A Demon's Journey: Love Beyond Time

Chapitre 7: A face of the past

The days following her return from the depths of her memories were marked by a strange sense of peace. There was still a lot to process, but for the first time, she felt fully grounded in this world—this era. Sesshomaru's presence was a constant, his silent company providing an odd sense of stability she hadn't known she needed. Rin, A-Un, and even Jaken had become familiar parts of her day-to-day life, and she found herself finally at ease with her place in the world of InuYasha.

But then, everything changed again.

They were traveling through a small village nestled between two forested mountains, a place untouched by war or the chaos of the past few years. It was peaceful, serene, and though they often avoided human settlements, Rin's curiosity had led them there. Sesshomaru had agreed to linger for a time, giving the young girl a chance to experience life beyond the forest.

The village was full of life. Children ran between the wooden huts, the smell of fresh-cooked food wafted through the air, and the villagers moved about with ease, oblivious to the quiet power that Sesshomaru and his companions brought with them.

She walked slowly through the bustling market, Rin at her side, smiling at the young girl's excitement as she marveled at the various stalls. Jaken muttered complaints, as usual, but he trailed behind them nonetheless, keeping a watchful eye on Rin.

This feels so normal... so human.

It was strange, but comforting. For a moment, she allowed herself to imagine what it would have been like if her life had followed a different path—if she had remained human in her world, living out her days in peace. She could almost picture it, a quiet life with a home, a family, maybe even—

Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice. His voice.

"Excuse me, miss."

The voice hit her like a shockwave, freezing her in place. Slowly, she turned, her heart hammering in her chest, her eyes locking onto the man standing just a few feet away.

He looked exactly like him.

The resemblance was uncanny. The man before her had the same warm brown eyes, the same dark hair tousled in that familiar way, and that same gentle smile that had once made her heart race. He looked like her fiancé from her past life—the man she had loved and lost when she died.

Her breath caught in her throat. It can't be...

"Are you alright?" the man asked, his brow furrowing in concern as he noticed the sudden pallor of her face.

She couldn't speak. Her mind was racing, struggling to reconcile the sight in front of her with the reality of this world. This wasn't possible. He couldn't be here—he wasn't from this world, and she had died. He had died too, hadn't he? Or had he moved on without her in their world, continuing his life while she had been ripped from hers?

"Miss?" the man repeated, stepping closer, his expression soft and concerned. "You seem pale. Do you need help?"

Rin tugged at her sleeve, her voice pulling her out of the fog of confusion. "Nezuko, do you know him?"

She blinked, reality slowly coming back into focus. No... this isn't him. He just looks like him. Her heart still pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to speak, her voice shaky. "I'm... I'm fine," she said quickly, stepping back to create some distance. "You just... remind me of someone I used to know."

The man smiled again, a gentle curve of his lips that made her chest tighten painfully. "I see. Well, if you need anything, my name is Hiroto. I run the stall over there," he said, pointing to a nearby table filled with various goods. "Please don't hesitate to ask."

She nodded mutely, barely able to respond before he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, feeling as though the ground had been pulled out from under her.

That night, the campfire crackled quietly as the group settled down for the evening. Rin was curled up against A-Un, fast asleep, and Jaken had taken his usual place on a rock, grumbling to himself about the long day. Sesshomaru, as always, stood apart, his golden eyes fixed on the distant horizon.

She sat alone by the fire, her thoughts racing in a whirlwind she couldn't control. The image of Hiroto's face haunted her, the way he had looked at her with such concern, the way his voice had stirred memories she had thought she'd buried.

It's not him, she told herself, but her heart wouldn't stop aching. But why does he look so much like him? Why now, after everything?

"Something troubles you," Sesshomaru's voice broke the silence. He didn't look at her, but his presence was as steady as ever, grounding her in the moment.

She hesitated, unsure how to explain what she was feeling. But then again, Sesshomaru had seen her at her most vulnerable. He had pulled her from the depths of her memories, had seen the world she had come from. There was nothing left to hide.

"I met someone today," she began, her voice low as she stared into the flickering flames. "He... he looked exactly like someone I loved in my past life. Someone I lost."

Sesshomaru was silent for a long moment, his gaze unwavering. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm, but there was a subtle edge to it. "You believe it is him?"

"No." She shook her head, though her heart still wavered. "It can't be. He's... he's not from this world. It's just a coincidence. But seeing him—it brought everything back. All the feelings, all the memories." Her hands clenched into fists, and she closed her eyes tightly, trying to keep her emotions in check. "I thought I'd moved on. I thought I'd accepted this world as my new life. But now..."

"But now you question your place here," Sesshomaru finished for her, his voice as steady as ever.

She looked up at him, surprised by his perceptiveness. "Yes," she admitted quietly. "Seeing him made me wonder if I'll ever really belong here. If I'll ever be able to let go of what I had before."

Sesshomaru's gaze finally met hers, his golden eyes intense and unreadable. "You are no longer the person you were in that life," he said, his voice low but firm. "You are a demon now. You have forged a new path."

She swallowed, the weight of his words sinking in. A new path. But could she truly leave behind the love she had once felt? The man she had planned to marry, the life they had been building together?

"I know that," she whispered, her voice trembling. "But sometimes it's hard to let go."

Sesshomaru was silent for a moment, his eyes never leaving hers. Then, he stepped closer, his presence commanding yet strangely comforting. "The past does not define you," he said softly, his voice carrying an unexpected warmth. "What matters is the path you choose now."

His words resonated deep within her, cutting through the confusion and fear that had clouded her mind since she had seen Hiroto. The past does not define me. She wasn't the same person she had been in her previous life. She was stronger now, different. And the life she had now, in this world, was hers to shape.

Slowly, she nodded, her gaze steady as she looked up at him. "You're right," she said, her voice gaining strength. "I can't let the past hold me back. Not anymore."

Sesshomaru's eyes softened just slightly, a barely perceptible shift that she had learned to recognize. He didn't offer words of comfort or reassurance, but his presence was enough. In that moment, she knew that she wasn't alone—not in this world, not in this life.

As the night wore on and the fire burned low, she allowed herself one last glance at the village where Hiroto had stayed. The pain was still there, the memories still fresh, but they no longer had power over her.

Her future was here, in this world. And she was ready to face it.

With Sesshomaru at her side, she could face anything.