Had traveled with friends and dealt with college issues, hence the late update. Soooorreeeeaaay. So here you go, an extra beefy chapter before college starts :)
Disclaimer: Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.
Chapter Ten: Reassurance
The moment air made contact with her body, she desperately clung to the person who had fished her out of the pond.
Coughing out the water swishing within her, she felt the familiar turbulence of high-altitude wind whistling past them; repulsive at first having noticed the sleeve she grasped dearly was so blue – No, no, where is she taking me – Kagura calmed down as she subconsciously recognized, through her corrupted vision, the shade of sapphire.
The warmth of ambient light had lured her to the worriless slumber she coveted for so long. Before she slept, she pondered at the back of her mind whether this was the final gift from the gods she cursed earlier – a grand escorting to the afterlife, tailored to meet her yearnings. She laughed silently to herself, concluding that somehow, she enjoyed death more than life – the former blessing freedom from all the ordeals destiny has put her through.
Darkness was short-lived; the next time she fluttered open her eyes, lush greenery replaced the mesmerising fish scale pattern on the cloth she nuzzled into earlier. To her side, she saw silver, so elegant and pure that the cascading strands could have been dyed by moonlight itself.
"Yo... Sesshomaru." The wind demon in fatigue wheezed, resisting the urge to run her fingers through his hair. "How...how did you find me...?"
The *inu taiyoukai grunted, helping her sit up upon the forest floor.
"Your scent," he answered after a pause.
"Huh," Kagura replied sheepishly, realizing how close they were. It was a miracle that she managed to speak with her heart pulsing so painfully... in such a pleasant way.
"You are foolish not to have escaped, away from the demon's element," Sesshomaru stated matter-of-factly. "I imagined your instincts far more sharper than this, Kagura."
"Why you...!" she snapped, her content state of mind overtaken by her pride eager to defend itself. "Shut up, mutt! You have no idea what I've been through -"
The indignity died down like a flicker, while sensibility kicked in. A part of her acknowledged him, chiding herself for underestimating the enemy, falling into such a mess; the other part recalled in horror what had happened before, the night air freezing asudden.
"...Why are you here?" She muttered while turning away. "I know... that you know about it. About Naraku."
The silence was unsettling; Kagura assumed that he had no idea what she was talking about.
He will, sooner or later. What would he think of her then...
"...Scratch that. Thanks for saving my butt," The wind demon sighed, pushing herself up to leave. "I owe you one, Sesshomaru. Well, I've got things to do, places to be, so ta-ta for now - "
Her body was paralyzed by his gentle but firm grip on her left arm; whipping her hair around, the verbal assaults died in her throat as she got lost in his amber orbs, glinting in an emotion she could not discern.
"This Sesshomaru has yet approved of your departure."
"Such a cocky lord we have here, eh?" Kagura bantered. "Too bad that I don't give a damn; I'll come and go as I please, sir."
Nevertheless, she made no attempt to free herself from his grasp.
"...I came for your assistance." The dog demon deadpanned, his gaze fixed. "There are pressing matters in my realm regarding -"
Please, just let me go -
"No, no, stop. You see, at this moment I can't -"
"This morning's affair is unworthy of your concern, Kagura. Don't let your fears toy with your reasoning."
It took her some time to be aware of the moisture upon her cheeks; hand released, she hastily wiped the tears stinging in her eyes, her back against him to hopelessly shield the fragile state she was in.
"What do you know," The wind demon questioned weakly. "Don't try to sweet-talk me into believing it was all a joke -"
Before she could finish, the dog demon scooped her up instantaneously, leaping high into the sky. A jet of water pulverized the spot they were before, leaving a remarkable dent in the soil.
More jets of water came in pursuit, constantly interfering with their path. Ultimately, they landed on an open field nearby; Kagura stumbled onto her feet, squinting to locate the attacker.
Out in the distance, a slender figure made its way out of the forest in confident strides, swiftly raising both arms.
Synchronized with its movements, two colossal spouts emerged from the underground, fissuring the surface; motioning a circle, the water then shifted its form into a dome, trapping both of them within it. Tendrils teemed the inner side of the structure, slithering and wriggling, lethally tipped with icy hooks.
"Oh my," The figure – no other than the water demon obliging to hunt her down - inhaled in surprise. "Look who's decided to join in the fun – Lord Sesshomaru himself!"
"Damnit – The wind sorceress bellowed in distraught, swinging open her fan. "Leave me alone, asshole!"
"Ah-ah. No can do," The *mizu youkai purred. "I won't let you escape this time, dear!"
Sesshomaru unsheathed his Bakusaiga, slashing at the array of tentacles that lashed at him reflexively. The slimy attackers bursted upon impact, raining water beads targetting to wet its opponent.
"Don't let the water touch you!" The wind demon yelled urgently. With a crescent wave of her arm, she blasted a torrential gust towards him before he got completely drenched, diverging the incoming water and quickening the evaporation of his sleeves.
Having been brought down once, Kagura knew better than anyone about how fatal it is if one made complete contact with the watery appendages. Taking a deep breath, she summoned a current of wind surging continously that served to deflect any trace of liquid – even a mere droplet – daring to approach them.
Growling through gritted teeth, the water demon strained a sideways gesture, commanding the ceiling of tendrils to attack all at once. Due to the frenzied advance, the two ranched within the aquatic lockdown were forced to stand back-to-back, the majority of their focus struggling to keep themselves intact from moisture.
"Cover me," Sesshomaru ordered in calm authority, though one could still pick up the tension through his raspy breaths. Normally, Kagura would roll her eyes and whip up a retort towards his snobbishness, but in this situation, she found it wise to comply.
After a fickle interval, the demon lord forced his youki into his blade, igniting a spark of green energy sizzling upon it; stretching his right arm and pointing the tip of Bakusaiga forwards, he pounced high up into the air, the glowing *katana growing brighter and brighter by the minute. Despite that the air current she created earlier barely shielded herself, Kagura wasted no time watching his back, wind blades destroying the tendrils closing in on him.
The light of Bakusaiga eventually accumulated into a scorching sphere glaring at the tip. Accelerating, a cannon of energy ejected from the blade, blasting the wall of the dome blindingly; for a brief moment, the water vaporized, leaving a opening for Sesshomaru to pass through. The taiyoukai landed in front of the water demon - now in shock – the instant he was free, bustling blade strikes towards her.
Great. What else would he do besides leaving me alone? Kagura thought in frustration while dealing with the hazards all around her. Fortunately, the sorcery was weakening - with the demon lord currently facing off the caster; exploiting the situation, she created several twisters that gradually tore down the dome, confining the water within her vortexes of wind.
The water demon tripped, rolled and scampered, genuine fear notably emanating from her eyes; no matter how far she leapt away from her previous location, the silver menace would catch up to her the next second without fail. Occasional spurts of water were assembled from the two wells made before to blast at Sesshomaru's aggressive attacks – however, avoided easily by him; hence, they served nothing but pitiful retaliation to buy time for the water demon, destined to die if no feasible plan of prevailing was made.
Observing the battle, doubts began to take shape in Kagura's mind.
When did she become so... evasive?
The confrontation – unintentional for Sesshomaru, contrary for the water demon – was brought back towards the two wells once again. Flashing a grin of satisfaction, the auburn-haired lady backflipped airborne, aiming to land in the nearest pit for cover; seizing the only chance of the enemy's vulnerability, Sesshomaru lunged relentlessly and pierced at her abdomen.
Garish fuchsia gleam pooled out of her wound instead of blood; youki coursing through Bakusaiga preparing to fire another energy blast, the water demon's body began to disintegrate upon contact with it, exposing a glowing core located in her chest.
That's it! The wind sorceress perceived, now only surrounded by an aquatic ring. The thing she is protecting!
Sesshomaru seemed to have comprehended the fact as well, lowering his arm in order to pin her against the ground; unexpectedly, the water demon managed to push her broken body out of the katana before he was done, falling freely into the abyssal hole right below her.
The dog demon fired the biding youki blast within the well, sending tremors that worsened the fissures webbing the plains; heightening his impeccable senses, he remained alert long after the echoes of the attack died down.
Within a breath's time after the tension wore off, the earth below Kagura's feet split open, a fountain of pressured water targeted at her; regaining her senses from the stupor, she realized in dread that the water demon was only inches away from her - both of them sealed in a cramped water orb, a thin cocoon of air hardly secluding herself from drowning.
"DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE!" The mizu youkai – hair frazzled, furisode torn, skin burnt – gurgled viciously, clawing her way towards the wind demon in agitation; the water was crushing her shabby sanctuary, the bubble ready to dissipate anytime soon. Left with no choice, Kagura held her breath and harnessed the last remaining puffs of her element to roughly take the form of a spear; shooting her left arm forwards, the spear critically punctured the water demon's chest, slowly grinding its way through the blazing core.
Ruthless liquids closed in on the desperate wind sorceress' body, while shimmering light crippled her sight; subsequently, blistering pain crept up her outstretched palm, bringing forth cries of torment that released the oxygen she had endeavoured so arduously to conserve. For a unknown period of time, Kagura felt detached from the world, only feeling tingles dancing at the sides of her head; the absence of suffocating water and a heavy thud on the ground reined her back from limbo.
"Hell..." The nauseous wind demon coughed, her left palm stinging burningly. Sitting up, she wrung her ebony hair, squeezing out all the liquid in it.
I'm never going near water again. Ever.
In a blink, Sesshomaru knelt beside her, giving support. When she finally managed to stand, her numb legs wobbled and betrayed her, thus falling backwards into his outstretched arms.
"Thanks..." She whispered, feeling so warm and secure. Subconsciously, she tenderly caressed his cheek, later registering in horror such a bold gesture she had done; to her astonishment, the dog demon held her hand with his – eyes closed - resting his nose on top of her head.
For that moment of time, Kagura stood stiffened in his embrace, ticklish to his steady breaths against her. Eventually, she relaxed, closing her eyes as well, a content smile creeping up her lips.
In that moment of time, nothing mattered - only her dampness, the soothing winds, and him.
〆 〆 〆
Dawn broke by the time they arrived back at Kaede's village. Moving in stealth, Kagura was ushered into Kaede's hut hurriedly before any of the unsatisfied villagers knew of her prescence.
Inside it, Inuyasha and his comrades sat around a dying flame, expressions grim and troubled. The wind sorceress felt her heart throb and twist painfully again; she wondered why she could hurt like this, then realized that guilt could do damage, too – sometimes, even more than a physical squash to the heart.
Quite opposite from the condemnation she expected, Kagome approached solemnly, taking her hands. Inhaling while casting a glance at Sesshomaru, she spoke.
"Although this may sound feigned to you... I must tell you again that Naraku is truly gone," The priestess mused in a hushed tone. "He passed on peacefully, purified by the jewel when I wished upon it. So... What he – whoever that is - said can't be true."
"...I can further reinforce Kagome-sama's point," Miroku added faintly, clenching his cursed hand. "This kazaana feels... light on my hand - I feel neither the usual tearing, nor expanding sensation. Hence, this cannot be the same kazaana Naraku had brought upon me; it's almost like a convincing - far from perfect - copy of it."
"Whoever did it – the appearance of Naraku, the return of the Wind Tunnel – somehow knows quite a lot about him... and us," Grandma Kaede concluded somberly. "The motives behind these tedious actions... I cannot tell."
Out of the blue, she recalled the destruction and lives she was made to inflict and take in her former life. In the past, she shrugged off the discomfort by repeatedly telling herself that she had done it for survival, nothing more; it had worked – she felt no pang of shame even until the moment she perished. But now granted with a new life and the liberty to finally make her own choices, she began to mourn for all the pain she had caused. Being a servant who must accomplish their appointed tasks – killing was no exception – doesn't make one less responsible than their masters; it was Kagura who had done the dirty work, after all.
Now, she is paying the price.
Who's out there, wanting me dead...? She thought in dread, trembling. Wanting... vengeance?
"Oi." Inuyasha gruffed, crossing his arms while eyeing the anxious wind witch. She strained her neck to meet his stare.
"Lemme ask you, just one last time. Do you really remember nothing 'bout the time you're dead?" The half-breed grilled. "About how you came back?"
"Inuyasha, please -"
"Don't interfere, wench. Just makin' sure about things."
"What the hell, Inuyasha?! N-no!" The wind demon swore through clenched teeth. "How dare you doubt me like that!"
Blinking hard and pressing her hand against her forehead, she searched for memories that could help back herself up. In spite of her vigorous efforts, nothing struck her – anything before the day she found herself awakened at the meadow.
Why am I here, why am I here...?! Never, I would never -
"Keep your insecurities at bay, Inuyasha."
Everyone glanced at the source of the voice in shock; the inu taiyoukai took a step forward inside the hut, standing beside her.
"Begging from Naraku – from anyone - would be paradoxical with her existence," Sesshomaru addressed sternly. "Note how poorly she does when requesting assistance from others."
"I'll note how poorly you're doing at consolation, jerk!Kagura hissed without lowering her voice, deeply offended – despite that the dog demon was actually trying to defend her.
Sesshomaru paused to observe her expression of anger, clearly unsure why she snapped at him. Inuyasha snickered uncontrollably, earning himself a vicious pinch from a very awkward Kagome.
"Ow-ow-ow-ow-stop!" The hanyou pleaded through whining. "Okay, okay, for once you've got'a point."
The atmosphere turned light briefly; soon after, reality kicked in, bringing forth the bleak mood once again.
"I'm afraid the villagers wouldn't think so, no matter what we say," The monk drawled hesitantly, not wishing to provoke the wind demon. Instantaneously, Naraku's voice rang in her head.
Where would you run then, Kagura? Where can you run?
"She is coming with me," Sesshomaru announced. "To assist me in certain issues."
〆 〆 〆
The harsh winds rattled the windowpanes, whistling and howling like an untamed beast. A mystical blue flame illuminated the dark room, reflecting the cold, metallic gleams of the ornaments within.
Hinges creaking, a tall figure entered the room carrying an object mantled with sea-green cloth. Approaching the light source, the flames revealed the figure's pure white hair, now dyed ghostly blue.
"Are you sure you want to do this, now?" The man – an inu youkai – inquired in concern, reluctant to hand over the item. "You're terribly worn out after performing that spell today..."
"Don't worry about me, my beloved," A frail woman's voice replied, emerging from the darkness. "She needs... deserves to know what happened."
Seeing him unconvinced, the woman tiptoed and kissed him softly, her hands taking the object – a metal sphere engraved with mysterious markings – from the man.
"I can do this," She whispered, purple eyes locked with amber. "Don't let your family trait take over you."
"...I am not my brother," The man muttered, expression darkening.
"Of course," The woman chuckled, placing the sphere at the center of a slim, rectangular pool rippling beside the blue torch. "Just teasing you, dear."
Kneeling, she gently dipped her palms into the freezing water.
Violet light glowered loomingly; the water swirled and splurged in autonomy, gradually gathering to form the shape of a young girl's body.
The woman wobbled in depletion - fortunately, the man had caught her before she could collapse into the dried pool.
"I-I'm fine," The woman panted forcefully, roughly rearranging her white strands of hair - running wild due to the actions before - while steadying herself. "Help me get beside her..."
The young lady slowly opened her eyes, her hand covering the woman's which warmed her forehead. Serene at first, fear struck her suddenly, the lady's emerald pupils dilating in anxiety.
"I'm...I'm sorry, I've failed you -"
"Shh, it's okay," The woman hushed tenderly, stroking the girl's auburn locks. The man helped the girl sit up, his arm on her shoulder for support.
Sighing in exasperation and relief, the woman fell onto the dazed young girl, head resting on the crook of her neck. The young girl embraced her emergently, fussing about her shaky state.
"Although...things... unexpected," The woman explained airily like a faint midnight breeze. "The seal... complete. *Suisen, it's... success..."
Hot tears escaping her body, the young girl hugged the woman tightly, words of apologies and promises tumbling out of her incoherent sobs.
A/N: UGH! I suck at writing fights. Dialogue and mental-state descriptions are definitely my forte...
And yeah. Finally some SessKagu! After nine freakin' chapters... Trust me, even I hate myself for this :P I'm so glad that I've forced myself to update three chapters this summer, or I'll never see this end...
Argh, the old noisy me again. Anyways, hope you liked this chapter! Review please :) Bye for now!
*inu taiyoukai = powerful dog demon
*mizu youkai = water demon
*katana = sword, blade
*Suisen = 水仙; In Chinese, this is the name for daffodils, but it literally means 'water fairy'. Yep, I named her for the latter.