Chapter Five

o.O.o

"Is this...everyone?" Kagome asked, considering the group of four standing in front of her. Shippo glanced around and shrugged weakly. Miroku kept the same pleasant smile, looking at her expectantly. Kagura's eyes narrowed from behind an ornate red and white fan, that fluttered every so often in her pale hand. It was difficult to gauge what she thought of the situation. That left Jinenji, who kept his gaze firmly locked on his old shoes. She was glad he'd decided to come, even if he looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.

"No one else wanted to come. I asked Mistress.C, but she said it was too far for her to crawl on her hands." Shippo muttered, crossing his arms.

The young woman blinked. "W-what?"

"As I recall, I offered her a wheelchair once, but she refused. Said she prefers to travel that way." Miroku mused to himself, while Kagome could only stare.

There was a brief moment where the group lapsed into silence. The unnatural quiet in Limbo was disconcerting to say the least, as there were no birds or cars to punctuate the stillness.

"Well, okay then. Um..." Kagome smiled uncertainly, trying to shove her unease deep within the pit of her stomach. It dawned on her heavily as four strangers attention fixed solely on her, that she really had no idea what she was doing. Perhaps it was a good thing it was a smaller group, that way less people would see her embarrass herself.

"First, does anyone have any chairs we could borrow?" She asked, inwardly wincing when Kagura tutted.

"You must have something in that dingy stall, right?" Shippo looked at Miroku, who put his hand over his heart dramatically with a hurt expression.

"Oh, how you wound me, Shippo."

Kagura snapped her fan closed with a sharp click. "To save time, you could always show us how exactly you manage to get hold of those items you trade. Do you conjure them from thin air, or does your great Buddha provide for you?" Her gaze slid over to the dark haired man, who rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling.

"A shopkeeper never reveals his secrets." Miroku's indigo eyes narrowed, even as his smile remained light and gentlemanly. "But I'll make a small exception today, to provide us with some seating."

Miroku stepped forward, raising an arm out and spreading his hand wide towards Kagome. He put his other hand to his forehead, making an exaggerated pose that had her fighting a laugh. "Lady Kagome, I want you to close your eyes. Picture a chair in your mind. Pick one that you find comfortable, or practical, it's completely up to you."

Deciding to obey, Kagome closed her eyes, searching for a reference she could use. When one came to the forefront of her mind, she wondered whether it was from her imagination or memory. She jumped when she felt Miroku's hand on the small of her back, voice close. "Focus on that image, let it consume all thought." He murmured lowly.

Feeling his hand travel lower, her eyes snapped open when it drifted innocently to her backside, giving it a squeeze. A yelp, followed by a sharp smack echoed in the air. Miroku gingerly touched his cheek as it flamed red, laughing in pain.

"Hey! What did I say about keeping your hands to yourself!" Shippo yelled, hands balling into loose fists.

Miroku coughed awkwardly. "So sorry, couldn't resist. Ahem, your chair awaits your generous behind, my lady." He gestured with a flourish, seeming to sweep the whole ordeal under the rug.

Kagome inched away from him distrustfully, turning to find an aged armchair. It was faded red, with a dowdy design obviously valuing comfort over style. Curiously, it was worn and used, with claw marks on the arms that had her smiling gently, without really knowing why.

She watched as he repeated the process for the others, conjuring a small wooden stool for Jinenji. Miroku winced, and asked if he wanted a different one, but the farmer looked quite content as he perched on the tiny seat.

An expensive, antique piece of furniture appeared out of thin air for Kagura. When asked what it was, she sneered at them for their ignorance. "A chaise lounge, obviously."

"This is supposed to be a discussion, not a therapy session." Miroku sighed lightly, shaking his head.

Shippo's came next, but when they lay eyes on it, an uncomfortable silence fell over the group. His seat was little more than a flat cardboard box. He lowered himself until he was sitting cross legged on it, like a familiar mat. He looked expectantly at them to continue, and Miroku did so without a word.

For his own seat, Miroku gained a black leather swivel chair, that looked as if it'd been used for business or office work.

While the group arranged the chairs into a circle, Jinenji shuffled over to Kagome's side. "Do you...like cats, miss Kagome?" He asked shyly, gazing at her worn armrests.

"Maybe I used to own one, but I don't..." she strained to remember something. Images of cats flitted through her mind, but she was at a loss to know the truth.

"As much as we're enjoying your riveting conversation, can we get started?" A sharp voice spoke up. Kagura flicked her fan open once more and hid her expression. Her narrowed eyes spoke volumes though, and Kagome's spine straightened.

"Yeah, sure." She quickly lowered herself into her plush seat, catching sight of the tree that stood around 20 meters behind them. Sesshoumaru dozed under the lightly swaying branches, eyes closed.

Despite having no proof, she had a feeling that he was listening intently. Deciding not to disturb him, Kagome faced the group, clearing her throat.

"Alright then, since we all know each others names, we can just skip the introductions. Instead, we can start with something simple. Like how long we've all been in Limbo."

The group glanced at each other, waiting for someone to begin. When no reply came, Kagome smiled weakly. "Okay so this isn't the best example but, um, I guess I've been here..." She counted off her fingers, trying to recall how many hours she'd spent wandering in the fog before finding Miroku, and climbing the scrapheap. Combining that with how much time she and Shippo had spent chatting, and how long she'd waited for them to arrive, it had been...

"Around 12 hours."

An undignified burst of laughter met her response. Kagura quickly silenced herself, fan fluttering wildly in her hand. "So why exactly are you complaining?There are plenty who have been here for whats estimated to be decades. And yet you've called us here, expecting an easy way out. How naive are you?" The fan lowered, to reveal painted red lips turned down into a sneer.

Kagome's fingers clenched."It's not like that, I never expected to be able to leave easily. I just wanted to talk..."

"Why would you wish to leave so desperately, when you've barely been here a day! Many have made this place a home and settled. How do you know Limbo isn't somewhere where you could exist happily?" The elegant woman's expressions were indecipherable, but her eyes blazed with a cold fury that Kagome couldn't understand.

"Wha- do you like having no memory or something? Of course I want to leave! My time here might have been short, but so far I've seen wild children beat a defenseless man, and a woman running for her life with a gun. Miroku himself said that people turn mad here. Sounds like a great place to live." She muttered sarcastically, hands digging into the arm rests.

"Those people are weak fools, unable to adapt. That's why they're often targeted by mere children."

Jinenji flinched in his seat, while Shippo's expression grew dark.

Miroku looked between the two women, raising hand an smoothly interjecting. "Now, now ladies, remember why we're here."

A hush fell over them, the stifling tension that had Jinenji hunching his shoulders slowly diffused into the air. The peacemaker shifted forward, his tone conversational and easy, despite the heaviness in his eyes. "This woman with a gun, could you describe her to me?"

After briefly listing her qualities of brunette hair, pulled up into a ponytail, coupled with fierce brown eyes, Kagome watched as he leaned back in his seat, steepling his fingers.

"Is she someone you know?" She asked, curious. An air of seriousness had seeped into his form, shifting his usual persona into something almost unrecognizable.

Kagura watched Miroku intently, and something passed unseen between them when he met her gaze.

"As I was saying, many of us have been here decades. I myself, have been here longer than all of you." The elegant woman spoke up, daring anyone to comment on the change of subject with a sharp glint in her eye. Kagome sat back in her seat, at a loss what to react to first. Deciding that whatever business they had with the armed woman was their own, she focused on the new information offered.

"R-really?" She chocked, in time with Shippo's snort.

The boy shifted forward on crossed legs, looking towards the tree. "Sesshoumaru is part of our group, right? He's been here longer than anyone in Limbo. Wouldn't be surprised if he's been sleeping there since the very start."

Miroku nodded dazedly, before the solemn demeanor melted away so quickly that it gave Kagome whiplash. "Yes, and as I recall Shippo, you'd only been here a short while before I arrived." He said with light grin.

All attention then focused on the large man balancing precariously on the wooden stool. His wide blue eyes quickly glanced away, before he scratched his cheek self-consciously. "I-I haven't kept track of my time, b-but I-I think it's more than Miss Kagura."

Since the sky seemed constantly unchanging, and time seemed to have no place in Limbo, Kagome couldn't blame them for not knowing. Noticing that he seemed uncomfortable, Kagome decided to shift the attention away from Jinenji.

"Alright so, did you guys want to discuss any information or memories next?" She blurted, and winced, wishing she'd been more tactful.

This time it was Shippo who spoke up. "I only remember bits and pieces of stuff. I'm pretty sure I had a Father, but I can't see his face clearly, there's just..."

"Vague fragments, like the distant sound of their voice, or a hint of their smell." Kagura finished gently, lost in her own world. Shippo nodded uncertainly, stunned to see a brief flash of vulnerability on her face, before Kagura straightened and acted like she hadn't spoken.

The young boy frowned to himself. "How do you think we can get anywhere with the small bits of memory we have though, Kagome?" He questioned, looking small and young as he sat on his flattened cardboard.

Kagome's hands came together in her lap, and she thought back a few hours. "I'm kind of going off a theory." She murmured, gathering her words. "It's like a domino effect. I share one story, and it triggers you to remember something similar in your past. Then it continues on from person to person. I got the idea from Jinenji when he talked about his mother earlier."

He raised wide eyes to hers, and she smiled encouragingly. "Something about the way you described her watching you from the porch made me see someone. I think maybe she was my mother. If we all share our memories, maybe it'll spark something within ourselves."

"I'm not one for sharing memories with strangers." Kagura rose smoothly from her seat, fan clenched tightly as she adjusted her beautiful kimono. Her face was wiped clean of emotion.

Miroku's brows pulled together as he raised his hand in a placating gesture. "Kagura, you came here for a reason. It wouldn't hurt to try-"

She laughed shortly. "This girl uses those words so often; 'Try' and 'Maybe.' I participated in this farce because I expected someone who had gathered evidence based on their experiences here, something concrete." Her steady, intense eyes fell on Kagome, who met her gaze calmly. "I will not waste any more time on you." The woman uttered, before turning and walking off into the awaiting gloom.

"Wait, Kagura-" Miroku quickly stood, looking at the group apologetically. "She comes off as a little...abrasive, but give her some time. I'm sure we'll return if you set up another meeting in the future."

Kagome nodded. "Okay..."

The man smiled charmingly, before hurrying after Kagura's retreating figure.

"I guess that's that." Shippo rubbed his head, sharing a look with Kagome, who just smiled and lifted a shoulder.

"It could've gone worse." She said, hiding her disappointment.

The boy shifted, straightening into a stand and rubbing his eye. "I'm gonna go home now, kinda tired." He muttered, causing Kagome to lean forward in her seat.

"Wait- are you coming back? We can try again later like Miroku said."

Jinenji followed suit, standing from his seat and gingerly touching his bandage, as if assuring himself about something. He watched as Shippo nodded. "Sure, lets just wait for some word from them first. I mean is there any point to holding a meeting with just the three of us?" With that said, the boy turned, telling Kagome that she could join him up the scrapheap whenever she liked.

With his absence, Jinenji turned to Kagome, his voice slightly stronger now that the others had left them alone.

"Is the Demon not part of our group?" He asked, sincerely grateful when the ethereal yet terrifying man beneath the tree didn't stir at his words.

Kagome sighed, looking over at the pale tree. "No. I hoped he'd join in, Sesshoumaru would definitely be the experienced person Kagura was talking about."

Wanting to touch her shoulder in a friendly gesture, as she had for him earlier, Jinenji slowly lifted his bulky arm. His hand locked still however, when an ugly rush of emotion overwhelmed him, and in the end, he lowered it once more, offering a quiet: "Please be happy, Miss Kagome. I think it went well."

Kagome smiled in gratitude. "Thanks Jinenji."

"Interesting, isn't she?"

Kagura made a noise of derision as she picked up the pace, as if trying to leave the cryptic man behind. "If by 'interesting' you mean bratty, naive and spoiled." Shaking her head, she missed the way Miroku's eyes gentled. "She's so out of depth that it's laughable."

"Remind you of anyone?" His smile wilted at the sharp glare she sent him, yet he continued talking with a shrug. "From what you've told me, it sounds as if you were just as enthusiastic about leaving when first coming here."

Kagura narrowed her eyes, looking up at the cloudless, unchanging sky, the same sight that had greeted her every day. "That quickly changed. She should wake up and face reality. No one was here to guide us, or answer our questions, why should she get the royal treatment?"

Miroku smiled to himself as he walked. "I seem to recall a quote from Hermann Hesse that said; If you hate a person, you hate something in him that is part of yourself. What isn't part of ourselves doesn't disturb us."

He grit his teeth as the fan in her hand jabbed into his ribs, digging in. Gritting out an apology, he rubbed his side, frowning at Kagura's back as she walked on. She always hated it when he assumed a philosophical approach to things.

"What are you going to do about her?" She asked quietly, slowing her pace so that he could catch up.

Miroku hummed noncommittally as the woman flattened the fan in her palm and slipped it up her sleeve. "You must be kicking yourself about just missing her, after searching for so long. And Kagome just happened to stumble upon her accidentally, oh how frustrating." Ruby lips tilted up mockingly, the bite in her words not having the desired effect.

"Unlike some people, dear Kagura, my cage isn't so easily rattled. I'll happen upon her myself, eventually."

Kagura glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "Don't hold your breath. How many years have you both been here again? Poor little monk. It's almost romantic, you chasing after her so desperately."

Though his stride barely changed, the confident smile on his face faltered. "Believe me, nothing about my history with that woman is romantic. I can only pray that she's fortunate enough not to remember it."

Left alone to her thoughts was not where Kagome wanted to be, because thinking meant analyzing her situation. This usually led straight to distress, and beyond that was unknown because Kagome had never gotten that far before shutting off those dark thoughts and replacing them with a big 'Escape from Limbo' sign.

Organizing the group gave her a distraction, a purpose she accepted wholeheartedly to keep those thoughts at bay. Countless days waiting without purpose felt like a terrifying concept.

Since the reality of her death was something she had to face though, Kagome stubbornly paced back and forth on the shore she'd washed up on. She spent what felt like a whole day thinking of anything but her death. She wondered what had happened to Shippo when he was alive, or how Jinenji had gotten his scars. Unable to mark the passage of time, she didn't know exactly how long she spent on that beach. Distracting herself further, she walked back to the chairs left behind by the group, and glanced around.

With no one watching, she eased herself down onto Kagura's chaise lounge, putting her feet up. Satisfaction instantly flooded her as she touched the soft, rich material. It was the kind of chair that definitely made someone feel important.

After sampling the chair, she gravitated to Miroku's, and spent an endless amount of time sprawled back into the leather, keeping one leg out to push herself off the ground and into a spin. The chair spun around and around, blurring the murky colors of the surroundings into one, and sending her heart into a stuttering thud. Kagome's fingers tightened on the armrests, blank eyes unreflective as her mind shut off, free of pain and worry.

Her heart gave a handful more beats, before falling silent.

At first, Kagome didn't notice. The silence wore on, uninterrupted. But then it stretched out, and she noticed the comforting lull of a heartbeat had became strangely absent.

Her hands clutched at her chest, slow touches turning frantic as she felt for a dull thud, for any whisper of life. But nothing answered her desperate plea.

"N-no...please, no!" Hot tears stung her eyes.

The absence crushed her, until she felt as if she were struggling for air, clawing against a heavily weight that burned her lungs. It felt terrifyingly familiar. Water spilled between clenched teeth, making her choke and writhe, mind screaming, crying-

"Woman."

Kagome's eyes snapped open, breathing erratic as the chair came to a sudden stop. She felt sweat clinging to her forehead. She rose a shaking hand to her face. That toneless voice called out softly once more, and dazed eyes slid up, finding Sesshoumaru standing over her. She felt small, fragile, and so entirely unlike herself it was jarring.

One of his hands was locked onto the armrest, as if holding it in place. Gold eyes regarded her as she stared up at him. "S-sesshoumaru..."

"Your pointless spinning was grating on my nerves." He said simply, as if to explain his presence. What Kagome couldn't understand though, was why he lingered, watching dispassionately as she tried to piece herself back together.

"Sesshoumaru...y-you can hear my heartbeat, can't you?" The words tumbled from her mouth without thought, mind still spinning somewhere beneath the surface of pitch black water. "You're an Inuyokai, y-you must have great hearing, hey-"

She quickly drew her knees up onto the chair, raising herself to look him in the eye. "Tell me, please. Can you hear it?"

Kagome sought his blank gaze desperately for affirmation, but his words were clipped and short, free of assurances or real answers. "You can hear your heart, if you wish to." Before she could question his meaning, that dark and stifling presence within him seeped out, making her shiver anew. "In Limbo, it is possible to dream and not create a hole in your reality by being absent from it, as you would before in Life. The dream can be your reality here. It can be a place free of pain and suffering."

Sesshoumaru was neither contemptuous of her weakness or consoling, he simply spoke as if all traces of her vulnerability weren't staring him in the face. Kagome wanted empathy, needed, no-craved it. But she locked that desire deep enough to never surface.

"Is that what you did? That's why you sleep all day?"

He said nothing, and she sank in her seat, one hand pressed painfully hard against her chest. "I-I don't know if that's the right thing to do."

She needed to accept her death, otherwise it would be as he said. Free of pain, yes, but stagnant, devoid of meaning. Besides that, hadn't she promised him to try-

"Whether it is right or wrong, I do not know, nor care. Those concepts belong to the old world. They do not exist here."

She dried her eyes and hardened her features, but he sensed her weakness, lurking paper thin beneath her expression. "What I do know, is that this one would not judge or disrupt you from that dream, if you chose it."

Kagome flinched violently, raising wide eyes to his. She had disrupted him, several times.

They stayed frozen, trapped in their own thoughts for a time. When Sesshoumaru suddenly turned on his heel, she looked up at him questioningly. "Your friend, the large one... he is close." He said, pausing to delicately inhale. "I scent blood in the air."

"W-what! Jinenji!" She was out of her seat in an instant, rounding on Sesshoumaru with a fierceness that took him off guard. "Where is he? Please Sesshoumaru, I need to see if he's alright." What if those kids came back?

The demon raised a hand, pointing wordlessly to the West. Kagome didn't hesitate, she was running faster than he could blink, throwing words of thanks over her shoulder and disappearing into the mists. He heard her footsteps gradually fade, and closed harrowed eyes, releasing a dusty sigh.

A heartbeat thundered in her chest.

Kagome ran just as she had before, pouring every ounce of her being into pushing herself faster. The image of Jinenji's wide blue eyes and gentle hands being beaten under steel pipes and make-shift spears propelled her forward.

Her body sang with the motion, blood pumping, heart hammering. Alive, alive, alive- it roared, drowning out all other thought.

Kagome's pace stuttered and she nearly tripped before righting herself as Jinenji came into view. She cried his name, and came to a panting stop, her breath hitching when the person standing in front of him turned towards her.

"You again..." Kagome breathed, looking into the wild, distrusting eyes of the armed woman.

ooo