Somewhere in Time

Veil of Truth (never-before-seen-chapter)

She knew there was a certain direction that the daiyoukai was taking.

Their course were no longer aimless tracks, they were more like stopovers. Each step was purposeful, every turn had a certain direction. The villages were far behind them now and the path forward was an endless labyrinth of trees and barren fields.

Kagome wanted to ask Sesshomaru where they were heading but thought better of it. She knew it wasn't her place to ask questions. A pack member had no place to interrogate the alpha unless she's the female alpha—his mate.

Well... not yet. Kagome blushed at the thought, relishing the idea of being his other half. A jolt of thrill ran across her spine, making the sensitive daiyoukai pause in his tracks and look at her curiously. Her cheeks went even redder, forgetting that her thoughts and feelings were connected to him in some inexplicable way, and any forbidden ideas she might have, he could easily read.

Embarrassed, she shook her head and smiled nervously. "Forgive me, Sesshomaru-sama. I was... daydreaming." About us being together, she added internally, hoping he would think nothing of it. To her massive relief, Sesshomaru turned back and continued walking. Naturally. He was not really one for verbal inquiries, unlike...

She stopped her thoughts. No, she wouldn't let herself.

Her present and future was right in front of her. Dwelling on the past won't help her move forward.

And she was ready to take the step towards that future... towards him.

"Kagome," she heard Sesshomaru call out to her. He had stopped walking again and was now facing her fully. "What bothers you so?"

She tried to play her nervousness off by looking away and laughing awkwardly. "I just have a lot on my mind, really. Please don't mind me."

Sesshomaru didn't look convinced at all, and he scrutinized her face before turning around for the second time. Kagome sighed internally. That was embarrassing.

They travelled on, passing a steep, rocky slope that looked somehow familiar to her. As they reached the base, another maze of trees loomed before them. Where is Sesshomaru taking us? The silent daiyoukai didn't seem to have any intention of telling her where they were headed, and the rest of the group appeared to be not worrying about it. Rin and Jaken were walking beside her, bickering constantly about the smallest things. Kagome couldn't help but smile fondly as she listened to the imp grumbling about the child's tone-deaf singing.

They truly have put their entire faith on Sesshomaru, trusting him to lead them wherever he went, knowing that he will always keep them safe from any harm.

You may follow me if you so choose. Wasn't this what he had told her before? He gave her the choice to join him but also the freedom to leave. There were no binding conditions, no nonsense threats. Rin and Jaken chose to follow him too, and they continued to do so with unwavering loyalty. Embarrassed with her passing doubts, she pressed on with determined steps, concentrating on Sesshomaru's back as they entered the mouth of the forest.

For the first hour, they cleared a path through the undergrowth, with each turn looking more and more familiar to Kagome. She vaguely knew the surroundings, as if from a hazy dream. Her reiki was picking up faint traces of a dark, foreboding aura. I've felt this before.

The memory that came with it was not pleasant. Blurred images resurfaced in her mind like a flashflood. She was tied up, gagged, bleeding and bruised­—watching Inuyasha run the opposite way to save the one he truly loved.

Hone no Oka. The Hill of Bones.

No... why would Sesshomaru bring her anywhere close to that place? He knew how much pain it had caused her; how traumatic it was to live through that. Trembling, she stopped in her tracks to catch her breath. The daiyoukai was immediately by her side, clasping her hands.

"Kagome," he said calmly. His youki gently reached out to her in a soothing stroke, smoothing out the ragged edges of her reiki. "Do not feel afraid. It is long past, and I will not let it happen again."

She looked up to his molten eyes and breathed deeply to settle down her nerves. His claws lightly traced the back of her hand, waiting for the beating of her heart to decelerate.

"Are you okay, Kagome-nee-san?" Rin asked beside her with concern. Letting go of Sesshomaru's hand, she turned to the girl and smiled.

"I'm okay, Rin-chan. I just remembered something awful from my past, but I feel better now because I know that you're here." The child brightened up and the worry in her cherubic face disappeared instantly. Kagome turned back to Sesshomaru inquiringly. She was more confused about their direction now.

"There is someone you must meet," he said, answering her silent query. "She lives at a village near the Hone no Oka."

"Wait, the miko who healed me?"

"Indeed." Sesshomaru paused, seemingly choosing his next words carefully. "She has something to tell you."

Author's Note:

What do you think is this 'something' that Kagome has to know? Are we finally going to have our questions answered? Well, I like to tease, so here's some cliffhanger for you. Thank you for your endless support! Xx