Never Love Again
Chapter 1
Life, to live, living, what was in a life? Love, hatred, kindness, mortality was that what life was? Hatred she knew hatred now, breathed it with every breath and hated every minute of it. The love of her life had chosen to go to hell and now she was without love, hatred took its place, hatred for the undead creature called Kikyo, hatred for Inuyasha for choosing to go to hell with Kikyo. Instead of the immeasurable love she had held for everything in her life she now held little love for her life. She could not love again no one would win her frozen heart, not after such a betrayal and she loathed that fact alone. Her companions worried about her constantly, but she could care less on what they thought it mattered naught to her.
Sitting in the hot spring alone a single tear slipped down her cheek unnoticed by her, so preoccupied by her dreary thoughts that she didn’t heed the tingling of her senses warning her of someone powerful approaching. Even if she did notice she wouldn’t care, no one could touch her now, in the five years she had been in the feudal era she had become very powerful and none could threaten her life now. That is the main reason Inuyasha chose to go to hell, she no longer needed his protection, he left the Tetsusaiga in her care to find a new wielder one day.
A song played itself in her head as more tears slipped unheeded down her cheeks, it was all her fault that he was no longer with them fighting alongside them as they hunted for another evil demon planning on world domination. The jewel of four souls had been completed three years ago sealing the well and leaving her trapped here... Inuyasha had chosen not to take the wish, preferring his half-demon heritage because she liked him as he was. Her lilting voice sang a sad melody that reverberated through the air around her, its sad tune meeting a Taiyoukai's sensitive ears.
Nana nanana
I miss you, miss you so bad
I don't forget you oh its so sad
I hope you can hear me
I remember it clearly
The day you slipped away
Was the day I found it won't be the same
I didn't get around to kiss you, goodbye on the hand
I wish that I could see you again
I know that I can't ohh...
I hope you can hear me cause I remember it clearly
The day that you slipped away oh...
I've had my wake up
Won't you wake up
I keep asking why
And I can't take it
It wasn't fake it
It happened you passed by
Now you're gone
There you go
Somewhere you're not coming back
--33--33--33--33--
Sesshomaru walked into the small clearing following her sad song and scent to her, he stopped dead in his tracks for he had sensed her presence, but had not expected to find her in such a state of undress. He smelt her depression and the salt of her tears strongly on the breeze, she must be thinking about Inuyasha he thought with a hiss of aggravation. Such a waste for something as powerful as she to live in the past. He knew she had loved his brother, but it had been nearly a year since his death she should be moving on by now. His brother wasn’t worth this grief not when he wanted to die like that, not when he chose that end and went through willingly, stupid hanyou.
Kagome finally realized she wasn’t alone and was startled by her visitor. "Sesshomaru-sama, nice to see you. What brings your visit my Lord?" she asked slightly miffed by the interruption on her thoughts.
"I merely sensed your presence and decided to see how things were going for my small group of allies." He answered nonchalantly.
"I see, well we are fine as can be. How are you and Rin?"
"Rin is doing good she is moving through her studies quite efficiently, soon she will be the most intelligent human other than yourself of course. I may be sending her to you soon to further her training in the ways of a miko, Kaede can only teach so much."
"Yes, that’s fine I wouldn’t mind teaching Rin, now if you don’t mind I would like to remove myself from the spring and dress."
"Of course" he answered before turning his back to her and continuing with "I appreciate you agreeing to teach Rin. How might I repay you?"
"Don’t worry about it, just make sure Kohaku is treated well in your ranks."
"He is, for a human he gets the most privileges in my castle. He is well honored by myself, for his courage against Naraku was like none his age could posses."
"Sango will be grateful to hear that, it’s safe to turn around."
He turned around and had to resist staring, she had adopted a slayer’s garb and it fit her nicely, her damp hair hung about her face seductively and he had to shake his head in order to clear his mind of the thoughts that were trying to pervade his mind. She was a human, no matter how powerful or beautiful she was he would not have her and it was clear that she would have no other since Inuyasha’s betrayal. Something in him was drawn to her though and he did not care for it one bit, shoving it into the far recesses of his mind he relaxed at last in her presence. It was always thus around her and it unsettled him to a degree that she held some power over him without knowing it herself.
"Does the way I dress still offend you even though I have long since traded in my modern clothes for these?"
"It is of no concern to you, I take my leave of you now." He answered shortly.
"Good bye Sesshomaru-sama, I look forward to seeing Rin soon."
He was gone by the time the last word left her lips and she sighed before turning and heading back to her silent camp. It was late, but the full moon left nothing to the imagination on the trail to her camp. The jewel around her neck sparkled and glowed in the moonlight as she walked, they had yet to find the perfect wish for it, but one day they would. A smile lit her face as she thought about Kouga and his pup Yasha, honoring the belated Inuyasha, the poor wolf had his hands full with that pup and Ayame had so much fun watching him keep up with it on a near daily basis. A frown soon replaced the smile though as she thought about the loss of her two friends Ginta and Hakaku, both were lost in the fight against Naraku.
Her companions were awake oddly enough, usually they were asleep by the time she got back from her bath. Their questioning eyes met hers and she knew they had felt Sesshomaru’s aura and were concerned about her, he would be the only cause for worry in her group for he was the only one with enough power to possibly kill her. And it was only his power they had sensed, they didn’t know him well enough to identify him by his aura. "Sesshomaru decided to visit and ask about taking in Rin soon to further her training."
Satisfied with their answer they laid back down and went back to sleep almost instantly, this new threat had them all pushed to their limits trying to catch him. As of late all of them had been too exhausted to do more than eat supper at night, dawn meant more pushing to catch the fiend named Ashimaru before he managed to dredge up more demons for his army to conquer the world. Oddly enough he didn’t make attempts to steal the jewel, but maybe he didn’t realize its full potential or he was too proud to seek its power like Sesshomaru.
Nights always brought restless sleep for her, nightmares were ever present, always showing her Inuyasha being taken to hell by Kikyo. Sometimes she had dreams of a beautiful demoness with long raven hair and brilliant blue eyes and somehow the demoness felt familiar to her but she could never place her. Her face was framed with beautifully curving emerald green stripes and she held a small child in her arms that had silver and black hair, blue eyes with gold flecks and oddly colored stripes on its angelic cheeks. The demoness always looked so happy whether the child was present or not, occasionally there were some erotic scenes, but she could never make out the partner in them only the demoness locked in passion. Tonight was one of the few nights she had this pleasant dream, but it always left her feeling empty which frustrated her to no end.
Ashimaru laughed as he watched them following him endlessly, never able to catch up and always teasing him with the ever present Shikon no Tama. One day he would get his hands on that jewel and make himself a demoness worthy to be his mate, and he had the perfect candidate in mind already. The Shikon miko would make him a perfect mate, she was beautiful, talented, and very powerful. All were traits he held high in a future mate and she was the only one that he held any interest in, there wasn't another like her in all of Japan . An evil chuckle split the silence in his moving fortress, yes she would be a fun toy once he got his hands on her. For now though he'd have to wait until she let her guard down long enough to steal the jewel, for it would be certain death if she was fully aware of his intentions. He held respect for the miko responsible for the death of Naraku, but that wasn't enough to dissuade him from desiring her. She would be his before she knew what hit her, she would be obedient and very powerful as a demoness.
Ashimaru wasn't always power hungry, but ever since he had a chance meeting with Kagome years ago he had desired more so that he could interest her in what he possessed. If his good looks didn't win her over then his power would, demonesses coveted powerful mates so he would become one in order to gain her. His long red hair was pulled back in a strip of leather and his green eyes glinted with anticipation of claiming her for himself, his muscled body quivered with excitement as his member lengthened and hardened. Yes he would enjoy taking her virginity as well, too bad the fool Inuyasha had never tainted her soul by coupling with her, but it mattered not to him. Either way she would be corrupt the instant she turned from miko to demoness and he would have her as soon as it happened, right in front of her companions just to make things all the more fun.
Sesshomaru walked along the border of his lands trying to find some hint to Ashimaru's next course of action, the demon had been oddly silent for the past month. There was enough of his scent though that he could track him easily, the fool obviously wanted to be found or didn't know how to hide his scent, his lips lifted in a silent snarl at the antics of those set on crazed goals. There had to be a missing piece somewhere, for the greedy demon had yet to lose his trackers meaning one thing, that he wanted them to keep up with him but at a distance he deemed safest for himself. So what was he after? The Jewel? Kagome? Or did he want to destroy them all in one shot when he was ready to? Was he toying with them similar to Naraku's antics? Whatever it was had his beast on edge and the only time the damn thing would settle down was in Kagome's presence, which only irritated him all the further.
"Lady Kaede, Lady Kaede look I can do it now."
"Perfect Rin, ye shall be better than I soon child. Sesshomaru-sama will be proud of ye when he returns, I am certain ye will be leaving when he does return child for I haven't much left to teach ye. Kagome shall take up ye teaching when ye do leave this old miko, she has learned much over the years and shall teach ye all she knows."
"Yeah, I can't wait to see Lady Kagome and Lord Sesshomaru again!" said the exuberant eleven year old girl as she ran to find Shippo to tell him the good news.
Shippo had stayed at the village with Rin to keep her company because many of the other children their age wouldn't have anything to do with them.. They were frightened of Sesshomaru-sama, and rightfully so for he had softened a little over the past few years, but he was still ruthless when things stood in his way.
Shippo heard his name being called and ran to see what had Rin so excited, and soon he was joining her enthusiasm about seeing his adopted mother again soon. Kagome wasn't the same these days, but she was always better when he was around to distract her from her unhappy thoughts. He worried about her endlessly, because sometimes she wasn't aware of the state she was in and would traipse right off a cliff in her inattentive state of mind. Everyone had to keep a close eye on her to ensure her safety nowadays, and she bathed alone now that Sango and Miroku were married and shared the hot spring together. He couldn't join her now because he was far too big to be considered a bathing companion for a woman, he knew it was wrong to bathe with someone who wasn't your mate now that he had certain urges to control. Oh how he had hated losing the innocence of his younger years, now the least little female scent made him pause for control and he was surrounded by them in a human village, so he was constantly working on his self control.
Kagome relaxed into yet another hot spring as their long day fell to dusk all too soon for their liking, she was lost in another barrage of thoughts and missed the unfamiliar demonic aura altogether.
She awoke to Sango's worried voice and was startled to find the moon high in the night sky, it must've been close to midnight by now. "Kagome are you okay?"
"I'm fine, but why are you so worried?"
"It's been at least three hours since you left for the spring Kagome. I got worried and came to check on you and found you here totally unconscious. What happened?"
"Three hours! I...I don't know what happened, I was awake thinking about things one minute and the next you were waking me up."
"Kagome, where's the jewel?"
Kagome's hands shot to her throat where the jewel should've been resting and she almost shrieked in horror of its absence. "What the hell?! It was here when I got in, Sango I...I...I can't sense it! I can't sense its power at all, what can this mean? Oh no you don't think someone stole it and wished upon it already do you?"
"I'm afraid that that might just be the case, hurry we need to tell Miroku this instant."
Kagome was dressed in record time and they made it back to the camp hastily, startling Miroku with their haste. Worry creased his brow as he cautiously asked "What is wrong Sango?"
"The jewel has been stolen and Kagome cannot sense it."
"It's as I feared then, he has made his move now we must wait and see what he has done. There is nothing we can do in this darkness so we might as well get what little sleep we can before we face what he has in store for us tomorrow. I have a feeling he will want us present when he makes his wish, I just don't know how he hid its power from Kagome when she searched for its presence. Maybe he has it a long distance away in order to prevent her from finding it."
They settled into an uneasy sleep as a Nightingale sang its melancholy song in the night as if it knew the terrors that could befall the lands with the jewel in the wrong hands.
Ashimaru laughed at the panic he had caused, the humans were smarter than he would've thought possible, they had figured out almost instantly that he was the culprit behind the jewel's disappearance. He glanced at it marveling at the power it held and the darkness that was slowly taking all the purity from within it, yes the masking spell worked wondrously. He was gloating in his success, now he would just toy with them for another few weeks biding his time for the perfect moment to turn her and claim her. He wanted to do it in front of all her little companions, especially the fox kit and the little girl.
Kagome had spent weeks searching for Ashimaru and the jewel, but neither wanted to be found apparently for they couldn't find either one. Her other companions were being run ragged along with her, thank god Rin wasn't with them yet, but it wouldn't be long now before Rin and Shippo joined them. Sesshomaru was supposed to stop by on his way to get Rin and Shippo giving them a heads up before he dropped them off. And speak of the devil she thought, as she sensed his presence growing closer with each footfall.
"Sesshomaru-sama how nice to see you again." Miroku said as the demon lord came into view.
"Miroku, Sango, Kagome good to see you're all alive still, what has upset you so?" he asked with genuine curiosity.
"Ashimaru has taken the Shikon no Tama from Kagome and we have been unable to find him or it, he has found a way to hide its presence or he has made a wish upon it. Either one bides nothing good for us."
"I see, in any case Rin shall be joining you in a few short days. I shall leave Ah-Un with you so that the children won't slow you down in your searches and I will keep my senses open for both the jewel and Ashimaru."
"Thank you Sesshomaru-sama." replied Kagome.
He left without another word to them, as he walked away he heard several 'byes' said to his back..
"Well let’s get moving again, we're wasting what daylight we have left." Kagome said tiredly.
They walked slowly for the remaining day unable to pick up any clues at all, when they could walk no further they sat down disappointedly and began unpacking what they could whilst sitting. Soon someone had to go for water to boil the rice and Kagome caught a few fish on her line with practiced ease, carrying them back so that they could have meat with their rice.
Silence followed their meal for none were in a talkative mood with the threat of Ashimaru hanging in the air around them, he had yet to show himself and they slept uneasily each night. Always on guard so they never got a decent night’s sleep, shifts were taken on watch now so that if he did decide to show himself they wouldn’t be caught unawares. Night slowly changed into predawn and faint light lit the camp signaling the start of a new day and more searching.