Chapter 11 - Together again

Chapter 11-Together again

For once Sesshoumaru’s expressionless mask cracked as his amazement at seeing Ukil again swamped him.

“But, you’re dead.” He realized even as he said the words that they sounded stupid; but Ukil, to his surprise laughed and ran up to him.

“Oh, Sesshoumaru. You haven’t changed.”

Inuyasha stepped forwards, his ears twitching involuntarily.

“You are dead, you have no scent.”

“Yes, I am dead. But I couldn’t pass on, when I saw how upset and angry Sesshoumaru was becoming I couldn’t leave him. Now I finally have enough energy to gain solid flesh and speak with you, but it will not last long.”

Miroku stepped forwards brandishing his staff, his hands already clutching exorcising sutras; Sesshoumaru stepped between them and cracked his claws menacingly.

“You said something about our father?” Inuyasha, curious despite himself, stepped forwards.

“The wish made to keep you two together was that of the spirit of your father; like me he could not pass on. He was too worried that Sesshoumaru would once again befriend Inuyasha; however, because what tied him to this world was so full of hate and bitterness his spirit became locked in a self-induced hell. He is no longer sane and is willing to sacrifice his son and heir to teach him to hate half-breeds. He can no longer remember the curse placed upon you and seeks only destruction; this is the reason he has joined you together.”

Silence fell over the group as each tried to process this information; Kagome looked over at Inuyasha sympathetically, his face was darkened with internal pain which quickly cleared into anger as he broke the silence, his voice was low and controlled but shaking with suppressed rage.

“Of course this is all my fault; I knew father wanted me dead. But why wouldn’t he want to kill half-breeds? We’re filthy! Dirty! Disgusting polluted versions of you pure and wonderful demons!”

Sesshoumaru, his eyes filled with pity moved to stand by his younger half-brother; he placed a hand comfortingly on Inuyasha’s shoulder.

“Don’t say such things, pup.”

Inuyasha turned and, eyes blazing, slashed Sesshoumaru across the face with his claws.

“DON’T CALL ME PUP!”

With that he stalked away into the forest that surrounded them; for a moment all was quiet.

“How come he was able to walk away from Sesshoumaru that time?” Shippo’s voice was nervous as though he was worried about incurring either demons wrath.

“I am able to nullify the effects of the curse, for a short while, but it will only last until my strength wanes and my solid body dissipates.”

Kagome’s heart ached for Inuyasha, the pain and anger she had seen on his face as he scratched Sesshoumaru seemed unbearable; she wanted nothing more than for the curse to be fully broken and this ordeal to end.

“That’s all very well, but how do we break the curse forever?”

“As this is the wish of a powerful spirit the only way to reverse the effects is by wishing on an object of greater power. The Shikon jewel is the only object powerful enough to grant such a wish; but remember that only one wish can be granted by this jewel and then it ceases to exist.”

Instinctively Kagome’s hand went to her throat where she kept her shards of the jewel, she only just remembered in time that they had been taken barely a week beforehand by Naraku.

“Then I guess it’s time we battle Naraku!”

Everybody stared at Kagome as though she had gone mad, Sango cleared her throat nervously.

“Kagome, we’ve been looking for Naraku’s castle for months now and still haven’t found it. What makes you think we’ll be able to find it now?”

“We’ll find it, he has the jewel now so he’s not afraid to take us on; he wants this battle between us to end as much as we do, he’ll let us find him.”

As Sango, Miroku, Shippo and Kagome debated about how to find Naraku’s castle and what to do when they got there, Sesshoumaru and Ukil slipped away quietly down to the river; the moonlight made the water look like molten silver as they sat together on a boulder.

“Ukil, I…” Sesshoumaru looked down into the water in confusion, how did you apologize for driving your fiancée to suicide; he almost broke into hysterical laughter when he felt a slight pressure placed on his shoulder.

He turned to face Ukil and before he could say anything more she kissed him; all other emotions were lost as the two lovers were reunited, the world seemed to exist only for them as they kissed tenderly.

Finally they broke apart and Sesshoumaru’s doubts and fears came rushing back.

“Ukil, I…I’m sorry.”

“Beloved, you have nothing to be sorry for. We’re together now and that’s all that matters.”

Turning his face towards hers again she kissed him sweetly; as the moon rose and fell in the sky the kiss turned more passionate and all fears about Naraku and battles not yet fought fell away as the two lovers joined together for one night of happiness.