…From the Ashes the Phoenix Rises

By Danyealle

(FanFiction/Angst)

Chapter 5

Halfway to Edo Kagome asked to stop.  Looking at her, he asked, “Is everything OK?”  Not sure what the problem was, he though it might be something physical.

Sighing, she nodded.  “Yeah.  I just need a couple minutes to kinda’ prepare for this is all.  She told him, voice quivering a bit.

After a couple moments of confusion, just when he was about to ask her to explain, he understood.  No, she wasn’t about to get a direct blast from the hanyou, they were going to keep him away from her, but she was going to hear his foul moth run and nothing he said was going to be nice.  It’s understandable that she would need some time to ready herself.  Nodding, he told her, “Understood. Let me know what you’re ready.”

Shutting her eyes, she started to put up what she called her ‘Inuyasha Blast Shield’, basically willing herself to ignore the filth that would come from his big mouth and prepare that it was coming.

When she had herself as ready as she could get she stood up, shifted her pack to a comfortable position then exhaled.  “Alright, let’s do this!”  She stated, voice a bit shaky.

Giving her what he hoped was a reassuring pat on the shoulder, he replied, “It’ll be fine.  Let’s go.”  Modifying his stride a bit, he slowed down so he was walking beside her.

As the village came into view, he heard her let out a ragged sigh and felt her anxiety level rise.  “Just concentrate on your other friends Kagome.  They’ll be happy to see you.  Ignore the half-breed, don’t even talk to or look at him.  Leave everything else to the rest of us.  Everyone else will be happy to see you and won’t make rude comments.  Concentrate only on those.”  He told her quietly.

“Thanks Sesshomaru.”  She said in a quiet but shaky voice.

As they walked through the village there were happy shouts of her name and enthusiastic ‘welcome backs’ from those happy to see her return.

~~~~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~~~~

Sitting outside Kaedes’ hut, Inuyasha was mentally cursing his baka half-brother.  Oh yes, he was pissed!  He had planned to go talk to Kagome that morning, he had been resolute in that, but when he came back he found out they would be leaving today.  That was bad enough but now it was passed noon!  If he had known the asshole would be this long he would have gone anyway.  Now it was too late, the asshole was back.  Thought the baka could mask his aura he had caught his scent as he entered the village.  Sighing, he shut his eyes and lowered his head.  He most certainly wasn’t looking forward to once again going on the spider hunt.  Among a pack he saw as a family, he was now feeling like the red-headed step-child.

Suddenly he was jerked out of his pool of self-pity by shouts of Kagomes’ name.  Immediately the rest of the pack was there with him along with a smiling Kaede.  Then, suddenly, like a hazy mirage on a distant horizon the pristine whites of his clothes and the silver hair of Sesshomaru came into view on the path that led to the old mikos’ hut.  Beside him was the unmistakable figure of the heart and soul of the pack, Kagome.  Finally, she had returned to them.

As they walked closer his heart started to sink.  She had changed.  Her face was thinner and cheekbones prominent.  There were dark circles under her eyes.  But her eyes were the worst.  Gone was the shining sparkle that had always been there now they were dull and had a haunted look in them.  Gone also was her short, signature skirt, replaced with faded jeans and an old, long-sleeved shirt.  Even through the clothes it was obvious that she had lost weight.  Never fat, or even a little pudgy, she was now rail thin, looking as though she hadn’t had enough to eat the whole time she was gone.  But that wasn’t the worst of it.  As she drew closer, where her happy 2nd family stood waiting for her, he could feel the pain, anxiety and just a touch of fear rippling off her.  Kagome, who had always been so strong, wasn’t there anymore.  In her place was a futuristic teenager who was, it appeared to him, frightened to be there.

Standing back, he watched as everyone hugged and greeted her.  While everyone was gathered around her, Sesshomaru watched him.  Although his face was emotionless as it always there was a cold fury in his eyes that was easily readable.  Though he wanted to flinch and cower away, he fought it off then concentrated on watching Kagome.  However, he noticed after greeting her, when they stepped away, the other pack members looked at him the same way.  The worst though was Kouga.  When he stepped away his eyes were tinged with red.

Before he could move to greet her, Sesshomaru put a hand on her shoulder and said, “Why don’t you go with Kaede and give her the stuff you brought for her?”

Nodding, she grabbed her pack and followed the old miko.  He had expected her to stop and at least say hi to him but she walked by him like he wasn’t even there, not even bothering to glace his direction.  As he was about to open his mouth and say something a low growl from his brother stopped him.  Spinning to face the baka, he could feel his temper start to spike.  “What the hell is going on?”  He shouted.

About to on one of his tirades, he stopped cold when she saw the flat, angry looks on everyone standing there’s’ face.

~~~~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~~~~~

Waiting until the little priestess was safely inside with the older one, Sesshomaru, using that deadly cold voice that seemed to turn peoples’ blood to ice and was almost a sure-fire guarantee to hold peoples’ attention, said to his half-brother, “Silence half-breed!”

As he had expected, Inuyasha opened his mouth to argue but a snarl from Kouga made him think twice and he shut it.

“I’m going to give you one chance to come across with the truth Inuyasha and tell why the little priestess left.  If you don’t I will.”  Though the taiyoukais’ voice was as smooth as always there was a knife edge to it that told he meant it.

“And just how the fuck do you know what happened asshole?  You weren’t there!”  The hanyou shot back, angry.  Yes, he was furious at being ganged up on but the guilt over what he saw of Kagome contributed as well.  Honestly, he felt like shit over it, pure and simple.

“Because she told me.  Unlike you, I believe her!”  Sesshomaru shot back.

Knowing Kagome wouldn’t lie about what happened, he sighed.  But there was no way in hell any of it was going to come out of his mouth.  “Keh… Whatever!  Tell them yourself if you want.  No skin off my ass!”  He blustered.

“I will.”  Sesshomaru shot back, eyes cold, voice a sharp piece of ice.  Then he proceeded to relay what Kagome had told him.

Shippo only listened to the first bit then he hopped out of Sangos’ arms and went to the hut where the two mikos’ were, kicking Inuyasha in the shins on the way.

By the time Sesshomaru finished telling them Sango had tears of rage in her eyes.  Even the normally placid Miroku had a flat, angry look.  Kougas’ two goofy cohorts both looked at the hanyou, angry.

“Inuyasha!  What the hell is wrong with you?  How could you even consider doing that to her?  All she’s ever done is care for you!”  Sango screamed, tears streaming down her face.

“Yeah, like she’s all sweet and innocent!”  Inuyasha shot back automatically.

“Nothing Kagome has ever done has warranted that kind of cruelty Inuyasha!”  Miroku said hotly, eyes ablaze.  “You want revenge on Naraku for what he did to you and Kikyo yet you turn around and do something similar and just as reprehensible to Kagome!”

“Don’t compare me to Naraku!”  The red-faced Inuyasha shouted at him.  Yes, he felt bad about what he did but there was no way he was level with that bastard!

“Why not? That’s the kind of thing he does to people!”  Miroku shouted back, pounding his staff on the ground for emphasis.  “You knew how cruel that was and that she was there.  It’s disgusting!”

“Next time you decide to be that evil leave me and Miroku out of it!  You know damn good and well that we love Kagome and don’t just see her as a shard detector.  You may see her that way but we don’t!”  Sango said, stomping her foot.

“Keh… Whatever.”  Inuyasha said, rolling his eyes.  He just wanted to drop the whole thing and get moving.

“Whatever?”  Kouga snarled behind him.  “You’re a fucking jackass Inuyasha!”

“Keh…” was the only reply he got.  “Can we move out now?”

“No!”  Sesshomaru said gruffly.  “We have some things to cover before we do Inuyasha.”

“Like what?”  He shot back, rounding on the demon lord.

“You aren’t to even speak to Kagome.  Stay away from her completely.”  He said, voice an icy dagger and eyes just as cold.

“What?  You are now deciding who can and can’t even talk to the poor, innocent, abused girl?  Fuck that!”  Inuyasha screamed.

“No, I didn’t.  Kagome and her mother both don’t want you anywhere near her or to talk to her.  As one of the conditions I had to agree to for her to return.  I gave my word you would stay away from her and stay away from her you will!”  He snarled.  Before the boy could open his mouth to argue he smirked wickedly.  “To ensure that you do, Kouga has generously agreed to hold your leash.”

“What?!?”  Inuyasha shouted.  He was sure that if he could just talk to her she would forgive him when he apologized.  Now they were denying him that chance.

Cracking his knuckles, Kouga sneered, “That’s right mutt-face.  You and I are going to be stuck together like glue.  Consider me your babysitter.”

Before the hanyou could formulate any protest, Sesshomaru stepped forward and lowered his voice.  “From me, personally, if I see your dead bitch anywhere near us I will personally send her where she belongs.  She has caused the little miko enough pain and trouble to last a lifetime!”

Before Inuyasha could open his mouth, Kouga added, “If he doesn’t do it I will.”

“Fuckers!  Leave Kikyo alone!”  Inuyasha shouted, infuriated.

“Then you had better ensure we don’t see her!”  Sesshomaru snarled.

Backing away, Sesshomaru glanced at the rest of the still infuriated pack.  “Let’s get ready to leave, shall we?  I’ll retrieve the miko.”

~~~~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~~~~

Sitting in the hut with Kaede, listening to what was said had been about the hardest thing Kagome had ever done.  When Shippo came in he attached himself to her chest, crying.  Through hitched sobs he told her that Inuyasha had lied, none of them felt that way about her.  Kaede had seconded that sentiment. 

For so long she had defended Inuyasha that it was hard to listen to the reaming he had received and not jump to his defense or make it stop.  But a new voice in her cropped up and stated that it was about time the hanyou had to face the consequences of his actions.  That things would go on just as they were and not change if she continued to defend and make excuses for him.

But what bothered her most was she could find no forgiveness in her for him.  In the past it had been there but it wasn’t this time.  Even when she searched for it she couldn’t find it.  Once again, that new voice piped up.  It asked why she should forgive him when he never once said he was sorry.  All he did was argue with them, he didn’t express any regret for what he had done.

She tried to argue that it was the right thing to do but that was loudly trounced down by the assertion that if forgiveness was warranted then it should only come after she had dealt with all the problems the ‘crime’ had caused.  Quite frankly, she found she couldn’t argue or find fault with that.  It didn’t dismiss the concept of forgiveness but just put it off for a while.  That sounded like a compromise she could deal with.

~~~~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~~~~~

Sesshomaru knew it had to have been hard for her to hear what she did, after all she had been the one that had been Inuyasha’s biggest defender.  But he had wanted her to hear everyones’ reaction so she would know the half-breed had lied.  He could tell her that all he wanted but it wouldn’t have the same effect as hearing it from them.

Ducking into the old mikos’ hut he directed the kit to go help the others get ready to leave.  After giving the woman he viewed as his mother a tight hug, Shippo bound out the door.

Politely, he asked Kaede to take her pack to Kouga.  Understanding the demon lord wanted a couple moments alone with the young woman, she grabbed the heavy bag then exited the small hut.

Kagome stood and brushed off the seat of her jeans.  Grabbing the pack that held her laptop, she slung it over her shoulder, ready to go.

Looking at her, he asked quietly, “Are you alright Kagome?”

Sighing, she nodded, “I’m fine.  Thanks Sesshomaru.”

“Did you hear what your friends said?  They do not feel the way the half breed said they did.”

“Yeah, I heard that.”  She said, a tiny smile turning up the corners of her mouth.

“Remember what they said next time you doubt yourself.”  He said gently.  Putting a hand on her back, he guided her to the door.