A quiet wind rippled over the placid waters of the old lake. The full branches of the surrounding trees danced along, synchronized with the lake as if it were all a chorerographed ballet. Their only audience walking down the now wide and well-traveled path from the road.
A young woman held the elbow of her elderly father as he took carefully measured steps down the dirt path. Beside them their silent companion walked, matching their slow pace with no complaint. Despite his age the old man was still quite cheery on such an occasion.
"We are pleased you have taken an interest in a sanctuary Nagataka-san. I was delighted when my daughter told me you wished to see the Tenshi's lake.", he grinned at the young man, "Come to see if the tenshi will speak with you?"
Over the many years since it was said that a Tenshi lived in the ageless lake many had come to see if they could summon her from the depths. Most were dissapointed and saw no Tenshi but many still offered their prayer to the spirits of nature in the sanctuary. The young girl let one hand raise from her father's arm to caress the one pearl earring she wore with a sense of nostalgia. She remembered the one time she had seen the Tenshi as a little girl.
Playing by the water side and splashing around she took notice to the small shift in the water not far from her. When she looked intently at the water she noticed what looked to be some cloth floating gently on the surface. Wading into the water up to her knees she reached out and plucked the tiny perfect pearl from on top of the cloth. As she examined it a shift in the water once again drew her attention. Through the clear water of the lake she could see a smiling young woman looking back at her, her expression one of quiet joy. The little girl waved in awe just before the woman flitted away back into the depths.
She was brought from her memory as the lake came into view and the low baritone voice of the companion came in a whisper, "Takeo-san, please call me Yemonmaru. You did business with my father for many years before, there is no need for such formality between us."
The old man's smile widened before he answered in an equaly quiet voice not wishing to disturb the sight before them, "Thank you Yemonmaru-san, We have arrived."
They all walked to stand on the fine white sand surrounding the lake. Yemonmaru continued to the shoreline until his black leather shoes were just barely out of the water. He turned his eyes took the skies and took a deep breath of the clean air. His eyes hooded in pleasure, though he was quite surprised. The lake smelled clean and untouched as it had in the Feudal Era and it also still smelled of Kagome. He had to wonder if it was not some work of this 'Tenshi' or some other way the fates sought immortalize her in such a way. Even in his four-hundred and twenty year absence it smelled as if she had walked around the lake only the day before.
At the gentle coaxing of the old man behind him he kneeled at the water's edge, heedless of the dampness seeping into the knee of his pant leg. Acting on instinct he attempted to call forth the Tenshi. He closed his eyes and touched his finger-tips to the water. Slowly he submerged his whole handing, reaching towards some force calling to him in his mind.
The previously placid wind kicked up around him. It swirled about exploring him for only a second, but the haunting scent of his love it carried made it seem like an eternal cage. As the wind left it smelled as if Kagome could have been standing there right in front of him. He kept his eyes closed for as long as his curiousity would allow, afraid of what he might see when he opened them.
Gazing down at the water he was sure he would be forever haunted by her spirit. The now calm surface of the lake reflected the image of Kagome staring down at him, her espression condescending and speculative. His chest tightened and he looked up to see her truly standing there before him, her only adornment the celestial garb. He wondered for a moment if this Tenshi were simply taunting him as he watched her step forward without disturbing the water.
She kneeled before him and clasped his chin, holding him still as her crystal blue eyes bore into his muddled brown. She took in the short cropped black hair and the tanned yellowish skin with a frown. She rose abruptly using the light hold on his chin to pull him up with her.
He looked down at her from his now taller position. Shocked into silence he couldn't say anything, and if he could he wouldn't have known what to say. She was there... she could have been there the entire time he had mourned her and he was the one who left. The way she frowned at him made his gut twist, maybe she hated him now?
The small supple hand slid from his chin down his throat to rest in the middle of his chest, fingertips barely making contact with the silk shirt. "Lies", came her quiet whisper before the wave of her power washed over him like pebbles pelted at fragile glass. The human guise hiding his true nature slipped away like thin tissue torn asunder in her winds. The business suit slipped away with it, leaving the demon beneath standing in his pale skin and maroon markings before the blue eyed tenshi.
The way her frown dissappeared and faded into a sorrowful smile lightened his heart. His breath caught as she leaned closer to him, her lips almost brushing his. Lost in her eyes, her quiest whisper almost escaped him.
"Would you deny me a third time? Sesshoumaru..."
His heart leapt and he was able to move again. One hand reached up to cup her cheek and his fingers were buried in her hair, the other held onto the smooth skin on her hip.
"Never", he whispered vehemently as he pulled her lips to his.
Their forgotten company stood stunned on the bank behind them. The old man's eyes wide as he trembled and his daughter beside him watched with teary eyes. They were blessed with such a sight by kami. They now knew a true story of love coming across centuries in time, and old magics would never really die.
Sesshoumaru held tight to his Tenshi and never let her go. They spent eternity making up for four-hundred years lost.
~Fin~