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The Gates of Heaven & Hell	By : yukisan Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > Sessh?maru/Kagome > Sessh?maru/Kagome Views: 1629 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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Chapter List
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The Gates of Heaven and Hell

Chapter Four
Misty
Dreams of the Future Part II

Yuki-hime

Guide:
��
�� the spoken words.
Any thoughts are in italics.
* for
definitions or notes at the end of the story.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The monk sat watching the river as
water drifted downstream.� Miroku had a
lot of things on his mind lately.� There
were so many distractions.� Inuyasha was
venting his anger through his absence and then when he was there he never
spoke.� The hanyou�s grunts and shrugs
were getting on his nerves as well.� �I still do not understand Inuyasha�s anger,
yet I can not go against his advice.��
He sighed.� �It is not my place to speak to him about his estranged relations with
his brother.��

�Poor Kikyou.��
The arrival of Sesshoumaru and his pack has caused her a lot of problems
and heartache among the villagers.� If
the group had not been here to ensure everyone�s protection, �Or if Sesshoumaru had never shown his
face,� the village and people would have been out of harm�s way.� Though the monk was relieved when the demon
had only appeared once over the past week; �But how long will that last?�� Inuyasha did not show his support of her
decision but it seemed to have little effect on Kikyou outwardly. �A few nights ago, Miroku had worked up the
courage to finally ask Kaede about Kikyou and her true feelings.

* FLASHBACK *

�Does she ever talk to you about
what is going on Kaede?�� Miroku
asked.� This implied many things.� The village, Inuyasha and, especially, Sesshoumaru
and the young woman, as of lately.

She shook her head.� �No, Miroku-sama.� Kikyou never tells me what is really going
on.� She believes it to be better for my
life.�� He sighed.� It was worth a try.� �I think that Kikyou is planning a water purifying
ritual for Kagome.� But first she must
convince Lord Sesshoumaru-sama.�

He smiled as she mimicked her
sister�s words.� �Indeed.� I would have guessed as much.� Thank you Kaede.�

* END FLASHBACK *

He had been right in his
assumptions about Kikyou�s intentions.� �But is she helping Sesshoumaru, that girl,
us or Naraku?�� The question couldn�t
be answered until the hanyou�s defeat.�
Naraku�s demise felt like an unattainable dream.

His gaze remained at his right hand
and the destruction it held for him and everyone around him.� �I wish I were a normal man.�� These words had escaped his lips many a time
when he was alone.� His thoughts were
focused on one woman and how much he wanted to live like normal people, to live
like a normal man and woman, husband and wife.

Could he work the courage up?� He sighed.�
Sometimes Miroku thought it easier for him to play than be serious.� A loud boom caught his attention.� He burst out running in the direction of the
sound, straight to the village.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The wind felt good against her
skin, a nice cool breeze.� The branches
and leaves sang.� The air was so fresh,
she could taste the difference.� The warm
summer days were lulling her to sleep.�
The gusts of air rustled against her body, stirring her hair and
clothing around.� She sighed heavily as
the hands of deep slumber reached out to catch her.

There was a sudden presence beside
her.� She felt the warmth sit to her
left. �Annoyingly, she opened her eyes
which met Sesshoumaru�s golden stare.� �Sesshoumaru?�� Her psyche looked for answers that could not
be found.� When she blinked, a silver
haired man with ears was revealed as well as another man she knew she should
know.� His brown-eyed stare sent chills
down her as his chestnut hair waved in the wind.� �But
who is he?� her mind frantically searched through the memory banks, only to
come up empty when they were found empty.�
�Why can�t I remember anything or
anyone besides you?�� Her mind jumped
to the silent demon, his stoic mask in perfect place.� �Sesshoumaru.��

When she opened her eyes for the
third time, the female saw another; a woman floating off of the ground.� Kagome found herself dressed in priestess
garb mimicking her in a mirror-like manner.�
The woman was dressed as she was, her long black hair flowing.� �She is
so beautiful.�

Her voice called out.� �Kagome��

�Kagome, you must
wake up!� Wake up Kagome!��
Her words were urgent and she struggled to understand why she was in
distress.� Her face was hard to see.� Distinguishing features seemed to fade away.

�Please, tell me what
is going on,� she
spoke.� The urge to help her and provide
comfort washed over the confused woman.

�You must fully
immerse yourself and cross the darkness in your heart.� Please help me defeat the evil before us.��
The words confused her even more.�
�There are people that need you
now.� You must fight.�

�That�s right.� I am forgetting something, aren�t I?��
She paused, her words triggered other memories; another promise.� The woman held her hand out to her.� Kagome looked at her palm.� There were tattoos on her wrists that she saw
before instinctively reaching out.�
Something compelled her; she couldn�t help herself.

�In my half-heartedness, my
half-giving, my half-loving, my half-living, help me to be fully immersed in
your spirit and cross the darkness, defeating the evil before me.�

A pink bright light faded and she
blinked; tenderness still in her gaze.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sesshoumaru arrived at the bridge,
meeting a patient Kikyou.� She smiled and
nodded for him to follow.� The demon
prince briefly wondered where his half-brother was, but dashed that away.� Instead, he decided he would focus on the
woman in his arms.� There was something
to her.� �She has to be the key we have been searching for.�� Her power was hidden deep within her.

�Here we are,� Kikyou�s words broke
him out of thought.� �We must descend
thirty feet to the spring.� Come.�� She motioned for him to follow.� Their forms disappeared into the darkness of
the earth.

Sesshoumaru felt trapped for a
fleeting second; then the woman moved.�
He took a glimpse at her.� �She still seems restless,� he thought
as he held her close to his heart.� �Her soul seems to be struggling.�

�Kagome has been stirring these
last few days.�� The miko�s eyes never
went unaware of her surroundings.�

Sesshoumaru had finally decided to agree
to the �arrangement�, yet it seemed she already knew.� �Is she
reading my mind?�� His silence was enough
of a response for her.� Neither spoke for
several minutes before it was the proud prince.�
He had mulled things over.� �Yes,
she is restless,� his words soft on the ears.�

�Forgive me Lord Sesshoumaru-sama
but I must speak the truth I see.�� There
was a slight pause as if she was trying to spill it out.� �He
can�t turn back, not with Kagome in such a condition.� He will listen to you.��

* FLASHBACK *

The priestess sat praying in the
center of several burning torches.� The
fire-light flickered around the room, casting demonic shadows across the small
room.� �Kikyou, if you know that something is wrong then you must speak
up.� Do not sit idly by and watch this
woman suffer and die.� You must take
action tomorrow.� Take her to the spring,
purify her body and soul, only then will the hold on her be released.�� The voice echoed off of the walls.

* END FLASHBACK *

�You seem to have let down your
guard.�

Her lack of exaggeration annoyed
him.� �What do you mean?�

�You seem to have fallen for that
woman in your arms.��

Her blunt statement had been too honest
and forward for the demon.� �What do you
mean? ��Don�t be foolish.� I have not fallen��

She cut him off.� �You can not lie to me.� Your body and actions do not lie to my eyes
Sesshoumaru.�� She laughed lightly.� �Whatever it is can not be.� The Shikon no Tama will not grant your
wishes.� I am sorry but I hold some
resentment towards you.�� Her hushed
words were barely audible, even to his sensitive ears.� Kikyou knew.�
�Come, only another five meters.�

The walk was quiet as he pondered
about what the miko thought she had seen.�
The spring was close, like she has spoken.� The demon dashed his feelings away again,
concentrating on the situation at hand.� The
prince followed Kikyou to the edge.� �Give
her to me,� she spoke as she held out her arms.

He nodded in compliance; understanding
that he could not come in contact with the holy water.� He fought back his demonic nature to attack
the one taking his �subject� away from his hold as he watched the two women
sink waist high into the water.� Kikyou
walked to the center of the small spring with the unconscious woman and a
pint-sized pail.� His eyes scanned the
confined area quickly.� A *tsukubai stood
near the mouth.

The demon knew that the purpose of
the water ritual was to take away the evil auras that have possessed her and
replace them with health and wisdom.� Kikyou�s
power multiplied.� For a brief second,
Kagome would become one with Nature; one with the trees, the earth and the sky.
�His eyes soaked in her wet form.� The pale blue kimono clung to her
curves.� He briefly wondered if she would
be as hostile to him as when they first met.�
His eyes ignored the woman holding her until she spoke.

The priestess began reciting a
prayer.� Her words bounced off of the
rocky cavern.� *** �In my heat of anguish
and fear,� she paused, pouring water from the pond on Kagome�s forehead,
soaking the still dry parts of her kimono.�
The prince�s eyes intently watched the ceremony.� This was a sacred ritual that he was very
privileged to witness.� The purifying
powers of a miko in her own domain.� It
was sure to be a good show, which is why Sesshoumaru was so nervous.� There was an unexpected and unpredictable
change of events unfolding before him.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The village was quiet.� The usual sounds of children playing and
their parents working the fields could be heard.� Sango sat in the small square with Shippou
and the children; content to watch them play with a tiny ball she had made.� They did not have a lot of time to spend in
the village and Sango felt that twinge of regret.� She indeed did miss her village.� Images of the bodies of her friends and
family crossed her mind. �

After she had discovered her home
had been completely destroyed, the taijiya had found the small fox demon crying
and, obviously, in distress.� It had only
been natural that she take him in.� In a
small way, Shippou had filled the materialistic role that Kohaku left.� She had vowed to defeat Naraku and free her
brother, even if it was into the arms of Death

�Sango-sama!� Sango-sama!� the young girl�s voice broke her
out of her private hell.� She smiled in
response.� �What�s wrong Sango-sama?�

�Nothing, honey,� she lied.� There was no reason she should tell the child
the truth.�

The girl tugged at her hand, �Come
play with us.�� The two stood and started
toward the circle of kids.� Screeching
from behind drew everyone�s attention.�
Sango�s eyes widened in horror, her voice froze in her throat.� How could she not have sensed this?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Inuyasha kept his frozen pose,
waiting to see if there were more words.�
He could sense his body heating.�
He felt his skin prickle and scratched himself for a moment.� The sensations were becoming stronger.� �What
is this?�� The hanyou�s mind raced
for answers as his instinct directed him to the village.� A large explosion and cloud of smoke filled
the air.� Inuyasha growled.� His delicate nose caught the nasty smell of the
half-demon.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A glow began emitting from around
Kikyou�s form.� �In my time of need, I am
refreshed by the sprinkling of your cool, refreshing water.�� Another shower rained upon the unconscious
female, raven hair matted to her forehead.�
Her glow began radiating to Kagome.�
He could see it consume her.� The
pink light seemed to heat her body, rejuvenating her spirit, putting color in
her skin.�

�How could I have
missed that?!� �Sesshoumaru growled under his breath.� His anger boiled his blood.� �How
could that hanyou get past me?� Damn that
Naraku!�� The poison had seeped into
the female�s soul, slowly killing her and tainting the jewel.� Kikyou�s aura had broken the barrier that
Naraku had up, revealing the venom.�

The demon pushed his anger and
murderous nature aside at Kikyou�s next words.�
�In my filth and dirtiness I am washed by your pure and cleansing soul.�� Another river of cleansing water washed over
Kagome�s skin.� Sesshoumaru watched in
amazement as he sees what the miko�s power unleashes.� The controlling miasmic gas pours out of the
woman�s chest, bursting at the seams to escape the purifying ritual.� The Shikon no Tama appears from under her
skin, the light slowly increasing.

�In my half-heartedness, my
half-giving, my half-loving, my half-living, help me to be fully immersed in
your spirit and cross the darkness, defeating the evil before me.� �The bright rosy light out-shines Kikyou�s as
the jewel floats lazily above Kagome�s heart.�
The miasmic gas vanished with the miko�s last words and water.� The body in her arms shook violently.� Sesshoumaru stood his ground, grinding his
teeth as he watched the unfolding events.

Suddenly, Kagome screamed and
Kikyou was the only witness to her pain and the salvation that awaits them.� The woman�s eyes were sensitive to the small
light that was emitting from the torches around them.� Kagome quickly shut her eyes again.� �The
light hurts too much.�� She stumbled
to find her footing in the shallow water as Kikyou let her go.� She spoke the first name that came to her
lips.� �Sesshoumaru!�� She panted.�

The youkai did not wait for her to
call out to him the second time.� As soon
as he heard his name, the demon lord went to her side.� He ignored the pain that the holy water inflicted
upon his legs and arms.� She stumbled
again and began her fall face-ward into lord�s waiting arms.� �Sesshoumaru?!�� He picked her small form up out of the
water.� �I can not see!� I� I ca�� she sobbed as the flood of tears
began.�

�Shhh�� You will be safe with me, Kagome,� his tender
voice somewhat comforted her.� He quickly
turned to Kikyou.� His face hid the pain
she knew he was feeling.� �I am grateful
for your help Priestess.�� He turned and
quickly disappeared through the exit.�

Kikyou stood still in the
water.� �Was that the true power of the jewel?�� Confusion crossed her features.� �What
is going on?�� Had they all been
wrong about the Shikon?� Questions swam
in her head.� The miko had so many
questions.� So many questions but no
answers; for a brief moment the two women were connected.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

For all of you wondering � five
meters is 16.40 feet � Ten meters is 32.81 feet �� ^^

Tsukubai a stone basin of water
used by worshipers to cleanse their mouths and hands before entering the inner
precincts of the shrine.

*** This poem is revised for this
story from the original.� It is titled
�Water� and can be found at http://www.christian-aid.org.uk/worship/0211wate/prayer.htm.

�In my heat of anguish and fear, I
am refreshed by the sprinkling of your cool, refreshing water.� In my filth and dirtiness I am washed by your
pure and cleansing water.� In my weariness
and directionless life I am swept along by the strong current of your
water.� In my filth and dirtiness I am
washed by your pure and cleansing soul.�
In my half-heartedness, my half-giving half-loving half-living help me
to be immersed fully in your water and cross Jordan to the promised Land.�

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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The Gates of Heaven & Hell