Chapter Twelve
Arashi walked slowly into the clearing. Her magic had gathered around her causing the snow wind to whip around her, tugging her brown hair everywhere. Sessho-maru stood slowly growling threateningly while his mind screamed at her to run. Kagura had surprised him by just dropping out of the air before him and blowing a handful of white dust into his face. Being surprised he had gotten a nose full of the dust and he knew that the instant that he had, that he was not in control of his body. But Arashi didn't flinch at his growls but actually returned the deadly snarl. He was able to force his body back into a tree but inside he was screaming for her to run, but she didn't. She walked right up to him with no fear in her eyes. When she was within arm's length his hand shot out, his fingers curling around her throat pulling her closer as he snarled down at her. Everything he saw had a slightly red tint to it and he knew that if she didn't get free of his grip soon, she would be dead. " Are you going to kill me Sessho-maru ?" was her simple question. His inu was snarling trying to make his fingers let her go. " If you are, then do it quickly and feel no remorse. If you kill me, just know, that I forgive you for it. " she said softly as her hand came up and lay on his cheek letting her thumb gently rub the now jagged markings on his face. 'NOOO !' his mind and even inu screamed as his body tensed. He had to fight it, he would not kill her, he couldn't. She was his only friend and he could not lose her now.
" Ar-as-hi. " came his broken voice as he fought the spell on him. But Arashi didn't let up on her words.
" If you are going to kill me Sessho-maru, make sure that it is painful. It is what I deserve. I am not afraid of death, because, to me, death would be a welcomed sleep. But just make sure that it is 'you ' killing me, not Naraku. " she said steadily as she gazed at him evenly. He gave a roar of frustration that mimicked the roar that Naraku gave at her words from his place before the small pool of water miles away.
Sessho-maru's teeth ground together as he forced his fingers to slowly, one by one, release her delicate throat. Now he was fighting the spell on will alone, and shockingly, he was winning. Arashi watched the inner battle going on through his eyes. " Sessho-maru, whether you kill me or not, you must fight this. You have to come back to here. Come back for your daughter. Come back for your people, for your lands. Come back to your brother, your rule. Come back to them. " she said softly. He heard her and at that he gave his mind, will, soul, inu, and everything one last push, pushing the poisoned spell from him.
He blinked once before falling to his knees retching, his body ridding itself of the poison. Arashi quickly fell to her knees and gently pulled his hair back and stroked his back softly. " Here. " she said softly as she pulled her water skin out of her haori. Sessho-maru gratefully took the water and rinsed his mouth out before falling to the side on his back worn out. " Hey. " she said softly as she gazed down at him stroking his cheek.
" Hey. " he said. Arashi said nothing as she turned and quickly melted the snow and bringing more to cover the bile on the ground. While she did this he pushed himself up and as she turned to him he wrapped both his arms around her pulling her close. " Arashi, " he started till she cut him off.
" I'm sorry Sessho-maru. I'm sorry. " she said softly as her arms folded around his neck burying her face into his neck.
" It's alright. It's alright. " he said stroking her hair.
" No, I shouldn't have treated you like that. I'm sorry. " she said softly.
" I just wish to know what it was about. " he said trying to comfort her.
" It was nothing. I just had to work some things out on my own. I'm just so sorry. " she said as she pulled back to now look up at him. " Any after affects of the poison ?" she asked as she checked his pupils by lifting his head and checking to see if they dilated correctly.
" Iie. I'll be fine. Come, let's get back to Rin. " he said as he stood and gave her a hand up.
" What happened ?" she asked as they walked.
" Kagura. I don't know what, but she threw something into my face. I hadn't expected it. " he said with a slight snarl. Arashi smiled.
" It's alright my friend. But damn it's cold. " she grumbled. Sessho-maru couldn't help but smile glad that she was finally speaking to him.
" Here. * sigh * Ningens are such whinny little things. " he teased as he unwound his tail and dropped it over her head in a cloak form.
" No, it's that inu taiyoukai are such wusses. " she said with her nose in the air. Sessho-maru chuckled again and playfully tweaked her nose. Arashi was just about to get him back for the nose tweaking when they both heard shouts from where Rin and Jinshin were. They couldn't make them out and fear grew within their hearts.
" Rin. " they said in unison as they looked at each other for a moment before starting to run
I was able to keep up with Sessho-maru easily. I was confused as to why he stopped glaring at the clearing in annoyance. With my head turned I couldn't see where I was going and ended up running into a hard something. I was able to catch myself but the one that I had run into had wasn't to lucky. I brushed my hair out of my face and saw that I had run into a now very pissed off inu hanyou. Rin was to the side laughing her head off from behind Jinshin and in front of Nantasu. Jinshin stood there blinking in surprise. " WHO THE HELL ARE YOU AND WHY THE FUCK DID YOU JUST RUN INTO ME !" InuYasha yelled at me as he stood shakily up. I heard Rin gasp her hands covering her mouth as she muttered.
" He said a bad word. " eyes wide as she looked up at Jinshin who instantly picked her up glaring at InuYasha.
" You will watch your tongue around children. " I said angrily as I straightened, glaring at him. I heard Sessho-maru walking out of the woods behind me. Kagome gasped.
" Sessho-maru-sama !" she said in surprise. He said nothing as he walked up beside me.
" Wait ! You said you were a traveler !" Koga accused. I turned to him and stuck my tongue out.
" I am a traveler stinky. I just didn't say who I traveling with. " I teased. Then I put my finger to my lips and winked sending the silent message of, ' Be nice and I'll keep your secret. ' They got it because both their eyes got wide and Kagome blushed.
" So, you got your bloody arm back ? Are you going to make me chop it off again ?" InuYasha sneered as he drew his sword and pointed it at him. I turned back to him my own eyes narrowing.
" Yo, Sessho-maru, care if I blow some steam ?" I asked as I removed his tail and the haori handing it to Jinshin, who took it in his free hand.
" Iie, have fun. " he said with a smirk as he leaned against a tree watching carefully.
" What are you going to do ? You don't even have a weapon. " InuYasha sneered. I raised an eyebrow. I was not liking how this little punk was talking to me and decided to really blow some steam off.
Arashi was as still as a statue as she looked at the hanyou before her. The winds picked up causing the snow to lift and swirl. InuYasha blinked and she wasn't there anymore. Sessho-maru just stood there with a smirk that really pissed the hanyou off. " I am the weapon. " her voice said right in his ear. He yelped the jumped turning to come face to face with her. She had startled him so bad that he fell on his back. Sessho-maru's smirk widened as he watched InuYasha fall on his back into the snow. Rin giggled and held onto Jinshin's neck as he too smirked. Kagome gasped as Koga fought hard not to laugh. Arashi looked down at him blankly.
" What he hell ?" he snarled as he scrambled to his feet.
" Are you ready puppy ?" she asked flatly. InuYasha growled his ears flattening back against his head. " Who are you calling a puppy wench. " he snarled. Sessho-maru resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
" You, and the name is Arashi, not, wench. " she said with a hard glare.
" More like pain in the ass. " the hanyou muttered.
" I heard that puppy. " she said with a sneer. InuYasha growled and lunged at her with his sword. Sessho-maru tensed for a second when he didn't see Arashi move, but suddenly InuYasha was surrounded by her. " Find the real one puppy. " they all chorused. Sessho-maru grinned. His nose instantly found that the real one was in a tree off to the left. He glanced over at her and she grinned happily at him. She hadn't had a real toy for a while. InuYasha turned in a circle. He couldn't catch that strange autumn scent and was getting annoyed. This bitch was toying with him. It was then that he saw that Sessho-maru was looking off to the left. He followed his gaze and saw her sitting there with a grin. He snarled.
" You baka. You're toying with me aren't you ?" he called as he jumped at her. Arashi pouted as she easily dodged the large sword.
" Sessho-maru ! You baka ! You showed him where I was !" she called as she landed gingerly on the ground sticking her tongue out at him. Sessho-maru shocked everyone, except Rin and Jinshin, when he just smirked.
" So it would seem Arashi. " he said.
Rin was so happy. Her Arashi-chan and Sessho-maru-sama weren't fighting anymore. Arashi then turned back to InuYasha who was staring at his brother in shock. Had that girl really just stuck her tongue out at him ? " Hey, puppy ! I thought we were fighting ?" she called teasingly as she waved her arms. InuYasha glared at her.
" My name is InuYasha, remember it. It'll be the last name you ever hear. " he growled as he raised the Tetsugia, energy swirling. Sessho-maru tensed ready to pull her out of the Windscar's path if needed. But InuYasha let it loose earlier then he had thought he would. Jinshin instantly jumped away with Rin held close to him. Before Sessho-maru could move the energy was gone, not even having made a dent in the ground. Arashi stood there with a small ball of energy in her hand. It was nothing more then a small ball of lightening, but she stood there with a scowl.
" Now that was rude Inu-Ya-Sha ! What if you had hit Rin and Jinshin ? Or Kagome even ? I could have moved it her direction you know. " she said coldly as she crushed the ball. InuYasha blinked in surprised as Kagome gripped Koga's hand on reflex. Sessho-maru slowly let the breath he had been holding out. " And to that earlier question, yea, you are my toy. " she said with a grin. With that said she said she made her move. ( Think of the move that Yuki Sohma used on Kyo in Fruits Baskets in the first book if you've read it. ) Suddenly she was before him. Without giving him time to blink she did a spin kick knocking him in the side of the head. As she did this she took the sword from his fingers. To everyone's surprise it stayed transformed. Kagome gasped in horror was Arashi drove it through the hanyou's shoulder pinning to a tree with his feet three full feet of the ground. " Stay toy. " she said with a smirk. " Sessho-maru, I need to talk to you about something. " she said as she turned to the taiyoukai. As Sessho-maru followed Arashi in slight question Kagome ran to her friend.
" InuYasha ! Are you alright ?" she asked as she examined his shoulder. She was surprised to see that it was just below the arm through the cloth, letting the slightly cut arm rest on the blade.
"What is it Arashi ?" Sessho-maru asked when they had gone far enough.
" I want them to join us. " she flatly.
" What ?" he growled angered at the thought.
" Think about it Maru-chan, Naraku is always going after Kagome. If we were to stick with them, then we could draw him to us. Plus, I haven't had a good toy in a long time. " she said with a playful pout as she crossed her arms across her chest staring up at him steadily. Sessho-maru sighed.
" If you weren't my friend. " he said with half a smile. Arashi grinned.
" I know, I know. You'd remove my useless ningen tongue. So, is this a yes ?" she asked. Sessho-maru chuckled but then grew serious.
" I will not put up with his mouth for to long. And I will not have his language around Rin. I have kept her vocabulary censored and I wish for it to stay that way. " he said with a hard glare. Arashi giggled.
" Oh Maru-chan. I'll try and keep his mouth in line and I'll make sure that Rin doesn't pick up on his speech. And you can just tune him out if you have to. " she said with a smile as she patted his shoulder under the armor. Sessho-maru's eyes narrowed slightly but he didn't argue as they walked back to the clearing.
Jinshin had hopped up into a tree when the Windscar had been thrown and hadn't come down. Rin was huddled into his chest eyeing Koga fearfully remembering him from when she had first died at the hands of the wolves. Jinshin held her close to his chest and hissed threateningly as his eyes flashed slightly red. Koga and Kagome were at the foot of the tree, Kagome trying to get them down and Koga just standing looking up not remembering her. Kagome was getting worried about the small child not knowing who the man was that was holding her. " Give Rin-chan back !" she called up the tree getting really scared and letting her miko powers flare.
" Don't even think about it Miko. " the, who she thought, youkai snarled threateningly his eyes glowing red as he bared his fangs. He would protect his young mistress even if he died, though he would try not to, because he had promised her. Kagome's eyes widened as she saw Rin almost disappear into the youkai, she did not see that it was the child's doing as she tried to hide from Koga's eyes. She quickly drew her bow aiming it threateningly.
" Let Rin-chan go. " she said as the arrow flared threateningly. Jinshin hissed louder as Rin peeked over his arm at the miko.
" IIE !" she called fearfully. Suddenly the surrounding branches twisted and bent to her will covering them from the arrow as she gripped the front of Jinshin's loose white shirt and burying her face into his dark skinned neck closing her eyes tightly.
" Rin-sama, are you hurt ?" he whispered knowing that with the barrier that he had placed and the branch barrier that Rin had placed that they could not be heard or seen.
" Iie. Iie. I want Arashi-chan and Sessho-maru-sama here too. " she whimpered into his neck.
" Shhh. Shhh. It's alright Rin, they'll be here in a moment. " he said softly as he nuzzled her cheek. Rin calmed as she heard and felt the comforting rumble come from his chest.
Arashi walked back into the clearing next to Sessho-maru and almost growled. " What do you think that you are doing ?" she snapped. Kagome dropped her bow and turned with worry in her eyes.
" A youkai got Rin-chan. " she said fearfully. Arashi did growl.
" You are a ditz. Jinshin, you can bring Rin over here now. " she called. Jinshin stood with Rin curled into his arms and glided over to Arashi and Sessho-maru. Touching down he glared over at Kagome in a back off warning as Arashi took Rin out of his arms.
" It's alright Rin, we're here. " she said with a gentle nuzzle to the head before setting her down. Rin nodded and hurried behind Sessho-maru clutching the back of his hakamas as she continued to eye the wolf youkai nervously. Sessho-maru reached back slightly and laid a hand on her head for a moment.
" Who are you ?" Kagome asked. InuYasha remained silent as he glared at the female.
" I am Arashi and I travel with Sessho-maru. " she said flatly as she returned the hanyou's glare.
" What do you want ?" she asked nervously.
" He was the one who started the shouting match with Jinshin, not us. And I am the one who most likely saved his ass. " Arashi said with a scowl as she pointed at InuYasha who growled. " Oh be quite. Here's my proposition, I'll let you down, if and only if, you travel with us. " she said crossing her arms across her chest.
" HELL NO !" InuYasha shouted instantly.
" Alright. Shall we go ?" she said turning to Sessho-maru and the others. As they turned InuYasha grew frantic. Both Koga and Kagome had tried to get the sword out and they hadn't been able to. At the moment he pushed the question as to why Kagome and come into the clearing with Koga away.
" Hey ! Aren't you going to let me down ?" he called.
" No, I told you that I would let you down unless you did as I said, so, I suggest that you start having Kagome pull. " she said with an acid sweet smile. His eyes widened as Sessho-maru hid his smirk as he waited for InuYasha to speak.
" Alright, we'll cooperate with you, just please let him down. " Kagome begged. She could see that the bit of flesh that the blade was in, was bleeding worse then ever. She saw Koga's slightly hurt look knowing that they had been planning on telling InuYasha that they were together, but now they were going to have to wait.
"Alright. Let's find a camp. " Arashi said as she walked forward and pulled the sword free. As InuYasha fell to his feet she leaned forward to talk into his ear. " If you do anything that I do not find appropriate in front of Rin, I will make it impossible for you to have pups of your own. If you go against us in anyway shape or form, the same. " she said icily. Standing she stabbed the sword into ground between his legs and walked back to Sessho-maru, who was resisting the urge to laugh. " Shall we go ?" she said sweetly as she came up to him. They turned and started walking as Kagome helped InuYasha up and the three walked after her.
" Shippo ! He was hiding. " Kagome gasped as she turned back after the kitsune.
" I'm here Kagome-chan !" the small kitsune called as he sprang from the bushes into her arms.
" Who is that ?" he asked looking at Arashi's back.
" I don't know Shippo-chan. " she said.
" Hey, wait, what are you doing here ?" he asked pointing at Koga. "
What you complaining about kid ?" Koga asked with a smirk.
" You smell funny. " Shippo muttered as he held onto Kagome, who laughed. InuYasha eyed Kagome and Koga in question. Something was up but he didn't know what.
" Why are they coming with us, Arashi-sama, Sessho-maru-sama ?" Jinshin growled silently as he walked slightly behind them with Rin now holding onto his pants and sending nervous glances back at Koga. Jinshin bent down and lifted her sending a glare that said keep away to Koga as he wrapped his arms around her.
" Kagome will lead Naraku to us. Then we can get rid of the idiot. Don't worry Jinshin, it'll be alright. " Arashi said as she too looked over her shoulder at the small group of four.
-
I yawned only slightly sleepy and stretched. " Tired ?" Sessho-maru asked softly as we walked.
" I'll be fine, but we need to find a camp so Ri- * eep !*" I was interrupted when Sessho-maru suddenly lifted me and sat me on Nantasu.
" We can't stop just yet. " he said as he laid a hand on one of the dragon's necks. I rolled my eyes at Kagome's gasp.
" Alright, but sooner or later we're going to have to stop. Don't think Au-Un can keep going either. " I said as I stroked one of the dragon's heads.
" I know. But not here. To many other youkai. " he said as he glanced around.
" Naw der ya think ? I never would have thought it. But I'm telling you, we won't last much longer. Not even you or Koga. " I said glancing back at them. Kagome was wobbling slightly and was being supported by InuYasha. Koga looked slightly dazed but was walking. InuYasha had bandaged his shoulder, but it was still bleeding badly and he looked unstable while Shippo was sound asleep. I turned my gaze to Jinshin and Rin to see that Rin was also asleep in the dragon's arms and Jinshin looked a little woozy. Today and been stressful. I looked down at Sessho-maru and saw that he too also looked extremely tiered. I sighed in defeat. " Come on, I'll drive. " I teased as I stretched my hand to him so that he could ride behind me. Sessho-maru looked up at me sleepily and then gracefully got up onto the dragon behind me. " Jinshin !" I called. He looked up at me and came to our side. " Come on, you're going to ride. " I said as I lifted Rin out of his arms and placed her in Sessho-maru's arms. Jinshin didn't protest as he turned into his dragon form and curled up on Rin's stomach falling instantly asleep. I silently summoned Nigeana. " Nigena, would he help carry Kagome ?" I asked.
" Yes. " she said as she grew to about the size of Nantasu and fell back.
" Put her on my back. " she said to InuYasha.
" Do it puppy. " I called back to him. InuYasha gave me a weak growl but lifted Kagome on to the dragon's back. Not even a moment later he fell from blood loss. " Oops, maybe I cut him a little deep. " I said wincing slightly. Sessho-maru chuckled weakly. Koga lifted the hanyou onto my friend's back. Then he wiggled between the hanyou and his soon to be mate. I smiled softly as he nodded on and off. I felt Sessho-maru's head softly thunk on my back as I urged Nantasu to move quicker.
I finally sighed when I felt the presence of youkai disappear. I searched for hidden aura's and found none. Looking around I spotted a clearing near a springs, it was warm compared to the snow covered ground and steered the dragons in that direction. Koga was out like a light with his head resting on Kagome's shoulder. Stopping the dragons I carefully slid off Nantasu and out of Sessho-maru's arm. I looked at him to see that he was extremely pale and sound asleep. Guess that poison did more then I thought it would. He was balanced good enough that I didn't need to support him.
" Nalla, " I called softly. Slowly the dragon appeared.
" Yea ?" he asked.
" Help me out with these guys. " I said. He nodded and changed into his youkai form. Carefully I took Rin and Jinshin off Sessho-maru's lap and handed them to Nalla. He held them as I turned back to Sessho-maru. I gasped as Sessho-maru began to fall from the dragon. I caught him the best I could but ended up getting stabbed with a spike. I bit my lip trying not to yelp in pain as the spike entered my shoulder.
" Arashi !" Nalla and Nigeana gasped.
" I'm alright. " I lied as I slowly eased Sessho-maru off Nantasu. The dragon took one stretch before finding a large rock and lying down against it. Carefully I led the sleeping taiyoukai over to him and propped him against him. Slowly as I stood I winced as the metal spike slid from my skin. Nalla came and lay the child down beside him and then helped me remove his armor. Then we turned to Kagome and the others. I lay Kagome next to Koga and then turned to InuYasha. Wincing slightly I checked his shoulder wound. It was deep and bloody. I gently fingered it before closing my eyes and healing it. 'Damn I'm weak, I wonder why. ' I thought as I drug him over to Kagome and lay his head in her lap, I had her leaning against Koga his head on hers. Pulling two blankets from a saddle bag I covered the three of them up. I was slightly worried about Shippo so I moved him to Kagome's shoulder. Turning back to Sessho-maru I pulled his tail away and wrapped it around him and Rin. The last thing I remember was Nalla lifting me to be laid somewhere to sleep. Then all there was, was darkness.