Kikyo's Success
Pay attention, Urasue had said, her impossibly big red eyes narrowing. This is no ordinary Bloody Spirit.
Kagome didn't know what the sorceress had meant with that; she wasn't even sure she knew what a normal Bloody Spirit was (though she could guess). The girl was currently dangling by her waist over the rim of the tub, trying to reach the handle of another sword sticking out of her client's back.
She had already taken out four of them.
The water was red and grey from all the blood and mud. Though he wasn't clean yet, Kagome could tell his hair was white—like Toga's. His eyes were also golden like her friend's; they had been the first thing she noticed upon his arrival at the Bathhouse. She had locked gazes with him while the other workers fled from his path, apparently not realizing what Urasue seemed to have. People were acting as if the spirit would go crazy at any second, which didn't help Kagome's nerves.
When he took off his spiked armor and dropped it on the floor, everyone seemed to flinch. Kagome was grateful he chose to leave his clothes on—not that he had much choice, what with all the weapons pinning it to his body.
Looking up, Kagome saw Urasue and Miroku watching her from the balcony on the second floor. Other employees had stopped working to watch her progress as well, including Sango, who held one bowl of food in each hand. She had a horrified expression on her face; Kagome suspected Urasue had told her not to come down to help.
This is a test, she realized. Oh, God, I'm just a kid!
If you ain't working, Urasue will turn you into an animal, she remembered Toga's boyish voice warning her.
The feeling of steel sliding out of flesh and the sight of oozing blood turned her stomach. Kagome's hands were shaking, and she almost fell into the tub once or twice—it was the big one, and it was only halfway full, the water having already reached her client's chin as he sat.
She was startled when he lifted one of his arms to take a spear out of his side. Apparently, she wasn't being fast enough—or maybe he doesn't like being treated like a baby. He gave her the spear without turning to look at the girl, and she tossed it out of the tub.
After what felt like hours, they finally got rid of all the swords, spears, and arrows that had been hurting him. No one said a word; even the whispering of the workers had died down at the sight of so many weapons carelessly tossed on the ground. Kagome couldn't imagine the pain the spirit (or demon?) must have been feeling—without so much as wincing!
There was one sword, though, that he couldn't seem to dislodge: the one in his own hand. He had a death grip on its handle, and purple veins connected it to his arm. Kagome swallowed hard not to scream; she hadn't been able to see clearly through the dirt before. He turned his head and looked at her from over his shoulder, and the girl immediately understood he was requesting her help.
Kagome got down from the tub and climbed again on the other side, facing him. It occurred to her that he could've just turned around, but of course she wouldn't suggest it. With a quick, nervous glance at his face, she extended her hand toward his arm and touched it.
A hissing sound made her jump and almost fall.
"Souunga," he said in a baritone voice, speaking for the first time. "Stop."
The hissing stopped. Kagome looked at him again.
Is that a moon on his forehead? She mused. His face was still a little dirty.
"We will have to tear it out," he decided.
Kagome's face paled when he started running his claws through the veins in his arm. Blood was dripping in the water, making it even murkier. She tasted bile in her mouth.
Shaking her head clear, the girl slid down the side of the tub and found herself an arrow.
This will do!
Kagome felt the eyes of the petrified staff on her as she worked, tearing up veins with the point of her arrow as gently as possible. Her silent, stoic client didn't even blink through the process; he kept his motions steady, also tearing veins with his claws. Once they were cut, the sword seemed to retract them as if they were tentacles.
So the veins aren't his, Kagome thought, noticing the wounds the tentacles left in his arm. The idea of a living sword scared her, but it didn't surprise her—not there.
When it was finally over, he put the sword on its scabbard, which was still at his waist. Kagome quickly climbed down again and sent a herbal bath tag to Totosai through the small door on the wall, eager for the actual bath to start so she could be done with it.
"You may leave," the guest said without warning.
Kagome waited for the wooden pipe's descent and pulled on the cord to let the water run. Muttering a polite "excuse me," she left the room to wait outside the dividing screen.
When she stepped into the corridor, Sango immediately ran to her.
"Are you alright, Kikyo?" The older girl asked, searching Kagome's face with her brown eyes.
"I'm fine, just tired." Kagome sighed. "He didn't want me to help him get clean."
"Urasue wouldn't let me come help you!" Sango grumbled.
"I-It's okay."
They both stood there in silence as people resumed their activities, no longer interested in watching the scene from the balcony; there was nothing new about a customer bathing in a bathhouse, after all. Urasue was the only one who didn't abandon her post, still staring like a hawk.
When the sorceress eventually moved, Kagome knew her customer was finally done. She turned around to walk back inside the screen, but he was already standing there behind her, his spiked armor back in place over his wet clothes.
She heard Sango inhale.
Kagome was still a ten-year-old girl, but she knew a handsome—beautiful—man when she saw one. He was a demon, there was no mistaking it; but she'd never seen another like him. His hair fell down his shoulders like white silk; he had delicate features and pointy ears, and there were two magenta stripes on each side of his face. A purple crescent moon marked his forehead, making him look even more otherworldly than demons like Koga, who didn't have any tattoos.
Without saying a word, he lifted his fisted hand. Kagome's snapped up to catch his offering: a necklace made of four fangs and dark purple beads.
She looked at him questioningly, but he didn't explain what it was. Urasue approached them then, bowing respectfully to the stranger.
"I will leave you my enemies' weapons as payment," the demon stated. A few employees exchanged greedy looks. "I shall go now."
"O-Of course, my Lord," Urasue stuttered. She turned and ordered the curious onlookers to open the front gates; the demon lord was ready to leave.
Sango grabbed Kagome by the back of her collar and pulled her away. As Sesshomaru's figure started to shift, everyone went to the reception. Just when Kagome couldn't see him anymore, a humongous white dog grew from his general direction, undoubtedly knocking over a few compartments. Its snout pointed at the gates that had been opened on the balcony.
It looked around with its huge red eyes, seemingly searching for someone. Kagome noticed it still had the purple moon on its forehead, and that alone made her believe the creature was indeed her customer.
After a few seconds, he floated gracefully to the gate and flew into the rain, leaving an open-mouthed crowd behind.
Urasue seemed shaken to the core by their customer's appearance, but still she managed to smile satisfactorily at Kagome.
"Well done, Kikyo!" The Bathhouse owner bellowed. The staff and the customers lingering around seemed to agree, giving her approving nods and small smiles.
"He even tipped you," Sango remarked, pointing at the beads fisted in Kagome's hand. "It's a subjugation necklace—but God only knows why a demon would have one of those!"
"What does it do?"
"If you put it around a demon's neck, you'll have some control over them." Sango lifted an eyebrow. "I doubt you'll ever use it, working here and all."
Kagome shrugged, eyeing the necklace with open curiosity. "I think it's pretty…"
A/N: Hello, guys! I'm back.
If you guessed dog-Sesshomaru was looking for Inuyasha before he flew away, you guessed right. Like Haku in the movie, though, Inuyasha wasn't there. You'll see why next time!
Don't lose your sleep over the subjugation beads; I won't make a child slam another repeatedly into the ground! The necklace will be needed in only one situation.
Thank you for reading, and please, review! :3
