Red, Black, Blue, and White blurs flew around in the night time air, scents flashing everywhich way in confusion. The sounds of clashing metal and the tearing of flesh and clothing rang out. The ground was soaked with blood and torn clothes, peices of fabric ascew on the soaping grass.
A cowering Rin hid behind a very protective Ah-Un, his head low and teeth bared, growling, head swiveling in all directions. Jakan stood, looking quite brave, but on the inside was shivering more than an eupting volcano! His eyes darted around in their sockets franctically, the staff of two heads held out protectively infront of him,but shaking uncontrollably. Soon, he just gave in and hid under Ah-Un along with Rin, peering out and watching the goings on.
Blue, white and silver lights flew in all directions. Swords swinging, clashing, crying out in frustration and undeniable pain. A flash of blood hit the ground as Kenkyoshou snarled and bit back a growl, his skin torn from a blast from Tokijin, still vibrating blue lightning sparks. Sesshoumaru had no real objective to hurt the enraged Ice Ninja, but, Kenkyoshou seemed willing enough to kill him, so... You get the point. He stood up and straight and flung himself at Sesshoumaru, his staff ringing out in pain from slamming against Tokijin, shards and sparks of ice and lighting blowing everywhere. The night sky was filled with blue light. The Ice man's hands shook as he looked behind him when a sound like sobbing and ringing silver rang out.
Shikyo was being pelted with fire blasts from the now crying kasai inu youkai. The tears rained down her cheeks, leaving wet, shining trails on her tan skin. A red, long tail swished and blew as she flung her body around. Her arms swung her sword every way possible, trying to strike the Kitsune. Siruba failed every time, and just kept getting more and more enraged and angry, frustrated and clumsy.
Shikyo at the time was dodgeing, leaping and getting her fair share of blood from the hysterically crying demon. With every cut and scrape she got, Shiruba just slashed faster and more clumsily. Their black and red locks flew everywhere, matching the color of their blood on the ground and the shadows from the trees.
Shiruba's anger was shown on her face, her fangs shining and glimmering in a nasty, frustrated snarl. Suddenly, Dadari dropped from her hands. Clanging to the ground, gold glints from the metal and fire shining on the trees. Arms shaking, chest heaving, she fell to her knees, right infront of Shikyo. She held her face in her hands. Kenkyoshou, almost stepped toward her, but decided to keep his glance set on Sesshoumaru from the corner of his eye. Sesshoumaru had his eye on the other as well, Tokijin hanging loosely in his hand.
"Is she really... dead?" Shiruba whispered, shivering on the ground. Her head hung low, her flaming red locks hanging infront of her golden eyes. "My mother?" She looked up, her eyes a soft honey yellow. "Please, PLEASE, Shikyo! Tell me you're lying! PLEASE! I beg you..."
Shikyo stepped slowly toward her, her boots sinking into the blood drenched ground. She dropped to her knees.
"I'm sorry, Shiruba..." Shikyo touched the demons shoulder, "I was told about her death from a clan of fox demons. I saw her body. They... The demons of the south; they destroyed her." She looked down, and whispered so quietly that only Shiruba could hear. "This secret... it is killing many... It has gone on long enough!" She grasped her shoulder tighter, makeing Shiruba whimper slightly, then nodded. She stood, and glanced at Kenkyoshou, who now had dropped his staff to the ground.
"Goodbye... I am so sorry," Shiruba whispered, then quickly ran away, tears flying from her eyes and landing in the fire, sizzleing to nothing in milleseconds. Shikyo turned to look at the now very confused Ice Demon. His hair blew in the wind and his face was that of pure shock.
"Please explain, Kenkyo'." Shikyo stood, "Why do you attack myself and my comrads. Have I done something?" She flung her ebony hair behind her shoulder, her white tail flicking uncomfortably.
Kenkyoshou snarled slightly, still staring at the spot Shiruba had ran away. "No... It is not you anymore... I have another score to settle... But, " He whipped his head around to stare intensely at Shikyo, "I may as well try and finish what I have already started." With that, he simply snapped his fingers. The wind picked up and seemed to scream in a fit of laughter, whipping around Kenkyoshou. It created a whirlwind of ice and snow. Then, it calmed, showing and evily smiling Kenkyoshou, wth his fingers already in another snapping position. They merged, clicked and seemed to send a spark of ice. Shards sliced through the air and sang through the wind, slicing through trees and sticking into the ground.
Sesshoumaru held Tokijin up protectively, actually almost forgetting where he was and who he was with. The ice snapped and ripped a peice of his hair out, makeing him snarl painfully. The ice suddenly stopped mid air and fell to the ground. Sesshoumaru looked up to see the place where Kenkyoshou stood completely empty. He glanced around. He saw Shikyo standing, back faced toward him. He cocked his eyebrow slightly. His fingers touched the bare place on her back, the clothing ripped and torn from sharp peice of ice. It ripped through the skin of her back, ice sticking out from her spine. Her flesh felt cold.
Dropping to her knees, her back shivered. The ice shard had been rammed right through her torso, the flesh red, ripped and bleeding terribly. Her hands, arms and legs shook and she lifted her head, locking pink orbs with gold ones. Sesshoumaru's eyes bored deep into hers, trying to find one of the simplest things to find in a persons eyes... Life.
There wasn't much left in those opal colored iris's.
He knelt infront of her. Her hands were covering the peice of ice now, seeming to try and hide it from the dogs wandering eyes. Blood seeped from the sides of her mouth, nose and even the corners of her eyes. It ran down her calm face, her eyes still stareing sadly into Sesshoumaru's. His fingers cupped her chin, lifting it to find her hiding a small peice of crystal clear ice shoved into the space between her neck and coller bones. She smiled sweetly, knowing what was going to happen and willing to let it come.
"I'm sorry..." She whispered sadly, blood gushing from the wound in her neck, "My skills at fighting are barely matched..." She coughed and a small amount of blood came out, "Yet I still have trouble trying to get out of the way of flying objects..."She closed her eyes tiredly, a small smirk on her lips. Sesshoumaru knew what she intended to let happen and jerked her forward. She landed softly into his lap.
"You are giving up?" he asked her, holding her with his arm. Her hair lay around his chest, his kimono now soaked with her black blood. Shikyo's head hung limply over his arm. She lifted it slowly, looking at Sesshoumaru, her pupils almost the exact same color as her iris's. "I would never give up unless in was inevetable..." She touched his jaw as she always did, her palid fingers trailing along the bone, his skin tingling. "I guess it is now inevetable..." she sighed and dropped her hand, letting it fall to her side, limp.
Rin scrambled out from underneath Ah-Un, not caring that she walked on blood drenched grass. Her eyes were filled with tears.
"SHI!" She cried, dropping down on her knees to look at the cold, lifeless eyes of the beautiful fox. "Shi?"
Sesshoumaru looked down on her, and felt Tenseiga vibrate inside its sheath. It pulsated and seemed to cry out, wanting to be used once again.
Tenseiga? Sesshoumaru thought, You wish me to use you on Shi? Why is that? He looked back at Shikyo, That is no question... You will be used at least once here tonight. He slowly let go of the kitsune, setting her on the ground lightly. Her head lolled to the side, her lifeless eyes perfectly visible, deathly freezing. Unsheathing Tenseiga, Sesshoumaru saw the messengers of the other world. They were laughing and feeling her skin and touching every inch of her perfect body. You dare touch her! Sesshoumaru growled and sliced them through, almost hearing their silent screams.
Rin's body was now quivering, touching Shikyo's arm. Her skin was warming up, and color came back to her white, bloodless face. The large shard of ice dissapeared, the wound sealing itself. Then, the sound Sesshoumaru was waiting for... The one, strong, life-filled heartbeat. And then, a small wavering breath. Rin smiled at that and leaped upon the kitsune, hugging her tightly, not caring that she got the left over blood on her kimono. Shikyo's eyes opened slowly, a small smile playing on her lips as she stroked Rin's hair. Rin hugged her tighter and lifted her head to smile. Sesshoumaru stood.
"You should clean yourself and your clothes," he said, placing Tenseiga back in its sheath, for it was no longer needed at the moment. Shikyo, sat up, takeing a very deep breath. She stood.
"Yes, My Lord," she replied, looking down at the remains of her dress. The peices of fabric only covered important areas, hanging off her curves and shoulders as if she had shed her skin. "How am I supposed to find a new dress?" She laughed at the state of herself. "No matter. Lets go to the lake. Get cleaned up. THEN go to sleep. We need it... Especially me!" Rin giggled and ran toward the lake. Shikyo followed, stopping next to her lord. He just stood against a tree, his eyes closed, but he knew she was there.
"Thank you..." she said.
"I did it for Rin..." Sesshoumaru relied, but somehow that wasn't exactly the truth, and Shikyo knew it, "She is very attached to you now..."
"And you are not?" Shikyo asked, purring slightly, makeing Sesshoumaru open his eyes. He stayed silent as she strode right up to him and held her body against him. Her skin was much warmer now and felt good against some of his aching muscles. "I am surprised." Her fingers traced swirls against his skin were his kimono hung open slightly form his fight with Kenkyoshou. She ran over a small cut that was resealing itself with her claw and he almost cringed... almost.
"Are you?" He asked, pushing away from the tree slightly, ignoring the fact that he almost revealed he had felt pain.
"I am," she licked his cheek, laughed and whipped around, running toward the lake where Rin was calling her, splashes being heard from the water. She turned her head and tilted it, pupy like. Sesshoumaru growled innocently. She hadn't changed a bit, even after death. Teasing had always been a favourite pass time for her.
&
Droplets of water hit the ground, shining like dew drops on flowers. Ripples in the water rang out and Shikyos fingers traced patterns of ice on the surface, Rin watched intently, her kimono now cleaned and dry. Shikyo had a long towel covering her. The ice was multicolored and swirled in patterns and shapes on the water, smelling of flowers and expensive perfume. Rin seemed amazed by what Shikyo could do and kept asking for more and more difficult to produce patterns. Suddenly, a rustle came from the bushes and Jaken came from the trees carrying a pakage.
"Lord Sesshoumaru left some time ago to get this for you, Lady Shikyo," He layed the pakage on the ground and walked off. Shikyo was surprised. Not only had her lord gone out of his own, egotistical, way to get her something, Jaken had referred to her as a 'lady'. She shook it off when Rin held the pakage to her face.
"Open it!" She ordered. Shikyo laughed. A small child was ordering her around... How ironic. Shikyo took the pakage from Rin and untied the ribbon holding together the black cloth encaseing what was held inside. She unfolded it and found a snow white dress inside. She lifted it from the cloth and inspected it. Two black moons were embroidered on each shoulder, black thorned wines weaving their way down the waist of the dress. It had two large slits up the sides, leaving the front and back stained black. Shikyo smiled and realized it was almost an exact replica of the dress she wore when she first met Sesshoumaru, but more mature.
"IT IS BEAUTIFUL!" Rin squeeled, feeling the fabric on her cheek. It was made of pure silk. "I hope this dress does not get ruined like the last one! This is so much more pretty!" Rin smiled and hugged the dress tighter.
"It is nice, " Shikyo replied, laughing, "But it might be a bit nicer if you would let go and let me put it on!" Rin laughed and smacked her forhead.
"OF COURSE!"
&
"My Lord?"
"Yes, Jaken?"
"I know I have asked this question a matter of many times, but, why do we continue to let this female travel with us? What is your conection with her?"
Sesshoumaru stood against the same tree, his eyes closed again. "We met when she was 6 years old, almost 500 years ago. I myself was a good decade older than her. Our fathers were great ally's and friends."
"I see," Jaken said, sitting by the fire, warming his hands. "Why did you use Tenseiga to bring her back, M'Lord?"
... "I have my reasons..."
"Yes," Jaken stood again when Rin came through the trees, "You probably do, M'Lord." Rin sat by the fire and rubbed her hands together, yawning. Her hair dripped slightly but everything else was clean dry and perfectl back to normal.
"Rin," Shikyo came out of the trees. The dress hung on her curves like water and fit her like a glove. The snowy color clashed with her hair so ceremoniously it was shocking. "Get some sleep. We all need it."
"Yes, Shi!" Rin hopped up and snuggled against Ah-Un. He sighed and wrapped his neck around her protectively. She fell asleep in a matter of moments. Too much excitement for one day for a young girl.
Shikyo held her old dress in her hands. The fire crackled wantingly, seeming to try and reach for the ripped a tattered cloth. Shikyo gave in to its request and the fire consumed the thrown peice of dress, licking and lapping it up like food. She stared at the burning clothing and smiled. She had wanted to get rid of that thing for months. She looked down at the new dress and felt the silky smoothness of it on her hips, feeling how it accentuated her every perfection. The feeling of penetrating eyes was felt on her back.
Sesshoumaru was stareing at the dress on the fox, surprised it fit her so well. He had brought that back from a demon village one day, meaning to give the new dress to Shikyo, but always forgetting. He commissioned the dress specificly, makeing it as unique and special as possible. He didn't know how he remembered what her clothing looked like 500 years ago, but he had a rough guess. He had no idea why had gone through the trouble. It was only a dress. But it was a dress for her.
"Thank you, My Lord," Shikyo said, looking down at the dress again. "You didn't have to do that..."
"I know," He replied, pushing off the tree. "I didn't expect it to fit you," He stepped closer to her, his eyes inspecting every inch of her. He walked around her somewhat like a wild dog inspecting his prey... or a worthy mate. He made his way back to her front and leaned down to meet her gaze, which was aimed at his neck for he was quite a bit taller than her. His eyes met hers and she almost melted. "Get some rest," He stood up straight, "I will not slow down or wait for you if you are tired tomorrow."
"Yes, My Lord," Shikyo answered, looking back up at him, "But before I do, will you answer me one question?"
"What is it?"
"Do you still mean... or even remember, what you had told me you felt for me a few months ago?" Her head dropped and hung low. He was quite silent for a while and she wanted to whine and cry when he didn't answer, but than he spoke.
"I mean everything that comes from my mouth. And I do not take things that I say back." He cupped her chin in his fingers. "Things are very complicated for everyone in this battle against Naraku. We cannot let anything get in the way of the path of his destruction." His lips met hers softly, "When this is over, I will show you how much I mean what I have said." He kissed her again and walked away, sitting against a tree as he always did. Shikyo wanted to go curl herself up against him, but was slightly afraid of rejection.
"Come here," Sesshoumaru directed, holding out his hand, his eyes closed yet again. Shikyo stepped forward and took his hand, which pulled her down. She sat beside him, her knees pulled close to her chest, her head laying on his shoulder. A soft, purring sound came from her chest, which she tried to push away, but it refused to leave. Sesshoumaru chuckled softly as she rubbed her head against him. She acted so much like a feline sometimes, it should have warded Sesshoumaru away. But for some odd reason the cat actions had always had a strange affect on the Dog Lord.
Aparently you have rubbed off on me Father... He thought, feeling Shikyo's tail wrap around his leg, the warm, white fur matching that of his mokomoko which supported her head. Would you be proud of me now? I think I have found something worthy of my protection... He looked down at the soundly sleeping form of his little fox, Yes. Indeed I think I, Sesshoumaru, have.