Whispered Dreams by Youkai Yume

To Fade Away

* Whispered Dreams *

By: Youkai Yume

Yume: Oi! I'm back with another Sess/Kag fic! I know I should be writing in other categories, but. . .

CF: Yume couldn't 'cuz CF made you put it HERE! Muahahahaha!

Yume: (rolls eyes) If you haven't already met her, this is Clever Falcon, my new muse. She sure works fast! I got this inspiration on the day that she arrived!

CF: (puffs out chest and is dressed in a superhero outfit) Yup, yup! CF to the rescue! Vanquishing writer's block everywhere! No need to thank me! CF will work for chocolate!

Yume: Hushies! It's time for the fic! This is AU by the way. This was actually an idea originally planned for a manga that I was going to create. But the plot and characters fit into this, so I decided to give it a shot!

CF: Don't forget to read and review, no flames pweeze! ^_^ Kap-king!

Disclaimer: not mine, and never will be.

Chapter 1: To Fade Away

Sesshomaru ran. He wanted to get as far away from them as possible, away from this pain, this lonely agony and feeling of emptiness. He didn't understand it, and he didn't want to. Everything happened so quickly. One day he was happy and safe in his mother's embrace, the next day she's ripped away from him. Gone into the next world and leaving him all alone with his father.

His father. . .he acted like he didn't even care. It was almost as if his mother didn't even exist, the way his father took her death. No, his father probably didn't even love her anyway. Not long after the loss of his mate, he went and got himself a new mate---a human mate! But that wasn't what made his blood boil in anger and confusion now.

It was the fact that his father threw away the memory of his mother like it was yesterday's news. Was he really that disgraceful? Or was this simply his way of grieving? His means of escaping the pain? Could it be that deep down, hidden beneath that Taiyoukai that spread terror across the Western Lands, was just a lost, sad demon who's just trying to cover up his weak emotions?

Sesshomaru's eyes began to burn as the tears began to well up in them. Still running blindly through the forest, he closed his eyes tightly shut as his tears slipped from his twin orbs and left a burning trail down his cheeks. No, he couldn't believe it. Someone who so carelessly tossed his mother aside could not possibly be his father, could not possibly feel.

'He's not my father, MY father loved mother,' Sesshomaru thought bitterly. Sadly, the child of a demon knew, knew that his real father died with the memory of his mother. His legs became heavy and tired, and Sesshomaru wanted to just let his legs give way and fall onto the soft grass. Staying infinitely still as if nothing else mattered.

Despite his growing fatigue, he kept running. It was if his instincts were telling him that if he were to stop, his fears and troubles would catch up to him. 'Just keep running a little farther,' it said, 'When you reach your destination, THAT is where you'll find peace.' But just where was his destination? Where was he running to?

It was then that he came to a clearing. But there was something unusual about it. . .in the middle of the clearing was an old well, and now and then fallen leaves would flutter across or in the well's mouth. Little fireflies flickered in a calming manner around the area, and as Sesshomaru took a step closer into his surroundings, the lights flickered brighter, as if telling him he had indeed reached his destination.

Catching his breath, the little demon prince walked over to where the well was situated, and looked down into the dark, seemingly bottom pit. 'Just like my soul. . .' his melancholy voice echoed in his mind.

"Mother. . .why did you have to go? Why did you leave me all alone?" He softly whispered, and the tears came again. One by one they fell from his golden eyes, rolled down his flushed cheeks, and dripped soundlessly into the well. Falling to his knees, Sesshomaru buries his face into his folded arms, propped up on the well's lip. Letting all of his pain and sorrow spill forth in this one moment. Why not? It'll be the last time he'll do so anyway.

"I don't want to live if you're not with me, mother! There is nothing left for me. . ."

"Of course there's something left for you," Sesshomaru's head snapped up at the sound of the soft, melodic voice that whispered in his ear. Turning around, he saw a human girl about six, seven years older than himself sitting on the opposite side of the well, smiling at him. Her midnight locks swayed in the gentle wind, her sapphire orbs glittering beautifully in the dark night. "There's always something for you to live for."

Glaring at her, he rubbed furiously at his last tears, sending her a cold glare.

"What do you want, human?" He bit out at her, angry at himself for allowing a ningen to see him in such a state, and angry at her for being here to mock him in his moment of sadness. She was even sitting there with that blasted smile upon her face.

She only continued to stare at him, and after a while, she reached out a hand to stroke his silver bangs. Sesshomaru drew back as if he was scorched with fire, and edged away from the girl, glaring at her. Her eyes widened with surprise for a moment before softening. She reached out once again, this time touching his face. This caused Sesshomaru to flinch, but he did not withdraw like last time.

Smiling, she caressed his soft skin, and the young demon prince found himself leaning into her touch. He felt her fingers trace his magenta stripes, and then went over to his tear stains. His glaring gaze softened, but he refused to look at the girl. He felt her shift as she moved closer to him, and her hand moved down to his chin, lifting his gaze to meet hers.

That was when he was able to truly look at her eyes for the first time. She had the most beautiful shade of sapphire he had ever seen, and he saw that they weren't mocking him like he first perceived, but shining with sympathy.

"Why were you crying?" She asked gently. Lost in her blue pools of kindness, Sesshomaru suddenly wanted her to know. Maybe someone else knew of his pain, and that he did not have to bear it alone. . .He mentally shook himself. She was a complete stranger, one that he had barely met. How could he possibly feel any trust towards her? Although his mind held back the urge to reveal his reasons, his mouth had already begun to spill out the truth.

"Mother," he started. "She. . .she left me. . ." The girl looked at him softly, her tender caress never leaving his cheek.

"I'm sure she'll come back for you sweetie," she answered in a soft voice. Sesshomaru would've bitten her for calling him such a thing, but the emotions that welled inside his chest once more overrode any other thoughts.

"No," his voice became cracked with sorrow, and his vision became blurry with new tears, "She's not coming back. . .ever." The girl's sapphire orbs stared at him for a moment before widening in realization. As the demon child's body began to shake with his sobs, she wiped the tears that fell from his golden depths.

Sesshomaru could feel her wrap her arms around his body, drawing him into her own warmth in a comforting embrace. He turned his head up to look at her with shocked eyes.

"Shhhhh," she soothed, "I'm sure it was difficult for her to leave you, and that if she had a choice in the matter, she would not have. . ." Sesshomaru didn't even push her or her words away. He was hungry for affection, comfort---any kind of comfort, that he welcomed this with open arms.

Slowly and hesitantly, he wrapped his small arms around her torso as well, burying his face into her chest and cried. His hot tears soaked through her midnight blue kimono, but she did not seem to mind as she only held him closer.

"I wish I could join her. . .I don't want to stay here. . .I just want to fade away," Sesshomaru said in a defeated voice. The girl's fingers went to run themselves through his silver mane in a soothing manner.

"Why would you want to do that? Don't you think people will miss you?" She asked, one of her fingers rubbing behind his ears. The little demon prince shuddered at the pleasing contact, but he proceeded to answer her.

"The only person who'd ever miss me is my mother, and she's gone."

"What about your father?" His grip upon the girl's kimono tightened as he narrowed his eyes in anger.

"My father. . ." he spat, "He doesn't care about me or mother. He went out and got himself another mate as soon as she was gone! He wouldn't care what happened to me. . ." His words were bitter, and drenched in such a deep loathing that it surprised her.

"I'm sure that's not true, little one. He probably just doesn't want to show that he's grieving. You're his son, he could never forget about you." She saw him shake his head.

"He could, and he has. A human mate! He got himself a human mate!" Sesshomaru growled. "Out of all the disgusting, vile things!" He felt the girl stiffen as he said this, and her soothing strokes on his hair and ears ceased.

"Do you really hate humans that much?" He remained silent. "I'm human, do you hate me?"

Being so close to her now, the young Sesshomaru was able to inhale her scent. His nose was teased with the sweet smell of orchids and vanilla, and the child instinctively buried his nose deeper to get more of the pleasant scent. His golden eyes widened when he realized something. She wasn't human. Her scent held no sign of the ningen blood. . .

Pulling back a little, he stared up into her face once more. She looked human. . .but. . .

"But you're not a human," She stared at him affectionately with her sapphire eyes and smiled at him. It was all he could do to just stare back.

"Kagome."

He blinked, confused as she continued to give him her damning smile that soothed his soul.

"What?" The girl looked up at the full moon that hung above them and ran her fingers through his silky hair once more.

"Kagome. That's my name, silly." He narrowed his eyes at her a while watching as her smile grew wider. Soon, he couldn't help himself but smile as well, and then a small chuckle escaped his lips. She giggled as well, and pretty soon they were both laughing, at what they weren't sure.

"That's better," The girl named Kagome said, and he looked up brightly at her. "I like it a lot better when you smile. Such a sweet child like you shouldn't have to cry." He couldn't help but smile when he heard this. It was amazing how this unusual girl is able to make him forget about his pain and loneliness---if only for a minute. There was something different about her.

"I'm Sesshomaru," He said, causing the girl's eyes to sparkle with delight.

"Sesshomaru? Aren't you the demon prince of the Western Lands?" His smile vanished, and he nodded. Kagome tilted her head to the side, her ebony tresses falling over her shoulder. "Do you still hate your father?" He nodded again. She sighed. "Well then, Sesshomaru-sama," she added the suffix, causing him to wrinkle his nose at the title. "Do you still plan on fading away?"

The little demon prince furrowed his eyebrows together in thought. Kagome waited patiently for him to answer.

"Maybe," he decided on saying. She shook her head in an almost amused way and stood up from her position. Sesshomaru saw her to be at least three heads taller than himself. Kagome placed her hands on his shoulders, drawing him into her embrace once more.

"Whatever you decide to do, Prince Sesshomaru, just know that you are lucky to be alive. I didn't realize it until it was too late." He looked up confusedly into her face, only to find that she was still smiling at him. Except this time, her eyes held a look of deep longing and regret. "Go home and think about it, 'kay?"

With that, she turned him around and pushed him in the direction that he came. As if his legs had a mind of it's own, he continued walking back to his domain. He couldn't help but steal a glance back at the clearing where the girl still sat on the well's rim, looking up at the pale, full moon in deep thought and possibly sadness.

Turning away from the scene and entering the forest deeper, he could hear a soft melody floating hauntingly into the night air. And Sesshomaru knew that it was Kagome who was singing her song, silently filling just a little piece of his empty soul.

* End Chapter *

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