Chapter 8
He was not waiting, no, definitely not, but he could not help feeling, well, something when a familiar giant feather came into view. Its pure whiteness contrasted the golden sky, and it suddenly occurred to him what a peaceful scene that was. She landed gracefully, dismounted and put the feather back on her hair in one swift motion. She looked so tiny and secluded on top of the huge mountain as she was gazing pensively into the distance. The meadow sure did not look as flowery as it once was… the last time.
Suddenly a figure jumped out and started swinging his sword at her. Before he could think, his feet had already sent him flying up, and just when he retrieved Bakusaiga, the attacker's sword had been tinted with blood. The two swords clinked, and Bakusaiga's usual lightning followed the other weapon up to the handle and stroke… Higosha. That realization brought a faint disdain to Sesshoumau's face. He had known beforehand that Koukimi would come beg her big brother for help, but he certainly did not think a youkai like Higosha would accept. It was not like he was bound by some kind of moral code, but he should know better than go along with such a devious scheme and stealthily offended an opponent like this.
The force sent Higosha straight to the stone cliff. He quickly stood up and wiped off the dust like nothing had happened; apparently he was not surprised to see Lord of the Western Land.
-Let me take her, Sesshoumaru-san.
Sesshoumaru ignored him completely and instead glanced over to the woman. She was lying on the ground, blood stains seeping through her dancer's kimono and smearing the soil. She seemed half awake, her eyes closed but her ears still alert somehow. Knowing that she was not dying, Sesshoumaru stepped forward, ready to pick her up and fly away.
-That's no use, Sesshoumaru-san. She'll die anyway.
That straightforwardness stopped him. Sensing Sesshoumaru would not say a word, Higosha continued:
-The resurrection only worked for three days, no, three sunrises to be exact. You see, when one is resurrected, one is only given a limited amount of energy to use with that body. And our method works with the sun: one must be resurrected at the last sunset of summer, and when the sun rises the third time, the power of resurrection is gone as well – He cared enough to look remorseful about that – I didn't intend to kill her; I just wanted to capture and keep her away from my father in the meantime. What Koukimi did wasn't, well, exactly approved by the tribe's decorum.
Higosha was expecting that news to shock the daiyoukai somewhat, but he just kept his icy façade and simply said:
-Whether or not her life will end… is for me to decide.
Dinner was long over and the children had already gone to bed; Rin and Kaede had also left for home. The nakama, joined by Kohaku and Shippou, who had arrived just in time for the last bowl of ramen, moved outside, sitting around a bonfire, reminiscing about the old days. The laughter was suddenly interrupted when InuYasha stood up, put his hand on Tessaiga, turned his back to the fire and stared at the indefinite darkness in front of him. An ominous shadow appeared without a single sound. Nothing screamed "precarious enemy" more than that. Or "sibling rivalry" for that matter, the others silently concluded that when the figure emerged to be the dog youkai's half-brother. But what caught their eyes were the woman that he was holding, wrapped like a present with his own coat, who was struggling with all her strength, yelling, cursing and trying to get out of his kimono. When he released his embrace, the woman fell straight down on the ground; her clothes were torn by what appeared to be extremely sharp blade and her wounds had not even closed yet.
Instantly Sango and Kagome stepped to her side and held her up. She just would not stop cursing him, her face reddened with anger and blood leaking from her wounds again.
-Come on Kagura, you need to rest – Sango said soothingly and led her to the fire while Kagome went inside her cottage to find her medical box again. The supplies were running dangerously low after being used so extensively all of the sudden.
-Who asks for your help? Who needs it? – She snarled, then turned back to the daiyoukai and looked him straight in the eyes – And you, you bastard, what makes you think you can just come take me away and then leave me, all in the same day? Who do you think you are? That you can just do whatever the hell you want like that? Answer me, you jerk!
As she continued to rave on, Sesshoumaru turned to the gang:
-Some sedative medicine would be helpful for her.
He did not address anyone specifically, nor did he ask them to look after her, or do anything to her for that matter. However, realizing that is a wise advice, Miroku promptly left for Kaede's, hoping to find just what they needed. As he turned away, Sesshoumaru was starting to leave, just to be stopped by an enraged InuYsha.
-Just what do you think you are doing? You'll leave her here along with us without a single damn explanation?
-She needs to be taken care of. And your group of people provides the most viable option, capable of protecting her and not threatening to her.
The same rational, smug, annoying kind of response! InuYasha took three steps forward, ready to stop his brother from flying away.
-Why don't you just do that yourself? You already saved her!
Sesshoumaru was visibly bothered that his half-blooded brother and his friends noticed his act of rescue earlier. He ignored that remark anyway, but InuYasha just would not let him go that easily. Tessaiga and Bakusaiga, both still sheathed, crashed against each other, their youki was so strong that even Miroku could feel it from afar. They glared at each other for a second; then Sesshoumaru finally spoke.
-I have other affair to tend to, you mindless half-breed.
-Explain yourself for once, Sesshoumaru. Your fiancée did this, didn't she? What is her purpose? Is Kagura in any danger? And what's your role in all this?
Fiancée? The word stung Sesshoumaru like nothing else. Too many people have known too many things. To him, his half-brother's irritability had risen to an insufferable level.
-This Sesshoumaru is not obliged to answer any of your questions.
Bakusaiga pulsed loudly, and the sudden force threw InuYasha off a little. The daiyoukai did not hesitate for a moment to get away and quickly disappeared in midair.
-Would you care explaining to me what happened on that mountain, Higosha?
Startled by his father's unexpected question, the panther youkai bowed his head to greet him whilst thinking of a possible explanation. Unfortunately he thought of none. He did not even know how much Kurohyou had fathomed.
-What were you and Koukimi up to? You know you cannot keep following her every wimp like that.
-Father, she was still a thoughtless kid. Please forgive her this time; I will take the responsibility to clean up everything – He said in the hope that the Great Daiyoukai had not actually known exactly what he and Koukimi were up to.
-Resurrection is a serious matter, you must have known that – His voice was as solemn and resonating as a bell.
So he knew.
-I do, Father – Higosha bowed his head once again, this time to show shame and guilt – My sister, on the other hand, hasn't. She made a foolish mistake, and she truly regrets it. Please let me take care of it.
Kurohyou shook his head slowly.
-She was to be engaged; she is thus not a kid anymore. She cannot behave irresponsibly and still expect someone else to solve her problems like this forever – He sighed heavily – And you have angered Lord of the Western Land as well…
Higosha did not know which event his father was referring to, Koukimi's resurrecting Sesshoumaru's rumored long-lost love or him attacking her and almost getting into a fight with him, but he still replied.
-You know Koukimi is crazy about him, Father, she did that just because of her blind love. She did not mean to anger him.
-Yet she did not ponder long enough to realize that he could possibly find out about this, did she? – He said in a harsh voice – And not to mention the consequences of this, resurrecting someone just to spite her is highly immoral and cruel.
-It was her jealousy doing, Father! – Higosha said hastily.
-Do not keep defending her like that! I have been spoiling her too long, and as have you.
-But Father, you can punish her all you want, we must find a way to resolve this. Our border dispute relies entirely on this marriage!
-Oh my son, there was not even a certain marriage to begin with!
Higosha sulked.
-There should be. In any case, his own mother said she would persuade him!
-And that was not a promise, was it? Even the Great Demoness was not sure she could make him do something he does not want to.
Kurohyou, Lord of the Nothern Land, lowered his head to think for a while before firmly saying.
-He is keeping the woman, so do not try to take her anymore. There will come a time when her existence must end, and we will have to apologize for it. But the benefit of this marriage is still apparent to him, and we must keep appealing to it. As a Lord he cannot ignore all the conflict at the Northern – Western border. If he is still in need of a mate, our Koukimi is absolutely the most eligible. It might take time, Higosha, we cannot rush it, but eventually our territories and powers will merge.
