Death Only Brings Us Closer! by TaiYoukai

Gruesome Discovery

Death Only Brings Us Closer!

By: Tai_Youkai_Hime

Summary: Okay, here's what I got so far. Kagome discovers the body of a young girl six years after Naraku's demise. Sesshoumaru soon confirms this body as that of the girl that traveled with him, a human girl by the name of Rin. When Sesshoumaru discovers her, he goes basically insane with grief. He needs Kagome to heal him enough to hunt down the killers of the girl he thought of as his daughter.

AN: This is a sort of AU, but isn't. Get me? Probably not. Ok, it takes place after the end of the series. Kagome did NOT return home, but because of the destruction of the well, has to remain in Feudal Era.

DISCLAIMER: As much as I dream of doing so, I do NOT own InuYasha or any of its characters. That honor belongs to Rimuko Takashi. So DO NOT SUE ME!!!! Enjoy the story, as this one is my first to air on A Single Spark. My other stories are on Fanfiction.Net and the Killing Perfection, whenever that sight gets uploaded again. Babye, and review!!!

CHAPTER ONE: Gruesome Discovery

Kagome giggled at the bright sun, forgetting her current problems for just this moment of peace. The sky overhead was clear and she forgot, in this moment of happiness, to scan the area for her own safety. This caused her to come upon the sight unawares.

"Hurry up and butcher the damn thing. Sesshoumaru can not bring it back if it's in pieces."

"Don't ya think that the Western Lord will seek revenge on us for doing this?" Kagome listened closely now, having yet to spot the source of the voices. She knew they were near, so she hid in a crouch by the dead stump of what was once a great tree.

"We will be long gone by then, in the safety of the South. Lord Iakko will protect us unaware of what we did." By now she could here a sickening thud as something was cut up. She cringed lower, unconsciously hiding her scent from prying noses.

When the voices finally disappeared, Kagome crept from her hiding place to where the voices had previously been. What she found caused her to wail in despair. From what she could tell, it had once been a girl, no more than twelve or fourteen. Her wails would soon bring her companions, that much she knew.

It had been six years since the demise of Naraku, the transformation of Kikyo, and the destruction of the well. Kagome had become best friends of the girl that she had tried to take the place of in InuYasha's heart. They, along with Sango, were almost sisters. InuYasha, Kohaku, and Miroku were like her brothers, Shippou like a son. Though they were one big family to her, she wanted someone that could love her with all their heart; someone she could love in return. She wanted a mate.

Kagome screams brought her friends to her side almost immediately from the village in which they all resided. Without even asking, they realized what had distressed the little miko so. The dead body of a girl.

Sango and Kikyo hugged her, shielding her from the sight. InuYasha growled and Miroku gently hugged the now thirteen year old kitsune. Kohaku stood motionless, just gazing at the gore and bloody remains with no emotion, having seen it all before while under the control of Naraku.

"Brother, what is the meaning of this annoying sobbing? I am seeking the help of your little miko." He seemed to not notice the gore that he was not three feet from stepping into, looking only at the sobbing time traveler. He had grown a slight respect for the girl since fighting alongside her when she defeated Naraku all those years ago.

Before InuYasha or any of his friends could retort, Kagome stepped from the fold of her 'sisters' and bowed low in front of him. He returned the bow as payment to her show of respect.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, I am sorry to inform you that this has something to do with you. Not even a half hours time ago, two demons butchered this girl and they mentioned you, the Lord of the South, and the Lord of the South, Lord Iakko. You must have some connection to this girl." She averted her eyes as she pointed at the bloody mess.

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes, before scenting the air. An onslaught of the scent of lilacs and roses hit his senses like an anvil. He collapsed to his knees as tears sprung from his eyes. Kagome looked panic stricken, wondering what could have wounded the stoic demon lord so.

"It is my Rin." He whispered. Kagome was the only one that heard. She dropped to her knees and hugged him to her, feeling his pain as if it were her own.

"KAGOME! What are ya doin? That's Sesshoumaru!!!" InuYasha could be heard dimly through Kagome's pain.

"InuYasha, can't you feel his pain? He obviously cared about that little girl. Something that has happened to all of us at least once has happened to him. We all lost something, and now he lost her, Rin, I believe her name was." She hugged the lord tighter before he remembered who surrounded them. He stood, his face an even more solid blank than before. He turned and whistled in a high pitch. Soon enough a dragon appeared and a toady form hopped off of it.

"Jaken, gather Rin and place her in the silk blanket upon Ah-Un. We shall bury her in her garden at the castle." The toad gasped as he came upon the once annoying girl that followed them, the only one to ever call him Jaken-SAMA. The only one that respected his lord and loved Lord Sesshoumaru as much as he did. Rin.

"Rin?" He choked aloud. He quickly did as his lord bid him and Ah-Un shied away from him until he smelled the familiar scent from the blanket. He howled into the daytime sky, mourning his lost friend. It was obvious that the entire group had loved the girl.

Sesshoumaru began to walk off but Kagome caused him to pause when she placed a hand upon his re-grown arm. "Lord Sesshoumaru, please take care of yourself." He bowed his head once in acknowledgement before continuing his walk in the direction of his kingdom, Ah-Un and Jaken following somewhat dejectedly.

"Kagome, what just happened? Did they actually care for the girl. It kinda seemed like she was a human." Kikyo was beside her the moment they left.

"I think they loved her like a part of their family. I believe that Lord Sesshoumaru thought of her as a daughter, perhaps. And her death will more than likely not go unaveanged." She turned to where the corpse had lain when a sudden memory hit her.

"My Kami." She whispered. InuYasha looked at her questioningly. "Do any of you remember what happened during the battle with Naraku? A little girl was caught in the midst of it and I rushed forward, protecting her when Naraku attempted to kill her with miasma. Do you remember?" All shook their heads except Kikyo.

"Yes, I remember a child with dark brown eyes and hair. What does that have to do with this?"

"I remember hearing Lord Sesshoumaru yell her name. He yelled "RIN!" just as I saved her. He took that child from me and reappeared without her in a few moments. I think the dead girl was that same little girl that I saved." All nodded in understanding, even InuYasha, who looked confused for a moment.

Later that day, Kagome laid a bound bouquet of lilacs in the same spot the child had died. She hefted a pack upon her shoulders and secured the bow on her back. She had left a note to her friends, stating her wish to travel alone for awhile. They would know of her need of freedom. Of all of them, she was the only one to not find the happiness she always bestowed upon others. She was the only one not to find her true love.

Sighing, she walked along the road that she knew headed to a village somewhere in the east. She would find her happiness, she knew that much. Even Sesshoumaru had managed to find some happiness in his life, if only for awhile. The events that day made her realize that she had a chance in the world to be truly happy in her lifetime. Even the girl Rin had somehow done it in her short life. With her spirits high, she headed to what she hoped would unleash the happiness that was sealed in her heart.