The Once and Future Taiyoukai By RosieB. (Inuyasha FanFic)

Chapter 20: Parting of the Ways

ALL RIGHTS TO ROSIE B ON FANFICTION.NET Rosie B [https://www.fanfiction.net/u/38149/RosieB]

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Chapter 20: Parting of the Ways

A/N: Sleepyxtunaxfish alerted me to a YouTube amv by muchuuninari inspired by this story. Since FFN messes up all links, I have to give it to you like this – youtube watch?v L9FSj9ilpec – just take out all the spaces. It's very, very good. I listened to/watched it several times while writing this chapter. Anyway, check out the awesome vid. And thanks to muchuuninari!

The title is from an episode of another favorite show of mine, Doctor Who.

The Once and Future Taiyoukai

Chapter 20: Parting of the Ways

They landed in front of Ruka's hut and found Midoriko already sitting on the front step. "How did it go?" Kagome asked as Sesshoumaru set her down. "I didn't actually expect you to finish so quickly. And you had time to get cleaned up too."

The elder miko, dressed in a fresh set of priestess robes, smiled. "Well, the only part that she really cared about was that Nameless is dead. She'll tell the villagers tomorrow and they'll have time to think about it while we're gone. When I come back, they'll be ready to ask more questions." The smile wavered. "I hope I can answer them."

"I think they're just going to want the entire truth and then just forget all of it," Kagome said. "You don't have to worry."

Midoriko stood. "I will try," she promised. She took a breath and smiled again. "But at the moment, I am prepared to leave."

Kagome's chest tightened and her breath caught. Sesshoumaru leaned forward in alarm. "Kagome?"

The young woman looked up at the other miko and they shared a distressed look. "We're still going, aren't we?" Midoriko asked.

"Yes," Kagome said, raising her head. "Yes, of course we are."

Sesshoumaru frowned at the two women, slightly irritated at being cut out of the silent conversation going on between them. But after a moment, Kagome turned to him and slipped her hand into his. "We're ready," she said. "But perhaps you should transform away from the village?"

He nodded, his hand releasing hers, and walked away towards the fields and the broad road that ran alongside them. Midoriko leaned over to Kagome once the taiyoukai was out of earshot. "You looked very happy when you first arrived," she murmured.

Kagome blushed. "It's nothing," she lied.

"You are a terrible liar, Kagome."

"I know," she said with a shrug. "But I don't want to talk about it right now. I can't talk about it. Let's just watch him transform. It's really something."

Midoriko took a breath. "Alright. You've seen this before then?"

"The actual transformation? Only once. I was terrified but it was impressive," Kagome replied. She smiled slightly. "He nearly killed me that day."

Midoriko's eyes widened. "Is it that violent of a transformation?"

Kagome resisted the urge to laugh at how her friend had changed. The old Midoriko would have assumed the truth. "No, actually, he nearly killed me because he was trying to kill me that day."

"Oh. I see."

"In all fairness, I just had taken what he thought of as his birthright. And obviously, he didn't manage to kill me."

Midoriko arched an eyebrow but said nothing more. Instead she looked towards the hut directly across from Ruka's and nudged Kagome with her elbow. "Someone else is interested in Sesshoumaru's transformation."