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Days passed much as they had before Inuyasha fell ill. The only difference was Rin's addition. She grew close to Shippo and Kilala, and the kitsune was more than happy to entertain her. Kagome noted that the girl seemed most comfortable around demons.
Probably because she didn't have to great an experience with humans, Kagome figured.
Neither she nor Inuyasha spoke again of Sesshomaru. However, Kagome began to have dreams of him again. She felt utterly embarrassed and there was no one she could truly talk to about the dreams. She had considered Sango; however, the demon slayer knew less about relationships than Kagome.
She wouldn't understand...Heck, I'm not sure I understand.
Thus, Kagome pushed the dreams into the back of her mind. She decided they were probably a result of her dwelling too much on them. Kagome realized they were heading in a similar direction to where she had left Sesshomaru. She wondered if their paths would cross again.
Then, one unexpected day during their travels, a summer storm splashed down with ungodly fury. It made the mountain path slick and dangerous. They looked about for shelter, but besides mud and trees, there was none. Thunder clapped loudly overhead and Shippo ducked under Rin. Kagome suddenly remembered the thunder brothers. It was not as if the storm was out of season. However, she could not help but feel an ominous presence watching them from the clouds.
"We should find shelter soon," Miroku stated logically. "There must be something nearby."
If he was going to say more, Kagome never found out. Kilala let out a loud hiss in her tiny cat form. She was looking up to the top of the mountains. Mud, boulders, and even some old trees were swiftly coming downhill at them.
Inuyasha turned and attempted to draw his sword, but the landslide was upon them too quickly. Its inertia carried it over the mountainside and with it the group. Kagome felt the wind knocked out her before she could utter a cry for help. Mud clogged her eyes, nostrils, and ears. All she could think of was how dirty her uniform was going to get. Never mind the 50-story drop from a mountain. Forget suffocating or being crushed under the shear force of the mud. Not to mention the chance that a boulder would take her head off. Either way, she was about to die in a manner of seconds. She marveled at how calm she felt.If life ended this way, it would be okay.
Maybe I'll come back as butterfly...
Suddenly darkness surrounded her. She was not afraid. It was the darkness of a dreamless sleep. Kagome saw a light. Remembering the movies, she decided to head toward it. The echoing voice played in her head, "Head towards the light. Head towards the light."
She felt rather than saw a hand reach from the orb of light. It grabbed her firmly by the waist and lifted her off her feet. She felt the world drop away from her.
I'm going up to heaven...Will I become an angel? Kagome figured she would like that even more than being a butterfly.
She could hear the voice of angels greeting her.
"Kagome," they said. It took her a moment to realize that the voice sounded very similar.
"Kagome, wake up."
Moaning, Kagome tried to lift herself from the ground. Then she realized she was not on the ground. She was floating.
"And stop squirming," the voice scolded.
Kagome's eyes popped open. She found herself staring into Sesshomaru's golden eyes for the second time in her life. They were no less amazing than the first time.
"I love you...,” she said.
Sesshomaru did not even bat an eye, "You're delirious.”
"Ok," she said, and darkness overwhelmed her once more.
Kagome woke up to the sound of her own head throbbing. Nausea came over her and she rolled over to her side to spit out the rising bile and mud. After a few minutes like that, she inhaled a ragged breath and kept doing so until her breathing came easier. Her entire body felt cold and wet. Distantly, Kagome felt a cool hand press against her forehead.
"Inuyasha?" she mumbled. Her eyes were still closed in fear of dizziness. The hand withdrew.
A voice much more soothing than Inuyasha's spoke, "Do you always cause this much trouble?"
Kagome looked up wary of the floaters about her eyes and saw Sesshomaru's mid-section. She could not look up any further than that, her head hurt too much.
"Sesshomaru?"
He bent down to her level so she could see him better. His examined hers for a moment. Then he ordered her to lie down, saying something about uneven pupils. Kagome could not make it out. She must still have too much mud in her ears.
"Where are the others?" she asked, ignoring his advice. She was already piecing the puzzle together. If he had saved her, surely he was able to save Rin. Shippo was attached to Rin. They were both standing near Kilala who was always by Sango's side...He must have been able to save them.
Sesshomaru did not answer immediately. Something felt wrong. Kagome did not expect him to be one to hesitate. She looked up at him fiercely. "You were able to save them, weren't you?"
His eyes narrowed and grew cold, "You were the only one I found."
Found? So he didn't save her.
Kagome stood on wobbly knees and Sesshomaru did not attempt to stop her. "I've got to find them. Do you know how long I've been out?"
"It has been two days since I found you."
What! Two days? It felt more like two hours. Kagome looked down at her tattered and muddied uniform trying not to look in Sesshomaru's eyes. Two days?
"I better get going then," Kagome turned to leave but her feet would not follow her legs. The world spun from under her as if it were trying to trick her. You're right side up, now you are upside down. Another wave of nausea came upon her. She turned in any direction she could find and puked. When the world reestablished itself as solid, she looked up again.
“Uh…oh,” Kagome looked at Sesshomaru aghast. “Um…sorry,” she said weakly. He was staring down at his no longer white kimono with disgust.
“I can clean it for you…” she offered. Shamefully she admitted that she was happy to see his clothes could get dirty like everyone else’s. “I’ll be quick. I have to get back to the others.”
Kagome allowed no space in her mind to think of any alternative than her friends were alive, well, and searching for her. Sesshomaru nodded, still too upset to speak, and delicately disrobed. His boa and armor fell away easily enough, and Kagome turned to hide her blushing. She scolded herself for even thinking of something like that at a time like this.
Sesshomaru handed her the soiled kimono. Without turning, she took it from his hand and rushed off to the stream a little ways further. It was not even hidden by any bushes. All she’d have to do while washing is turn around and…Stop it Kagome!
She had hoped that she could have at least cleaned her clothes. However, after looking at her reflection in the water, she didn’t figure there was much of a point. Her expensive uniform was practically in shreds and her hair lay in a tangled mess. She could even see her bra through the holes in her shirt. Self-consciously, Kagome noted that so could Sesshomaru.
doubt he even knows what a bra is, she thought as she hurriedly scrubbed his kimono clean. Strangely enough, despite the tears in her clothes and the stiffness in her limbs, Kagome could not find any wounds.
Finally, about 15 minutes and several smooth stones later, Kagome was able to get the stain out. She turned to Sesshomaru and held his clothing up in victory. Once before, she had to clean the same thing off Souten’s clothes when he had caught the flu.
She ran back to him trying not to notice his chiseled physique or the smooth lump of flesh that was once an arm. “It’s still wet…”
Kagome looked at her toes, but to get there, her eyes accidentally traveled down Sesshomaru’s waist. She felt her face heat up once more. Again, she scolded herself. How could she even spare the time to notice that the dark purple stripes on his cheeks and wrist also wove down his waist and into his pants! How dare she wonder just how far down those slender markings went! Her friends could be in grave danger and she was just…
Kagome felt herself crying with shame. She notice there were tears rolling down her eyes until Sesshomaru, startled, backed away.
“Why are you crying?” he asked brusquely. “You’ve cleaned it well.”
Kagome’s shoulders shook with sobs. She could not stop herself. The recent events were far too much to handle. How was she to find her friends in this wilderness? If they fell off the mountain like she had without anyone to save them…
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
Sesshomaru was thoroughly confused by now. Kagome had suddenly broken down crying for no reason that he could discern. Not accustomed to being around anyone weeping, he decided to wait her out. She would stop soon enough.
A few minutes later, despite Sesshomaru’s protest, they were on their way in search of the others. Kagome explained that she had a better chance of finding and helping them with him along. Sesshomaru explained that he truly did not wish to waste his time. If they were dead for too long, he doubted even his Tensaiga could restore them. Kagome was silent and continued walking. Sesshomaru followed.
The best plan was to search the bottom of the cliff she fell from. When Kagome looked around, she noticed that she was further south from the cliff. Apparently, she had fell into the river and floated down this way. Further, up, she could see her yellow backpack caught on a tree that had fallen into the water. With much care, Kagome retrieved it and continued up the river.
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“Can you sense anything Sesshomaru?” Kagome asked. She had been searching the bottom for almost an hour while Sesshomaru stood by and watched. He was being about as helpful as a corpse.
“Nothing.”
Kagome sighed. If he didn’t want to come along, why is he here?
“Maybe they didn’t come over,” Kagome said with a glimmer of hope. It was very possible that Shippo and Kilala could have gotten them to safety. If so, they would be searching for Kagome by air. She needed to get from under the thick canopy of trees for them to find her.
“Can you take me up?” Kagome asked after awhile. She was beginning to feel dizzy again, but refused to stop searching until she found a clue of her friends’ whereabouts.
Sesshomaru reluctantly let her get on his back. Kagome suppressed the sudden rush of sensations that coursed through her when she touched him. She focused her attention on the cliff face, ignoring the smoothness of his hair and neck. If Sesshomaru had kept his shirt off, Kagome doubted, she would have been able to concentrate.
Kagome felt the muscles in his thighs tense as he prepared to jump. The movement seemed effortless, despite the extra body on his back. They rose up into the air and with one more similar motion on the side of the cliff, reached the top. He landed on the ground weightlessly. Kagome dismounted. The mudslide had covered the path Kagome had once walked. If they were up here, they would be underneath tons of wet dirt.
“Inuyasha? Sango? Miroku?” Kagome called each of their names in different directions. She made her way over some debris and kept calling them. Nothing but the sound of the wind answered her. She got down on her knees and clawed at the tightly packed earth in an attempt to a least find a body. If there were one, it would not be alive. Nevertheless, if she assumed that there weren’t any bodies underneath this earth, then she’d never know if they had lived or died. Thus, she prayed that all her digging would find nothing.
“Kagome!” Sesshomaru called out a warning. A bright light struck down the side of the mountain and toward her. It ate up the mountain and stripped the trees of their bark. Greedily, the light’s tendrils searched for her. When rose up in the air, Kagome gasped and struggled to her feet. Her foot sank into the mud and would not come free. Out of the corner of her eye, Sesshomaru came to her defense. The light struck toward the both of them, but Sesshomaru had unsheathed Tokijin and blocked. The beam retreated which gave him a chance to pull Kagome free.
“You’re more trouble than you’re worth,” Kagome heard him mutter. Another beam came, then another. Soon the sky was lit with ferocious lights. All Kagome could do was huddle behind Sesshomaru and let him keep up his defense. She had lost her own weapon somewhere between the mudslide and the river.
The steady attack did not let up. If she didn’t do something, Sesshomaru would be at this forever. Quickly, she dashed from under his protection and ran up the side of the mountain.
“Fool. What are you doing?” Sesshomaru hissed.
Kagome ignored him and shouted to the lights, “Come on! You want me don’t you? I’m over here!”
The lights stopped their attacks and chased after her. Kagome ran up what she thought was the path. The lights were going to catch her. She knew this was a fact. However, she remembered their aura. Either they, or the thing that created them, was also responsibly for that ominous aura during the storm. Whatever it was that attacked her now, was what had caused the mudslide. Kagome was sure of it.
Just when one of the lightning beams was about to strike down at her, Sesshomaru grabbed her around the waist and pulled her out of the way. In the same motion, he tossed her on his back and withdrew his sword again. His feat did not even touch the ground. If they did, the movement was far too fast for Kagome to see. They flew up the mountainside with the lights close on their heels.
Kagome heard a low growl escape Sesshomaru’s throat. He pushed aside more of the lights, but his concentration seemed to be on a figure at the top of the mountain. Kagome focused and could barely make out the shape of a man. A chill ran up her spine. Naraku!
It’s not him. I don’t sense his shards. Naraku must have sent a puppet or shikigami after them. The constant failure of his incarnations and demons most likely discouraged him from using them again.
When they got closer, Kagome could see his glittering red eyes and arrogant smile. She didn’t blame Sesshomaru for growling. After what he had done, Kagome wanted to wipe that smile off his face forcibly. Right now, she felt reckless enough do so literally. Sesshomaru brought down his sword to attack. The blade cut straight through Naraku as if he were mist. A low laughter reverberated around them as the body took shape again.
“You dare attack me with what is mine?” Naraku laughed. He was referring to Tokijin. The sword was made out of the teeth of his own incarnation.
Sesshomaru attacked again with the same result. Naraku’s laughter grew stronger.
“What did you do with the other’s Naraku?” Kagome shouted. “Where’s Inuyasha?”
“Inuyasha?” Naraku continued to chuckle, “He was nothing more than a pest.”
Was? Tears of anger sprung to Kagome’s eyes. If only she had her bow and quiver of arrows, she would finish Naraku off once and for all. Sesshomaru set her down and she shouted to Naraku, “You coward!”
Naraku only laughed some more, “I’ve had my fun for the day. I shall finish you two off later.”
Sesshomaru acted as if he were about to transform, but Naraku’s puppet vanished like the wind. He was shaking with anger, and so was Kagome. She stood there staring at were Naraku had just stood. Sesshomaru turned to go back down the other side of the mountain. When Kagome did not follow, he turned back to her.
“Let’s go,” he called.
Slowly, Kagome turned and walked down with him. She had never felt so utterly alone.
When night fell, Kagome started a fire. Neither she nor Sesshomaru had spoken since their encounter with Naraku. Kagome found she did not have the strength to do much of anything but stare ahead.
The flames licked hungrily at the small figs she had found. They popped and crackled and burned away. Their spirits rose up to the sky in a cloud of smoke. Kagome tossed another branch into the fire and watched die. She couldn't cry anymore. Her tears had dried up inside of her. Mixed feelings of guilt, anger, and hated made her want to lash out at anything that moved.
Why was she the only one to survive? It didn't seem fair. She was not even a part of this time. Her mind kept going back to the minutes before the attack. The day was much like any other. The storm started like any summer storm. Why did she or anyone else not sense the danger earlier?
Kagome curled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. She rested her head on her arms in an attempt to dispel the nausea. Her forehead was burning up. Kagome mentally thanked Sesshomaru for not doing or saying anything to try to encourage her. She wanted nothing more than to wallow in her sorrow.
Dawn came and they moved on. Kagome didn't sleep, nor did she feel she could eat anything and keep it down. By midday, they had met up with Jaken and A-un.
"My Lord! Where have you been? You left without warning!"
A rock hit Jaken square in the face. "Must I explain myself to my servants?" Sesshomaru asked.
Jaken looked truly frightened and stammered, "N-no M-my Lord. I was f-foolish. P-please forgive me!"
After much groveling, he noticed Kagome. He looked as if he was going to question Sesshomaru again, but his memory was a little better than a fish. He kept silent.
They were about to continue. Kagome took a step forward, she was fully aware of that. Then, there was nothing.
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Heavy incense filled her nostrils. Kagome choked.
"Easy Kagome," Kaede's voice said from a distance. "You've had a terrible fever."
For a moment, Kagome felt like she was waking from a dream. She hoped it with all her might. All she needed to do was open her eyes, and she would find concerned friends surrounding her.
Anxiously she did so, but only found Kaede. She looked around, "Inuyasha? Where are they?"
Kaede shook her head, "I was hoping you could tell me that."
Tears came up from nowhere and Kagome began to sob into Kaede's shoulder.
"There there child," Kaede's voice soothed. "It will be alright." She stroked Kagome's hair repeatedly until Kagome's cries evened out into shuddering breath.
Kaede handed her something to wipe her nose. "You must eat something. I know you don't want to, but there is no point in starving yourself," Kaede ordered. She pushed some soup under Kagome's nose. It smelled terrible.
Kaede noticed Kagome's nose turn up and smiled. She explained, "It will sooth your stomach and head. However, I suggest you return to your time afterward and rest up some more."
The thought of returning to the present was more than Kagome could bear. If she did so, she doubted she would be able to bring herself back. Not when she knew there would be no one waiting for her. How could she even hope to contend with Naraku now that her friends were gone? It was never her mission in the first place. Everyone had a reason to kill Naraku but her. Now that she had one, he had taken away every reason she came to the feudal era, she did not have the power to exact revenge. Nor the will. Kagome felt defeated. She could imagine Naraku sitting in the comfort of his hiding place laughing at his victory.
Kagome grit her teeth against the thought. She gulped down the herbal soup and thanked Kaede.
"Did Sesshomaru bring me here?" she asked.
"Indeed he did. But he did not stay near the village. He may be out by the well," Kaede answered. "You must get some rest first."
"How long have I been asleep?"
"Only a day."
"Then that's plenty of rest," Kagome said stubbornly and left the cottage with her backpack.
Kaede's assumption was correct. Kagome found Sesshomaru and Jaken out by the well. Jaken fidgeted with A-un. When he saw Kagome coming, he turned up his nose and looked away.
"You are leaving," he stated.
"Not yet. First, we need to talk," Kagome did not bother stroking his ego. She was completely out of patience.
She continued before Sesshomaru could utter a protest of indignation, "Are you still planning on going after Naraku?"
Sesshomaru stared at her. She imagined he was struggling on whether to give in to her aggressiveness or simply leave. At length, he chose the former and answered, "Yes."
"Then I'm coming with you. I know you probably think I'll only hold you back, but I promise. I won't. If I slow down, you can leave me in the mud on my butt."
Sesshomaru looked pleased with this and nodded. Kagome continued, "I-I don't care about the jewel shards anymore. They have nothing to do with me. I only want to defeat Naraku."
As she said it, Kagome realized that this was what she truly wanted. She wanted the chance to simply go out and kill the one who had caused so much anguish across Japan for 50 years. The search for the jewel shards was for Inuyasha. Trying to save Kohaku was for Sango. Miroku wanted Naraku dead to save himself from the curse in his hand. Kagome had gone along with all of them, all their paths leading to Naraku, without ever thinking why. Now she had an answer to the unasked question. She wanted it all to end. She wanted to stop having to come back and forth through the time, failing school, coming up with fake illnesses, burying entire villages instead of burying her head in her studies...all of it. However, Kagome would not be able to leave the feudal era behind until she fulfilled her destiny. To do that, she would have to rid the world of Naraku.
Right now, she had two shikon jewel shards with her. It had been proven that they were the key to her travel between the well. How Inuyasha had kept coming through was beyond her. Maybe it was his connection to Kikyo, or the fact that he was sealed to the Tree of Ages. Whatever the reason, no one else could come through without a shard. It was how No Mask got in after all.
Kagome took the little bottle from around her neck and opened it. She was surprised to find it still intact. Kagome opened the bottle and took out one of the shards. She, hesitantly, handed it to Sesshomaru. He did not take it.
"I can keep in contact with you from my time if you hang on to it. You don't have to use it for anything other than that." Kagome added in her head, It's a time-defying cell phone. The roaming charges are crazy, though. Now she knew the pressure was making her crazy.
Finally, Sesshomaru to the jewel and slipped it into his sleeve. "I should be back in a day. “If not, come get me.”
Kagome remembered that there had been occasions where her troubles from the feudal era had found their way into modern day. Without Inuyasha to come and clean things up, she needed to know there was someone she could count on. Even if that someone had to be Sesshomaru. Without further ado, she jumped down the well.
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"Kagome! What happened?" Souten was the first to see her.
Her clothes were still a mess and her skin was drained of color. "I can't really explain now," Kagome said sadly. She remembered how her brother admired Inuyasha and could not bring herself to tell him what had happened.
"Where are mom and grandpa?"
"Mom went out to the grocery store. Grandpa is in the shed out back."
Kagome quickly showered and changed into some fresh clothes. She packed extra clothes in her bag next to some instant ramen and shook the dizziness from her head.
"You friends dropped your homework off for you Kagome, are you going to take that too?"
Kagome looked at the pile of homework. It was the last thing she wanted to think about. However, it may serve as a much-needed distraction. Therefore, she decided to take a light load with her.
In an hour, she was packed and ready for her next journey. Now, all she needed to do was discuss things with her grandfather and mother. Tomorrow, she decided she would tell her friends the truth. They deserved to know, even if they wouldn't believe. After all, there was no guarantee she would make it back alive.
At night, while her brother slept, Kagome told her mother and grandfather everything. They were shocked but did not ask questions until she was finished. It was all she could do to keep from crying all over again. Her grandfather did not approve of her telling her friends, but he understood the reason why she must. Her mother did not want Kagome to return to the feudal era. It was the first time she showed any negativity to Kagome's travels. Maybe because she was also aware that things were going to be far more dangerous without Inuyasha and the others to protect her. Even the knowledge of Sesshomaru as guardian did not sooth her worries.
Morning came. Kagome got ready for school like any normal girl. The thoughts going through her mind were far from normal. She wasn't worrying if that boy in class will notice me today or if she would pass that test. Instead, she worried if she was going to live long enough to do this again. Therefore, Kagome went through the routine slowly, savoring every step of normalcy.
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"What did you want to tell us Kagome?" Eri asked.
After school, she had called her friends together at WacDonald’s. Ayumi, Eri, and Yuka all sat facing her looking at her curiously.
"I've never seen you so down lately. Summer break is about to start," Yuka said. "Wait. Is it that dead beat boyfriend of yours? You need to get out to the beach and find a new guy."
"Or you could hook up with Hojo," Eri offered. "You had to cancel your last date because you got sick."
Kagome sighed. She didn't know where to begin or how to sum up the past few months. Finally, she started from the beginning. At first, her friends looked at her dubiously and chuckled. However, as she continued to go into further detail, one by one they sat there with their mouths agape.
Finally, Ayumi spoke, "Are you sure you're feeling better Kagome?"
Kagome looked down at her soda. She hadn't touched it. The ice had already melted and mixed with the soft drink. She hated watery sodas.
"So there really is such thing as demons? And this Sesshomaru waiting for you, he's one of them?"
Kagome nodded.
"What does he look like?" Yuka asked.
"YUKA!" Eri and Ayumi protested.
"I was just wondering. I mean, none of us have actually seen a demon, have we?" she explained. The other two nodded and looked at Kagome.
"Uh...well...he doesn't look like what you see in art. At least, not all the time. In fact, almost every demon I came across could take on a human form. More often than not, they were beautiful," Kagome couldn't see how any of this applied to the point she was trying to get to. The point they must have missed. She may not be able to return to the present if she defeated Naraku. If she didn't defeat him, it was probably because she was killed.
Kagome could almost see her friends' thought bubbles. Before they had imagined Inuyasha as a gas station attendant. They saw Miroku as some kind of playboy. Koga was an obsessed overactive outdoorsman. How must they see Sesshomaru?
"I bet he'd be model if he were in our time, wouldn't he Kagome?" Ayumi asked.
"Eh?" Kagome blinked. A model? "I doubt he'd waste his time flaunting himself for a bunch of girls."
"Well, what about a movie star?" Yuka pressed.
Kagome waved the thought away, "Hardly, he couldn't take orders from a director to save his life. He'd probably kill the paparazzi as well."
Eri looked thoughtful, "Maybe some illegal businessman for the Black Market."
Well...she's getting closer. Kagome smiled. Then she laughed. Tears rolled down her face, but this time they were tears of joy. She missed being with her friends like this. In the old days, all they did was sit around and talk about boys and school. Kagome missed the simplicity of life.
Silently she promised herself, I'll comeback. Somehow, I'll come back to them.
Her friends looked at one another, proud that they lifted Kagome's spirits. Each one of them had lost someone special in their life. However, their troubles could not compare to Kagome's. Not only did she lose her father early on in life, but she also lost so many dear friends so quickly. Cheering her up was the least they could do.
Kagome returned home without any trouble. She bid her family farewell and climbed back into the feudal era. A glimmer of hope sat in her heart.
Sesshomaru waited for Kagome to emerge from the well. It had almost been an entire day since she disappeared to her own time. The fact that this simple human structure possessed the capability to send one across time intrigued him to no end. He touched the jewel shard in his sleeve.
Or, is it this which gives one the ability? Sesshomaru mused. Kagome seemed to think so. However, if that was the case, why must one travel through the Bone Eater's Well?
This well could be the only thing in the future that directly parallels this era.
A light appeared down the tunnel signaling Kagome's arrival. Sesshomaru waited patiently for her to climb out. In truth, he only appeared patient. Sesshomaru actually wanted to find Naraku quickly. The hanyou was becoming more than a mere thorn in his side. The human woman was holding him back. However, for reasons Sesshomaru could not fully understand, he decided to give her a chance. If she slowed him down too much, even she agreed that he leave her behind.
"Ok. I’m ready,” Kagome announced.
Sesshomaru turned and took A-un's reigns. Jaken hopped onto the dragon's second head with little effort. Sesshomaru decided he would ride A-un up to a certain point. He needed to save his energy for the upcoming battle. He turned to the woman and waited. After a moment of hesitation, Kagome followed suite.
Kagome sat sidesaddle on the dragon and placed her arms around his waist. She nodded to show she was finally situated. It was wise of her to hold on. A-un did not like staying in one place for too long. When Sesshomaru tugged the reigns, the dragon jolted off into the air. The sudden motion would have thrown a less experience rider over.
They returned to the mountain where they had last seen evidence of Naraku. Sesshomaru could smell a familiar scent, but it was not Naraku.
"Koga!" Kagome said from behind him. "Koga's up ahead. I can feel his two jewel shards."
Sesshomaru tried to place the name. Whoever this Koga was, he was a full demon. Sesshomaru tested the scent a second time. A wolf demon. Then he remembered. Koga was the same youkai that had been responsible for Rin’s attack. He had crossed paths with this Koga, but nothing came of it.
Sesshomaru signaled for A-un to land. Perhaps the wolf knew where Naraku hid. Before they fully landed, Kagome jumped off and ran to Koga while Sesshomaru remained astride.
"Kagome! I was worried about you," Koga grabbed her hands in his. He motioned to Sesshomaru. "Where is that mutt Inuyasha? Why isn't he protecting you like I told him to?"
Kagome looked away and it appeared Koga understood. "That idiot! How dare he die before I kill him?" Koga kicked a rock and it shattered.
Kagome looked up at him in surprise. Sesshomaru, already bored with this reunion, asked, "Have you found any sign of Naraku?"
Koga looked up, "No. This is the last place I smelled him."
Two other wolf demons showed up then. "Koga! There you are!" they cried. Sesshomaru did not recognize the servants; however, he knew he must have met them as well. It didn't matter.
"Then, we'll take our leave," Sesshomaru said.
Kagome looked at him as if she were about to protest. Koga stepped in front of her.
"You're not taking Kagome along," he said. His eyes leveled with Sesshomaru. A challenge.
Under normal circumstances, Sesshomaru would have simply felled the impudent wolf and taken what he wanted. However, circumstances were far from normal and he did not desire Kagome's company enough to spill blood. If she chose to stay with Koga that would certainly be more acceptable.
Sesshomaru turned to leave, but Kagome called out. "Wait. I'm coming with you."
"What?" he could hear Koga exclaim. Sesshomaru wondered the same thing.
"I'm sorry Koga. This is something I have to do." She spoke with such confidence in her voice that Sesshomaru turned to see if it was the same woman.
He met her dark brown eyes and studied them for a bit. She did not flinch or waver.
"You can't be serious," Koga moaned. "It's one thing to run around with a mutt but..." he measured Sesshomaru and lowered his voice to a growl. “I don't like your smell any better," he said to the dog demon.
Jaken had been observing quietly until now, "You dare compare my Master to mere half-demon. Especially one such as Inuyasha! I ought to burn you to a crisp you insolent wolf!"
"Do not mistake me for Inuyasha," Sesshomaru warned. He was tired of this pup's grandstanding. He could sense Koga was still in the heat of his youth and just as reckless as his kind tended to be. "I will not tolerate your arrogance or hesitate to cut you down if you stand in my way."
Koga clenched his fist and snarled a grin, "Bring it on then. I've wanted to test your strength the moment I met you."
Just as Sesshomaru had suspected, the wolf was far too eager to fight. He had not yet learned the benefit of knowing his opponents strengths and weaknesses before fighting them. It was surprising Koga lasted this long. Where it not for the jewel shards in his legs, Sesshomaru suspected Koga would be dead by now. It was the same reason Sesshomaru refused to use the aid of outside powers. Such an act would cause anyone to overestimate his true abilities.
I will teach him this lesson, Sesshomaru decided as he concentrated the power in his fingers to unleash a whip of light.
"Koga, Sesshomaru, both of you stop it right now," Kagome warned.
The electricity between the two demons permeated the air to an extent that even the strange miko could feel it. The other two wolves had already taken shelter behind a boulder.
Koga was the first to ease his stance, "Fine. Naraku's my main target anyway." He turned to Kagome and kissed her hand one last time, "I'll be seein' you around, Kagome. Be careful, ok?"
Kagome nodded and waved goodbye as Koga ran down the opposite side of the mountain. His servants moaned and chased after him, calling for him to wait up.
Sesshomaru watched the wolf disappear in a tornado of speed. Given another hundred years, if the wolf survived, he could prove to be a suitable opponent. Then again, so would Sesshomaru. That would be without jewel shards to improve his skills. No, though he would be powerful, Koga would never be a threat to Sesshomaru.
"Well, are we going?" Kagome was looking up at Sesshomaru.
He nodded. With no leads to find Naraku, Sesshomaru was baffled where to begin searching. As they flew into the sky, Sesshomaru thought. From the time he had known Naraku, the half demon had always concealed him in the most unlikely places. Places that were surrounded by a peaceful aura. Sesshomaru suspected that somewhere in the hanyou's being existed a yearning for peace. A quiet place to hide.
Enjoy your peace while you can Naraku. Once I find you, I'll see to it that you suffer a thousand deaths.
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Night fell and A-un's earlier restlessness had long since worn out. Sesshomaru found a small area that looked as if no humans had crossed. It would be suitable for a night's rest. Jaken had already fallen asleep and Sesshomaru glanced behind him to see how the woman fared. She looked tired as well but was still awake.
A-un landed and the two of them dismounted. The dragon stretched and yawned, careful not to disturb Jaken. The last time the dragon had awoken him, he had to suffer Jaken's constant complaining until Sesshomaru finally silenced him.
Kagome yawned as well and settled down to search through her bag. Sesshomaru was mildly curious to see what she kept inside it, but he had to survey the area first. If any demons were foolish enough to attack him, it would be more convenient if they did so now.
After a few minutes, Sesshomaru found the area's safety satisfactory. He returned to the others expecting to find everyone asleep. However, Kagome was awake and waiting for him. She was eating something chewy from a strange colorful bag. It smelled salty.
She held the bag up to him, "You want some?" She offered.
Sesshomaru turned away and sat apart from her. "I don't eat human food."
"I bet you never had any of these before," she coaxed.
Sesshomaru admitted to himself that they smelled intriguing. He studied the piece she held out to him. It looked like dried meat but had a strange smell as well.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Barbecue beef jerky. It makes a good travel snack."
"It's still meant for humans."
Kagome looked thoughtful, "Well...what do you eat then? I think I might still have some dog biscuits in the back pocket."
She began searching through her bag again. Sesshomaru saw out of the corner of his eye some more objects that peaked his curiosity.
"Here's one," she held a round object out to him. It looked repulsive.
"No."
"But...you're a dog demon right? What do you eat?"
Sesshomaru knew what her reaction would be if he told her. Half of him wanted to see her fear, the other half just wanted to be left alone. She pulled something else out of her bag. It glittered in the moonlight.
"What is that?" Sesshomaru asked.
"I'm not going to tell you until you tell me what you eat."
Sesshomaru resisted the urge to simply snatch the object from her with her hand still attached. She would be of absolutely no use then.
"Live meat."
It took a moment for what he said to sink in. When it did, she stared off into the distance, a small "oh" formed on her lips.
"What is it?" Sesshomaru pressed.
"Huh? Oh this," she held out the object to him. "It's a for my science homework. It's called a prism. See?"
She moved next to Sesshomaru and held it up to the moonlight. Sesshomaru saw a small rainbows stuck within its corners. "It works better in the sun. What it does is capture light and release it in separate colors," she explained.
Sesshomaru looked at the object with interest. He held it for a moment and turned it over in his palm. It amazed him how such a simple design could capture and dissect something as elusive as light. It took him decades to master a simple light whip and almost a century to be able to transform into a ball of light.
Seeing that she captured his attention, Kagome pulled something else out of her bag. This object was more complex in design. It looked like a weapon of some sort, but seemed far too small to do any real damage.
"I don't even know why I brought this with me. It won't work in the feudal era."
"And what is that device for?"
"If I'm going to share all my secrets with you, you're going to have to be a little more open with me," Kagome said suddenly. Sesshomaru looked at her to see if she was serious. She was.
He struggled against his love of privacy and his desire to know...the latter won out. Besides, the chances of being around this human for much longer didn't seem likely.
"Alright," Sesshomaru gave in finally. She was the most resolute and stubborn woman he had ever met. He wondered for a moment if all women in her future were like that. "Mind you, I'll only answer your questions for as long as you answer mine."
Kagome nodded in agreement, "Well...my first question is...How old are you?"
Sesshomaru was taken aback by the simplicity of the question; he was expecting something far more complex. After a moment of thought, he could not exactly pinpoint the number himself. He had not kept track of something as trifling as age.
"It can't be more than 750 years..." he mused.
"What do you mean? You're not sure?" Kagome exclaimed.
Sesshomaru looked at her thoughtfully, "You've already asked your question."
A smile flashed across Kagome's face, "Ok, you win. This," she handed the object to him to study, "is a cell phone. In my era, almost everybody has one. We press a certain combination of numbers to communicate back and forth over long distances."
"Why won't it work now?"
"You already had your question answered," Kagome countered. "My turn." This time she pulled out what looked like parchment bound in a hard protective case. It was an odd-looking scroll, and Sesshomaru wanted to know what valuable knowledge from the future was kept inside.
"What was you're mother like? I know she was a demon, but what was she like."
Sesshomaru knew this question was coming. It was only natural that she would want to know of his origin. He looked at the scroll. "Unfortunately, I can not answer your question thoroughly. I never spent much time around her. Being the only son of a man like my father, and thus the only heir, I spent most of my time studying his ways. Learning how to rule," Sesshomaru explained. "I imagine she was of noble stature to have married a man like my father."
Kagome looked at him in awe. He could tell she wanted to ask more questions, but held back. "You must think very highly of your father, Sesshomaru. Mine died when I was around seven."
She handed him the book, "I think you'd like this. It's my history book. It has a map of the entire world."
Sesshomaru laid the book in his lap and opened it as if he were holding something precious. Kagome pointed to various landmasses. She pointed to a small island that looked like a human sword.
"This Japan."
Then she pointed over to two very large landmasses. "These are the Americas. Right now they are just being formed. However, 400 years from now, this northern one will tend to lead the world in some crucial decisions."
Sesshomaru studied the map with intrigue. He had only crossed the western water into China once a long time ago with his father. It was meant to be a peaceful signing of a treaty but sparked a great hostility between the two rulers. Sesshomaru imagined the world was far larger than what he could see.
"It's getting late and I don't think I have many more items that'll interest you," Kagome said. She pulled out a small piece of paper and wrote on it. "I'll just ask one more question. When we came across that woman named Sara, the one who played the flute, she mentioned something about giving you what you most desire. If that isn't the Tetsaiga...what is it?"
Sesshomaru looked away. He wondered if she or anyone could possibly understand his desire. He sensed Jaken did. Sesshomaru realized that somewhere inside him, he wanted this woman, who was unlike any other woman he had met, who had traveled across time itself, to understand as well.
 little tigeress · Thu Sep 14, 2006 @ 07:26am · 0 Comments |
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