This Celluloid Dream by Galadrihm_Star

This Celluloid Dream

Disclaimer: I do not, in any way what so ever, own InuYasha or any of its related characters. This story is my own; I am simply using the characters for my own purpose. Enjoy.

This is just a little thing I decided to write out of nowhere. It's not going to be a full-blown story, just some sad little side-story. No lemon here, kids. Just drama!

Soft footsteps fell against the rise of the dusty breeze as the sun began to rise. Poisonous clouds drifted and faded as the purples of the sky faded to pink. The world was alive still, yet death lingered and in her presence silence fell. Birds began to chirp once more as sunlight tipped the damaged treetops. Two bright eyes followed the sounds of the feathered survivors to the broken breaths that rose from a hunched form beneath the jagged shade of a near-shattered oak. Tilting his head in curiosity – the only outward sign of thought he ever usually gave, the demon continued on his path through the broken ground and pools of bloodied mud.

A startled gasp rose behind him and he lifted a hand to signal that his followers remain where they were and continue no further. The young girl and toad demon stilled at his silent command, both fighting the urge to run from the horrific scene before them. Sensing their discomfort, the demon's voice rose above the silence surrounding them.

"Jaken."

"Yes, my lord?" The toad eagerly stepped forward, his eyes still trying to avoid a full glance of the mutilated corpses around him.

"This is no place for Rin. See to it that she is taken somewhere safe until I come for you both." With a quick bow, the toad took hold of the two-headed dragon the girl sat upon and together they disappeared into the forest again.

Snowy hair fluttered lightly as the said demon turned his head slowly to take in the carnage around him. At his feet lay the Slayer and Monk, the man's form covering the woman's smaller form; both had been flung violently away from the burnt center of the field only to land on one of the splintered trees nearby. 'Naraku...' Was the only logical thought that passed fleetingly through Sesshomaru's mind. 'Or what's left of him.' The heavy blanket of darkness that had fallen over this land was finally dissipating. Naraku, the puzzle of demons that had risen to kill and break all, was finally dead.

To his right lay the Neko, the Slayer's deceased brother, and Naraku's two fledglings. Kagura lay across Kana; a single gash through her torso, yet a tiny smirk remained on the painted lips. She had died protecting her sister from her master it seemed. Gold eyes narrowed as the sight of his half-brother came to him; the half-breed had been cut in half, yet his hand still held the hard, cold one of the dead priestess. The one known as Kikyo had been shattered, and the wind still caught bits of the earth she employed for a body. Despite his disgust for the whelps choice of language and living habits, the demon had once hoped he would be the one to educate or eradicate his only sibling. It was his right after all.

With another quick glance around him he could see the signs that this had been their camp. The coward, Naraku, and attacked in the early morning hours as they slept. While it had been thought that as a group they would all seek the vile creature out, but non-thought that the beast they sought would attack so soon. Another pained gasp for air filled his ears as the smell of blood freshened. Barely nodding his head in silent farewell, Sesshomaru turned from his lost sibling to approach the tree and the dying woman at its base. The girl leaned against the blackened trunk of the tree, her glassy, doe eyes gazed out towards the rising sun. If she knew he was there, she gave no sign of acknowledgement be it fear or otherwise.

Once creamy legs not sported large gashes, coated in rock and earth. The strange green and white clothing she usually donned was torn and colored with her blood, both old and new. A large wound leading from her right shoulder to left hip released small streams of her ruby blood as she continued to fight for breaths. Small leaves and bits of grass clung to her mud-streaked hair. Sesshomaru noted with a touch of approval that she did not scream or groan weakly in pain. Dirty paths lined her cheeks were her silent tears had fallen. No tears fell now... the girl – his mind racked itself to recall her name, and he nodded mentally when he felt it echo through his thoughts. Kagome. Yes, that was her name.

A thin trail of red now slid from her pale, but pleasantly firm lips. Her breath hitched momentarily, causing the musing demon to wonder if the girl had passed. A quick check with his hearing confirmed her heart had not stopped its determined, yet doomed beating. His lips thinned slightly in the knowledge that her time was near. His eyes roamed the various wounds and rested on her scarred hands. In purifying the vermin, Naraku, she had burned her own hands.

Between the damaged digits of one hand, the Shikon lay whole, pure, and quiet. A snort of annoyance rose from Sesshomaru's throat as he narrowed his gaze on the tiny jewel. So much death and destruction over such a tiny thing, and evil followed it no matter who had it in their possession. No matter how much chaos it caused, there was always someone who wanted the damnable thing!

Beneath the palm of her other damaged hand lay the corpse of the kitsune the Miko had adopted as her own. He lay as if sleeping but Sesshomaru knew better with a quick sniff and listen. The fox had no blood about him, but the demon suspected that the fatal injury lay within the fox's neck due to its unusual angle and great deal of bruising. Nearing the pair he let his eyes fall on the Miko once again.

"Miko." Sesshomaru's low voice floated above the dying woman and he frowned lightly as her eyelids fluttered shut for a fleeting moment. Standing at her side he waited for her to acknowledge his presence, not very surprised when it took a few moments for her to turn his gaze to him.

"L-Lord...Ses-Sesshoma..." Kagome's eyes fluttered again and she slowly licked her lips. The taste of copper filled her mouth once more as she fought to speak. Offering a weak smile in apology for her silence, the miko's head fell back against the tree once more. Sesshomaru easily dropped to one knee, his one hand resting upon his knee as he continued to wait for her reply.

"He...surprised us." A sad laugh escaped her reddening lips, but soon slowed to a small sob. "That bastard killed my Shippo. H-He took Sango and Miroku and I knew.... I knew he was pla-playing with us. Your brother was distracted when Naraku killed Kikyo and ne-never saw...the attack coming." Another shuddering breath reminded Sesshomaru of her weakening condition and he raised a hand to silence her. Smiling gently, Kagome complied, a small part of her feeling relieved at not having to speak anymore.

"You destroyed the half-breed." The statement was received with a small nod. "How did you sustain these wounds?"

"In order to...to get close enough to finish him, I-I had to make him think I was giving up." Kagome whispered as she turned her darkening gaze back to the sunrise.

"Hn."

Sesshomaru wondered how she was able to contain her fear of her impending doom. The whole while he had been at the site Tenseiga had not pulsed once, or sent any other sign of use. He could send her off to the next world with false hope of bringing her back, but something deep within himself told him that the miko would not wish for any comforting of that sort. The wind shifted again and the smell of death and acceptance rose around him. The girl, Kagome, had accepted her fate. Sesshomaru's eyebrows rose slightly in new respect of the girl's instinct to die a warrior. Unlike so many of her species she held the true soul and spirit of a warrior; if she had been born a demoness, she would have made a fearsome mate. For a human she was an enigma and a welcome puzzle to his rather bland world. She fought with honor and courage unequaled by any he had ever witnessed. An unusual tightening of his chest took him as Kagome shivered and paled against the morning light. Somewhere along the line, he had actually begun to respect the wench. Once again the notion to let her die with some hope of revival entered his mind.

"Don't." The woman next to him grunted lightly. At his slightly confused expression she continued, the small smile never leaving her lips. "I know I can't come back...so please don't tell me otherwise. I'm ready to die...ready to sleep." Tears began to well in the depths of her chocolate eyes, but they never fell. "The well has closed, and without the others it would be pointless to stay. P-Perhaps..." She coughed deeply and groaned lowly as more blood appeared on her lips and chin. "...we will all meet again. Someday."

Sesshomaru almost snorted at the notion, but couldn't help but wonder at the possibility. Maybe, someday, he would meet this woman in a world that wasn't of his own. Shaking his head lightly, he focused on the miko and a sudden flash of pain left her gasping and shutting her eyes in an effort to fight it. Kagome relaxed as the pain passed and set her gaze on the handsome demon at her side. Despite how little she knew about him, that never stopped her from wondering if things had been different, could they have been friends? Could they have been more? Sesshomaru was always so mysterious, and obviously not a complete monster thanks to Rin. Who know what might have been... Realizing that she had been staring, Kagome slowly turned away. The miko was oblivious to the fact she was receiving the exact same stare from the demon. Her mind began to wander as the sensation in her legs and lower torso began to fade and her vision swam.

"So this is it..." Kagome whispered to no one in particular.

"Do you fear your death now?" Sesshomaru inquired, his eyes never leaving her face. He smiled grimly as the miko shook her head 'no'.

Her chest tightened and blood rose in her throat as she fought for air. Very soon now...so very very soon. 'InuYasha...Shippo....Sango...Miroku...' The earth beneath her began to sway and spin. A sudden pressure to on the hand wrapped around the Shikon forced her to look towards Sesshomaru; confusion and surprise evident on her face. Wrapped around her own burnt hand was the large, striped one of Sesshomaru. As she searched his face, she could not find a word to fit the emotion that now surfaced in the usual cold depths of his eyes. Slowly, the demon shifted so that he now sat at her side, his own back against the tree.

"W-Why?" Kagome croaked weakly as darkness began to take her sight. All that remained in focus was his face.

"You, Miko, have earned the right to die with honor. I will stay until you pass and you will know that you are not alone and will be remembered." His voice rose only slightly, as if he, himself, were unsure of his own words.

Kagome couldn't stop the whimper of relief or the hot tears that followed. Again the pain came and she knew this would be it. Gasping loudly, she turned to address the demon at her side.

"Th-Thank you, S-Seshomaru..." With what strength she could muster she smiled brightly at him, and received a small smile and a firm nod in return. "Take the Shikon. I'm s-sorry but I cannot dispose of it properly. Perhaps, as a leader and lord, you will find the answer. F-Forgive me for burdening you w-with this, but I fear there is no other way. Farewell."

"Out of respect, I shall do as you ask. Farewell..." Sesshomaru watched in a saddened anticipation as Kagome's eyes slowly closed for the last time, her body bucking one last time in its agony before going limp. A tiny sigh escaped Kagome's lips as her heart took its last beat. "...Lady Kagome."

Sesshomaru bowed his head before the woman before standing, letting his hand linger over hers a bit longer than necessary before releasing his grasp on it. Turning to the others he began to blast bits of land to use as graves, quickly burying the others before turning to Kagome once more. Placing the jewel in a pouch at his side, he gingerly scooped the woman up into his arm before leaving the clearing. A quick sprint through the forest and passed the village brought him to his ultimate goal.

Stepping to the bone-eater's well, Sesshomaru looked over the ledge and into the dark. So many times the woman in his arms had sprung up out of this well from thin air. It wasn't until much later he had learned that this well had proved to be a portal in which Kagome could travel between his time and her own. Birds still sang around him as he looked down once more upon her face; finally peaceful after so much toil and pain. Not knowing why he suddenly leapt into the dark, but no blue light reached up for him. Indeed...it had closed. Leaping out of the well, he approached the tree where, unbeknownst to him, the whole story began. Setting Kagome down, he began to dig a grave for the strange girl from the future. Once he was satisfied, he placed her in the damp earth and began to cover it. Toeing the soil into place, he stopped to look over his handiwork. He would return later with a stone for it and flowers from Rin. The girl would be saddened to hear of the Miko's death.

Turning from the well, a final thought gave him reason to pause. Perhaps they would meet again...somewhere. Nodding briefly to himself, Sesshomaru allowed himself on last smile before setting out to gather his pack.

"Farewell, Kagome. I hope we do meet again be it this life or the next."

-*Back through the well-*

Hitomi groaned as she stood to gently rub out the aching pain in her back. The summer weeds were vicious this year, but she wasn't going to go down without a fight this time. Pausing to wipe her brow, a small flash of light against stone caught her eye. With a curious glance and the dropping of her tools, she slowly turned and walked toward the Tree that had stood proud for so many centuries. Fondly running a hand over the rough bark, her eye landed on a doormat-sized stone lying only a few feet away. Except for a small corner the stone had been overrun by grass and a tree-root had wound about it in a comforting embrace.

"Strange..." Hitome had never seen this stone here before and before she could stop herself, she began to clear away what grass she could. A final brush with her hand to clear the grime left her gasping and fighting back hot tears. Her heart rose and fell within her tightening chest before finally breaking.

The stone was smooth as glass and had held its shine over the many, many years. The small, delicate carvings were now as clear as day as the sun bathed the obsidian stone in its light.

A trembling hand rose up to cover the sobs that would escape, and Kagome's mother couldn't stop the sad smile as she read the tiny characters that had been so carefully carved into the smooth, black stone.

End.

A.N. : Well...that's the end of that. I hope you did enjoy it despite the morose nature. ::smiles:: Reviews are welcome. Here are the lyrics to AFI's "This Celluloid Dream".

Calling tears from deep inside, oh, you're so exquisite

And in the mirror, all midnight eyes

Oh, if I could remain, but it's just a visit

All midnight eyes read "vacancy"

Twisted, twisting

To the lovely dancing lights, I begged, "May I cut in?"

But they never stopped playing "their song"

Of a joyous song they sing, I've heard whispers

On a freezing note, I resonate

Just like romantic verses, just like a joyous end

Just like a memory, it twists me

Just like romantic verses, just like a joyous end

Twist... twisting me

You land as lightly as the new snow, cinematic

Onto the melting boy, and melt away

You light as gently, you're so cinematic

Bathed in your radiance, I melt

In the glitter, in the dark, sunk into velvet

Praying this will never end

In the shadow of a star, in static pallor

I realized I never began

Just like romantic verses, just like a joyous end

Just like a memory, it twists me

Just like romantic verses, just like a joyous end

Twist... twisting me

You land as lightly as the new snow, cinematic

Onto the melting boy, and melt away

You light as gently, you're so cinematic

Bathed in your radiance, I melt

All the colours upon leaving, all will turn to grey

All the colours upon leaving, all will turn to grey

(All grey) All the colours (All grey) upon leaving

(All grey) all will turn to grey

(All grey) All the colours (All grey) upon leaving

(All grey) all will turn to grey... grey... twisting me

You land as lightly as the new snow, cinematic

Onto the melting boy, and melt away

You light as gently, you're so cinematic

Bathed in your radiance

You land as lightly as the new snow, cinematic

You land as lightly as the new snow, and melt away

You land as lightly as the new snow, cinematic

Bathed in your radiance, I melt