The Snow Angel by SunsetMiko

The Others

Chapter 144 - The Others *Silver-eyed Witch* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

Sesshoumaru was on his way back to the palace, Kagome's mating gift safely stowed away, when he decided to make a quick detour. He had been running something through his mind since leaving his angel at Kaede's village, and he had a few questions to ask. The taiyoukai quickly checked his location and changed direction, heading to a place he left just a few days prior.

Really, he felt rather stupid. The thought had crossed his mind momentarily, but he had been so focused on his miko's safety that he hadn't given it the time necessary to really think it through. Now that he knew the witch's potion worked and was safe, he realized that he should have asked for more.

He assumed that Miroku and Sango would like to take it as well, and he hoped that he was correct, because it would be torturous for Kagome to have to watch as her close friends aged and died while she continued on unchanged. Rin was just as important to Sesshoumaru as his angel was, just in a different way, and he did not want to lose her to time any more than he had his miko.

The taiyoukai located the witch's lair easily and entered the long, dark tunnel. She would likely sense him coming, so he didn't bother with stealth or quiet. His footsteps echoed loudly and after a  moment, he began to see light in the distance. He rounded a curve and a large room came into sight. The witch sat at a table, looking in his direction, almost as if she had been waiting for him.

"Welcome, My Lord," she said, rising to bow respectfully.

She picked up a basket and slowly crossed the distance between them, approaching him hesitantly. She held it out but, instead of accepting what was offered, Sesshoumaru pulled the bit of fabric off the top, revealing the contents. Four jars of dark liquid came into sight, and he looked up at Migotoyami questioningly.

"I expected that you would return, and so I saved what remained of the potion rather than have to make it again."

The witch had known that the Western Lord was far too preoccupied with his miko during his previous visit to fully contemplate the possibilities the potion could present. She knew he would eventually return and demand more of the potion. Since every time she made it, she was taking precious years off her life, she decided to put aside what remained of her first batch rather than discard it. She had been more than willing to sacrifice a bit of time for the miko knowing it would save her from the taiyoukai's wrath, but she had no desire to repeat the process over and over again.

"These three," she gestured to the three full jars, "are for the slayer, monk, and your little human child. This," she pointed to the final jar, which was only half full, "is for your brother."

Sesshoumaru studied Migotoyami's face closely, staring into her reflective silver eyes. "They will work the same way as the potion did with Kagome?"

"Yes."

"How will this affect Rin's aging?" he asked. His human pup was still very young, and he did not want to risk halting her aging so that she would be stuck as a child forever. Still, he did not wish to wait to give her the potion if possible, as the Tetsaiga had already revived her. The increased healing ability the potion would give would be a blessing.

"The child will age as a youkai would, both mentally and physically. She and the kitsune would mature at the same rate as siblings should."

Sesshoumaru nodded his understanding. "And Inuyasha? As a hanyou, he will not age as a human would. Our father's blood is strong. Why would he need the potion?"

"Though he is a very powerful hanyou, he will still age at a much faster rate than you, My Lord. On his human nights he would age at a human rate, and his true age would begin to show. Without the potion, he will eventually die on his night of weakness, his human form far too old to survive any longer. I had to alter the potion slightly for him, and he requires a lesser amount. It will allow him to age as if he were a full demon such as yourself, Lord Sesshoumaru."

A thought struck him then. "What of my pups? They will be hanyou. Will they require this potion as well?"

The witch smiled slightly. "No. Your miko's life force has been permanently altered, as has her blood. Any pups you and she have, while hanyou, will age as if they were full demons. The same would apply to any children the slayer and monk have. You should have no further need for this potion, unless your brother decides to mate a human or another hanyou. If that occurs, you know where to find me."

Sesshoumaru nodded and accepted the basket she still held out towards him. When he turned to leave, he was stopped by the witch's voice.