The Heroic and Super-Duper Trials of a Girl and a Demon by UnknownRandomness

Impact

A/N: Extra long chapter to make up for the wait :) Hope you enjoy! Please review.

Prompt: Umbrella (Week 41) 

Word Count: 849

“It has been nine days since I began shadowing you, little miko.”

“But…that would mean that you’ve been around ever since I left the shiro.”

Lady Tashio inclined her head in a barely discernible nod and Kagome let out a gusty sigh, not even surprised with the information that was being presented to her. Sesshoumaru’s mother was nothing, if not a being full of surprises.

Shippo had eagerly related (once the tense introduction had passed) of how the inuyoukai had wrenched Kagome from the ‘demon rainbow’ and swiftly transported both of them to this cave, where she had provided him with everything he could need as well as keeping watch over her. The thought that the Lady Mother of the Western Lands had willingly acted as her nurse was a strangely humbling thought. The human woman owed Lady Tashio her life – the rainbow was a rare youkai that fed off the souls of those that were foolish enough to touch it – and if not for her, Kagome would have died.

“Why were you shadowing me Tashio-sama? And why do it yourself? Surely, you have subjects who could have done it, rather than wasting your own valuable time.” Kagome couldn’t help but ask these questions that had been bugging her as soon as their eyes had met a few hours earlier.

The demon’s gaze flickered to the kitsune jumping across the stones strategically placed at close intervals in the stream and when she turned her cool gaze back to her companion seated under the shade of a large umbrella, there was something in her eyes that hinted at humour and a tilt to her mouth that made it look like she was repressing the urge to smirk.

“My son is unusually besotted with you and the shiro is awfully boring at this point in time, so I decided to uncover the mystery of his infatuation.” 

Kagome restrained the wince that wanted to spread across her face at the mention of her ex-friend.

“Well, he seems to have lost that interest. I am sorry to disappoint you, Lady Tashio, but I think your efforts have been in vain.”

A smirk did sketch itself across the dai’s features at that, and she shook her head lightly, the movement causing the ornate jewels in her earrings to tinkle softly.

“Do not be so quick to make a decision. If anything, it appears that Sesshoumaru is even more curious than he was before your separation. You should not worry about that however, you have far more serious things to contemplate.”

Caught off-guard, the time traveller barely managed to stutter out,

“I do?”

“Of course. Have you not noticed the change?”

Tentatively, Kagome nodded, unsure of what the older female was referring to. Deciding to indulge in the curious glint within the argent-haired youkai’s expression, Kagome turned her head to look at Shippo playing in the cool water as she answered,

“My heart is aching and my eyes are itchy. It doesn’t feel like an allergy or symptom of sickness, I mean, I feel better than I ever have before or, uh, bigger or something that just…” She paused her rambling to suck in a huge breath, “I feel strong. Like I don’t need to sleep ever again.”

Silence met her decisive statement, and Kagome glanced at Lady Tashio for her reaction, only to start when she realised that she wasn’t where she had been before. Looking around, the young woman relaxed when she saw the inu talking to Shippo. As she watched, both demons turned to assess her before making their way over. At the Western Lady’s direction, the fox sat opposite Kagome and held out his small hand, completely trusting of the two women.

“I had not wanted him to touch you until I was sure of the effects of your encounter. Please take his hand, miko.”

Kagome’s mind vaguely noted that Lady Tashio had asked rather than ordered her to move, but that thought was whisked away as she grasped the hand of the child she thought of as her own. A strange sensation raced through her arm as their palms connected; it felt similar to the feeling of the rainbow, but it wasn’t painful, in fact, it was quite pleasant. Abruptly, it stopped and she released Shippo’s hand from her clenched fingers.

“Did it hurt you? Are you okay?” The miko hurriedly asked Shippo, worried that she had somehow harmed him. At his confused look, Kagome felt herself begin to relax.

“I’m fine! Did something happen?” His childish voice sounded almost petulant, like he was upset that he had missed out on something big.

“As I thought, you felt an unfamiliar sensation in your limb, did you not?” At Kagome’s affirmative nod, Lady Tashio continued, “This may come as quite a shock to you, miko, but you have acquired a characteristic that has previously only been reserved for youkai and those humans with access to black magic’s.”

At her nonplussed look, Lady Tashio reiterated carefully,

“Our lifespans are now of a similar length. To put it simply, you are now immortal.”