A Light amongst the Darkness

Chapter One
The Awakening

The wind blew hard and the trees swayed dangerously. Sesshoumaru stood alone in a clearing surrounded by trees. Tenseiga pulsating at his side. Sesshoumaru himself couldn’t even figure out why his sword was pulsating. He could not smell any blood or any dead bodies in the area. Though the wind was giving him a feeling of foreboding. Sesshoumaru listened carefully for any sounds that would announce the coming of the person he was longing to see.

“She is late,” muttered Sesshoumaru.

“Sesshoumaru-sama! Sesshoumaru-SAMA!!” yelled a voice that was to his left. The voice was familiar to him and yet it was not the voice or the youkai that he was hoping to see. A small kappa youkai came running out of the trees. He was carrying with him a two headed staff that swayed dangerously in his tiny hands. He was after all about two feet tall and the staff was easily two if not three times his own height. The tiny youkai stopped but a few feet away from Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru looked unconcerned at the youkai that was now panting at his feet. “Jakin?”

“Sesshoumaru-sama I have been looking for you everywhere! Where have you been?” Jakin looked up into the cold golden eyes of Sesshoumaru. Jakin recoiled and hastily apologized for asking his lord where he had been. Jakin could tell by the look on his master’s face that he was growing impatient with him.

“Sesshoumaru-sama she has been calling out to you all night! She is dying Sesshoumaru-sama!” Jakin looked again into his golden eyes and this time he saw if only for a brief moment, fear mixed with concern.

“Where is she?” questioned Sesshoumaru in almost a growl.

“S s s Sesshoumaru-sama she is this way…” Jakin stumbled over the words as Sesshoumaru had a look that would kill now on his face, “She is with Hitomi-sama. She will not last much longer!” Jakin pointed to the East. Sesshoumaru run straight in the direction that Jakin had pointed.

How could I be so blind as to not know why Tenseiga was pulsating! Tenseiga was created for this reason. Wait for me!!

***

“ OSUWARI!”

Inuyasha face planted himself into the ground before Kagome. “Osuwari! Osuwari! Osuwari!!!!” screamed Kagome repeatedly. Inuyasha only managed to yelp every time Kagome yelled the “Osuwari” command.

“Inuyasha you are such a BAKA!!” screamed Kagome as she turned around and stormed off into the trees. I just can’t believe him sometimes! I was only gone for a day and he has to gall to yell at me because I should be here helping him find the last Shikon Shard! Does he not realize that I like to relax too!

“Inuyasha you are such a self centered jerk sometimes,” yelled Kagome to the setting sky. She had walked a ways in to forest with out looking back. And if she heard the slightest sound she would know it was Inuyasha and she would just yell Osuwari and kept walking. Kagome was so deep in thought that she didn’t even know where she was when she finally came out of her own thoughts and looked around. She didn’t recognize this place. She had walked into a clearing surrounded by trees on all sides. The only light that was penetrating the clearing was coming from straight above her.

“Where am I,” wondered Kagome a loud.

Kagome walked around the clearing when she was suddenly over come by such a strong feeling of sorrow that Kagome actually started to cry. She wrapped her arms around herself and fell to the ground. “Nani?” What is this feeling? It is as if something so tragic happened here that the memories of the event have been forever etched into the trees, grass and even the air. Tears were now freely falling from her eyes. The harder Kagome tried to stop the tears the more they would pour from her eyes.

I can’t move! I am trapped here! What is going on? Why am I reacting to this feeling? I don’t even recall this place. Nothing sad happened to me here so why am I feeling as if my soul is being ripped apart. Kagome blinked hard and tried to look around the clearing for some evidence of a battle, a grave or anything that would explain this sorrow that was forever etched in his otherwise beautiful and yet secluded clearing. Kagome’s thoughts trailed off as she tried to think of way of getting out of this clearing.

“Kagome...”

Kagome blinked hard several times and looked around. No one was there. The voice sounded so soft and sweet. It was differently the voice of a female. She sounded so sad and alone. The voice had not called to her ears but had called to her soul.

“What… who are you?” Kagome asked with her soul.

“help me…” whispered the voice.

“Where are you?” urged Kagome’s soul. She felt like she was being ripped in two. The pain was starting to blind her. She could longer see the clearing. Little white lights started to dance in front of her eyes.

“ Help me!” the voice said in a louder and firmer voice. It was more then Kagome could take. Kagocreacreamed out in pain as she fell into the grass of the clearing. The last thing that Kagome could remember was tasting blood in her mouth and everything around her swirled brightly and then vanished into darkness that swallowed her completely.

***

Sesshoumaru stopped suddenly and looked up at the vanishing light as night captured the sky. No matter how hard the dying sun tried to kept a hold of the sky the stars of the night were starting to wink playfully across the black veil that was consuming all that was in its path. Sesshoumaru jolted slightly forward as something small walked into the back of his legs. Sesshoumaru turned around and looked down at “his so called” servant Jakin. He was talking to Rin and was not paying attention to where he was walking. Jakin stumbled over his apologies as Sesshoumaru looked back into the night sky. For a moment he thought that he had heard a forgotten voice calling out. Not to him but to someone of great power. A purifying power.

“Sesshoumaru-sama?” mumbled Jakin tentively as he glazed at his master.

“Sesshoumaru-sama Rin is hungry,” said a sweet young girl’s voice somewhere behind him. Sesshoumaru turned around and looked at the young girl riding on Aun, a two headed dragon that shot lightning from its mouth. However what grew his attention more was the look in Aun’s eyes. He was grazing at Sesshoumaru with a mixture of excitement and concern. Had Aun heard the voice as well? As afs after all not mine. He only comes with me out of respect for his past master.

“Rin you may go and find something to eat. However do not go far,” replied Sesshoumaru as he started to walk towards the cliff that was straight ahead of them. Jakin made to follow his master but Sesshoumaru turned round and glared at Jakin. Jakin yelped and ran after Rin as she entered into the trees around them to look for food. Sesshoumaru stopped just shy of the edge of the cliff. He gazed out into the land that lay before him. Why am I so shaken by this? I, Sesshoumaru, have never felt this feeling before. But a part of him was telling him he had felt this way before. A long time ago. Before he was the youkai that he is now.

Sesshoumaru raised his right hand, palm facing him, and looked closely at it. A thin white scar ran from the bottom of his index finger to the lower inside on his palm. Anyone looking at his palm would not notice the scar as it had healed itself even more over the last sixty years that he had it. His youkai blood would continue to heal it until it was gone. For the first time in his life he cursed his youkai blood. He had made a promise that he would never loss this scar as long as he lived and now it was vanishing from him. My last connection to you. Sesshoumaru thought to himself.

A light flickered to life that caught Sesshoumaru off guard. He turned his head slightly to see the source of the light and cursed himself for being so jumpy as to flinch when a fire was lit. Jakin and Rin had started a fird Rid Rin was singing to herself as she started to roast the few wild mushrooms that she had managed to find. Sesshoumaru turned his gaze yet again to his open palm. Are you calling out to me? After sixty years are you calling to my soul? We swore that we would never leave each others side. We swore that our lives belonged to each other. Yet you left me and now I left in this world wondering about you even now. How dare you do this to me!

Sesshoumaru suddenly felt as if someone was gripping onto his soul with razor shape claws. He had never felt anything like this before. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t speak. Sesshoumaru opened is eyes wide and tried to think what was happening to him. Everything around him was starting to blur and vanish into complete darkness. Then he heard it. The voice again. The sweet voice that he thought that he had heard earlier calling out to him. But it wasn’t calling out to him. It was calling out to someone else. An image flashed before Sesshoumaru’s eyes. It was a clearing that looked all too familiar to him. It was surrounded by trees on all sides. Someone was kneeling in the middle of the clearing. It was a young woman with long black hair and she was wearing some kind of strange clothing. She was shaking and crying. Sesshoumaru could hear her trying to ask the voice where it was.

“Help me!” yelled to voice.

Sesshoumaru was jolted out of the vision and swayed slightly on the spot. “It can’t be…” Suddenly an ear piercing scream echoed through the air. Sesshoumaru looked in the direction of the scream and made to run after it.

“ Sesshoumaru-sama?” whispered a concerned Rin.

Sesshoumaru stopped briefly, “Jakin, Rin, Aun stay here. Do not leave this area until I return.” Sesshoumaru turned and ran as fast as he could in the direction of the scream. It can’t be… It can’t be… repeated Sessomaru in his head. But it is…

***

Inuyasha slowly crawled his way out of the crater that Kagome had used his body to create. “Damn that woman…” muttered Inuyasha and he laid flat on the ground still reeling from the numerous Osuwari commands that Kagome had put him through. “ I don’t know she was so pissed off. She knows that we need to be looking for the final Shikon Shard and what does she do but go off and go home!”

“Inuyasha you can’t blame her. She needs to relax just like the rest of us. Relaxing for Kagome-chan is going back to her world and going to “school” so she should be allowed to do so as she wishes,” stated Sango and she grinned at the dirt covered Inuyasha.

“Sango is right Inuyasha. You didn’t need to yell at her. Somes yes you are too honest for your own good,” replied Miroku as he too stared at the dirt covered, and pissed hanyou, and grinned.
Inuyasha stood up and walked over to Miroku and punched him the head. Miroku yelled out in protest but Inuyasha just yelled, “Keh!” and walked a few paces away and sat down with his back to Miroku and Sango. Sango sighed and Miroku shrugged.

“Ne Sango? Do you think Kagome brought back some ninja food for me?” questioned Shippo as the little fox youkai jumped up onto Sango’s shoulder.

“Shippo I don’t think it right for us to go looking through Kagome-chan’s bag while she is not here. We should wait for her to come back and then we can see what she has brought us,” replied Sango.

Shippo whined and starting to plead with Sango. But Sango remained stead fast in her decision not to go looking through Kagome’s bag until she came back. Though she too was starting to wonder about what was inside her bag that could be for her.

Inuyasha stared off into the forest and sniffed the air. He could no longer smell Kagome’s scent. She must be really mad if she walked that far away. She usually just walks out as far as my nose can smell her. Inuyasha crossed his arms and started to drum his claws against his upper arm. I will not go and get her this time! She can come back on her own. I was not wrong. She is not allowed to return to her own world until the Shikon no Tama has been completed and then she can come and go as she pleases. Suddenly the thought of Kagome coming and going as she pleased frightened Inuyasha slightly. If Kagome could come and go as she pleases then would she end up staying in her world for longer periods of time? He wouldn’t be able to use the excuse that she had to return to collect the Shikon Shards. Would she even want to come back? Inuyasha questioned himself.

I can’t lose her. Being around Kagome makes me feel like I belong. I never felt like this around Kikyo and I was willing to turn into a human for her. But Kagome is different. She likes me for who I am. She likes the human, hanyou, and though she is afraid of the youkai in me she still cares about me when I am transformed. I need to be around her. I need her scent, her smile, her loving eyes, even the way her hair sways with every little move that she makes. Inuyasha could feel his face becoming warmer as he thought of everything that Kagome was to him. She was the family that he needed. She was the one person that Inuyasha felt that he could be himself around and that she would completely accept him no matter what. And she always did.

Suddenly the sound of Miroku’s voice penetrated his thoughts. “I think that Kagome-sama would have bht bht back with her some ramen noodles. It is too bad that she is not here. If Kagome-sama was here I know that we all would be eating all the goodies that she has brought from her world.”

“Houshi-sama you are so right. Someone should go and get Kagome-chan and then we can find out what it is she has brought back with her,” Sango said in a voice that was louder then usually.

Inuyasha jumped and turned around. “I am not going after her! She can come back on her own. She started this ando ndo not need to apologize for anything!” Inuyasha walked forward and grabbed Kagome’s yellow backpack and pulled it towards himself. “I will see what she has brought back with her and I will eat whatever I find.”

Shippo ran over to Inuyasha and jumped up onto his shoulder and encouraged Inuyasha to open the bag so that they eat whatever was inside. Inuyasha had just opened the flap with he suddenly jumped up knocking Shippo for his shoulder and causing the young fox to yell at him.

“Inuyasha?” questioned Sango.

Miroku stood up too. “ Inuyasha you felt that too.”

Inuyasha nodded and he turned and faced the forest. “ Inuyasha can you smell Kagome?”

“… no…” Inuyasha whispered. His heart was beating so fast. Kagome was in danger. She was in great pain. Inuyasha dropped Kagome’s backpack and without warning to Sango and Miroku he took off into the forest.

“Kagome! Kagomeee!” Inuyasha ran as fast as he could. He could smell Kagome’s scent. But is very faint. It was as if she was trapped somewhere and her scent was disappearing. This didn’t help Inuyasha’s crn. rn. “ KAGOMEEEEE!!!! Where are you?!?! KAGOME!!”

How the hell did you walk so far into the forest Kagome? You were not gone long and yet you got this far into the forest. Inuyasha was running flat out now. His heart was pounding in his throat. Wait for me Kagome! I’m coming! Hang on!!

An ear piercing scream echoed throughout the forest. The scream torn into Inuyasha as if it was a sharp blade slicing his skin. That was Kagome’s voice. Inuyasha stopped for a nt ant and tried to regain his sense of self. Oh my God!! I can’t be too late!!! I just can be!!! “KAGOMEEEE!!!!” screamed Inuyasha as he started to run again. The trees started to thin slightly and Inuyasha could see a clearing up ahead. Though the sun had nearly set Inuyasha’s keen eyes could still make out all that was around him.

Inuyasha peered through the last of the trees and saw Kagome’s body lying in the middle of the clearing. She appeared lifeless. But Inuyasha could not smell any blood… Wait a minute! I do smell blood!! It is very faint just like Kagome’s scent but it is still the scent of blood. Inuyasha ran as fast as he could the rest of the way to the clearing. Inuyasha jumped through the air and was about to land in the clearing when he collided with a kekkai.

Inuyasha yelled out in pain as the kekkai shot wave upon wave of energy through this body. The kekkai pushed Inuyasha away and he came crashing down a few feet away form the kekkai. Miroku and Sango had just appeared and Sango knelt down beside Inuyasha.

“Inuyasha are you alright?” questioned Sango as she placed a hand on Inuyasha’s shoulder.

“What the hell is going on!!” yelled Inuyasha out of frustration.

“A powerful kekkai has been erected around the entire clearing. Even my Houriki can’t break this kekkai. How did Kagome-sama get inside this kekkai? I am sensing that this kekkai has been around for many years,” said Miroku e ape approached the kekkai cautiously. Miroku raised his hand and was about to place his hand on the kekkai when he sensed a great power approaching.

Inuyasha was the first to state the name of the one that was approaching them, “Sesshoumaru!” growled Inuyasha.

“Sesshoumaru?” questioned Sango as she helped Inuyasha to his feet.

Sesshoumaru emerged from the trees in one gracefully leap. He landed upon the ground as if he had floated through the air and not as if he had leapt. Sesshoumaru looked from Inuyasha to the others and finally his eyes rested on Kagome lying unconscious in the clearing. “I thought that it had been her.” stated Sesshoumaru without any traces of concern through his eyes betrayed him.

“What the hell do you want Sesshoumaru?” growled Inuyasha as he swayed on the spot. The kekkai had taken a lot out of him but if he thought that he was going to let him hurt Kagome he had another thing coming.

Sesshoumaru, without looking at Inuyasha, replied, “What am I doing here? I have a right to be here. This is my clearing. You are the ones that are not to be here.”

“Your clearing? Then you did this to Kagome?!” Inuyasha unsheathed Tessaiga and pointed it at his brother.

“Inuyasha do use your head. What would I need this human for?” Sesshoumaru finally looked away from Kagome and at Inuyasha. Still the thought of how this human had gotten without the clearing was beyond him. No human had ever gotten within his clearing before and lived. And this human was still alive. “I will fight you if that is what you want but I thought you would be more concerned over the welfare of your human that is lying in the clearing dying.”

Dying? thought Inuyasha, then that means that she is still alive. At least for the time being she is alive. I need to figure out how to get within this clearing and get Kagome back. And if what Sesshoumaru says in true then he will know how to get within the clearing as it is his clearing.
Inuyasha sheathed Tessaiga andked ked into Sesshoumaru’s cold golden eyes. “Since this is your clearing how do I get Kagome back?” inquired Inuyasha. Sango and Miroku looked at Inuyasha out of shear shock. Inuyasha was asking Sesshoumaru for help. Well at least as far as he was going to ask his brother for help. The thought of Kagome dying must have make Inuyasha suck up his pride for the moment.

Sesshoumaru grinned slightly at the look on Inuyasha’s face. He must be really concerned for this human if he is willing to ask me how to get her back. Sesshoumaru drew his gaze away from Inuyasha and looked back at the human lying in the field. How did you get within this kekkai? Did she allow you to enter? Sesshoumaru started to walk towards the clearing. His pace was slow and arrogant.

Sesshoumaru I have no choice but to trust you for now. But if Kagome dies then I will personally rip you apart with my claws. Inuyasha balled his hands into fists as he watched Sesshoumaru walk nonchalantly up to the kekkai. Why is there a kekkai over this clearing anyways? There is nothing in this clearing that would need such a strong kekkai around it. I know that I could destroy this kekkai with Tessaiga but what would happen to Kagome?

Sango leaned over and whispered into Miroku’s ear, “Houshi-sama, why do you think that there is a kekkai over this clearing? It must have something very powerful hidden within that Sesshoumaru would create such a kekko pro protect this area.”

“I don’t think that it was Sesshoumaru that created this kekkai. I don’t know why but if Sesshoumaru could create such a powerful kekkai then why hasn’t he done so again in battle with Inuyasha? I think that another youkai created this kekkai and that it was meant for Sesshoumaru and this youkai to enter and them alone,” replied Miroku.

Sesshoumaru could feel the power of the kekkai as he walked closer. You are remembering me aren’t you? Let me enter as you have done so in the past. I am Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands. The kekkai became visible as Sesshoumaru talked to the kekkai with his thoughts. The kekkai was changing from a simmering opal to a deep cherry blossom colour. Sesshoumaru raised his right hand and placed it upon the kekkai.

It was like ripples in a pond. When Sesshoumaru’s hand touched the kekkai a ripple started and soon the ripple was building in strength as it spread across the whole kekkai. Suddenly a voice called out and startled everyone except Sesshoumaru who was waiting for the voice. “Who comes to the Plain of Ankara? State thy name!” The voice was that of a female. It was a strong voice and it echoed throughout the forest.

“I am Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands,” Sesshoumaru replied in a clear voice that was just as strong. Inuyasha thought that Sesshoumaru just liked to boast the fact that he was the Lord of the Western Lands. Just saying his name would have been good enough. They were wasting time.

“Sesshoumaru, the Plain of Ankara remembers thee. Enter!”

The kekkai started to disappear around Sesshoumaru’s hand. It was happening slow at first but soon an opening appeared that was large enough for three people to walk abreast through it. When the opening stopped the kekkai slowly changed back from cherry blossom to opal to vanishing completely. Sesshoumaru lowered his hand and walked through the opening. It had been almost sixty years since he had last set foot within this clearing. Her scent was still within the clearing. Sesshoumaru stopped and breathed in her scent. She had the most wonderful scent that he had ever smelled. She always smelt like fresh blooming flowers and budding trees.

Sesshoumaru looked at the human lying in the field. Her breathing was becoming irregular. She was strong and that was for sure. She had lasted this long in the Plain of Ankara and she was still alive. Sesshoumaru had to give the human credit for that. A normal human woulve bve been killed by the kekkai the minute that they tried to enter and yet this human had made it within the clearing and by her scent pattern she even managed to walk around a bit first.

Sesshoumaru knelt down and grasped her shoulder and rolled her onto her back. Her eyes were closed and she was very pale. She even felt cold through the material of her shirt. A trickle of blood was running down from the corner of her mouth. You fought it didn’t you human? What does all this mean? Sesshoumaru picked Kagome up with his one good arm and started his way back to the opening in the kekkai. Sesshoumaru could see Inuyasha standing at the opening of the kekkai. Sesshoumaru smirked at the look on his face. He was so full of concern over this human. Does she really mean this much to you little brother? She is as good as dead from this and yet you still want her back.

“Get back Inuyasha. It is not wise for me to release this human while she is still so close to thkkaikkai,” stated Sesshoumaru a mere few feet away from the exit.

Inuyasha growled at Sesshoumaru and relucta sta started to back away from the kekkai. She better be alright Sesshoumaru or you won’t be! Sesshoumaru walked out of the kekkai and kept walking. Carrying thman man very roughly with his right arm. He didn’t stop walking until his was a ways into the forest and well out of range of the kekkai. Sesshoumaru lowered Kagome to the ground and Inuyasha quickly pulled her into his arms.

“Kagome?! Wake up! Say something, Kagome!” Inuyasha repeated to Kagome. Inuyasha looked that the blood that was coming down from her mouth. This made Inuyasha even more concerned then he was already.

Sesshoumaru was getting disgusted by his little brother’s show of emotions and was about to walk away to invest the clearing when something grabbed the sleeve of his kimono. Sesshoumaru turned around and saw that it was Kagome who had grabbed onto his sleeve. Her eyes were still closed but she had quiet a grip on his sleeve.

“Kagome?” Inuyasha whispered as he looked from Kagome to her hand to Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru’s face was as cold as ever.

Kagome slowly opened her eyes however they were no longer a warm chocolate brown. Instead she was looking up at Sesshoumaru with a set of beautifully mysterious opal silver coloured eyes. Her eyes looked glazed as if she couldn’t see through them. They were fixed on Sesshoumaru and Sesshoumaru was gazing into her eyes.

“Sesshoumaru…” whispered Kagome. However this too wasn’t her voice. It was soft and breathtaking.was was barely above a whisper. But no one was saying a word. Everyone was looking at Kagome and Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru looked shocked as he heard his name escaping Kagome’s mouth.

Sesshoumaru knelt down, never once breaking eye contact with Kagome. Inuyasha was getting more and more confused and he was on the verge of anger. That was until he saw the look in Sesshoumaru’s eyes. The look made Inuyasha hold Kagome closer to him. It was a look of longing. As if he had been waiting if whole life for the woman that now lay before him.

Is it really you? thought Sesshoumaru. Have you awakened?

***