Chapter 3; The Blood Maiden Falls Through Time:
For context, this chapter covers episodes 2,3, 4, and the beginning of 5 of Inuyasha (I'm going strictly from the anime because I like the flow better and I'm far more familiar with it, but I do lots of research, so manga things may show up). It took me a while to establish a good timeline to follow, so I hope it all makes sense. Read on lovelies! I'll see you at the end of the chapter!
Reiko was falling, but she knew that would end soon enough. Gravity always won in the end, so why worry about something she couldn't control? What worried her was the slithering, hulking mass of yokai that had a hold of her. A dozen different hands, claws, and slimy appendages grabbed at her, pulling her hair, clothes, and limbs in a dozen different directions as if each wanted her for itself alone.
'Your heart! Your blood! Give it to us!' The creature cried in its strange discord of a hundred voices acting like one.
Oh, Kami, please no! Please don't let this be real! Please let me be dreaming or crazy! Please! Reiko begged, hoping this would all disappear.
But she couldn't deny it when the feeling of teeth and tongues caressed her skin as the creature finally brought her to its putrid body. They kept falling, twisting together, and Reiko was too terrified and disorientated to put up much of a struggle. Before the creature could sink any one of its hundreds of sets of teeth into her, the ground came to her rescue.
They both landed at the bottom of the well with a sick 'thud' and the air in Reiko's lungs was forced out. Her shock made certain there wasn't enough time for the pain to settle in though, and she slipped away from the creature. It looked as if it had come apart in the crash, pieces of it falling away as if all that held it together was the desire to eat her heart.
Reiko looked up and saw a light at the top of the well. She needed to get out of the wellhouse before the creature put itself back together. She ran towards the stone wall and felt for some grip to use. It was slippery, but luckily there were some strong vines nearby that helped her climb. It was slow going, and below her, she could hear the creature stirring. After what felt like an agonizing eternity and a few chipped fingernails later, Reiko made it to the top of the well. She lifted herself onto the rim, and fell over the side, landing on her overnight bag that was still slung over her shoulder.
"Ow," Reiko groaned as light blinded her, "That was...ow..."
Reiko forced her eyes open, and the first thing she saw was blue sky. She frowned.
Where…where the hell is the wellhouse?
Reiko sat herself up, looking at the lush grass beneath her hands. She was in some kind of field surrounded by thick woods in the full bloom of spring. The air was so fresh and wonderful that it gave her a headache. Standing, she couldn't see any sign of her family's shrine or house. It was as if they had never existed, even though this was definitely the same hill that Reiko grew up on.
Did the Bone-Eater's Well take me someplace? Transport me? Is that even possible?
It seemed the only explanation, as instead of seeing the rows of houses and buildings that were a part of their neighborhood as she came to the crown of the hill, Reiko instead saw a little village in the distance. It was like one of the old-fashioned historic towns Reiko toured for school once. There were stones set on the roofs to keep the thatching in place and only dirt paths to and from the many homes and the rice fields nearby. In a word it was quaint, but to Reiko right now, it was freaky.
"Where the hell am I? Where's the family shrine?" Reiko groaned, spinning around in an attempt to get some bearing. Instead, she saw something flashing in the grass not far from her. Going to it, she fell to her knees.
That's…that's the necklace I gave Kagome!
Reiko picked it up, and sure enough, it was the jade pendant necklace she had given Kagome for her birthday. What did that mean? Did Kagome fall through the well and end up in this place too? Did that mean she was alive? Where was she? For that matter, where was Reiko? And how the hell were they supposed to get back home?!
'Blood Maiden...you are the Blood Maiden...'
Reiko turned sharply, clutching the necklace in her hand. The creature had put itself together during Reiko's shock and was now climbing out of the top of the well. Moving seemed to pain it as each arm, face, eye, shifted and squirmed uncontrollably.
"What are you?!" Reiko screamed at it, already backing away.
'The corpses of the yokai that have been thrown down the well…the presence of the Shikon no Tama awoke us, but the scent of your blood gave us a body…' The creature explained as it flopped over the side of the well, like some grotesque fish. It fell apart a little again, but it left those pieces behind to instead crawl closer to Reiko on its belly.
'Mistress Centipede may have gotten to that girl with the Shikon no Tama before us, but now we have the Blood Maiden!'
Reiko couldn't understand it, but those words…they sounded so familiar. Wasn't Grandpa just talking about a jewel the other day? But what was a Mistress Centipede? And why was the creature saying that Reiko was a Blood Maiden? Reiko didn't know, but the creature said something about another girl, and Reiko felt queasy.
"What did you do to that girl?" Reiko hazard to guess that was Kagome, and she tightened her grip on the necklace till the chain dug into her skin.
'Nothing…she escaped the Mistress…but you really should be more concerned with yourself…' It laughed. Reiko felt something like hope build up in her. Did Kagome escape? Did that mean she was still alive? She might be nearby! Reiko had to find her!
Before Reiko could turn to run, the creature charged forward. Its hundred hands dug into the ground, sending up chunks of grass and earth. Reiko had to throw herself out of its way, landing in a clumsy roll. The creature crashed itself blindly into a tree, shaking it and sending the birds in its branches up into the air. Reiko took off before it could turn itself around, heading for the village.
She hoped to get help there or hide, or better yet find Kagome safe and sound. But as she tore down the path in the woods that seem to lead straight to it, the creature appeared in front of her. Cut off, Reiko had no choice but to change direction, heading straight into the thick of the woods.
I know I hated running, but now that something is finally chasing me, I wish I trained for this a bit more! Reiko's mind screamed in her panic as she struggled over a fallen tree. The overnight bag thudded heavily against her side with every step, but Reiko was too scared to take it off, fearing it would give the creature that was practically breathing down her neck the chance to catch up. It was only a matter of time, as the thing was much faster than her, but Reiko's desperation gave it a run for its money.
It couldn't last, however. Reiko felt a hand grab at her ankle, and before she knew it, she was dangling upside down in the air. Her vision swam as blood rushed to her head, but she could see the teeth and eyes coming for her. She swatted at them, but the creature only grabbed her arms to pull her closer. It seemed to fight over which mouth would taste her first as Reiko continued to struggle. One set of teeth lashed out impatiently, and Reiko screamed as they buried themselves into her right side.
The moment the creature tasted her blood, it stilled, as if trapped in a sudden rapture. Reiko thrashed, her chest feeling as if it was on fire. Her hands too, but glancing at them, she could see they weren't hurt. They were glowing!
Yes, please! Please let this work! Please protect me! Reiko cried inside her mind, willing that strange energy to come forth. Her hands felt hotter and hotter, and Reiko grabbed whatever she could of the creature. Focusing, she forced the light that had built itself up inside her out, and she could see the flesh of the yokai start to burn. The yokai did not release her however, still lapping at her blood with relish, so Reiko concentrated harder. She squeezed her eyes shut and called out to every part of herself, hoping to find more of that fire. Her hands felt as if they were being seared to the bone, but she held on as she felt the creature starting to squirm in pain.
'Stop that! Stop!' It cried, but Reiko kept going.
She kept going until the yokai slowly began to pull away from her, teeth retreating, and then it finally let her go. Not out of choice, but because the light that Reiko called forth had burned so much of it, nearly half of it was reduced to ash. As Reiko finally backed away, panting as if she had been starved of air, watching the yokai continued to burn.
Reiko looked on in half-horror, half-fascination as the yokai started to unravel into ash. It writhed and squirmed for a time, but soon enough there wasn't enough of it left to manage such movement. Reiko had hurt yokai before with the odd light that came from her hands but never had she killed one. She wasn't certain she ever really wanted too, as most yokai were nice and friendly after she fed them. They just couldn't seem to help themselves when it came to her blood and heart. But this yokai...it was clear to Reiko that she had killed it.
'So sweet...your blood is...sweet...' The yokai whispered with the last of its mouths before that too disappeared. There was nothing left behind and while Reiko was glad the danger was over, she didn't know how to feel about the yokai being dead. Reiko shook her head.
How to feel? I should be feeling like a badass! Now's not the time for guilt anyway, I have to find Kagome!
Reiko looked around her, but all she could see was a thick wall of trees on every side of her. There was no indication of which direction she had come from, and had no clue as to which direction she should go. She hadn't taken the time to see what position the village was relative to the morning sun, so she had no idea how to find it. Reiko dug into her bag for her cell phone, but of course, there was no signal.
She was lost.
"Uh-oh."
Reiko knew she couldn't have stayed standing in one spot for long, but unfortunately, her situation did not change after several hours of wandering around. The woods only seemed to get thicker and thicker no matter which direction she took with no sign of civilization anywhere nearby. There was no sign of Bone-Eater's Well either. Reiko had guessed that, if falling through the well brought her to this strange place, it could very well take her back home. She didn't know how it transported her in the first place or why, but she didn't care so long as she found it and it worked again. But Reiko had no idea where she was in relation to it or how far it was, and she didn't like it.
And the forest was too...strange.
Sure, it was beautiful and colorful, and the way the wind blew through the trees was almost like a song. But there was no sign of people! No paths, no roads, no power lines! No trash! No matter how remote the place, there was always some garbage or litter to be found. A gum wrapper, a beer can, something! If Reiko hadn't seen the village earlier, she wouldn't think there were humans at all in this place.
Maybe it's some national park? But even those have walking paths and hotels or a restaurant. Some place to buy food for a picnic or something.
The thought of food had Reiko's stomach churn in on itself, and it growled lowly. It was starting to hurt, and she didn't have any snacks in her bag. The pain in her side distracted her from that though. Reiko didn't think she would be out here so long, so she hadn't really attended to it besides tearing up the shirt she slept in last night to bandage it. It was pretty deep and was still oozing blood, and with every passing hour, Reiko risked infection.
Not to mention the other risk, Reiko groaned, the more I bleed, the better a yokai can sniff me out.
When the forest broke and opened up to reveal a river, Reiko decided to take it as a sign to stop and take a break. As much as she wanted to find Kagome and get back home, her rule was to always play it safe. Coming to the river, Reiko looked around, and then stripped.
She washed herself in the river, shivering the whole time. It must be spring thaw run off from the nearby hills, and the shock to her system revitalized Reiko. She would leave her bloodied clothes here to throw off whatever creature might try and follow her. But before she could change into the clothes she had worn yesterday that were still in her overnight bag, Reiko had to clean her wound.
Luckily, Reiko's experience taught her the value of always having a first aid kit. Finding it, she cleaned the wound out with iodine, then layered few gauze pads on top of it before wrapping her entire middle in elastic bandages. The entire time she was biting down on her bottom lip, trying and failing to not cry as she did so. Perhaps she was coming out of shock, as Reiko couldn't move for several minutes after she was done. At least the bleeding had stopped, but she had lost a bit of blood. After the danger of passing out was over, she slowly changed into her leggings, frumpy sweater, and brown ankle boots.
Right...upstream or downstream then? Reiko thought to herself. If the village was, as she guessed, an historical one, then most likely it was near to the river. The question was which way to follow it? Reiko didn't know. But she decided to play it safe and go upstream, avoiding anything that might end up being attracted to the blood she had washed away in the water.
That turned out to be a horrible decision. The river wound its way back into the woods as Reiko ended up following it to its source. It was a little spring, and while Reiko risked taking a drink from it to quench her thirst, it wasn't very helpful. So then Reiko decided to follow the sun. It was past noon now, and so Reiko followed the setting sun west. Or did the sun set in the east? Reiko never paid attention to that before, which was stupid because the sun did the same thing day in and day out. Just one of the many things Reiko took for granted she supposed.
Like paved roads for one thing. Reiko's feet were killing her as evening became dusk. Her ankles were so swollen that she feared to take her boots off, knowing that she'd never get them back on. She regretted all those days when she slept in when she could have been exercising or running or something so she didn't suffer for her laziness now! Or at least she should have gotten better shoes! Something sturdy with laces thick enough to make a rope bridge out of, not these monster heels!
As if hearing her thoughts, Reiko's heel caught on an upturned stone, and she ended up falling on her face.
Damn these shoes! They were made by the devil! She cursed, lying there on the ground in complete defeat.
Reiko might as well actually give up. At least for the night. She didn't have a flashlight with her, and while she could use the light of her cell phone to guide her, Reiko would rather save the battery for now. Besides, who really wanted to go walking in the woods in the middle of the night?
With no other choice, Reiko sought out a place to sleep for the night. Seeing a large tree, she reached up and pulled down some branches, breaking free the leaves. Soon enough she had a little bed of them, enough to hopefully to act as a buffer against the ground. It wasn't cold yet, but she took out her parka jacket anyway to act as a blanket as she settled in. There was a gnarled root sticking itself in her back and the leaves rustled loudly whenever she shifted, but Reiko guessed that it was better than nothing.
Reiko's fingers picked at the pendant that hung down around her neck, the cool of the jade soothing to her skin. Kagome was alive. Or she had been when she fell through the well. That was some comfort for Reiko at least. Still, if anything happened to Kagome here, then it would be Reiko's fault just the same. It was Reiko's priority to find the Bone-Eater's Well, but only because that would lead her back to the last place Kagome had been. Without Kagome by her side, Reiko knew she wouldn't ever be returning home. How could she? It wouldn't be fair to Auntie Emi, Sota, or Grandpa if she returned without Kagome when it was her fault Kagome was here in the first place.
Wherever here is anyways. Reiko sighed, I'm beginning to think I'm never going to get out of these woods. Am I still even in Japan? Kami...I hope Kagome is alright…
Slowly, Reiko's eyes closed. Slower still, the thousand niggling worries in her head started to quiet down, allowing her to feel sleepy. Reiko was right at that blissful edge, when a voice spoke at her ear.
'Your heart...your heart...so sweet...'
Reiko bolted up. The moon offered little light, but what little it did reflected off a pair of glowing yellow eyes not far from where Reiko slept.
"Ah, come on. Not now." She groaned as she prepared to run. The eyes moved closer however, revealing a small imp. It was small and green, looking like a beaked lizard without a tail. Its eyes were huge, taking up the majority of its scrunched face, as it looked at her curious. Reiko calmed down some, knowing one imp wasn't too big of a threat. A solitary imp wasn't brave enough to approach her usually, but Reiko knew it would be better to leave now while she had the chance.
As Reiko stood, the imp startled and retreated back. Reiko carefully packed up what little she took out, keeping an eye on the glowing eyes of the imp the whole time. By the time she was done, five more pairs of eyes had joined it.
"Oh. Just perfect. Just what I needed."
Reiko had not slept a wink all through the night. She had to keep walking, because every time she turned around, more imps were following her. Towards the morning, a few other small, nameless yokai had joined up with the now small army that trailed behind her. Reiko had never seen so many at once before. How could they have found her so quickly anyway? Normally when she went somewhere new, it took weeks for a yokai to show up. But this forest seemed teeming with them, and at any moment now, Reiko expected them to attack.
But why haven't they yet? I know they want to eat me, and there's plenty enough to overpower me if they wanted to. So why not?
Reiko didn't know, and it was driving her crazy. She kept worrying the jade pendant of Kagome's necklace. No matter where she turned, the forest never ended. What if Reiko starved to death before she even made it out? Anxiety chewed at her insides as did her hunger, making her belly growl every minute or so. She wondered if maybe she should try foraging for something to eat, but with the yokai following her it probably wouldn't be such a good idea to stop and search. But she needed to eat or rest soon, as her lack of sleep and blood loss yesterday had her in pretty bad shape.
If I never see another tree in my life again, it would be unending bliss!
Reiko's odd prayer came true, sort of, when the forest around her was suddenly broken by a dirt road. It was rough and had seen little use, but to Reiko it looked like a gift from the gods.
"Oh, thank Kami! I'll never complain about pot holes again!" Reiko cheered, spooking some of the yokai into a retreat. Despite her aching feet, Reiko practically jogged down the road, eager to see where it led. It was around noon given the position of the sun, so she had plenty of time before dark to find something. Hopefully, she could get a ride to a town or find something to eat, or maybe-
A sting, almost like a zap of electricity, went through Reiko. It was very odd, and she would have brushed it off as a shiver expect for how familiar it was. Like the odd hum of energy she got whenever she hugged Kagome. Was her cousin nearby then? Reiko's head whipped around, hoping to spot her.
Please, oh please let me find her! And please let her be alive! Please...HOLY FUCK?!
All around and at once, the sky lit up. A second later, a thunderous blast reached Reiko's ears. It lasted for only a second, but it was enough to make Reiko crouch down for cover. All the yokai that had been following her ran away as the light grew brighter as if a star had exploded. Daring to look up, Reiko regretted it as the source of the light seemed to be brighter than the sun itself. A second later however, it burst, sending off thousands of ribbons of colored light in every direction imaginable.
It was beautiful, but some part Reiko knew it to mean something terrible. Had a nuclear bomb been dropped on Tokyo? Was Reiko about to feel the heat of death on her soon? But each ribbon of colored light only faded, trailing off stardust. As quickly as it had begun, it was over, and the sky returned to its normal blue. Reiko started down the road again, wondering if she might find where one of those colors of light ended. She didn't want to though, as that foreboding feeling from before was only growing.
"This place is getting weirder and weirder," Reiko sighed to herself, "Kami, I have such a headache."
Reiko kept on the road, glad that she didn't have the company of the yokai anymore. But her hunger and sleepiness were really starting to get to her. She needed to rest, and now might be the only opportunity she would get. She kept on down the road, hoping maybe she would find a good place to stop. Instead, she finally got out of the forest.
"Oh…the gods are kind." She nearly cried. It wasn't much of an improvement, but it was wonderful to see fields of green grass for miles and miles…no, wait, it wasn't. There was nothing for miles and miles! Just a few rocks and trees spotted here and there!
"What the hell?! Where the fuck is Tokyo?!" She screamed, ready to tear out her hair. Where the hell was she?! Where did that stupid well take her?! Reiko kicked at a rock in the road, but she ended up stumbling. Her ankle buckled, and unable to find her balance she fell flat on her face. Again.
"Man…this sucks. I'm never getting home…" She whined into the dirt, ready to break down and cry. What was home for her anyway? The shrine? She couldn't stay there, especially if she couldn't find Kagome. Was home with her father? He barely looked at her! But that didn't matter anymore because she was never going to see any of her loved ones because home for her now was this patch of dirt! She was tired, hungry, suffering from massive blood loss, and on top of that her feet hurt really badly! Reiko refused to move until something good happened!
"Hey! Get out of the road!"
Reiko frowned. How sleep deprived was she? She was hearing voices. Well, a voice that was different from the usual ones she heard in her head at any rate.
"Move, damn ye! Less you want my horses to trample ye!"
Reiko looked up, now really confused. She didn't expect to see anything, so she nearly squealed when she saw horse hooves just a few feet from her face. Looking further up, she saw they were attached to two horses, which in turn were attached to a cart. And sitting on that cart was an old man in a short kosode.
"Pardon?"
"Ye heard me!" He shouted, his wrinkled face snarling.
Reiko stood up, dusting herself off.
"I…uh, sorry. I'll get out of your way." Reiko said as she picked herself up and moved. The old man grumbled swears to himself as he snapped the reins in his hands, and the horses started forward. Reiko watched the cart idly pass by her before her mental faculties finally caught up with the situation.
"No, wait! Please!" Reiko shouted as she jogged after the cart, coming up to grab the bridles around one of the horses' faces when the old man didn't stop. Reiko didn't know if the horse really appreciated this, as it snorted at her, but otherwise seemed ready to listen to her.
"Keep away beggar!" The old man cursed, reaching for a horsewhip, "You'll not get not a grain of rice out of me!"
"No, please! I've been lost in the woods for days! I'm trying to get home!" Reiko raised a hand to protect her face, hoping the old man would take pity on her. At least she was still in Japan since he was speaking Japanese, even if he spoke in a really old-fashioned accent.
"And ye expect charity is it?"
Reiko looked at the old man in shock. Didn't he just hear her? She had been lost, starving, in the woods! Her hair still had leaves in it and the bags under eyes had their own bags, and yet he didn't sound at all sympathetic!
The first person I see since coming here and he's a total jerk! Just my luck!
"Just tell me where I am, please!" Reiko begged, hoping to reach through to him. If he could give her a ride out of here and back to the village, that would be enough, but the old man was hesitant to just answer her question.
"The Musashi Province," He growled before starting to raise his whip, "now let go."
"…what?" Reiko blinked up at him.
That…that couldn't be right. The Musashi Province was where Tokyo was, but no one called it that anymore. Not since the Warring States Era. Also known as the Sengoku Period according to the various history classes Reiko attended. But if this place was supposed to be Tokyo, where the hell was Tokyo then? Looking around, Reiko felt several things click into place for her. There were no powerlines along this road…Reiko's cell phone didn't work…there was no litter…no concrete roads…no Tokyo…no Higurashi Shrine…
Maybe the question I should be asking isn't where am I…but when? Reiko gulped. But that was impossible, wasn't it? Time travel? Sure, Reiko could see yokai and had magic glowing hands and had just been transported to a strange land that was familiar and unfamiliar by a well, but going back in time? There was a limit. The old man must just be crazy. Yes, he was just delusional. But how delusional, Reiko didn't know. He was driving a horse and cart after all and dressed as if he had come straight out of the movie Seven Samurai.
"What year do you think is this?" Reiko asked, narrowing her eyes in suspicion. The old man frowned down at her, his caterpillar eyebrow raising up as if he suspected her to be the crazy one.
"Are ye daft? It is the year of the cow as well as the second year of our Emperor Go-Yōzei's rule!"
"Emperor Go…" Reiko shook her head. That guy lived in the sixteenth century. This man was definitely crazy, "You know that can't be right."
The old man didn't seem to appreciate having his reality questioned. Raising the whip, he cracked it above them, and the horses startled. The one Reiko had a hold on tossed its head up high, yanking its bridle from her hand. Their hooves dug into the ground, wanting to charge forward but they were uncertain about trampling Reiko. She doubted they would be debating for long as the man cracked the whip again.
"I said move, ye beggar!"
"I'm not a beggar!" Reiko pleaded, feeling the sting of frustrated tears, "Please, just help me get to a town! I'll do anything! I'm all alone here!"
As cruel as the old man was, Reiko really needed a ride. She was about to keel over from exhaustion and anemia any minute now. She didn't care if the old man was crazy and rude, she needed to get back home and now!
"Anything, hm?"
To Reiko's surprise, the old man lowered his whip. He looked at her, his eyes squinting as his brow furrowed in deep thought. Reiko didn't like the way he was looking at her, like she was some prime piece of beef for sale.
"A little dirty ye are, but there's a pretty face underneath it. Are ye strong and healthy?"
"Uh, sure?" Reiko shrugged, uncertain, "I mean, I can't bench press or anything, but I could-"
"Very well." The man interrupted, moving over on his seat to make room for Reiko, "I will give ye a ride to the nearest village, but ye must tend to the horses and drive the cart."
Reiko couldn't believe her ears. Why had this man suddenly done a one-eighty in character? Why was she even questioning that? She needed a ride, or else her feet were going to kill her and that did not sound like a quick death.
"O-okay! Sure!" Reiko smiled as she hoisted herself up to the seat. The old man handed her the reins, and Reiko copied the way she saw him hold them.
"Uh…what do I do now?" Reiko asked after a few moments of nothing happening. Weren't the horses supposed to go or something? Reiko didn't know if she was really up for this, as she hadn't even learned to drive a car, much less a horse cart.
"Snap 'em!" The old man fumed as he worked his way over to the back of the cart, "But go slow! I got jugs of sake back there that are worth your life ten times over!"
Reiko glanced behind her, and sure enough, there were large clay jugs underneath a large cloth. Surely the man knew there were better ways to deliver that stuff, but maybe he was just an old-fashioned crazy person. Reiko did as he asked and snapped the reins gently. The horses moved forward, making Reiko squeak in surprise when she was nearly pitched backwards at the sudden movement. Soon enough she had the hang of it and could keep the horses straight on the road. After a few moments, she felt something hit the back of her head.
"Eat that." The old man explained when Reiko picked up what looked like a stale rice ball, "Your stomach growls so loudly it might spook the horses."
Reiko felt like weeping.
"Thank you!" She managed to say before she stuffed it down. It tasted…really bad. But it was the first bit of food Reiko had in nearly two days, so she wouldn't have cared if he had given her dog food. Perhaps the old man wasn't so mean. If she stuck with him, then hopefully Reiko would come across someone or something that could get her back to the village where the Bone-Eater's Well resided.
"So…uh, where are we heading?" Reiko asked, hoping they were heading in the right direction, but the old man only growled at her as he laid himself down in the back of the cart.
"Keep quiet! I'm taken a nap!"
It was official. Either Reiko had somehow ended up in the Sengoku period of ancient Japan, or this was her own personal version of hell.
Even now, Reiko didn't know which was the better option.
The old man said he would let Reiko ride with him until they came to a village, but he eventually revealed the nearest one was at least another two days ride away. Reiko had remained optimistic despite her surroundings that this meant she would at least find civilization. The lack of power lines or other signs of modern life worried her, and she began to think maybe she was in some really backwoods part of Japan. She hadn't even seen one rusty car pass by them on the road, let alone other people. But before that evening was over, they had come across other people. Of the dead variety that is.
Reiko could hardly believe her eyes when, stretched across the road and the plains beyond, where dozens of corpses. She had smelled them long before she saw them, but that still did not prepare for her it at all. It was the worst smell that had ever burned her nostrils, and it was only by holding her breath she didn't vomit up the rice ball she had eaten. The corpses looked to have been samurai soldiers, their bodies pierced with arrows or cut down by swords. Some of them were missing heads. They seemed to have only been there a day or so, but crows by the hundreds swarmed over the entire plain. Stuck all over the ground were white banners of whatever army these men once belonged to, now torn and bloodied.
Reiko was in complete shock, but the old man told her to stop. Without a care, he approached some of the corpses and felt around for a coin or two, leaving Reiko gaping in horror. How was this even possible? People just didn't dress up as samurai and kill one another, and people certainly didn't rob corpses! Unless…unless she really was in the Warring States Era…
Too many things added up for Reiko in that moment, and next thing she knew she had fallen out of the cart. The old man yelled at her to get back up, but Reiko was too busy in the middle of an existential crisis as she did the math. No cell reception, no power lines, no cars, disappearing shrines, old villages, no paved roads, an old man driving a cart, endless woods, an entire bloody battlefield…unless the world had gone crazy or Reiko had died and gone to hell, these were all inarguable signs that Reiko had somehow traveled back into the past.
Not somehow…the Bone-Eater's Well! It didn't transport me someplace else, it transported me back to the past! Shit!
Reiko had earlier asked the old man if he heard of the Bone-Eater's Well or the village nearby it. And, after yelling at her for waking him up from his nap, he told her he heard of no such thing. He hadn't heard of Tokyo either, but Reiko figured that was just crazy old man talk. Now it seems he was telling the truth. He didn't know about Tokyo because Tokyo didn't exist yet! Worse, Higurashi Shrine didn't exist! How was Reiko supposed to get back home if was five hundred years from now?! Reiko started to hyperventilate, and the old man did not help any as he continued to yell at her and steal from the dead samurai.
I'm in the past! That means no hot water! No hamburgers! No electricity! No fuzzy blankets! No books! No internet! No credit cards! No sweat pants.! No coffee! No books! Ah! I'm spiraling! Stop it! Now is not the time to descend into a spiral! No spiraling!
Reiko was able to calm down some eventually. This, strangely enough, didn't change too many things for her. Sure, she was stuck in the past, but the solution was the same. If the Bone-Eater's Well took her here, then it should be able to take her back. Teleportation or time travel, Reiko figured a magic well was, in the end, a magic well. It didn't matter where it sent her so long as it could get her back. It was only a matter of finding it. But if she couldn't find it…Reiko didn't want to think about it. She would just have to keep her hope up. That was all.
This place wouldn't be forever, just until she found the Bone-Eater's Well. And Reiko would do whatever it took to survive until then. She just hoped that Kagome was safe and sound as well and didn't do anything stupid.
Knowing her though, she probably already got herself captured and accused of being a witch or a madwoman. Kami, I hope she keeps her big mouth shut...
After a few more minutes, the old man finished picking dead men's pockets and ordered Reiko to drive on. Despite how horrible he was, Reiko saw no choice but to keep on traveling with him. So far he was her only chance at finding the village where the Bone-Eater's Well was.
Besides, he wasn't all that bad. Okay, he was pretty bad, but after the old man was done with his corpse robbing, he let her eat another riceball, and even lent her one of his old robes and geta when he noticed how muddied her clothes were. Reiko changed into the robe, which thankfully was fresh and clean if just a bit worn, but since it only hit her thighs she kept her leggings on. The geta though, those were a godsend! Reiko practically wept as her feet finally were able to breathe, the poor things swollen and tender. Moving in the geta was a bit tricky for her for a few hours, but she got the hang of it. They were kind of like walking in flipflops but much sturdier.
Reiko spent the night with the old man on the road, thankfully miles away from the battlefield, sleeping on the cart's driving seat while he slept in the back next to the sake. Despite how uncomfortable it was and how loudly the man snored, Reiko passed out almost instantly. She woke when the sun came up and was grateful that no yokai had snuck up on her in the night. It was her third day in this strange world, and she was surprisingly hopeful than when she first got here. Food and a good night's sleep would do that she guessed. She might have almost said she was in a good mood, even when the evening came without anyone passing by or any village to be seen.
Almost that is until the old man started to drive her insane.
"Slow down! If one jar of my sake breaks, I'll break ye neck!"
"Yes, sir."
"Wash ye face! You look like a specter of death!"
"Yes, sir."
"Stop the horses, I need to take a piss!"
"Oh Kami, why me?" Reiko groaned as she slowed the cart to a stop and looked away from the old man as he did his business.
She was now used to driving it, but what she wasn't used to was being worked like a dog. Her boss at the Lily Dragon wasn't half as horrible or terrifying as the old man was. Reiko didn't even know his name, cause the instant she asked him he swatted her over the head and told her to mind her business. Reiko figured that life in the Sengoku Period wasn't an easy one, so maybe this old man just was used to being rough and crude to survive. Besides, Reiko still needed him, or moreover his cart.
Maybe she could try cooking for him, as that might lighten his mood. Reiko's food didn't just cheer up yokai, it had an effect on humans too. Her aunt once said that her cooking filled hearts, but then Auntie Emi was always a bit sentimental like that.
Auntie Emi…she must be so worried about Kagome. I wonder if she's worried about me? I wonder if she and Grandpa even know I'm missing too? Reiko pouted.
She kind of doubted it. Reiko had gone out of her way to keep her departure a secret when she thought she would be going back to her father. Maybe the landlord might have called the shrine to ask what the hell happened to her and his check for the first month's rent. Maybe they would search for her too? Would they even think to look in the wellhouse? Or would they just assume the worst happened and that Kagome and Reiko both had been kidnapped by some horrible pervert and...
Reiko paused in her thoughts, her eyes catching something on the road behind them. She squinted at it, not certain what to make of it in the light of the setting sun.
"Hey, sir?"
"What?!" The old man barked.
"There's a cloud of dirt."
"Girl, if ye open your mouth one more time, I shall whip you till you-"
"The cloud is getting closer." Reiko interrupted him as she saw shapes form in the haze, "It's…samurai?"
It was. Around fifty of them it seemed like, all on horses and in full armor and alive this time. A lot of them were carrying banners, different from the ones she had seen on the battlefield, and many were armed to the teeth with swords and bows and spears. She could hear them now, cheering and shouting as if they were expecting eternal glory over the next hill.
Reiko felt like sobbing. She was definitely in the Sengoku Period. There was no denying it now.
The old man looked just as upset as Reiko, though for a different reason. Practically trembling, he came back over to the cart.
"Keep ye eyes down and don't say a word." He hissed in warning as he straightened his appearance, "If we're lucky, they'll pass by us."
"And if they don't?" Reiko ventured to ask. The old man didn't say, but Reiko got the feeling it wouldn't be good. These were probably the ones responsible for that bloody battlefield they had passed the other day. She was still reeling over how such a thing could just happen. What were they even fighting for? That worthless field? Was that reason enough for so many people to die? But this was a lawless and war-torn time after all. These samurai were probably the only authority in the area and had no one else to answer to except their own greed.
The samurai came closer, and just as the old man feared, they slowed to a stop next to his cart. The dirt cloud the hooves of their horses kicked up had Reiko covering her face, coughing and sputtering, before it eventually settled down. One large man at the front, wearing the finest set of armor and sporting a trimmed beard and a thin mustache, pointed the tip of his sword at the old man.
"You! What's in the cart?"
"Sake, my honorable lord." The old man bowed lowly, practically groveling.
"Pour us some." The leader of the samurai ordered, and the old man dared to look up.
"Are ye hoping to purchase my lord?" There was a keen glint in his eye. Reiko guessed he saw an opportunity to make some big money from these rich samurai. The leader barked a laugh.
"We'll see if it's any good first, old man."
"Of course, my lord. Girl!"
Reiko blanched. Was the old man talking to her? She wasn't sure what he wanted her to do, and she was pretty much frozen stiff with panic. When the old man caught her helpless look, he came over and smacked the back of her head.
"Pour these men some sake! Now!"
"Kami, alright already!" Reiko grumbled, rubbing the back of her head. She got off of the driving seat and walked around to the back, very aware that every eye was on her. Shakily, she reached in for one of the smaller jugs she could actually carry. Next to where she stowed her overnight bag was a cup, so she grabbed that too.
"My lord, are you fighting with the honorable General Hatsuo against General Asano?" The old man chatted while Reiko slowly approached the leader, figuring she should serve him first.
"Aye. We have taken of many of his men already, and we rejoin the main force tomorrow. Tonight, we plan on feasting to gain strength for the battle ahead!" The leader of the samurai boasted, and the men around him cheered heartily. Reiko had by now come over to him and was trying to pour the sake one handed into the cup. The jug was heavy, but she was happy she didn't spill any. The old man would have probably hit her again.
Once this is over, I think I'll just go at it alone again. I think I'd rather starve than take this abuse any longer.
"Then I hope this sake pleases you. It is a family recipe." The old man simpered and bowed as Reiko lifted the cup up for the leader to take. His hand felt calloused as it brushed against hers, and the contact had her flinching back as soon as he took it. The leader took one swig and, to the old man's disappointment, scowled.
"Tis watered down."
Reiko guessed that was a bad thing. She wasn't really one for drinking, but she could tell the old man might have landed himself in a spot of trouble by trying to scam these samurai. Reiko reached up to take the cup back, but the leader took the opportunity to grab her wrist.
"Hm. Soft." He smirked as he ran a thumb over the back of her hand. Reiko tried to pull her hand away from him, but his grip was harsh. She completely stilled when he placed the tip of his sword under her chin, forcing her to tilt her face up to him, "And pretty."
Pretty?! Pretty dead that's what I am! Damn this cute face of mine!
"Is this man your father? Husband?" The leader asked, withdrawing his sword from her, but Reiko still found it hard to breathe.
"No."
"No?" The samurai quirked a brow, glancing towards the old man to verify this. The old man shook his head.
"She is just some vagrant I took in out of the kindness in my heart."
That's a load of bullwash and you know it! Reiko cursed as she glared at the old man.
"But…" The old man smirked, approaching the leader of the samurai with that same keen glint Reiko saw earlier, "I would be willing to part with her, for a price. I was planning on selling her in the next village anyway."
...eh? Reiko blinked at the old man, completely puzzled. Does that mean what I think it means? Was this old man going to sell me? To a brothel?!
"Now just wait a minute, I-!" Reiko began to protest, finally yanking her hand away from the samurai, but the samurai's laughter overpowered her voice.
"Price eh?" The leader sneered before giving the old man a scathing look, "If you give me the girl and all the sake, I will forgive you for the insult of serving me such cheap drink."
The old man flinched at these words, and the keen glint in his eyes was replaced with fear. He began to shake as he put his hands before him in placation.
"But, my lord…I…!" He pleaded, coming towards the leader to grab at his leg and grovel. Reiko backed away, confused by this altercation. Would the samurai leader really kill the old man over something like thin sake? Maybe. She once had a customer through a plate of salad at her when she forgot the croutons, and that guy wasn't even armed with a sword. Still, Reiko gasped as the leader of the samurai kicked the old man away, sending him into the ground. One of the nearby samurai spurred his horse over, raising his spear high.
"You do not talk back to the lord, you peasant!" The samurai spat before he lowered his spear, driving the point of it right into the old man's back.
"No!" Reiko shouted on instinct, but it was too late. The old man spasmed and screamed, coughing up his own blood as the samurai twisted the spear in his back. Something snapped inside him and with almost a relieved sigh, the old man stopped moving. Blood started to seep out from under him, staining the nearby ground. Reiko felt sick with shock at the sight of it, caught between the need to vomit and the desire to run.
The latter won out in the end.
Abandoning the getas, Reiko bolted on her bare feet. She instantly got off the road, hoping that the nearby woods would offer her shelter. Behind her she could hear the leader kick his horse into a charge as the other men took hold of the cart. Reiko only needed a few more seconds and then she would be safe in the dense forest. But she was denied those seconds as she felt an arm reach down and grab her waist.
"Let me go you bastard! I'll scratch your eyes out!" Reiko screamed as the leader of the samurai hoisted her up onto his saddle. Setting her in his lap, the man kept his arm tightly around Reiko's waist even as she flailed and struck him.
"Oh, spirited!" He laughed loudly, hurting Reiko's ears, "You'll keep me warm tonight!"
"Hey, boss, don't forget to share!" One of the samurai called out as their leader turned his horse around. He smirked as he took position in front of the small army once more. He hardly seemed to notice Reiko's struggles as he laughed again and, of course, Reiko just couldn't manage to call forth any light into her hands.
"No worries men. I'm a generous leader, so I'll try not to break her before you get the chance to enjoy yourselves."
The men snickered and jeered at this. The leader then spurred his horse into a gallop, and Reiko had to give up on her struggle just to stay balanced. She thought about throwing herself off, but the thundering army behind her ensured that she would get trampled to death if she attempted that. And if she didn't escape before the samurai reached wherever it was they planned on stopping for the night, then Reiko was in big trouble…
Oh, Kami! She swallowed, I think I prefer to be eaten by yokai! Somebody get me out of this Feudal nightmare!
Night had fallen. Despite spring nearing its peak, the days were still short in comparison to the night, though the cool air smelled heavily of coming summer, perfumed by flowers in their fullest bloom. The face of the full moon did its best to brightly shine, buts silver light was obscured by a heavy mist that had settled in, creating a haze through the woods. Standing alone at a ledge was a figure shrouded in white, blending in with the mist as if a part of it. In passing glance, one might think it to be human. Yet the powerful aura that coursed about the figure would quickly show just how wrong one could be.
Sesshomaru, the Great Demon Lord of the Western Lands, looked upon the full face of the moon in the night sky before him. It was on nights such as these that this Sesshomaru could not help but recall his last moments with his father; Inu no Taisho. It had been snowing then, and the roar of the ocean could be heard, but the moon had been as full and pale and somber then as it was now.
That moment, that defining moment, was the reason this Sesshomaru was here in the first place.
"My lord! This way, the staff says it is this way!" Cried Jaken below him. The imp's large eyes glowed like lanterns in the night, and it was clear he was pleased. Sesshomaru did not acknowledge his servant, but soon enough he leapt from the ledge on which he had been standing. He landed and, sure and steady, walked past the imp for the direction he had gestured to.
"Wait for me!" Jaken pleaded, panting to keep up. Soon enough the imp ran in front of his master, watching the two heads on the top of his staff carefully for any new sign. Soon, the staff began to glow and jerked itself out from his hands.
"Ah! See my lord! It shall lead us right to the tomb!" The imp crowed excitedly. The staff moved forward, leading them out of the forest and to a barren hill. Perched on top was a stone structure, and at the sight of it, Jaken practically howled with joy.
"My lord! Here it is!" He turned to address Sesshomaru with an excited grin, "The tomb that we've been searching for!"
"You are certain?" Sesshomaru challenged. The tomb, if it could be called such, was a construction of stone pillars into a makeshift grave, a thick shimenawa rope strung across its open face. There was nothing here to suggest that the greatest of powers lay just beneath the stone.
"Aye my lord! The staff as always has led us without fail! Clearly, it must mean this tomb! Allow me to prove it!" The imp begged excitedly as he ran forward. He halted soon enough when the snarls of wolves reached his ears. The creatures peered around the columns of stone, their eyes a hostile, phosphorus red.
"Th-this isn't right at all!" Jaken stammered as he stopped, before turning towards his master and putting up a false bravado, "My lord! Success! It is exactly as I expected!"
Sesshomaru paid the imp's cowardice no mind as he hid himself behind this Sesshomaru. This Sesshomaru did not stop or slow as he passed by some of the wolves, coming to a stop only when he was near enough to the tomb. One of the wolves began to bark at him, and so this Sesshomaru turned towards the creature. It determinedly met his eyes. He knew then that none of them would allow him to pass willingly.
"The fang," Sesshomaru spoke, knowing the creature would understand him, "It is the fang I seek here. Once I possess it, I shall transform myself into a far greater power…"
A greater power indeed. This Sesshomaru was born of a great yokai bloodline, possessing the perfect power that many yokai desired. He was assured in this, always possessing a calmness clear of emotional influence as his position dictated. His aloofness and indifference were the products of dignity, one that only such a rare yokai power could possess. He was strong in both body and mind, an heir born for war. His name was, after all, was Killing Perfection. It was his right to be here to begin his path to supreme conquest.
"Yet," Sneered this Sesshomaru in humor, "Why must I explain? My power is what it is. I shall not always be limited thus."
The way this Sesshomaru spoke, he wondered if it was for his father's remains? This Sesshomaru respected his father greatly, but Inu no Taisho's bones deserved no explanation from his firstborn son. Not when it was his doing that had brought this Sesshomaru here.
It was that night, the night when Sesshomaru sensed his father's imminent demise. Of all the yokai, his father was the greatest in might and deed, and this Sesshomaru sought to one day surpass and defeat him. But that this Sesshomaru would be denied this was the greatest of losses, but one that could have been bearable if this Sesshomaru had been given his rightful birthright of his father's swords; the means in which this Sesshomaru would succeed his father if not in combat, but in feat and power. The path to supreme conquest could only be tread by doing such, and that was this Sesshomaru's purpose.
And yet…Inu no Taisho denied this Sesshomaru and instead asked if he had anyone to protect…and in that moment this Sesshomaru's birthright, this Sesshomaru's purpose, had been usurped by compassion. By giving him the Tenseiga, a sword of healing broken from the Tessaiga, Inu no Taisho perhaps wished to teach his eldest son this lesson of compassion. Such a feeling this Sesshomaru once thought to be below his great father, a weakness he would not have stood for had anyone else accused him of it. And yet it was this weakness that had defeated and ended Inu no Taisho, not this Sesshomaru. This Sesshomaru hardly bore the insult, yet he kept the Tenseiga not only out of compliance with his father's final wish, but as a reminder of how the sentiment of protecting the weak was not only a foolish waste of time, it could be fatal. A fate this Sesshomaru would not be submitted to.
"Can it be I am afraid?" This Sesshomaru smirked when he found himself hesitating, "Or is it merely I know not my own limits?"
This Sesshomaru was not to be limited. He may possess perfect power, but by his father's doing he had been denied the means to shape it. Anger welled in his heart to have so long been denied this desire, but this Sesshomaru would not always be stifled so. When he had the Tessaiga, this would be possible…or so was his expectation.
This Sesshomaru raised his right hand, and calling for his yoki, his demonic energy, it began to glow.
"Perhaps, I presume…" This Sesshomaru spoke to himself. Yes, this Sesshomaru was done with guessing. He would emulate his great father and achieve victory over the greatest of yokai. He would surpass Inu no Taisho in greatness and in name. And he would possess the Tessaiga, the very means to do so.
As if knowing the Sesshomaru thoughts, the wolves leapt. Before they could reach him, this Sesshomaru began to spin, and a long trail of light unleashed itself. The whip lashed itself out, circling around Sesshomaru as the wolves closed in.
"The fang. It is the fang I seek here…"
The whip came into contact with the wolves, and for a moment all that could be seen was a cloud of blood. The wolves cried as they were rendered asunder, their cut flesh falling back to the earth. And thus, the path was clear.
Jaken picked his way around the corpses of the wolves, leaping on top of the tomb. Smashing aside the spirit house placed there, he set the staff on the direct center of the tomb. Sesshomaru drew closer, observing the face of the woman set on the staff's head as she opened her mouth and screamed.
"This time it is the Beauty that responds. Don't tell me we have been misled?!" Jaken cried indignantly. Sesshomaru narrowed his golden eyes.
So…this Sesshomaru's venerable father would not make it so easy on his firstborn. This Sesshomaru should have suspected as much.
Without expression of anger or disappointment, this Sesshomaru turned away from the tomb and walked on.
"My lord! Wait for me!" Jaken shouted after him, scrambling to catch up to him, "Your humble servant comes!"
They walked on. For months they have searched for the tomb, only to arrive at a dead end after dead end. This Sesshomaru's father had hidden his tomb well, and the true location of his final resting place remained a mystery. And thus, the location of the Tessaiga remained unknown. The only clue this Sesshomaru had to act on was a riddle: Seeing, yet never seen; protected, but never known to its protector. Those words echoed in this Sesshomaru's mind many times, yet the answer never came.
It was an endless source of frustration for this Sesshomaru. This Sesshomaru felt himself on edge on this night in particular, though he would not allow such emotion to have the best of him. Patience was needed now, and patience would deliver all his desires in time. After all, it was as certain as the moon in the sky, that this Sesshomaru would walk the path to supreme conquest -
Sesshomaru stopped.
The winds had shifted westward abruptly, bringing with it a faraway scent. It was hidden beneath the undertones of the night and mist, but Sesshomaru's senses easily detected it. It was in no way familiar, but a long-distant and past instinct arose in him, reaching through to the true form that lay below the more human mask. Dragging in the scent into his lungs, this Sesshomaru attempted to discern its cause.
It was...unplaceable. It seemed neither human or yokai and yet, Sesshomaru's instinct knew the scent belonged to some living creature. It possessed the clarity of fresh rain, the headiness and balm of spice, the purity of young leaves, the languor of wine, the sharpness of cedar, the crushed velvet of rose petals; the scent was a contradiction in itself. Bitterly warm and achingly cold all at once. A fragrance begging to be savored. It called to him, enticing this Sesshomaru to satisfy his curiosity as to its source. No, not entice, demand. The scent demanded he discover the one responsible, a siren's call if ever there was one, and claim for his own the being that very nearly screamed its subservient nature as prey ready to be hunted…
"My lord?" Questioned the imp behind Sesshomaru when he noticed the great yokai had halted.
This Sesshomaru tightened a fist at his side, willing the scent out of his mind. He pressed forward. Such a distraction was not only a waste of time but was beneath this Sesshomaru. He was a predator, yes, but not one to be so easily led astray by his baser needs. As he continued, however, Sesshomaru found the scent was only growing stronger.
"Hm. Strange. Most strange my lord!" The imp puzzled after testing the staff once more, "I cannot make sense of the staff at all!"
They had traveled back into the forest, coming to a large river before consulting the staff again. Once more, the Beauty responded. The imp put a scaled hand to his chin, rubbing it in thought.
"Perhaps if we follow the river, more may be revealed." Jaken mused. Sesshomaru surveyed the river and began walking downstream.
"Ah, my lord?" Jaken called out after him hesitantly, "Might we…might we not fly?"
Sesshomaru stopped and glanced back at his servant coldly. The imp knew better than to ask for such. The staff did not work in the air. Realizing the foolishness of his request, Jaken rephrased it.
"I mean, we have just been walking for so long, and I have grown weary." He quickly explained, regretting ever speaking, "P-perhaps we might find a boat?"
This Sesshomaru continued to observe his vassal as he began to shake in fear. This Sesshomaru was never one to tolerate foolish requests or pleas, and often harshly reprimanded his servant for such. But…this time, Sesshomaru would comply.
"Find one then." Was his order, and Jaken flinched at his voice, expecting to have been stuck. The imp's eyes grew wide in happiness.
"Ah! Yes my lord!"
Jaken took off back into the woods. This Sesshomaru knew he would find no boats there, but this Sesshomaru did not have the desire to fetch the imp back. As for himself, this Sesshomaru hazard to take in the air around him again, the scent from before filling his mind, but now it was accompanied by the stench of humans.
This Sesshomaru followed that stench, acknowledging that he was willingly allowing himself to be led closer to the more beguiling scent as mere coincidence. Where there were humans near a river, there had to be a boat. As he drew closer, this Sesshomaru recognized that the humans and the source of the mysterious scent were located in the same spot by the river. Soon enough, the sound of clanging armor, the boisterous voices of men, and the singing of swords being sharpened reached his ears. An army preparing for war, no doubt.
This was confirmed as the forest broke to reveal a muddy field by the river, housing a few tents, bonfires, and fifty samurai soldiers.
"Lead us to victory!"
This Sesshomaru could hear some of the men cheer within a large tent on the opposite side of the camp as he ventured forward. There on the bank were several boats, so this Sesshomaru made his way towards them, ignoring the mysterious scent that was now nearly palpable.
"That I will, and more besides!" A man boasted loudly, perhaps their leader. He was laughing, but that sound was cut short by a harsh slap.
"Try and kiss me again and I'll bite your tongue off, you dirt eating piece of slime!"
This threat, delivered by the voice of a young woman, was met with laughter from the men.
"Is that a promise girl?"
"Hey, you!" Shouted one of the soldiers near to this Sesshomaru, finally noticing his presence, "What do you think you're doing? Get away from there!"
Rather than ask any more questions, three samurai approached this Sesshomaru with their swords drawn high. This Sesshomaru would not allow them the honor of swinging their crude weapons at him, and so, drew his claws. With one swipe the men fell back, screaming and gargling as their chests were sliced open.
"Argh!"
Aware of him now, the other samurai were on their feet, their swords held before them warily. But none dared approached. From the crowd that now circled him, this Sesshomaru watched as a large man, one he assumed to be the leader, pushed through.
"What's this? Are ye mad?" The man accused, but this Sesshomaru did not dignify him with a glance.
Instead, he looked to the young woman the leader had dragged along with him by the arm.
She was a petite thing, barely reaching the man's shoulders. This Sesshomaru would have thought her perhaps a child if not for the pronounced curve of her hips and the slender taper of her waist. Her small hands beat against the leader's grip as she muttered and swore underneath her breath. She must be a captive and clearly did not enjoy her present company. She wore a short robe with what looked like black leg-guards underneath, her bare feet caked in mud. A peasant then. She was sorely out of place here among the men, but this Sesshomaru was not naive as to why she was. This Sesshomaru assumed the samurai must have found her appearance pleasing and fit to entertain them, though he was no judge of human beauty if such a thing even existed.
There was, admittedly, a certain expressiveness in the dark pool of her eyes and her hair, while only reaching to the middle of her back, curled wildly and blazed a brilliant black in the firelight. In her face was a softness of features, the babe fat of youth nearly gone, and shell pink lips pulled down into a scowl. None of these had any charming effect on this Sesshomaru, however. She appeared to be a plain human, and nothing more.
And yet…she was the source of the mysterious scent.
"This Sesshomaru has need of a boat." This Sesshomaru finally answered the samurai leader, all while keeping his gaze to the girl. She had not seemed to notice him yet, too preoccupied with trying to get away from her captor.
"You need a what?" The leader frowned, only to then throw his head back in laughter, the scent of sake strong on his breath, "Before a battle? And we're to give it are we?"
"Yes, you are. And now." This Sesshomaru commanded. The samurai stopped laughing, glaring at this Sesshomaru hatefully. The human threw the girl away from him then, forcing her down onto the ground harshly. The girl clutched her right side where she had landed, moaning.
"I think not!" The man spat before he attempted to rush this Sesshomaru. This Sesshomaru was much swifter, and before the man had time to draw his sword, this Sesshomaru had him in the air by the neck.
The young woman noticed this Sesshomaru finally as he flexed his wrist, and the man's neck snapped easily. Squeezing, this Sesshomaru denied the man the last breath of air he had and, without effort, tossed the man into the river nearby. The body crashed loudly onto one of the boats, sinking it. From her position on the ground not far from him, the young woman gasped, her jaw completely slack. She seemed more shocked to see this Sesshomaru than fearful, her eyes tracing over him as if to understand how he suddenly came to be standing before her.
"Wh-why you!" One of the surrounding samurais cursed, and the men once more raised their swords. At this moment however, the young woman saw her chance to escape. She stood, clutching her side, and pushed past the distracted samurai. She almost made it to the tall reeds nearby, when Jaken stepped out.
"Uh, Lord Sesshomaru?" He called out, making the young woman fall back with a shriek, "I regret to inform there are no boats."
The imp blinked at the scene before him, frowning as he realized his mistake.
"Uh…unless you count those over there, of course."
All at once, the men began to shout.
"Wh-what is that?"
"You're not even human!"
"They're beasts!"
"Worse than beasts!"
"Kill them!"
This Sesshomaru, indifferent, turned from them.
"Jaken, this one leaves them to you." He instructed the imp as he made his way over to the boats. Jaken started to laugh wickedly at the opportunity before him. Coming closer, the imp raised the staff.
"Feel the power of the Staff of the Skulls!" The Imp shouted, and the face of the Old Man opened its mouth, spewing a river of fire. The men barely had time to scream before they found their bodies, not merely burned, but scorched by the heat so quickly their bodies unraveled into ash even as they attempted to raise their arms to protect their faces. Within moments, all that was left of the army standing before the imp was a black scar of earth.
"They might have been spared, yet such is the arrogance of these lofty samurai warriors, that each and every time Lord Sesshomaru must teach their lesson anew!" Jaken boasted, but if he intended to have this Sesshomaru hear it, it missed its mark.
This Sesshomaru was now before the boats, ready to claim one. But wading in the waters of the shore nearby was the woman.
Perhaps she thought, after running from Jaken, to escape the flames by swimming across the river. But the side she clutched denied her the strength to commit, as this Sesshomaru now caught the scent of blood. Perhaps it was from a previous wound, as no human could be so delicate to suffer such from a simple fall. This Sesshomaru would have ignored her and went on his way…but the scent of her blood blossomed around him, and before this Sesshomaru realized, he was standing before her.
"You, woman." He growled, and the young woman let out some strangled 'yip' at his voice, nearly falling over into the water.
She looked at him nervously as she faced him, her entire body shaking in exertion and fear. This Sesshomaru viewed her over once more, finding that not only was her blood the true source of her scent but that she also had hidden a great amount of spiritual power. Perhaps she was no mere peasant, but a priestess? Why then did she look so vulnerable?
"Tell this one, what are you?" This Sesshomaru asked accusingly. The young woman quirked a brow at him, confused by his question. She seemed to understand that he was deserving of respect however, and so attempted a bow.
"I'm…I'm Reiko." She answered softly, but she hissed as the pain in her side flared. Blood was now seeping through her robe, droplets falling into the water at her ankles. The scent intensified around her. This Sesshomaru could feel the instinct from before stir as if she was some cornered and wounded prey that needed to be devoured. The scent demanded that he do so. Howevever, this Sesshomaru merely narrowed his eyes, and the young woman quickly understood that she did not really satisfy his question.
"I am...nothing," She hesitated, "Just a peasant girl the samurais captured."
She acted reverently towards him, and yet, this woman dare lie to this Sesshomaru? Surely this was a falsehood, as this Sesshomaru could clearly see she was anything but nothing. And yet, there was no telling lie in her expression or voice. Perhaps she believed what she said. Very well, if she did not acknowledge it, then neither would this Sesshomaru.
"Hn." This Sesshomaru scoffed as he could feel the influence of her scent fading as quickly as it had appeared. Whatever spell it had been, it no longer affected him. A momentary curiosity, that was all. She was human after all, and far beneath his recognition.
"My Lord Sesshomaru! The staff's changed position! It must be the fang, it changed location!" Jaken called out, and this Sesshomaru turned towards his servant. It was true, the staff had once more changed position, yet still, the best course to take would be down the river. As such, this Sesshomaru moved to secure one of the boats.
"Wait!" The woman called out to him as he began to leave.
This Sesshomaru stopped, but did not turn to acknowledge her. She had acted so sensibly before, was she now risking this Sesshomaru's wrath by calling to him so familiarly? She had wasted enough of his time already, of which she was unworthy of, and his claws tensed to bring her down to her proper station.
"Don't you…don't you want to eat my heart?" She asked uncertainly, and this Sesshomaru glanced over his shoulder to meet her eye.
She looked…confused. Her question was not asked out of fear, but complete disbelief. She stared at him as if expecting to read the answer from his mind, yet found herself unable.
"Is that something you desire?" He challenged, and the woman frowned at his reply. Such a question was an insult to answer for this Sesshomaru. He would never foul his body with the flesh of lowly mortals. The woman was not afraid of his warning though, and after a moment, she even laughed. It was a laugh of relief, but also of complete bewilderment as if he said the last thing she ever expected to hear.
"No." She smiled, "Not really."
"Silence filthy human! How dare you address my lord!" Jaken, finally noticing the woman, came over to curse. This Sesshomaru though was through with wasting his time, and would not be bothered with unnecessary violence towards the woman. She was no enemy and not in his way, and thus, not worthy of Sesshomaru's attention.
"Jaken. The boat." He ordered, and the imp jumped to obey.
"Ah, of course, my lord!"
In moments, they were boarded, with Jaken manning the pole. Pushing off from shore, the boat steered itself downstream. This Sesshomaru was aware of the woman who still waded by the shore, uncertain what to do with herself. Just before they were out of her sight, she started to wave at him.
"Thank you for not eating me, Lord Sesshomaru!" She called out, still smiling.
This Sesshomaru nearly sneered. The gratitude of a human? Was there anything more worthless in this world? Surely, she could not be so foolish to think he was a kindly rescuer?
"Silence human! Be thankful my lord spared you this day!" Jaken yelled back at her before turning and muttering to himself, "Such insolence. That human should have burned with the others and had her heart eaten! Her sweet blood would - !"
This Sesshomaru glanced to his servant, watching the imp shake his head to clear whatever thought he left unsaid. So, the woman's scent affected him as well? Is that why she expected to have her heart eaten? There was something, something about her that spoke to both their yokai natures. How strange…yet this Sesshomaru though would not allow any more of his curiosity to speculate on the woman or her scent. There were greater things that called to him, and so, he put her far from his mind as he continued his search for the Tessaiga…
A few notes here:
The dialogue for Sesshomaru's part was taken right from the English dub version of Sesshomaru's introduction in the Inuyasha series' fifth episode. When I first watched it as a young teen, I had no idea what that beautiful man was talking about, but I was captivated (honestly, it was pics of Sesshomaru that got me watching and reading the series in the first place. Sorry, but Inuyasha is just not my type). I also took inspiration from the opening scenes of 'Inuyasha Movie 3: Swords of an Honorable Ruler' too. I know this chapter was long, but I really wanted to dissect what Sesshomaru might be thinking when he said those things. Let me know if you think I have his personality down, because that is seriously half of Sesshomaru's appeal (the other half is comprised of his looks, Rin, and definitely his mokomoko). I also did research on what it was that Sesshomaru ate if anything, and didn't find anything conclusive. For my purpose, he eats lower yokai but not typically humans despite other fan theories (I really think he wouldn't view them as worthy of even being dogfood, so that's my take).
Also, Genreal Asano, or Soju Asano, is a reference to the father of Sara Asano, the woman from episode 133 and 134. You know her, 'The Woman Who Loved Sesshomaru'? That bitch? I took a guess that the samurai battalion that Sesshomaru killed in episode 5 was a part of the same enemy army that he later slaughtered when he was walking through the battlefield near Asano Castle trying to find a place to rest after Inuyasha cut off his arm in the following episodes (hm...I wonder if that means we'll be seeing him again shortly...tehe).
Well, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and that you all will join Reiko in the next when she wakes up in a village. She rests there for a while, trying to recover from her wounds until, of course, a yokai attacks. The villagers then see her spiritual powers and ask her to become their miko! Reiko must then come to a decision, and in doing so meets a familiar, and adorable, little orphan we all know…
