she stood beside Shippo and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, Lord Sesshoumaru will take care of her”.

Shippo looked at the pretty girl and smiled as he nodded his head. He thought for a moment and then shyly he patted her hand. “Would you like to sit with me?”

“Sure,” she giggled and happily sat next to her new friend.

Sango watched the young girl offer Shippo her friendship and was relieved when he had opened up to her. “I wish they would hurry up and come back”, she said to herself absentmindedly. She had begun to regret the decision not to accompany Kagome and was pacing around nervously when Miroku gently grasped her hand.

“It’s okay Sango, they will return soon,” he said.

As if by cue, Inuyasha appeared with Kagome nestled in his arms, and their friends rushed in to greet them. Kagome, greatly weakened by her ordeal, opened her eyes and smiled at the worried faces that peered at her in concern.

“Hi guys,” she asked jokingly. “Did you miss me?” She grimaced at the worried looks they gave her and chuckled softly. “Come on now. What? Do I have something on my face.” She stuck out her tongue and crossed her eyes, making Rin and Shippo grin slightly.

Sesshoumaru watched in fascination as she attempted to entertain the children. His eyes stayed on her as Inuyasha gruffly said that “she needed to rest” and whisked her away to sit by the campfire.

“What happened to her,” Shippo demanded when Inuyasha had gotten out of hearing range and snapped Sesshoumaru out of his thoughts. “I sense that there is something different about my momma”.

Sesshoumaru stared at the little fox in surprise, mildly shocked that he had picked up the faint difference in Kagome‘s scent. “Tonight she was attacked by the one named Kikyo, and almost killed.”

Everyone gasped in horror and Sango grasped Miroku’s arm. She was about to flare up and declare vengeance when Sesshoumaru raised his hand to silence her.

“Please let me continue, Lady Demon-slayer," Sesshoumaru said quietly. Kikyo was attempting to take Kagome’s soul and nearly succeeded but, before she could succumb to death she transformed.

Miroku stared at Sesshoumaru curiously. "She transformed? Into what?"

Everyone watched as Sesshoumaru seemed to beam with pride when he looked over to Kagome, who had finally fell asleep. “All that I can tell you is that she is more powerful than any of us could have imagined.”

Rin smiled as she saw how passionately her adoptive father spoke of the kind woman. After answering a few more questions they began to walk away to bed down for the night and she looked up at her father with a sparkle in her eye. “Do you like Shippo’s mommy,” she asked, knowing the answer.

Sesshoumaru looked at his young daughter in surprise, shocked again by a young child’s perceptiveness. “Don’t worry yourself with such things Rin,” he said quietly although he had the sneaking suspicion that he had indeed given her his answer when she giggled and said softly that “Kagome liked him too."

The next morning when Kagome stirred she realized that she was held by someone’s protective embrace. She looked up anxiously and gasped when she saw Inuyasha’s handsome face above her.

Immediately a rush of memories from the previous night consumed her mind. She realized that it was not a dream in which Kikyo had been purged to hell and her eyes began to water. Tearfully she leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on Inuyasha’s lips.

The light touch made him start and he smiled. “Good morning,” he said warmly.

A rush of tears fell from Kagome’s eyes and she began to sob. “I’m sorry Inuyasha. You must hate me so much.”

Inuyasha continued to hold her and refused to let her go when she tried to retreat from him. “Kagome why would you think such a thing?”

“B-But Kikyo is dead,” she whispered, sobs rocking her body. “How can you bear to look at me, you loved her”.

“I’ve had enough!”

Kagome choked mid sob and looked up at the person to whom the voice belonged.

Sesshoumaru stood over them angrily and he reached down and pulled her from Inuyasha’s arms. “Stay behind me,” he growled as he placed her on side of him.

“What are you doing you bastard,” Inuyasha said hotly as jumped to his feet and violently shoved his brother.

Sesshoumaru gently pushed a frozen Kagome further back as he withdrew his Tokijin. “This is the last time that you will inflict sorrow upon her!”

Inuyasha’s head reeled as he contemplated what Sesshoumaru had said to him. “What the hell are you doing…” As he unsheathed the Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

Sesshoumaru eyed him coldly. “You never learn little brother. I had hoped you would come to your senses but I can see now that mere words won’t get through to you.”

Hearing the commotion everyone had risen from their slumber and was alarmed to see that the two brothers had clashed swords and were at a stalemate. However, a small voice reached their ears and made them all turn their heads to look around.

“Where’s my momma”, Shippo cried.

Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha both turned to look around and it was true, Kagome was nowhere to be seen. It was then that a scent that had failed to be detected in their moment of fury surfaced.

“Naraku. Damn, how could we let him take her right under our noses”? Inuyasha turned back to Sesshoumaru. “Look we have to find her, we’ll deal with this once she’s safe.”

Sesshoumaru stared at Inuyasha in silent fury, angry that he had lost all patience with his younger brother and had allowed Kagome to be abducted. Without a word the two brothers started off in the direction of Naraku and Kagome's scent.