The Plan

The next morning following the attack, Saeka woke to find Sesshomaru sitting beside the door with his eyes half-closed. She smiled and lifted her arm to check her shoulder. As he had promised, it had completely healed save for a small bruise that was still festering below her skin. She was a little irked that he'd ruined the sleeve of her kimono, but that could be fixed. For now, she could use a simple binding spell she'd used in the old days to sew it together until proper measures could be taken.

She sat up and slid to the floor, crawling along until she was beside him. He seemed to be asleep. She leaned against him and waited for him to wake up. This happened just a few minutes later. His eyes snapped open, as though he'd been awake all along. But she knew he hadn't been. She was able to tell by his heartbeat. He glanced around and his gaze fell on her. " Saeka, you've healed." He said. She nodded, her face blank. He blinked. " Are you upset with me?" he asked.

As an answer, she suddenly threw her arms around his neck. " No! I'm happy I'm still alive!" she cried. She pulled away and sat back, staring at him. " I didn't really hurt you last night, did I?" she asked quietly.

" We've been over this, Saeka. You didn't."

" I bit you." She grumbled. Sesshomaru sighed and pulled his arm around, exposing where she had bitten him. " I'm a true demon, Saeka. It healed within minutes. Stop worrying." He said reassuringly. Saeka looked away. " It doesn't erase what I did, Sesshomaru. I was almost killed, I had no choice but to bring my demon blood forward."

Yet again, Sesshomaru gained some valuable insight on what it was like to be a half-demon. He knew from experience fighting his brother that the half-demon blood she possessed was very unstable and she was a very rare breed to keep it under such iron control.

" I was coming faster than I could to help you." Sesshomaru said. " As soon as I turned and saw you under attack, natural instinct made me hurry to you, even though you took over seconds before I got there."

" Oh sure. Thanks." Saeka said skeptically, though he knew she was playing. She sighed. " Well, it's morning. I suppose we should continue the search."

Sesshomaru nodded. " Right. I went out for a few minutes a little while ago, and those phony guards who attacked us last night are out there waiting. We've already paid for board for the night, I suggest we find an alternate route." He said. Saeka nodded. " I agree. I don't want another broken body part."

Sesshomaru couldn't help but smile a little. But just a little.

Tobias pressed his face to the bars as he waited impatiently. He wanted her to return. He knew now that the dosages hadn't completely taken over her body. She was beginning to remember and he had to help her. It was the least he could do, he thought as he peered clumsily down the halls.

A quiet patter of footsteps drew his attention to the right. His eyes lit up when he saw the figure running up to his cell. He knew it was Miharu. He could see her flowing silver hair. She stopped at his cell and peered in at him. " Tobias?" she whispered. She put her arm through the cell door. He got to his feet and extended his own as far as it would reach until their hands met. He couldn't go any further because of the iron chains restraining him.

" Miharu, how are you? Are they treating you well? They aren't pushing you too hard are they?" he asked concernedly. She smiled at him. " No, I'm fine. But Drasmond is getting violent because I'm beginning to remember things. I have to pretend to enjoy the training sessions now. When I was the kikuurama, I enjoyed the sight and smell of blood. Now, I hate it."

" I wish to help you so badly. I feel terrible that it was I who did this to you." Tobias said. Miharu gave him a look of compassion. " I've long since forgiven you, Tobias. After all, you were kind to me after awhile."

" That was because I got to know you better." He said. He couldn't help but look her right in the eye as he said this. Hers were the most enigmatic and beautiful eyes he'd ever seen. They were a deep, burnt golden color. When she had been his charge in the laboratory, she'd said that she resembled her father more than her mother. She had mentioned her father was a powerful dog demon. He often wondered if her kind heart was his as well.

Miharu withdrew her hand for a moment and lifted a bundle up through the bars, tossing to him. " Here. I skipped my meal today. I want you to have it." She said. The bundle fell just within his reach and he pulled it closer to him. " Thank you, Miharu." He said.

" Tobias, if anyone feels bad, it's me. I've ended so many lives and thought nothing of it until…." She paused.

" Until what?"

" Until I saw you being led in through the gates. The mere sight of you completely restored some memory and that force overpowered the kikuurama spirit. I'm almost free. I want to help you escape, Tobias."

" But Miharu, I'm scheduled to battle you to the death tomorrow." He said sadly. Miharu's face scrunched up and she looked like she was about to cry. But she forced it back and stepped a few feet backward. She placed her hand on the door and exhaled. Instantly, she became transparent and slid through the door effortlessly, becoming solid on the other side. Tobias had seen her do this once before. She took a seat beside him. " I won't kill you. I won't let you die. When you arrive in the arena tomorrow, I'm going to rip out my own heart and allow you to live and be free."

" But Miharu, if you die, then they'll think I bewitched you or something and kill me too. I'll follow you right to the afterlife."

Miharu looked away. " Well then, since neither of us want to leave the other behind, and there's no way I can help you escape, there is one more option."

" What's that?"

" We die together. You kill me, and I kill you. We'll journey to the afterlife together. Then, neither of us will be left behind and Drasmond can't stop us. Only my father can restore people to life."

Tobias appeared stunned, but he smiled determinedly and said, " Why not? I don't want to have to face life without you, Miharu. It's settled. But," he faltered. " How will I fight you?"

" Oh. I hadn't thought of that. They won't give you a weapon because you're a convicted prisoner."

They both thought for a moment. Finally, Miharu's face lit up. " I know. It'll be difficult, but I can, well, kill you first and then kill myself, so I'll be right behind you."

" It does sound more cruel, but it's necessary. Agreed."

Miharu smiled at him, and he smiled right back. He didn't want to leave Miharu behind. He cared a lot about her, especially since she'd begun to remember. He was willing to follow her to death and beyond.

They sat in silence until footsteps could be heard down the hall and Miharu quickly got to her feet. Tobias leapt up too. He took Miharu's hand. " No matter what, we'll go through with this, right?" he said. Miharu nodded without hesitation. " Yes. I'll follow right behind you. I promise." She whispered. She started to pull away, but Tobias quickly drew her back and embraced her. " I don't want to leave you. Make sure your mark hits dead on." He mumbled. Miharu was a little stunned at first. " I will. I'll be so accurate, you won't feel a thing."

He let her go, somewhat reluctantly and she melted through the wall with one backward glance. He heard the patter of her feet as she hurried away, just as a guard passed by. Tobias held his breath, but the guard didn't yell out. He hadn't spotted Miharu. Tobias sat back against the wall and sighed. He knew he shouldn't be feeling this way, but he couldn't help it. Though Miharu was the deadly weapon of Malsshinyor, she was a beautiful being with a kind soul and emotions like any human's. He was actually looking forward to his death tomorrow when he could finally be with her.

When they would be together forever.

A/N: The story is almost done. I only have a few more chapters and then I'll post the story after this one. I keep telling you all, there are nine books so far and the ninth is still in progress. These things take a long time to write. I didn't have any time to work today because I got my hair dyed. It's black. Hope you enjoy my story!