Well, my apologies for my constantly oh, so sparatic appearances, disappearances, and reappearances (that is if anybody out there in concerened for my well-being XD) but after fighting the flukes of life and working on my NaNoWriMo novel I finally sat down and finished my much-anticipated chapter 7 (though I hate to dissapoint and say we still have yet to get to the juicy parts)
Anyway,
ENJOI
Sesshomaru
"Um, Lord Sesshomaru?" Jaken asked quietly. Sesshomaru sighed and glared at the small demon. The two sat in the comforts of the small house atop the highest point in Kamiki. The house in which Sesshomaru had spent so many nights with his child, telling her stories, watching her sleep, Sesshomaru sighed, wondering where the time went.
"What is it, Jaken?" he asked, taking note to how quiet the other demon was being. He had a feeling he knew where this was leading.
"Well, it's just…" Jaken began, twiddling his fingers, "Do you really think we can trust that Kagura? I mean, it's not like she actually cares about your daughter, or even you for that matter—not saying that you're not important, Milord, I just—"
"Jaken," Sesshomaru cut off. The little frog jumped and eyed his lord in fear. Sesshomaru sighed, his eyes drifting to the other side of the sliding doors that separated the main part of the house from the sleeping quarters. The candle lit in the other room displayed the two silhouettes of Kagura tucking Etsuko into bed. Words were exchanged on the other side of the door, but unheard to Jaken's ears, and barely made out by Sesshomaru's. From what he could hear, the dog demon sighed. Etsuko was asking her mother to stay with them longer. As usual, Kagura made up some excuse as to why she couldn't stay, just for an extra night. Sesshomaru grit his teeth, oh how the woman could make his blood boil. "Whether we can or not, that still does not change the fact that she is Etsuko's mother," Sesshomaru stated, redirecting his attention toward Jaken.
"Yes, but still! That woman brings nothing but trouble!" Jaken groaned, "If you ask me we should just-!"
"Just what?" a voice awakened. Jaken looked up and screamed, hiding behind Sesshomaru. Kagura was now standing just outside the sliding door, behind her, Etsuko slept peacefully. Sesshomaru sighed. This wouldn't end well; he just hoped that Etsuko wouldn't have to hear what was to come.
"Uh! Uh! N-n-nothing!" Jaken squealed, fidgeting wildly. Kagura averted her eyes to the dog demon, and the two stared at each other for a long time.
"Oh, I get it," Kagura said, narrowing her eyes, "You'd rather me leave, wouldn't you? You don't think I'm fit to be the mother of your daughter, now do you Sesshomaru? Am I unworthy or something? Well, I'll have you know, Etsuko seems to think I'm enough!"
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, suppressing a growl, "Don't put words into my mouth, Kagura. I never said that. And if you are enough for Etsuko, then why not stay with her?"
Kagura stepped back, gritting her teeth, "Sesshomaru, I told you! I just can't. I can't say why but I…I can't."
Sesshomaru stood, his anger reaching a peak, "Then if you can't stay, don't come back!"
Kagura's eyes widened, shock visibly overwhelming her, "Sesshomaru…what did you…?"
"You heard me," Sesshomaru said coldly, "These so-called visits…you think they're okay, but you do nothing but hurt Etsuko more with each one! At this point it's almost better if you don't…" Sesshomaru stopped himself, growling. He couldn't bring himself to finish. Kagura stared at the dog demon in horror for a moment before slowly standing.
"If I don't what, Sesshomaru?" she asked. Sesshomaru glared at her, not daring to finish. Kagura gritted her teeth, a tear hanging in the corner of her eye. She growled and grabbed Sesshomaru fiercely by the shoulders, shaking him, "Answer me!"
"If you don't come back, Kagura," the dog demon finished hesitantly. The two remained silent for a long time. Kagura pursed her lips. Sesshomaru stared at her. Kagura slowly backed away from him, trembling. Sesshomaru stared at her.
"You can't be serious," she said lowly. Sesshomaru merely glared at her.
"I will no longer watch my daughter cry because her mother doesn't give a damn enough to stay for a day longer," he finally spat. Kagura jumped, looking at Sesshomaru suspiciously.
"S-she does not," Kagura argued. It took all of the demon's willpower not to kill the woman right there.
"Like you know anything!" he suddenly roared, grabbing hold of Kagura's neck.
It was then, when Etsuko erupted into a blood curdling scream.
Etsuko
I remember hearing my parents fight that night. Mother tucked me in that night and I asked her how long she was staying.
"Well," mother began, tracing circles with her finger around my blanket, "I don't know. I'll have to leave soon though."
"But can't you stay with us forever, Mother?" I asked. Mother remained silent for a long time. For a moment, I had managed to trick myself into thinking that she was considering staying. All I did was get my hopes up.
"I'm sorry, Etsuko…" Mother sighed, "It's hard to explain, but I have things to do. Important things. It's safer if you stay with your father."
My heart sank, yet I still forced a smile, "It's okay, Mother. I understand."
Mother nodded, stroking my cheek with her hand, "Good girl. Thank you, Etsuko. I'll visit when I can, okay?"
"Okay," I said. I waited for her to kiss my forehead, but instead she stood to leave the room. I turned to my side, facing away from her, silently letting a tear escape my eye.
Mommy didn't love me.
The door slid shut, following the sounds of voices reaching my ears. At first it was quiet, but all the sudden, I heard a loud thud and the sound of my father's growl. I sat up. Oh no, Daddy wasn't angry with Mother again, was he?
Quietly, I crawled across the floor, finding the sliding Tatami door and gently grabbed hold of it. I slid it open ever so slightly, listening to the conversation.
"You can't be serious," Mother's voice whispered, upset.
"I will no longer watch my daughter cry because her mother doesn't give a damn enough to stay for a day longer," Daddy spat. I jumped. Oh no, he had seen my tears! I covered my mouth, suppressing a whimper. Daddy was angry. He didn't want Mother around anymore, and it was all my fault.
How sad it is, Etsuko… A voice whispered.
I jumped, turning instinctually. From what I could tell, nobody was behind me. But I had never heard that voice before. It was deep and velvety, yet it had a chilling tone in it. Something that would make people run and scream.
"Who's there?" I whispered, fear etching into my voice.
You're parents hate each other, and it's all your fault. And you know what's worse? They're going to die! The voice laughed menacingly. My heart stopped for a moment. My blood ran cold. I screamed. The voice laughed again, I'm coming for you, Etsuko…!
Just then father rushed into the room, wrapping his arms around me tightly. I blindly thrashed and screamed, terrified of the stranger's warning.
"HE'S COMING DADDY! HE'S COMING! DON'T LET HIM COME, DADDY!" I sobbed. Daddy held me tightly, scooping me into his arms. I continued to wail and scream, trying to warn them to get away.
"Who's coming? Etsuko! What do you mean?" Father pleaded, sorrow tainting his voice. He was scared. I was scared. The man was coming.
"THE MAN! THE BAD MAN! HE'S GOING TO KILL YOU DADDY!" I sobbed, "Don't let him come!" Father held me tightly, caressing my hair.
"Shh, it's alright Etsuko," he whispered, his nerves still shaken, "It's just a bad dream, that's all. There is nothing coming for us. We're safe here."
"N-no!" I whimpered, "He's coming! I don't know who he is but—"
"Etsuko," Mother suddenly asked. Her body trembled, "who is this man?"
"Kagura," Daddy scolded.
"Etsuko, please tell me," Mother begged. I sniffled, clutching onto Daddy's robe tightly. The tears streamed out of my eyes. I didn't want to lose my daddy. And I didn't want Mother to die. I shook my head. How would I know who he was?
"Please don't leave me, Daddy," I whimpered, closing my eyes. Father stroked my hair gently, coasting me into sleep.
"Jaken," he suddenly said. The frog suddenly awakened, running to Daddy's side.
"Yes, Milord?" Jaken asked.
"Go outside and find where the dragon is," Daddy said, "tell him he is to keep watch for the night, and if he sees anything suspicious, to shoot it down."
Jaken jumped in surprised, "B-but, Lord Sesshomaru! Don't you think that's a bit rash?"
"Just do it, Jaken!" Father barked. I jumped and clung to him tighter, shaking. In response, Daddy pressed my head against his chest, holding me tightly.
"Y-yes, Milord!" And with that, Jaken left to do as he was told.
"What do you think we should do, Sesshomaru?" Mother asked. Daddy turned his head towards her and sighed.
"Go to sleep, both of you," Daddy said, he then stood with me still in his arms, and took me back to my bed, "It wouldn't do us any good to worry over a nightmare."
"Then why do I get this distinct feeling that that's just what you're about to do?" Mother inquired. Father tensed.
"Do not concern yourself over me, Kagura. I will handle this," Daddy said. He then placed me gently under my covers, pulling the blankets up to my nose. He placed his hand on my cheek, and I placed my hand over his.
"You'll be okay, right Daddy?" I asked, the tears still stinging my eyes. Daddy kissed my forehead.
"I won't let anything happen to you, understand?" he said gently. I nodded and closed my eyes. Slowly drifting asleep.
Sesshomaru
Night passed on as the moon rose to its highest point in the sky. Sesshomaru sighed. All was quiet. Despite her fright hours ago, Etsuko now slept peacefully, her expression relaxed as the child was engulfed in pleasant dreams. Kagura slept with her arms wrapped around Etsuko, guarding the child. The dog demon stood, stepping outside. He walked along the outside of the house until he reached the point atop their cliff side that overlooked the village. Kamiki, as always, was quiet, the hustle and bustle of the humble daytime giving way to the silence of night. Sesshomaru then turned to the dragon that stood watch.
"You see anything?" Sesshomaru asked quietly. The large demon turned its right head and let out a moan, shaking is massive head. Sesshomaru sighed, gently placing his hand on the head's snout, rubbing it gently. "Thank you for your troubles," Sesshomaru said, sighing, "Forgive me, it seems you've stood watch for nothing."
As if to say, "Don't worry about it, it wasn't for nothing," the dragon let out a low moan and the two heads took turns licking his master. Sesshomaru quietly took both hands and rubbed the back of the dragon's ears. Both heads, in response closed their eyes, tired.
"Yet still, I sense a terrible aura approaching," Sesshomaru said more to himself than the dragon. The dragon shrugged slightly, its eyes growing heavy. Sakuya most likely sensed the aura as well, Sesshomaru figured, and she would use her powers to dispel it, as she did with most demons who sought to attack the humans in her land. Still, the dog demon couldn't help but wonder…
"It's alright now," Sesshomaru told the dragon, "you need your rest. Go to sleep now."
The dragon gladly obeyed Sesshomaru's orders and rested its heads on the ground, drifting into sleep. It wasn't often that Sesshomaru asked for such duty of the dragon, yet it still gladly obeyed its master. Sesshomaru sighed again, leaning against the dragon's massive body. If whatever this thing was was going to come after Etsuko, he would most likely do it at night when Sesshomaru wasn't looking. All the demon had to do was wait.
The night wore on, and eventually Sesshomaru had fallen into a light slumber, fatigue overpowering him. It wasn't long after that when it happened. The monster had made its move, and Sesshomaru was suddenly stirred awake by the sound of a loud explosion.
Sesshomaru jumped to his feet, running towards the house. He stopped for a moment, staring in shock. The house had caught fire; half of it had already collapsed from the explosion. Oh, no…how could he let this happen?
"ETSUKO!" Sesshomaru roared, running into the flaming home, "ETSUKO! CAN YOU HEAR ME?" He called out. The girl managed to scream in response.
"DADDY! HELP!" The child screamed, "MOMMY!"
"Oh no," Sesshomaru whispered. Not Kagura! The demon covered his nose with the sleeve of his cloak, trying not to breath in the suffocating smoke, while using the other hand to shove the burning wood away as fast as he could. "Etsuko! Where are you?"
"Over here!" The girl screamed. Through the smoke and flames, he could see a small hand reach out for him.
"Don't move! I'm coming!" He called back.
I don't think so, a voice hissed. Sesshomaru jumped, turning.
"Who's there?" he asked.
No response.
Dammit! How could he let this happen? Sesshomaru tried shoving the thoughts aside. All that mattered was saving Etsuko and Kagura. Nothing more.
He could barely make out Etsuko's tear-stained face through the smoke. He reached his hand out for the child and said, "Grab onto me!" Etsuko let out a cry and began to crawl towards Sesshomaru. She reached for his hand. Their fingertips brushed against each other when it took him.
I don't think so! the voice growled. Something wrapped itself around his waist and pulled Sesshomaru away from the girl and out of the house.
"NOO!" Sesshomaru roared. He then reached behind him and swung his poison fang wildly at his attacker, "DAMN YOU!" He caught a glimpse of it then. A masked face. That of a painted fox. Two brush-tipped tails held the demon tightly, while seven others whipped ferociously behind him. The creature released him and let out a screeching roar. It withdrew its tails, which disappeared in the darkness.
You're a fool Sesshomaru, the creature hissed, the darkness taking shape around its mask, transforming into a woman's body. The voice slowly began to twist into that of a woman's—one of a priestess the demon had met not months before.
"Rao," Sesshomaru spat, "So it seems your body has been overtaken by a demon."
"How very perceptive of you, Sesshomaru," the creature said. It lifted its mask, revealing the priestess's face. The blue prayer beads around her neck had been tainted, turned to a blood red, reeking of demonic aura and blood, "However, I am not demon. I am far worse. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a curse to lift, If you know what I mean."
"You bitch!" Sesshomaru cursed, lunging towards the demon to strike. Rao in turn melted into the shadows, disappearing. Moments later, he heard Etsuko scream.
"DADDY! SHE HAS MOMMY!"
"No!" Sesshomaru growled, running back into the house. The frame began collapsing as he did. He looked up, clawing at the flaming wood, knocking it out of the way. He shoved his way into the house, calling Etsuko's name over and over again. Each time her screams grew fainter, becoming replaced by suffocated coughs. He found Kagura first, who was struggling in the monster's grasp, trapped in the tails that swished threateningly behind Rao.
"Hmph," Rao observed. Kagura let out a scream as the priestess crushed her within its tails, "He wants me to kill this wench? But her heart's elsewhere. Oh, I guess I could always return her to him. It'll have to do."
"Just what the hell are you talking about?" Sesshomaru growled, raising his claws. Rao turned her attention back to Sesshomaru.
"My, you are a stubborn old dog, aren't you," Rao observed, "Unfortunately, my equal does not want you killed just yet so I can't kill you. Otherwise our deal is off."
"Just what the hell are you blabbering about?" Kagura growled, "Who the hell sent you?"
Rao smirked, her eyes flashing a blood red, "Oh, you already know who he is, my dear. Sadly, he can't trust you anymore. I predict you'll be on a much tighter leash after this. Especially for bearing that dog's child."
"What?" Kagura gasped, only to be crushed again by the tails. Sesshomaru growled charging towards Rao.
"She does not belong on a leash, you wench!" Sesshomaru roared, slicing through Rao's tails. The priestess howled in pain, stepping back. Kagura dropped to the ground coughing.
"Kagura," Sesshomaru said, placing a hand on her back. The woman in turn shot Sesshomaru a nasty glare.
"How dare you save me!" she growled, "Do you have any idea what you have done?"
Sesshomaru gave Kagura a quizzical look, "What?"
"Go find Etsuko! Hurry! I'll be fine!" Kagura ordered. Without hesitation, Seshsomaru took off searching for Etsuko. He overturned every piece of wood that fell in his way.
"Daddy!" Etsuko's small voice called out weakly. He was close, he could feel it.
"Etsuko!" He called back, searching still.
"What a bother, Rao said, following him. She dragged Kagura with her. Kagura looked up, taking her fan out and struck the priestess with all her power. Rao didn't even budge. Instead she took her hand and struck Kagura upside the head as hard as she could.
"I thought you said you could handle this yourself," another voice suddenly awakened. A voice tainted in darkness, just as wicked as the monster who overtook Rao.
"I can, these morons are just more stubborn than I originally thought," Rao said. She dropped Kagura's limp form to the ground, and began to bind her. The other figure, though Sesshomaru could not see, chuckled, and made his way over to Sesshomaru. The dog demon paused, turning towards the shadowed form.
"You cannot save her," the man informed. Sesshomaru gritted his teeth, striking the man hard across the chest.
"You will be silent!" he roared, throwing the man aside. Strangely, he did not fight Sesshomaru. He merely watched. Was the demon's attempt really that helpless? No. Sesshomaru would not succumb to such a hopeless state. He would save Etsuko. He would save Kagura. And he would rip that man to shreds.
He could see Etsuko clearly now. The girl was curled in a ball, trembling. She held her throat, coughing.
"Etsuko!" He called out, running towards the girl. Etsuko looked up. For the first time, her eyes locked onto his.
"Daddy," Etsuko moaned weakly, reaching her hand out towards him, "I can't…I can't breathe!"
"Save your strength, Etsuko," Sesshomaru said softly, kneeling down towards the girl. He held her tightly. He had to get out of here. Sesshomaru looked up. The roof was just moments from caving in on them. He needed to leave. He needed to run.
And yet he couldn't.
Just as the demon stood, he was taken away from his child once more. A large gray tentacle reached out and stole Etsuko from his arms, and throwing the child elsewhere. Etsuko screamed. Sesshomaru turned to face the shadowed man once more. He growled ferociously.
Nobody was going to take Etsuko away from him! Nobody!
"You bastard!" Kagura screamed, regaining consciousness in Rao's arms. Rao sighed. She walked over to the man and handed the woman to him.
"You take her," Rao said, "I will finish this."
And with that, Kagura and the man disappeared, along with any of Sesshomaru's hopes. He braced himself, sure that he was going to die. Rao's eyes began to glow a deep red. She smiled wickedly. The air around her began to swirl, dancing with her dark hair.
"Now then, time to end this!" Rao yelled, and something struck Sesshomaru violently in the chest. Like a blade piercing through his skin, yet he could see nothing. His entire insides burned, he was thrown back, and knocked unconscious.
His last memory before the darkness was Etsuko's cries, still inside the house, before the flames finally caved in on her.
Etsuko
"You're all alone," The evil man says. His voice is inside my head. I am surrounded by darkness, "They are all dead. It's your fault."
Sesshomaru
When the demon awoke again, it was daybreak. He found a burnt and bleeding form of Jaken screaming, tears in his eyes.
"LORD SESSHOMARU! PLEASE WAKE UP!" Jaken whaled. Sesshomaru slowly opened his eyes, pain surging through him.
"Jaken," he moaned, temporarily unaware of his surroundings, "What happened?"
"Please don't move too much, Milord! Your wounds are terrible!" Jaken pleaded. Sesshomaru swiped the demon away, sitting up. He looked down, examining his body. His white cloak was soaked in blood, and a large gash had imbedded itself deep within his body, even destroying his armor to an extent. It was then when his memories returned.
"Etsuko," Sesshomaru breathed. He stood up quickly, searching his surroundings, "Where is Etsuko?"
The sight before him was that of horror. Where a humble house once proudly stood, a pile of torn, charred, and black wood laid strewn about. The once grassy cliff side was now dead and reduced to ash and dust. Sesshomaru's eyes widened, he looked around, searching for the child.
"Etsuko?" He called out, "Etsuko!"
"M-milord," Jaken began to weep. Sesshomaru ignored the toad and continued searching. He began searching the ground; there was no sign of her. Then, he quickly began to overturn every single piece of wood, searching for any sign of life. Behind him, he could see villagers who had overheard the commotion the night before begin to gather. The Sake Brewer was the first to step forward.
"Lord Sesshomaru! You're hurt, what happened here?" the woman asked. Sesshomaru ignored her, searching still. The Brewer tried again, "Sesshomaru? What happened to little Etsuko? Is she alright?"
At that Sesshomaru stopped, tensing up considerably. A growl escaped his mouth. "Leave this place," he warned. The Sake Brewer stepped back slightly, confused. Sesshomaru turned, glaring hatefully at the villagers, "LEAVE!"
The group jumped, some began to mumble sadly as if to pay their respects and turned away, until only the Sake Brewer and the village elder remained.
"Kushi," Mr. Orange said, placing a hand on her shoulder, "it's best if you left here."
Kushi sadly nodded and obeyed. Mr. Orange Stepped forward.
"Sesshomaru, let me help you," the elder begged. Sesshomaru had suddenly been taken back fifty years, to a time when that old man was a boy, making the exact same mistake he did now.
"Don't you understand, you fool? YOU CAN'T HELP ME!" Sesshomaru roared, swiping his claws at the human, though he didn't injure the man.
"Sesshomaru, I—"
"GO!"
Mr. Orange looked down sadly, his shoulders sagging. He lifted his hands in prayer and said, "may she rest in peace…"
Sesshomaru turned away then, fighting back the tears. No, she wasn't dead. She couldn't be dead! Sesshomaru kept searching. It was then, when a familiar groan escaped the dragon's mouth.
"Quiet you!" Jaken screeched, "can't you see we are busy?"
Sesshomaru lifted his head to see the dragon digging intently at a pile of wood. Its focus was something Sesshomaru had not seen in the dragon before. He walked over to him.
"What is it?" Sesshomaru asked, observing the pile of wood the dragon dug its claws at. The dragon in response let out a sad groan, a tear escaping one of the head's eyes. Sesshomaru's heart stopped. He bent over, shoving the wood out of the way, when he came across the child's body.
Etsuko lay there, unmoving. Her unseeing eyes stared upward, yet she laid there as if to sleep.
"No," Sesshomaru whispered. He gently lifted the girl into his arms. Her head rocked back slightly, and the demon heard shifting of several bones that had been broken and smashed. Her limp body, cradled in Sesshomaru's arms, was broken.
"No, no, no!" Sesshomaru growled. He drew his Tenseiga, desperate. He had never used the sword. In fact, he was certain he didn't even know how to use the sword. But he had seen his father use it. He knew the sword's purpose. He placed Etsuko back on the ground, holding the sword over her body. The sword suddenly pulsed in his hand. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. Was that it? No, when Father used it, he had to cut something. Something only he could see.
Yet Sesshomaru saw nothing. He stared at his sword for a long time, waiting for Etsuko to somehow be revived.
One minute,
Two minutes,
Ten minutes.
Sesshomaru's hand shook. The Tenseiga pulsed again, and yet it still did nothing. Tears welled in the demon's eyes, and yet he could not shed them.
"You could not stop him," Sesshomaru said, his voice shaking. His hand began to tremble more violently, the air around him began to swirl uncomfortably. Sesshomaru's eyes turned a blood-red, ready to transform. "You could not save her," Sesshomaru said to the sword. He then clenched the hilt tightly and threw it as hard as he could, "You piece of SHIT!"
"L-Lord Sesshomaru?" Jaken wept, his attention turned towards Etsuko. Sesshomaru looked back down at the child's body. He pursed his lips, then knelt down beside the child, and closed her eyes. He then searched the remains of the house, and found Etsuko's favorite doll. The doll had been hand-woven by Kagura. The sewing job itself was sloppy, but the doll was made out of a soft material, dark hair sewn onto its head, and a smile painted on its face. He picked up the doll, and the burnt remains of the blanket Etsuko slept under at night. He scooped up Etsuko in his arms one last time, he didn't have the heart to bury her; the villagers could do that for him. Instead he walked over to the tree Etsuko had played under not even a day before. He laid the girl down under the tree, placed the doll over her chest and folded her arms over herself in a hug around the doll. He then placed the blanket over the child, covering her body. Etsuko's smiling face continued to flash through his mind. He stared down at the child, her face was relaxed, but fear still tore at the girl's expression. She couldn't smile any more. She would never smile again.
Sesshomaru then stood; his sorry slowly being replaced with anger. Those monsters would pay for what they had done. And yet Sesshomaru could do nothing to stop them. He needed to become stronger. He needed a sword. Not the useless Tenseiga that couldn't even save his own daughter! He needed the other sword his father left behind. The Tetsusaiga. The one sword powerful enough to kill those monsters. And yet there lay just one problem: Sesshomaru had no means of finding it. For one, the sword had been left to the half-demon who stole his birth right: Inuyasha, the very demon who had lost his heart to a priestess. For another, it was that same half-demon who held the key to finding the sword. Sesshomaru balled his hands into fists. No matter, he'd have to find another way to get the sword. And he wouldn't rest until he did so.
"Jaken," Sesshomaru said, his heart turning to a stone cold hatred, never to feel compassion again.
Jaken jumped up from his sorrow and watched his master quizzically, "Yes, Milord?"
"We're leaving," Sesshomaru said. With that, he turned, staring at the Tenseiga, anger welling within him. He hesitantly grabbed hold of the sword and sheathed it, leaving the village forever.
And with it, his heart.
Etsuko
But I am not dead.
"You're all alone," The evil man says. His voice is inside my head. I am surrounded by darkness, "They are all dead. It's your fault."
It's my fault. I am not dead. I should be. I open my eyes. It is still dark. I sit up. I still cannot see. I could never see. Smoke lingers in the air. The fire is gone. My house is gone. My parents are gone. I am alone. I am alive. I should not be alive.
"Etsuko! Hey! Wake up!" Issun called out. I jumped, regaining my awareness.
"Huh? What?" I asked, looking around. I was still on the ship.
"You okay?" Issun asked apprehensively, "You zoned out for a bit there. What happened?"
I sat up. Had I fallen? Amaterasu and Issun both stared down at me, I had been lying on my back. I remember drifting into a daydream, but I hadn't remembered collapsing.
"I dunno," I mumbled, rubbing my head, "How long was I out?"
"A good few minutes, actually," Issun said, his bouncing all but stopped. His small hands shook slightly. It was then when I had noticed something.
"D-did you just call me Etsuko?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. Issun jumped.
"What? When?" Issun stuttered, caught off guard.
I pointed at him, "When I woke up I heard you say my actual name. You called me Etsuko," I said, a sly smile forming across my face.
"N-no! Why the hell would I do that?" Issun asked, folding his arms across his chest, "It's just you weren't responding when I called you Pup, so I thought I'd try your real name! That's all!"
"So you did call me Etsuko!" I said, smacking my fist into my hand. If I could see it, I was sure Issun was shooting me a death glare.
"Shut up! It's not everyday someone collapses on the ground! You had me—er, I mean, I had to make sure you were okay!" Issun retorted. He just kept digging himself a hole.
"So you were worried about me, then?"
"NO!"
Issun was worried about you, Amaterasu chimed in.
"I was not!" Issun bounced furiously. I laughed. It was a carefree laugh, one I hadn't felt come up in ages. It took me a moment to realize it, but all the sudden I found myself on the outside looking in, watching as I interacted with two people I could actually call friends. Even though we were inside a cursed ship surrounded by water, I couldn't have been happier. I was so happy, that I had almost forgotten Rao was still with us.
"Excuse me, Great Amaterasu, but we're coming up to a room, could you come take a look?" the priestess asked. The three of us turned to face the priestess, coming back to reality. I stood with the help of the wolf and we walked into a room, moss lingered on the wooden ground, unlike the hardwood floors of the rest of the ship. Wind blew in this room, suggesting that the roof had been blown out, revealing the night sky.
"Nice," Issun whistled. I looked up, straining to see what the others saw. Yet still, I saw nothing.
"Amazing," Rao whispered, "to think that this ship can still show its beauty at night." Amaterasu nodded and began to look around. A high ledge ended the room, but the remains of a ladder hung off it, leading to a hallway further down. I reached up and jumped, trying to reach the ladder, yet even I couldn't grasp hold of the rung. I fell back down, my feet sliding against a barrel encased in the floor before hitting my butt.
"Gagh!" I yelped as I landed. I stood again, rubbing my ass in pain. Well that didn't work. Issun hopped off Amaterasu's head and began looking around. He signaled for us to come to him, and we did as we were told.
"Check this out," Issun said, pointing to the other side of the bars that seemed to finish the side wall of the room, "It's like some sort of weight thing," he noted. I noticed it too. The contraption hung over the bars, splitting the room we stood in from the one next to it, on our side, I noticed that the barrel I tripped over was attached to the contraption, but the other side had nothing more than the hooks and chains it was made out of. I looked into the other room. Some disgusting mass of demon gasped for air in the other room, as if he could only survive in water, but strips of wood built up to serve as some sort of board-walk made up the second floor of the room, at the end of one bridge stood a barrel.
"Look over there," I pointed through the bars, "there's the other barrel."
Issun let out a groan, "Ugh, so how the hell are we supposed to get all the way over there? I mean, it looks like those hallways lead to the other side of that wall in the first room we walked in on this blasted ship, and it's too high to jump up!"
"Not unless you swam," I said. Issun and Amaterasu both looked at me blankly. I shook my head, "Okay, so you guys remember those strips of wood lying about in that first room? Well, since wood floats, you could wait for the tide to come back in and use those pieces of wood as a platform to jump over the wall."
That is a good idea, Issun, shall we try it? Amaterasu asked. I folded my arms across my chest, smiling in triumph. Haha! Etsuko did something useful after all!
"Yeah," Issun said, thinking. My proud posture sagged immediately. Damn, somehow that bug was going to find a way to foil my idea, "But what, are we supposed to wait until the sun comes up? I'm not patient enough for that!"
Hmm, Amaterasu and I sighed. And there he went, foiling my idea. Don't worry Issun, you don't have to be patient.
Issun and I both looked at Amaterasu in confusion, but then the wolf turned her head to the sky, and a faint light drifted into my sight. I stared in awe as the light formed a circle, and a familiar chill ran up my spine as if the sun were rising.
"Of course!" Issun shouted, "The Celestial Brush! Nice one, Ammy!"
Once we have fixed the barrel, I will make it night again, Amaterasu said. Issun hopped on her head smugly.
"And after that we can use that barrel to reach the hallway up there!" He said. By this point Rao had turned to us, her head continuously turning towards the sky and back to the wolf.
"Amaterasu, was this all your doing? My, your powers are truly magnificent," the priestess said as she hopped onto the wolf's back. I rolled my eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, save your flattery," I scoffed, my nose twitching in the woman's stench as she passed.
"Lighten, up, will ya?" Issun asked. He then patted his head onto Amaterasu's head, "Hop on! Let's get going!"
I nodded and walked over to the wolf, ready to sit on her back behind Rao, but as my hand touched the priestess's shoulders something stopped me. It was as if the woman's aura had pushed me away violently. But it was unlike her pure aura from my childhood. My blood suddenly ran cold and I backed away, darkness threatening to envelop me. Issun noticed this.
"Hey, Pup," Issun said, a suspicious tone etching his voice, "Everything okay? You seem kind of pale."
"Y-yeah," I said, shaking my sudden fear off. I tried again to sit on Amaterasu's back, but was threatened by the same chilling darkness.
"Perhaps you should stay here for the time being," Rao offered kindly, "You don't look so well."
"I'm fine!" I grunted, shooting a nasty glare, but without even approaching her, something struck at my heart, darkness plaguing all of my senses. It was emanating from Rao.
"Stay here," Rao said as if to warn me not to approach, "We will return shortly."
I froze, unsure what to do, "Y-yeah, sure," I finally said.
Etsuko, are you sure you will be alright? Amaterasu asked. I nodded my head. Strange, Amaterasu and Issun seemed unaffected by Rao. Was this because I was a demon? No, it couldn't be. It had been the reason once before, but this aura was so much different. So much darker. It was as if Rao was consciously keeping me away from her and the others. For what reason, I did not know.
"Yeah, just fine, go on ahead. I'll wait here," I said. Rao was not hesitant to comply as she urged Amaterasu forward. The wolf however, seemed to keep her head turned towards me in a longing fashion, as if she did not want to leave me. I waved my hand for her to go on. She did, leaving me alone.
Kagura
"Sesshomaru—" she began, at a total loss for words. What could she even say to the dog demon at this point? Etsuko was dead, there was nothing that could change that. Kagura then narrowed her eyes, anger welling within her, "But what about you? Why didn't you use the Tenseiga on her?"
"The Tenseiga is useless to me," Sesshomaru said, the pained expression on his face made Kagura's heart sink. Part of her wanted to leave and forget everything that had happened; the other part of her began to wonder…if what Sesshomaru said was true, then what really did happen?
"What if," Kagura began, "At least if what Waka says is true, then what if the Tenseiga worked after all?"
Sesshomaru shook his head, "No. That's impossible. I know how the Tenseiga works. It did nothing to bring her back!"
"But Sesshomaru—"
"Just forget it, leave before I kill you," Sesshomaru glared hatefully at Kagura. The wind demon hesitated, wondering if it really was a good idea to leave the man be. He was past all rational thought by this point, and Kagura worried that he was dangerously close to a point of insanity. Had Etsuko's death affected him that much? Kagura frowned, perhaps there really were things she didn't know after all. Damn that Naraku, why did he have to ruin everything? Even her relationship with her own child!
"Fine," Kagura spat, "Just don't do anything stupid like getting yourself killed, okay?"
Sesshomaru said nothing.
Kagura worried.
Still, she took out her feather and flew away, leaving the dog demon behind until, hopefully, she saw him again.
Rin
She followed him as always.
Except this time was different, because for the first time, Rin knew what Sesshomaru was thinking:
He missed Etsuko.
Oh, she should've kept her from leaving that day! She should've made sure Etsuko didn't run off! Stupid Jaken, he must've been why Etsuko disappeared in the first place. At least that's what Rin figured, after all, Jaken can say things that make even Lord Sesshomaru angry, and if Etsuko was anything like Lord Sesshomaru, then Jaken probably made her angry too.
But still, Etsuko must have known that Jaken would be traveling with Lord Sesshomaru, and that she could finally be reunited with Lord Sesshomaru! So why didn't she stay? Was she mad at Lord Sesshomaru for some reason? Rin shook her head. No, Lord Sesshomaru was too kind to scare off his own daughter. So why run off? Unless…
Did Etsuko think Lord Sesshomaru was dead too?
No, she couldn't…that'd be silly.
So why did Lord Sesshomaru still think she was dead?
Etsuko
"What is this thing anyway?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. I held the large mallet in my hand; it gave off a soft orange light, giving me the impression that it was one of the gods' tools. Or at least something holy. Yet the mallet didn't reject me, it seemed to welcome my grasp, though it tugged slightly in my hand, as if it wanted to show me something, "Hey Rao, is this what you were looking for?"
"The fox rods," Rao said half to herself, "I could've sworn they were on this ship. Where did they go?"
Well, thanks, lady, for answering my question.
"You mean this isn't what you're looking for?" Issun asked, "Damn! We came all this way for nothing!"
"It wasn't for nothing," I said, "At least we found this cool…hammer thing…"
Issun hopped off Amaterasu's head and examined the mallet in my hands. He let out a gasp, "Oh! I know what this is! It's the Lucky Mallet!"
"Okay," I said, "So what does it do? Bring good luck every time you hammer something?"
"No, no, they say that it can shrink people down to the size of a ball of a needle and back, it's really cool," Issun explained.
I snorted a laugh, "So what would happen if I used it on you? You think you'd become the size of a normal person or shrink until you disappear?"
At that, Amaterasu barked a laugh. Issun groaned.
"That's not funny, Pup," the bug said. I rolled my eyes and continued laughing at him. "Anyway," he grunted, interrupting me, "Let's just keep this thing with us just in case. But how 'bout we get out of here? I'm tired of running from these creepy ghosts!"
And with that remark, we all made our way to the entrance of the ship. The air slowly shifted, signaling to me that the sun was rising. I sat on Amaterasu's back, my hands trembling slightly. The wolf turned her head toward me.
Are you ready for the swim? She asked.
"No," I groaned, "let's just get this over with."
"Glad to hear, Pup!" Issun chirped, patting my head. I sighed, clutching onto the wolf's fur tightly. Rao sat on the wolf's back behind me, her presence foul enough to make my heart stop. I paused a moment to take in a deep breath, reminding myself that I was alright. This woman wouldn't try to kill me. At least not yet.
The waves crashed violently against the ship as the sun rose, leaving us to rely on Amaterasu's ability to swim. Panting, the god paddled her way to shore with Issun lying on her snout, me huddled over her holding on for dear life, and Rao impatiently waiting to get out of the ocean.
"Forgive me, but can you go any faster?" Rao asked.
"Oh, be nice to Ammy," Issun scolded lightly, "Ammy's sensitive about her flaws! But she'll still get us to shore."
"Yes, yes, it's just the water dragon has me a little—" Rao began but stopped as something bubbled to the surface, creating a large wave propelling us forward.
"What was that?" I asked, terrified.
"Pup, that was a wave," Issun said, "we're fine."
"Are you sure? You don't think that was the Water Dragon, do you?" Rao asked.
"…what water dragon…?" I mumbled to Rao.
"Oh, come on!" Issun groaned, "everyone in that city has been freaking out about this so-called 'Water Dragon'! This isn't that big of a deal, guys! Just listen to me when I tell you that there is no water dragon!"
Another wave struck us violently, and a terrible fear pinched my heart. One caused by a strong presence so horrifying I wanted to vomit. Rao turned her head and gasped. Amaterasu tensed up and began paddling as hard as she could. Unsure of what laid behind us, I closed my eyes tightly. Issun groaned and turned around before screaming.
"What? What is behind us?" I asked.
"Wa-WATER DRAGOOOOON!" Issun screamed. And that was when all hell broke loose.
Because what is an extravagant adventure without a rampaging water dragon? XD