Don't own Inuyasha, but Enjoy and REVIEW!
Chapter 4: A Duel With Sesshoumaru?! Are You Serious?! Do you want me to die?!
The smell that hit his nose made his mouth water as he entered the camp. Sesshoumaru sniffed the air and found it was the fish that gave off such a scent. Sesshoumaru looked at his little group. The children and Jaken looked at the fish as if they were starving dogs. Curious he watched the rather pleasing smile of Juliet as she stroked the fire and fend off the hungry pups and imp.
"The fish is nearly ready. Jaken don't you dare take that fish unless you want to loose a hand! Kage be patience I don't want any of you getting food poisoning from eating raw fish even if your a youkai I don't trust you eating raw fish!" She smiled at Rin who licked her little lips making Juliet giggle while she held back Kage from snagging a fish. Seeing the boy in the woman's lap Sesshoumaru gave a quick look around for Aoi who was standing next to a tree with several large knots on his head and a broken nose. Seemed Juliet had her revenge.
Sesshoumaru walked near Rin who greeted him happily, "Good morning my Lord!"
"Morning, Mi'lord," Jaken also greeted but he added a low bow.
"How's your morning so far, Sesshoumaru? For me it's been rather interesting and it's not even noon yet," Juliet said than laughed.
"Besides breaking my nose?" Aoi demanded. "How can such a small woman hit so damn hard?!"
She ignored him as she waited for Sesshoumaru to answer, "This Sesshoumaru's status is not your concern woman."
"You mean you don't want to answer a dumb question, that's okay, but seeing as we are under an alliance shouldn't we know each other's status and help keep each other's health in prime condition? However if you feel that is to personal then please don't feel obligated to say anything." She said logically as her smile widen. "Either way food is ready."
"What are you a politic?" Jaken demanded.
"No, just clever," she answered back. Juliet then placed the food on banana leaves and said, "Alright kids you get first pick."
She watch as the children took what they wanted and she divided the rest between Sesshoumaru, Aoi, Jaken, and herself onto different banana leaves. She offered Sesshoumaru his portion first, "Hear you go. Even if you don't want it one bit would make me very happy." Then she turned to Jaken next and gave him his and last to Aoi.
"Why do I get my after the imp?!" Aoi demanded.
"Because I respect the toad more than I respect a whinny pervert like you." she said then smiled wickedly, "Plus you're lucky to be eating at all after what you pulled. Matter of fact you're lucky to be breathing in the first place and if you ever do that again... I will kill you."
Finally she turned to her own food and began to eat. Juliet ate slowly savoring eat bit and thinking of ways to make it taste even better for next time.
Sesshoumaru stood there for a moment thinking he'd give it back to her saying he didn't eat human food, but... it smell so good he couldn't resist. He leaped into a tree lifting the metal skewer and he bit into the juicy fish. The fish was melt in his mouth good. It was tender, juicy, and the flavors exploded in his mouth. The last time he had something delicious like this was when his Nana -ahem- his grandmother made him dinner a few days before she was killed during the war with the panther tribe and that was when he was a young pup still. He ended up eating every last bit without even noticing and he still wanted more.
Juliet saw that and she felt over joyed. Her maid back home always said the fastest way to a man's heart was his stomach. Now Sesshoumaru looked like he was going to fire his cooks to hire her on as his personal cook for life. After finishing her meal she wait for everyone else and went to clean the skewers and other item she used to make breakfast at the river and when she turned she gasped.
"Sesshoumaru you startled me!" she exclaimed and then she instantly calmed. She just felt safe near Sesshoumaru he was the most powerful youkai in all of Japan after all. Maybe she should fear him, but she couldn't bring herself to do it, but she did respect him for the most part anyway. Now that she thought about it Juliet had so many questions she wanted to ask like what was his father really like or why he fought with Inuyasha all the time? She thought he just used Inuyasha to blow off steam or perhaps a warm up exercise. If Sesshoumaru wasn't so cocky back then he would of never lost his left arm like he did. At the thought of the pain Sesshoumaru must of felt made her heart drop with sadness. Why couldn't I been brought back just a little earlier?
Sesshoumaru watched the girl as she calmed down as soon as she saw him. He had never seen anyone relax near him other than Rin. It was like this human girl trusted him with her life. Most tensed around him knowing his temper, but she was relaxed even though he could break her neck like a twig at a moments notice. Without knowing what he was doing he asked, "Do you fear death?"
She looked up at him and her head cocked to the right in a rather cute manner, but unknowingly to her she had exposed her neck in accidental submission that made his head speedup slightly, "If I died today I would be rather content, but the only thing I would be worried about is my son. Where would he go? Who would take care of him? Who'd comfort him if he had a nightmare and I wasn't there to comfort him? Things like that is the only thing I would worry about if I died, but no I don't fear death. Do you, Sesshoumaru?"
"No," was all he said. It was rather strange listening to this woman speak. He found himself wanting her to speak more and her accidental submission to him caused his heart to quicken in excitement. It confused him... Why? This Sesshoumaru has never been like this with anyone, but why now? With her? It can't be... I won't allow it. Even to himself his mental denial sounded halfhearted and then he thought, Is it that this Sesshoumaru just crave... companionship after being without for so long without this Sesshoumaru's pack?
"Didn't think you would." she said and stood. "Did you want to talk to me? You should know it's okay to ask me whatever you want."
"Why would this Sesshoumaru want to speak to a human wench?" he shot back.
"Because this particular human wench is intriguing otherwise you wouldn't ask me so many questions. Honestly I don't mind, but if that is all for now I'm going to give my son a bath." she said as she walked away to retrieve her son.
.
"But I don't want to take a bath momma!" Kage whined.
"Kage I will not have a stinky son. You are taking a bath!" she said smiling firmly.
"Fine! Only because it's you!" He said.
"Rin after I'm done bathing my son... would you like me to bathe you, too?" Juliet asked.
"Sure!" Rin replied rather happily.
"Alright," Juliet smiled as took Kage way for a bath.
"Momma, you seem happier," Kage said as she scrubbed his back.
"I do?" she asked surprised. "How so?"
"Well you had fake smiles on your face for a while until we joined Sesshoumaru and his group. Do you know him somehow?" he asked.
She sighed, Damn this kid is perspective! She thought to herself. "I... was sad Kage. I've been dragged to a place I'm not accustom to and I miss my family and my friends. I guess I'm just getting over it. As for Sesshoumaru I respect him. I can tell he's honorable and I have no clue what he saw in me to even suggest an alliance. To him I'm suppose to be a nothing more than lowly human right? But he treats me... I don't really know how he treats me. Maybe like a person? I don't know. It confuses me."
Sesshoumaru was close enough to hear this conversation without straining his sensitive ears. She avoided the question, he thought. Does she know this Sesshoumaru? I don't remember her. Is that why she trust this Sesshoumaru enough to speak so freely and to not fear my presence? Is this also the reason she respects this Sesshoumaru? Like usual he received more questions that answers about Juliet. Well at least it kept her interesting. Now that he thought about it when he watched her before they joined forces Juliet's smiles were defiantly forced and not that carefree or kind smile she had now well except when Kage called her mother for the first time. This was all just to strange to him.
Juliet lifted Kage out the water and dressed him, but then she suddenly scream, "Kage run back to camp now! It's Naraku!"
"Oh we are antiquated are we?" Naraku laughed. "I can't seem to remember you, but you know my face."
He's creeper in real life and he's a big ass spider! Big ass spider! I hate spiders! Juliet thought as she drew her sword. If Sesshoumaru doesn't hurry up and get here I'm so dead!
"More than I like to be," she said mostly to herself. "How does it feel to be out done by a half-breed, half-wit like Inuyasha? Kikyo may have died, but Inuyasha still won in the end. Isn't that right, Onigumo? It must kill your man hood knowing Kikyo will never be yours! Either way you're just another asshole to me! So bring it you goddamn abomination that gives true Hanyous a bad name!"
Juliet knew what she said was hitting Naraku blow the belt and straight in the daddy bags she saw it in his face that also held surprise. He knew what he was thinking, How does this little wench know so much about me and I know nothing of her? How dare this wench insult me the Naraku?!
She didn't know what came over her, but she was just so pissed at Naraku suddenly. Just looking at him was getting on her nerves. Fear was no where to be found in her scent. She just wanted a good fight. No that wasn't it... she wanted blood.
"Juliet!" Aoi called out.
"Stay back, Aoi! You're arrows will have no effect on this guy!" Juliet growled.
"And you will?" Naraku asked.
"Alone maybe not, but still this should be rather fun. Don't you thing?" she smiled darkly.
Naraku laughed as he scent his tentacles at her. Her sword slashed at them with expert technique, but to the surprise of both Naraku and Juliet the sword did more than just cut. It burned with a holy white light making Naraku's tentacles melt away.
"Well this isn't something you see ever day." she said then she didn't see any miasma and that pissed her off even more. "Damn coward this is just your puppet! Otherwise there would be you disgusting miasma floating around! Get your ass here and fight me like a real man! I will not be a toy in you stinking lame ass games! What is watching the only way you can get it up, you damn pervert!"
Aoi suddenly started busting out laughing and Sesshoumaru looked at her in utter surprised well the surprise was in his eyes not his schooled face. Sesshoumaru never seen her so mad and she really didn't have a fear of death. Or maybe she had a death wish? A Naraku puppet was powerful for a human it would be rather difficult, but she stood the her sword at the ready and no shoes on her feet. It was inspiring sight even if it was rather reckless.
Enough of this! I just have to get to the heart and this fight is over!
More tentacles burst after her and they seemed to be endless. She slashed and slashed as she thought of a way to get closer. The only option she saw what to jump up the sea of tentacles as Naraku floated in the middle of a damn creak. She shivered at the thought, "This is going to be gross." she mumbled to herself and she jumped onto a tentacle. "Ew!" she eeped as she jumped up to the next one. "Gross!... Oh kami this one is wet!" she made different comments on his tentacles as she leaped and dodged puppet Naraku's tentacles, but some manage to cut into her legs making her wince in pain. At the top she made one final jump and slashed him down the middle cutting the doll in half.
The puppet turned to ashes under her as she fell into the water with a large splash. After a few moments of silence she emerged from the water with a huge proud happy smile on her face, "That was awesome! Let's do that again!" she called out as both of her hands went up in victory before she sheathed her sword and swam to the bank completely soaked. She laughed, "Not that is the way to relieve stress!"
This woman was either extremely brave or completely and utterly bonkers... no one could decide which.
O.o
Juliet patched her legs up with herbs and both Rin and Kage helped wrapped her wounds. "Momma you should be more careful," Kage said firmly as tear fell down his tiny face. "I don't want to loose my momma!"
Juliet blinked, "Oh," she cooed as she picked up her son and held him close, "Kage... you never have to worry about loosing me. I won't let myself get killed."
"You... you promise?" Kage whimpered looking for reassurance with his puppy eyes that melted Juliet's heart.
She pulled back and looked him in the eye, "I promise, pup." then she pulled him close and comforted the small boy in her arms as he cried, "Shh, pup. Everything is going to be alright."
Sesshoumaru was having a hard time believing she was human as she gave off a low growl that vibrated in her throat. He knew that was the way the Inuyoukai comforted their young and now a human of all things was doing just the same.
"Golden wings take flight..." her voice began to sing softly of the lullaby that her grandfather sang to her long ago and she had never forgotten the words.
Silver wings rule the night...
A broken heart heals...
Another swells with love...
A girl in the moon light smiles so bright...
Fear flees in fright from the sight...
Golden wings take flight...
Silver wings rule the night...
Listen and you can hear her sing...
She sings a lullaby so catchy it rings...
She sings for the ones we've lost...
And the ones we have found...
Golden wings take flight...
Sliver wings rule the night...
"And my you days be bright... and your dreams be full of light," she sang softly as she ended the song.
She held her pup in her arms as he slept. She honestly didn't like seeing her pup cry. It pinched painfully at her heart to see. Juliet rocked him back and forth in a slow, gentle motion as he fell asleep. Then she took a small blanket from her bag and placed him on it while Sesshoumaru eyed her curiously.
He had heard that song before, but for the life of him he couldn't remember where he knew it. Ugh! This woman was driving him mad! She would be kind and all smiles one second and the a smartass with a temper the next. It was infuriating (and entertaining... like you Sesshoumaru would admit that! DX)!
Sesshoumaru remembered one of his father's combat lessons when he was a pup then. Toga's voice played in his mind, "Remember my son, you can learn a lot about a person from the way the duel. It my reveal ones true self."
If that's so... this Sesshoumaru shall duel this wench, he thought to himself.
"Woman," His deep voice called.
"Yes, Sesshoumaru? Is there something you need?" Juliet asked as she smiled widely looking rather innocent.
"You said you practice every morning. Show me what you can do in a duel with this Sesshoumaru." he said... well more like ordered!
Her eyes widen in surprise, What?! A Duel With Sesshoumaru?! Are You Serious?! Do you want me to die?! Can I refuse?! (No, no... you can not! -evil grin-)
Sesshoumaru watched as her eyes suddenly narrowed, "Of course," she replied as she slowly stood and then she smiled happily, "Where will we duel?"
"Follow, Jaken stay here and watch the children. If either are harmed I will kill you." He said coldly.
"If my son is harmed, toad. The one should be worry about killing you is me. You better hope Sesshoumaru kills you first, Jaken. I won't be as merciful as to give you a swift death and the same goes you, Aoi, and protect Rin while you're at it." She growled at them threateningly.
Jaken gulped and for the first time there was some who scared him more than Sesshoumaru's smile.
Aoi also gulped knowing just how bad the 'punishment' would be if Kage was ever harmed. "Your son will come to no harm and neither will Rin, Lady Juliet." he replied with a charming voice and smile.
She rolled her eyes at his so called 'charms' before following Sesshoumaru deep into the woods. They traveled quietly together, but it wasn't an awkward silence. Juliet felt rather comfortable with it. She couldn't figure out why, but she felt safe with him and she trusted him. She did know she shouldn't. He could kill her with one slash of his deadly claws, but she couldn't help but to feel... protected.
They arrived at a clearing around twenty minutes later and at the center Sesshoumaru stopped. "Repair yourself," Sesshoumaru ordered.
"As you wish," Juliet said as she cracked her neck and then drew her sword to stand at the ready. She could feel her blood pumping through her with excitement and her sword began to glow white again. "Why does my sword keep doing this?" she suddenly questioned as she stared at the blade.
"You don't know what that is?" he asked as he drew Tokijin.
"Is it a Youkai's or Miko's power? Can you tell?" she asked.
"Hn, I can it's a Miko's," he replied.
"That's actually awesome," she said smiling then she saw Sesshoumaru give her an odd look. She blush realizing why, "Awesome is an expression that means amazing, stupendous, or wonderful." Maybe with this I can truly help Sesshoumaru somehow? Maybe I'll be useful to him?
He nodded, "Are you ready?" Sesshoumaru inquired.
"I am," she replied as her eyes focused on him.
Sesshoumaru striked to hear a clang.
Holy crap he's fast! Such speed, such power! It's amazing! I barely blocked him! My arms are shacking under the strain! Juliet admired and panicked at the same time.
Juliet pushed back and ducked as her blade went for Sesshoumaru's ribs. Clang her sword met up with her's.
She's testing me to see my strengths and weaknesses. This is to test my strength alone. She is swift and her feet are light. This is the shadow step style, Sesshoumaru thought in awe. (Shadow step means she uses false moves and footings before making her strike. It basically keeps the opponent guessing like Monkey Style in Kung Fu.)
Sesshoumaru striked and striked at her but she dodged and dodged. It seemed her feet hardly hit the ground. Sesshoumaru had to strain his ears to the point it caused them to hurt just to hear her footing. Cloud step, Sesshoumaru thought, it's meant for dodging only. She's testing my speed now. Impressive... she can change styles so quickly. She really is a master. Who is her father? These moves are practiced by youkai royal family only!
Then he felt a hard hit to his left side with the flat side of her blade, "Hey don't go day dreaming on me, Sesshoumaru." Juliet said smiling proud she even lasted five minutes.
He smirked as he slashed at her again. Her cloud step was only a defensive move only and undefeatable at that... unless you take out the legs.
Sesshoumaru swiftly leg swept at her legs, "Oof!" Juliet grunted as she hit the ground but in less than a second she was on her feet. She striked at Sesshoumaru this time and there blades clashed.
Sesshoumaru watched as the blade suddenly went black and Juliet's hair turned white and her impossibly blue eyes gained slits like his own. It wasn't her that was changing in truth. It was the sword leading it's inner strength to it's master and in the process changing her. She sprouted claws and fangs as she pushed Sesshoumaru back with her brute strength. She paused, "What. The. Hell?" she said as she looked over her claws and hair in genuine shock. Sesshoumaru watched as she ran her tongue over her newly formed fangs. "Sesshoumaru?" she asked nervously. "What's... happening?"
"Your family seem to have a very powerful sword." Sesshoumaru answered coldly. "Your sword has turned you into a demoness."
She turned patting her ear with her free hand finding it pointy. "Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap! HOLY CRAP!" she muttered frantic as her sword pulled itself from her hands.
"Mistress..." the sword said sounding like several different female voices at once with some low pitched voices and some with higher pitches. "I am your sword. You maybe a demoness or human when ever you wish. I am here to serve the human who no longer ages. In other words you are my immortal mistress."
"I'm... immortal? What the? What does this even mean?! Who are you?! How am I immortal?!" She demanded as she panicked.
"I bare no name. You as the tenth generation I have wait for your return for a very long time..." it said.
"My return?" she asked.
"Yes... return you are the reincarnation of my last mistress." it said. "You're father's line had nothing, but sons until you."
"Okay... where is the off switch so I can be human again?" she asked.
"All you have to do is think 'I want to be human again' or if you wish to be demon again 'I want to be youkai again'." it said before sheathing itself.
She merely nodded, "Too weird..." Juliet said returning to camp as she turned human again. "I really have to think of this... If my dad knew about this... I'll kick his ass!"
She left Sesshoumaru completely dumbfounded. An immortal human? He never heard of such a thing! Though it would explain her strange scent. Humans have a slight traces of the scent of decay and she had none. How very strange.
