In Time by Amaya

With the Dawn

A lark sang in the far distance, it's shrill cry breaking through the deafening silence of a slumbering forest. Milk-chocolate eyes opened in time to see the last star fade from the dawning sky. A yawn escaped her small lips as she sat up slowly, careful not to wake her sleeping companions beside her. After three years of traveling, she could hardly still believe they never seemed to catch her with her morning habit.

Three years...

Had it been that long?

Her mind raced with the realization that she had, indeed, been in Feudal Japan for the last three years of her life. She inhaled deeply, taking in the scents of the world she called home. Earthly smells of cold dirt, dew-laced grass and the various bushes and trees assaulted her nose, as well as the odor of the many small animals living in the area. She sighed a soft, content sigh.

And there's never been any three other years that could ever match up to this... she thought to herself happily as she began brushing her long ebony hair with her fingers. Twirling a curl aimelessly, she began walking into the forest, glancing over her should once more at the small itachi that had become her surrogate family in her odd life here. It seemed so long ago that they had met, and yet, it all seemed so fresh in her mind. she knew that no matter where she went after all this was over, she would never be able to go a day without her thoughts returning to this time and her friends here.

After this...

What would she do after this was all over? She mulled the question over in her mind as she walked through the forest, moving a branch here and there to make her path the most comfortable she could make it. Tree upon tree passed as the dawning sun's ray danced on the glossy leaves of the broad canopy above her. Perhaps she would just continue living here. Sure, her family missed her, but with Souta growing up, her mother would have enough to deal with. And this era wasn't so bad. Sure there were a few occasional mishaps with demons that usually ended with the disembowlment of one of them, she could stand it if you could forever gaze into that oh-so-clear nightsky she adored so much. It brought her much peace at mind and at heart. Looking around at her settings, she let out another sigh. The world was so peaceful at this hour, so utterly perfect in it's modest stillness, yet refreshing and exhilarating at the same time with the promise of a new and beautiful day. She smiled brightly at the promising fluffy clouds in the lightening sky, and couldn't help but feel a slight twinge in her heart.

She furrowed her delicate brows in an arch of confusion. Why did she feel that small pain that came and left as she smiled? And then she realized what it was. Though her smile was true and sincere, she couldn't help but admit that her smile had lost a lot of meaning to her. Ever since the first time she had encountered Kikyo and Inuyasha together, Kagome had slowly been losing a bit of her earnestness in her smiles. Now, they seemed nothing more than a cheerful facade to the emotional turmoil within. No one could ever know what lied within her, all of her sadness, all of her doubts, and no one ever would. She was, to be a bit boastful about herself, very good at hiding her own feelings when those of another were put before her. It was a skill she silently thanked Kami for over and over as she dealt with emotional problem after problem, never once failing to resolve it in a fashion that left the owner of the problem to compliment her with remarks about her uncanny ability to make everything alright.

She sighed her third sigh of that morning and continued to gaze up at the sky, a twinkle of comprehension in her eyes as the sun rose over the hills nearby. Maybe she wasn't good with her own emotions, but at least she was good with others, and at least, that helped them out a little bit more. In the end, that's all she ever wanted to do, to be kind to anyone she could so that people who never thought they could, would experience kindness that is neither expected or that expects anything in return.

Besides, she could wear her mask of cheerfulness a little while longer.

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Amber eyes grazed along the small clearing that was his current campsite. The small child, Rin, was sleeping soundly against A-Un, who seemed to enjoy the comfort the small child brought it, and Jaken, noisy loyal Jaken, was asleep near a tree trunk not too far from Rin, his staff clutched tightly, even in his slumbering state.

He could almost snort at himself for having such an entourage. He was, after all, the great Lord of the Western Lands. He had no need for such nuisances such as his currently traveling companions, but for some reason, he let them travel with him. tilting his head ever so slightly against his tree, he pondered about his decisions to let these beings join him on his travels.

With Jaken, the toad would not stand to be left at the castle to watch over things, and seeing that his father valued the toad much more than any other servant, Sesshoumaru allowed the toad to accompany. And with him came A-Un, Jaken's favorite mount. With Rin, though, it had been something completely different. When he found the small child, she had been savagely attacked by a pack of wolves and was dying, her blood still freshly pouring from her open wounds. Instead of looking in disgust at her, something about her had caught his eye. In her eyes, as they were dulling, was the look of utter compassion, and forgiveness, far beyond anything he had seen save for one pair of eyes. He had revived her on Tenseiga's whim, and that alone, but oddly, he could not find it in himself to be displeased about that sword's will at that moment.

Ever since that day, she had traveled with him, choosing to follow him to show her loyalty as gratitude for his kindness.

Kindness...

What did he know about that word? He was fair and just, but he would hardly believe anyone would ever find him kind, save Jaken who would grovel to him for everything. Why did it bother him that this strange...gesture, and emotion was void to him in his mind? He was Sesshoumaru, son of the great Inutashio, current Lord of the Western Lands, he must know everything. Or at least close to everything, he admitted reluctantly. But kindness...this kindness concept escaped him. His brow furrowed ever so slightly as he debated on the subject of it's knowledge.

Kindness? What good does that do a taiyoukai? We rule with a firm and fair hand, we have no time for such a thing as kindness. a voice in his head stated matter-of-factly.

But as a Lord, would it not be wise to consider every bit of information as useful when dealing with the matters of emotions? Emotions are fickle, and confusion over one's emotions or an emotion being displayed by another would surely be unfitting for one so highly educated as us. another voice piped in.

Knowledge of kindness is rarely something someone such as a ruling taiyoukai such as we to think about when we have enough knowledge about almost every other emotion of danger to us. the first voice answered curtly.

One who does not know kindness is one who has never truly experience happiness. the other voice stated softly.

Happiness? His mind filled with the logical meaning of happiness. To be happy was to enjoy something, right? And he enjoyed being a Lord, but was that the same? Why did a cold aching feeling bite at his heart when he thought about happiness? He was the most powerful Lord in all of Japan, of course he was content with his life! But there it was again, that small, but noticeable pain in his chest.

Feeling the need to stop thinking about such things that caused him, as little as it was, emotional turmoil, he turned a good amount of his attention to a rustling within the bushes. Bracing for an attack, his eyes eagerly awaited the poor being that was about to stumble into his campsite.