A/N: I know my stay says that the two main characters are Kagome and Sesshomaru, and I haven't had them is story but just a mention, but this chapter has Sesshomaru in it! Enjoy!
Kasumi returned to her room, suddenly feeling exhausted like she'd never been before. She got down on the leather mat on the floor and just laid there. Even though she couldn't move, she was so tired, sleep wouldn't come to her. As she was finally starting to drift off into the dreamy bliss of sleep, she heard a loud bang that jolted her into a sitting position. As she was scrambling up from the floor, another boom resounded through the room.
She dashed outside to see what was happening, and was almost knocked over the rope railings from the thousands of pieces of tiny bamboo splinters that flew at her. She ran ahead to the next bridge where she could more clearly see what was happening. Just as she passed through the hut unto the second bridge, the roof behind her collapsed in on itself. The remains of the bamboo structure immediately caught fire and smoke rose out of the rubble, clouding her vision.
A tall shadow passed over her head, heading toward the burial ground. She followed it as far as the end of the bridge when all of a sudden,
"Where do you think you're going?" Kasumi stopped dead in her tracks as Ijiwaru seemed to magically appear in front of her. "I told you to keep away from this place." he hissed in her ear. "I will deal with the problem at hand, while you return to your room."
"But I can't!" Kasumi protested. When the demon narrowed his eyes at her, she squeaked out, "the other hut collapsed, and I can't get through it..."
Kasumi felt a slight vibration beneath her feet, and looking down, wondered what was really happening when the wooden planks started to shift up and slightly lift her into the air, as if someone had just jumped on the other end.
"Ah, Sesshomaru-sama, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Ijiwaru was gazing at the other end of the bridge, where when Kasumi turned around, a tall man dressed in a white-and-red kimono was standing. The other man said nothing, but instead drew one of the two swords at his side and glared at Ijiwaru. "Still using Tokijin, eh? Haven't you been able to attain your half-brother's blade yet?"
At that, Sesshomaru started forward, an broke into a run after the first step. He ran at impossible speeds, and at the last moment, Ijiwaru grabbed Kasumi by the waist and flung himself over the edge of the bridge. Kasumi could hear the whiz of the blade as it passed through the nothing where they were standing.
When she finally registered that she and Ijiwaru were presumably falling to their deaths, she screamed, and screamed. And screamed.
"Honestly woman, do you do nothing but purposely agitate me?" Ijiwaru called over the sound of the wind. Not two seconds later, she heard a loud rip, and was suddenly jerked back. She felt as if she were rising up, and pried open her eyes-not noticing she had closed them. She was clinging to Ijiwaru, who had two, massive wings protruding from his back. His kimono was torn where the leathery wings connected to his scaly skin. He flew up, away from where they fell, and landed on a flat piece of rock, overlooking the entire chasm.
No sooner did her feet touch the ground, when he shoved her away from himself, almost knocking her over the edge of the rock. "Try to stay put this time, will you?" he growled, jumping over to where the grave, and Sesshomaru was.
Kasumi watched from a distance as Ijiwaru and Sesshomaru fought mercilessly. Ijiwaru raked his opposer's face with his long, needle-like claws. Sesshomaru seemed not to notice the bloody marks on his face, and cut a deep gash in Ijiwaru's stomach. Ijiwaru brought back his clawed hand and went straight for Shesshomau's heart. But his opponent was to fast for him, and he only managed to tear into his left arm. Kasumi stared in wonder at the sleeve of his kimono, it was torn to shreds, it should have had a limb that looked like the equivalent of raw hamburger, but it was free of blood and any skin at all. And the ruining of his kimono only seemed to make Sesshomaru angrier.
After whet seemed like centuries, Sesshomaru swung his sword and sliced off Ijiwaru's right hand. He did not cry out in pain, but instead started laughing. Smoothly, Sesshomaru drew back his blade and thrust it into the demon's heart. Ijiwaru fell to his knees, smiling, as if this was all a joke to him. Kasumi saw his lips move, but could not hear what was said. Suddenly, the earth around Ijiwaru burst into flames, as did the grave. Sesshomaru retrieved his blade and returned it to his sheath. The victor looked in Kasumi's direction, and met her eyes, then walked away from Ijiwaru's burning form.
Kasumi scrambled down the mountain as far as she could before Sesshomaru appeared on a narrow step next to her, making her almost fall. Up close, she could see that his eyes were golden, with a full head of bright, silver hair. He had a blue crescent moon and his forehead and other red markings on his face. She also saw that the gashes from the battle had all healed.
[Another demon...] she mentally kicked herself for not realizing it earlier. "You aren't going to kill me, are you?" she cautiously inquired.
Sesshomaru stared at her, as if deciding whether or not she was worth answering. Finally he said, "That would be a waste of this Sesshomaru's time, ningen*."
He turned to leave her there, and Kasumi shouted, "Wait!" he paused. "Will you take me with you?" Sesshomaru turned his head.
"What you chose to waste your time on is of no concern to me." at that, he set out again, walking down the crudely carved steps. After a moments hesitation, Kasumi started after him, deciding that she would most likely be safer with this demon who seemed indifferent toward her, than by herself in this world. Wouldn't she?
A/N: *for those of you who didn't know, ningen is Japenese for human, brownies for anyone who did! And reviews are always welcome!
