Chapter Six
Sesshomaru
For many moments, the only sound was their breathing and heartbeats. He had thought long and hard on this question since last night. Now he told the ancient miko the only wish he felt was appropriate. "Midoriko-sama," he began bowing his head to her, "I have thought long on my wish. At first, I thought to wish for my mate to return with me but I realized that it was a selfish wish. That I was merely thinking of my own happiness. This kind of wish I did not feel was worthy." Sesshomaru turned to his mate at his side, and taking both her hands in his own he continued. "Therefore my wish is that you grant Akisame's wish for I wish only for her happiness, whatever that may mean."
Midoriko
A soft smile spread across the mikos face as she faded back into the statue.
Leena
She felt the magic gather, familiar in its pull and then she faded into darkness.
Taka
The magic gathered swiftly. She again felt the pull that she had felt so long ago and in the village that one day. Taka was glad she had chosen to wish her companions farewell the night before because before she could utter a word, darkeness claimed her.
Akisame
She felt the same pull she had felt long ago. "No. Sesshomaru!!!" Then blackness. She heard voices around her, curious and full of fear. Opening her eyes she looked up to see the sun still climbing towards its zenith. She didn't recognize the village she was in. Then she realized she was alone. Sesshomaru wasn't by her side. She saw three figures moving quickly towards her. She recognized only one. His silver hair was to similar, she felt the tears gather and start their silent tracks down her cheeks.
Sesshomaru
He opened his eyes to find himself right where he had been when he had been taken to the other world, in front of Akari's grave by the old well. Sesshomaru looked around and his heart fell. Akisame was not here. Her wish had not been to come with him then. He felt a lump rising in his throat and swallowed hard, fighting not to shed tears. Whatever she had wish, she was happy and wasnt that what really mattered? The wind shifted bringing his nose a familiar scent. Sesshomaru felt that his heart had suddenly grown wings. She was here? Her wish had been to stay with him? He turned and ran to the village.
At the Village
Inu Yasha accepted the bowl of soup Sango offered. He stared into it. My Kagome, he thought, why? Who would want to kill Kagome and Akari? True Akari had been sent by that Fate person to kill Kagome but she had refused and now after he had a chance to calm down he knew that his initial suspicion was not true. He heard Sango ask if someone should go check on Sesshomaru. His brother had taken the death of Akari very badly. For the first two days the taiyoukai had done nothing but stare off into space. Inu Yasha put his soup down. "I'll go."
As he reached the door, a new scent appeared in front of the hut. A pregnant ningen, who smelled very much like his brother and slightly like Akari. Inu Yasha pushed open the curtain to see a woman, dressed in a kimono that matched Sesshomaru, looking around very wildly. Villagers were stepping back from her whispereing. From what he could make out the woman had suddenly appeared there. Miroku and Sango noticed his hesitation and came up behind him peeking over his shoulder. "Who is that?" the houshi asked curiously.
Inu Yasha shook his head. "I dont know but she smells like my brother." The three started toward the woman. When she noticed them coming they saw tears starting to course down her cheeks. "Who are you?" Inu Yasha asked stepping towards her, "And why do you smell like Sesshomaru?"
Akisame
"No. Not again." she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She had to think of Keikan, her sadness my hurt her child. "My name is Ka Akisame. Why I smell like him is complicated. I will explain but first, may I ask you a question. Did, your brother have a mate named.... oh dear what was her name... Akari?" Her eyes pleaded for a yes, then it would only be a matter of finding him, not living without him.
Inu Yasha was startled by this question. He looked at Miroku and Sango, who gave him equally curious glances. He turned back to Akisame. "Yes he did, how do you know that...I've never seen you around here before." Part of his mind thought that maybe this woman might be involed with Akari's and Kagome's deaths. Before she could respond, he scented Sesshomaru's approach and turned to see him standing still at the edge of the village.
Sesshomaru
He reached the edge of town and saw Akisame standing before his brother and his friends. Sesshomaru stopped, too happy to see her to do anything other than look at her, taking in her beauty.
Akisame
She released the breath she was holding. She was in his world. She was about to reply when Inu Yasha turned. She followed his eyes and saw him. His hair still settleling around him. "Sesshomaru." she whispered, then ran into his arms.
Sesshomaru
When his arms were around her, holding her tightly to him, feeling her body against his, feeling her relief, he knew she was real and not just his mind's hallucination. Sesshomaru pressed his cheek against the silky softness of her hair. He couldnt remember ever being this happy. He felt as if his heart would burst for joy. 'Thank you Midoriko, thank you.' "You're here," he whispered into her hair.
Inu Yasha and the others came over. Sesshomaru could smell his brother's confusion but it was the houshi that spoke first. "Would someone please explain what is going on?"
Sesshomaru looked up and gave them a smile. "Yes Mirkou...there is much to explain. Let us go inside and I will tell you everything."
Leena
Waking from her dream of a forgotten journey she heard a soft sound
from the adjoining room. Slipping silently from the bed she donned her
robe. Stepping inside she heard her daughters soft cry. Crossing to the
crib Leena looked down on the infant. "Shhh, precious don't wake
daddy. He has a busy day tomorrow." She lifted the babe and sat in the
rocker. A song she hadn't sung in years came to her mind. The lullaby
Sango had sung to her. Softly she sang it now to her daughter. She
admired her daughters golden eyes, and the curly red hair. She felt his
presence beside her. His red hair mingling with her own silvery white
hair.
"So, the little one woke up you?"
"No. The memory of a forgotten journey woke me."
"Would you like to talk of it?"
"No. I just want to sit here and hold my daughter."
"We need to name her. The naming ceremony is tomorrow." He chided
gently.
Smiling at her daughter, she tapped her nose with one clawed finger.
"Taka. Her name is Taka."
Taka
Something was prodding her painfully in the ribs, her head hurt terribly. Taka cracked her eyes open to see a sandaled foot kicking her every few seconds. With lightening speed she reached out and and grabbed the offending appendage by the ankle. With a gentle tug, Kenji's butt hit the ground. Taka groaned as she pushedherself to her knees. What the hell had happened? She had the strangest feeling that much time had passed yet here was Kenji, still dressed in the outfit he had worn to the funeral rites. Kenji scowled at her. "I want you to leave now," he said coldly.
Taka turned to glare at him. "Listen you little shit, I'm paying my respects to your father now go back in the house and let me do it," she snapped, startling both herself and Kenji. Normally she took his dislike with nary a twitch of the eyebrow. The boy slowly stood up and headed back to the house, every so often looking at her over his shoulder.
She shook her head. Memories danced on the edge of her mind but they would not come to her. Sighing she said good bye to her nephew and leapt the wall in one bound, heading home.
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