…From the Ashes the Phoenix Rises

By Danyealle

(FanFiction/Angst)

Chapter 18

Sitting there, Sesshomaru waited until he was sure the hanyou was asleep then gently woke her and pulled her into his lap.  Holding her, he kissed her, tenderly.  When she wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder his beast once again started that rumbling growl that sounded like a cats’ purr.

They talked quietly for a couple minute before she drifted back to sleep.  Holding her close, he sighed contentedly.  Yes, he was looking forward to the day they no longer had to hide their relationship but he was contented that he got to hold her at night.  Plus they did get to have time alone together.  He just had her grab her bow and sword and they went off to do some training.  Yes, they did work with them, they also spent time alone.  Smirking, he had to admit that alone usually mean sex at some point.  No, it never started out that way but it usually ended up there.  Despite how modest and easily embarrassed she was the little vixen was a tiger when it came to sex!  Yes, she was very inexperienced and shy but she was very responsive.  No demoness he had ever rutted with had inspired the reactions in him she had.  Nor were they as pleasurable.  One of the biggest pluses was the way her modern era viewed sex.  Things many in his time saw as taboo weren’t in her time.  That, he would admit, was a big plus.

Relaxing, he made sure his senses were on alert for anything out of the ordinary.  As his mind relaxed he began to pick up things on the peripheral edge of his mind.  The first few times he received the ‘noise’ as he now called it, it had been a bit disturbing because he hadn’t known what it was.  Now he did and it no longer bothered him.  In fact, he found it most interesting.  It seemed that when the little priestess was asleep or in something like a meditative state then their mating bond allowed him to see her thoughts or dreams.  It was most interesting.  She said that she could see his as well.

Of course, at first that had unnerved him, he most certainly didn’t want someone taking a walk around in his mind but since then he had come to terms with it.  No, she couldn’t go poking around whenever she wanted, nor could he with her, they would just see what was ‘showing’ at the time.  Like watching a ‘movie’.

Settling down, he relaxed and shut his eyes, waiting to see what tonight’s ‘movie’ was.  He had to admit, she had some very interesting dreams!

The first thing he saw was a large, secluded meadow of pink flowers surrounded by trees so that it was private and almost totally enclosed.  Somewhere beyond the edge of the vision he could hear the bubbling of a hot springs.  A soft breeze blew, making a bit of a rustling sound and causing the flowers to dance to and fro.

Then, suddenly, Kagome was standing there dressed in traditional priestess garb much like what Kikyo used to wear.  Her thick, wavy hair was unbound and being blown back from her face by the breeze.  The sword, what she called Reitajin Ma Awaii, was belted around her waist and her bow slung over her shoulder, quiver on her back.  More than any other time he had seen her she looked like the priestess he knew her to be.  With her eyes shut she seemed to be enjoying the breeze and the smells that drifted her way on it.  Smiling, he thought that was his Kagome, a simple miko that enjoyed the most simple of pleasures.

Then, before she came into view, Sesshomaru sensed her.  Well, not sensed really, but felt her.  Kagomes’ true mother, Midoriko.  Looking the same as she did in the cave and when she appeared in front of Kikyo, she stepped by Kagome.  Smiling, she put a hand on her shoulder.  “Do you understand now Kagome?”  She asked gently.

Looking at the mother of all mikos, Kagome smiled, “Yes and no.”  She replied, voice quiet.  “I think I’m more confused than I understand.”  She admitted honestly.

“I assumed that.”  Midoriko answered with a smile.  “I will explain then.  Kagome…”  She gestured for Kagome to sit then she seated herself among the flowers.  “You always assumed that Inuyasha was the man you were meant to be with.  That it was he that your destiny was tied to.  Am I correct?”

“Yes.  When I cam through the well the first time and needed help, it was him that heeded the call.”

“Indeed, it was your cry for help that woke him.  In a way you are tied to Inuyasha but not in the way you thought.”  Smiling, she patted the futuristic miko on the hand. “It is the great and terrible taiyoukai that you were tied to, not his half-brother.  That is why he could get through the well to retrieve you and why you both felt the connection you did.  It’s your destinies that are entwined.”

Smiling, Kagomes’ eyes sparkled.  “I love him.”  She said adoringly. 

“And he does you as you well know.  The fates intended you to be together.  Together you are a powerful team. He will protect you viciously in a way no one else can, what you need.  In return you will love him unconditionally, giving him what he has needed for so long.”  Taking the mikos hand, Midoriko gave it a squeeze.  “Deep down inside you already know, and have always known, what Inuyasha is.”  She prodded gently.

“Yes, my best friend and brother.”  Kagome said quietly.

“Exactly.  But he does need you Kagome.  There is something he desperately needs from you.  Without it you cannot defeat Naraku.”

“My forgiveness.” Kagome whispered, eyes lowered, a guilty expression on her face.

“Eventually you will forgive him.”  Midoriko soothed.  “But something has to happen first, something he needs more from you.”

“What’s that?”  Kagome asked, confused.

“Inuyasha needs you to force him to grow up and mature.  When you trigger that he will earn your forgiveness.  Once he has earned that, and he will earn it not demand it, the stage will be set for Narakus’ downfall.”  She stated firmly.

Wide-eyed, Kagome looked at her, “We will win?”  She whispered.

“Yes.  Though it won’t be easy the light will overcome the darkness.  But things have to happen to make you all stronger before that battle can take place.  Don’t fight the fates Kagome.  Let them play out what they need to.  You will know what to do when the time comes.  Trust your instincts and let them guide you.  They will always show you the right way.”  She assured her gently.

“Thanks Midoriko.”  Kagome said quietly, obviously relieved.

Giving Kagome a gentle hug and a pat on the back, she smiled.  “Now, go back to your mate.  He is missing and wanting you.”  She said.

Then, like the movie had stopped, the vision cut off.  Opening his eyes, he gazed down at the still sleeping Kagome.  Though his face was its normal, expressionless mask, his mind was racing to figure out what he had just witnessed.  Most assuredly he knew whatever it was it was no dream.  His next thought was a question’ was it a real vision?  Was that really Midoriko?  Yes, that was the feeling he got from it.  He also got the feeling that Midoriko had wanted him to see it for some reason or other.

But, sitting there holding the now soundly sleeping miko, a couple things were a bit clearer to him.  For a long time now he wondered why he had been able to get through the well when no one else could.  Everyone had tried from Shippo to Kouga and no one but he had succeeded.  Kouga even had jewel shards but he had failed.  Yet on the first try he had managed to get through.  It hadn’t made sense to him at the time.  Now it did.

It also made a few other things clearer.  When he was in his fathers tomb he had tried to kill her but failed.  If she had been anyone else he would have tried again and succeeded but he hadn’t bothered.  There was something about her that had stopped him.  They had encounters after that and again he had tried to but not succeeded.  If she had been anyone else she would be dead yet something always stopped him.  After that he had been intrigued by her.  Now he would admit that, indeed, there was some kind of connection with her.

Now, for the first time, he understood’ she was his destiny.  Yes, it was her who was the destiny for so many but now they were tied together forever and he wouldn’t change it for anything.

As his mind worked over that part another part of it poked him:  Naraku.  They would win but he was sure it wasn’t going to be easy. Glancing up, he locked his eyes on Inuyasha.  Frowning slightly, he thought about what had been said concerning the whelp.  It made sense…  Both he and Kouga had discussed something similar.  Both had admitted that they were probably going to need him to get rid of the arachnid.  But what he heard made sense.  They boy needed to grow up!  Once he did he would be useful.  Until he did that he wasn’t.  All along he realized that it was going to probably take a confrontation with Kagome to force the hanyou to pull his head out of his ass.  They were just trying to protect Kagome the best they could until she could once again handle it.  It appeared that the time for that was coming.  Kagome was now stronger than she had ever been in the past so it appeared the time would be there soon. 

Brow furrowed, he looked down at the sleeping miko.  For a ningen woman who was still not considered an adult in her time, she had been handed a lot to deal with.  Every so gently, he ran his claws through her hair. 

His Kagome…

So strong yet vulnerable.  His phoenix.  A human, a frail being when compared to youkai yet strong enough to be a worthy mate for him.

His Kagome….