Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha. All rights are reserved for Rumiko Takahashi.
We made our way to where we sensed the shard and both gazed upon the scene in silent horror. People lay strewn across the ground in clusters of men, women, and children. A gruesome scene of slaughtered families. I pulled an arrow from my quiver and readied myself for whatever kind of monster we would surely have to face.
"It's coming," she whispered to me as she mimicked me with the drawing of her weapon.
"What exactly though?" I asked with anticipation before my eyes were met with the demon itself. It was over six feet tall and had red jewel like eyes.
"An ogre demon I would presume." She glanced over at me before she drew her arrow back.
I pulled at my bow string, feeling the power build up in it, and then let my arrow fly beside Kikyo's. To my great dismay my arrow choose this day to miss it's target. I groaned inwardly as Kikyo made a perfect strike at the demon's left shoulder close to his heart.
The ogre shrieked with pain and then charged at us head on. We split up in opposite directions and my bad luck continued. The demon was close behind me so instead of running with the possibility of tripping, I turned to face the demon with an arrow in hand. I readied my arrow as the demon neared, but it fell from my grasp at the last possible second. I shut my eyes tight and waited for the impact of the demon's claws and yet, to my surprise, they never came. Instead I heard the sound of a whip and a startled cry of pain. I quickly opened my eyes to see blood raining down from the headless body of the demon who pursued me moments before.
My eyes flickered to Kikyo's form and noticed she had had another arrow poised but never let it fly. If it wasn't Kikyo who killed the demon, then who did? I searched the scene for the answer until my eyes met the cold amber eyes watching me. Shock coursed through me at the sight of Inuyasha's older, deadlier brother Sesshomaru. He stood meters away with a blank face and calculating eyes.
"Lord Sesshomaru?" I asked quietly knowing he could hear me. That was the second time Sesshomaru had saved my life, though the first time he denied it was a rescue. His gaze became somehow more serious as he stepped towards me.
"Miko, where is Inuyasha?" His voice was as cold as his eyes which seemed to pierce right through me.
"Why should I tell you that, Lord Sesshomaru?" I asked defiantly, knowing I was pushing my luck. Before I could blink or register the movement being made, he was before me with his clawed hand around my neck. Tears welled in my eyes as I struggled to breathe. My hands pulled wildly at his wrist, but he held me firmly against a tree. I had never really found myself against a rock and a hard place, but I figured Sesshomaru and this tree were deadly similar to that kind of situation.
"I saved your life moments ago, but I will take it if you refuse to cooperate." He was dead serious as always, but as my heart pounded in my ears my focus became fuzzy and concentration was lost.
"Put her down," Kikyo said fiercely with her bow at the ready.
His hold slackened on my neck, allowing some air to pass through. He looked down at me again and then brought his lips to my ear. I shivered at the close proximity and tried to pulled away as fear coursed through me.
"I will come back for you..." He whispered in my ear so quietly I wasn't sure if I heard him right and then he was gone.
My knees gave way beneath me as I tried to step away from the tree and I sat there trying to clear my head. My hands were still shaking when Kikyo knelt before me. I was scared at the though of him coming back for me. Why would he ever want to do that? My mind jumped to many conclusions until I found one that was most reasonable. He wanted to kill me and I was certain of this.
"Are you alright?" She asked worriedly. I looked up at her and forgot my troubles for a second.
"I'm fine, thanks." I smiled at her as she helped me to my feet.
"What did he say to you?" She asked.
"He wanted Inuyasha." I said quietly.
"I know that. I mean what did he said to you when he leaned in close to you like that?" She asked curiosity in her voice now. "He must have said something to you."
"I- I couldn't make out what he said." I recovered quickly. She glanced at me with an unreadable look and I guessed she had caught on to my lie.
"I have the jewel shard so we should see to burying the dead now."
Her words brought me back to the reality of the dead that lay around me. I nodded sobering up and followed her lead. We finished burying the dead at sunset and we both decided to make our camp near the hot springs. I set up my red sleeping bag before I decided to go back to the springs and clean off the dirt from grave digging.
Kikyo didn't come with me this time and I guessed we both needed some quiet time. I undress and stepped into the delightfully warm water of the springs with a heavy sigh. His words stilled played in my head and I worried that he actually would come for me. My thoughts about him continued until I actually believed that he might have wanted me for different reasons. A blush tainted my cheeks at the thought of Sesshomaru wanting me.
I waded into the water until my hips where submersed. I let my thoughts rage on until I felt a hand slide firmly across my waist pulling me to the strong torso of the hand's owner. A gasp escaped my lips as I turned my head to see beautiful golden eyes starring at my naked body contently. My body shivered with something much different from fear now as the excitement rose in my chest.
Sesshomaru was holding me to his half naked body admiring my own. I silently turned to him and placed my hands on his bear chest enjoying the feeling of his rippling muscles beneath my fingertips. A growled resounded in his chest as he pulled me closer to him.
"I told you I would come back for you, did I not?" He spoke low and calmly which betrayed the fire burning in his eyes.
"So you don't want to kill me?" I asked stupidly.
"Not yet." He replied.
I gulped back fear at his words and was about to protest when his lips seized mind in a hungry and demanding fashion. For some reason I didn't pulled away, but instead met his lips with the same hungry ferocity that seemed to consume my soul. His hand roamed my body as the kiss deepened and I could feel sparks from ever touch. I thought surely we would burst into flames if this hunger were not satisfied.
Our bodied were moments away from being intertwined when he stopped suddenly and pulled away. I found myself starring at an empty spring and no demon lord in sight. I replayed what had just happened in my head and shook with disbelief. I hurriedly got out of the spring positive that I had gotten dizzy and confused daydreams with real life.
I dressed into my pajamas and then found my way back to camp. I snuggled into my sleeping bag quickly to avoid being caught in the dropping temperatures around me. I noticed that Kikyo had started a fire when I was gone and I thanked her quietly for remembering old human frailties that she surely forgot long ago from her human years. I watched her sleeping in a tree of choice and again admired her grace.
I wondered why I had to be in the feudal era for a moment. Sure broken the jewel, but now that Kikyo was back she could realistically take my place in finding and protecting the jewel. On top of that Inuyasha loved Kikyo more so it would have been a double score. I dispelled these dark thoughts as my mind shifted to Sesshomaru. A true god like phantom he was, so aloof and strong. I continued to wonder about him until sleep overtook me, but my dreams reflected my thoughts so I was not without his company tonight.
"Though a phantom he might be, I would love to be his Christine." I thought at last as my eyelids fluttered close.
To be Continued...
Thank you for reading! I am glad for the reviews and hope that I have done well to portray Kikyo as more of a friend. I will post the next chapter soon so please review and let me know what you think about the story so far! The next chapter is in Sesshomaru's point of view to explain things further. Next chapter: Obsession of Sorts. Thanks again!
-Lala 3