CHAPTER 12
Earth, Wind and Fire
"OOF!" she said as the air escaped out of her compressed lungs, her back had hit the stone wall hard. The binding spells not letting her use her youki to slow down her flight into the inanimate object.
"You were firmly warned to leave Nishichan out of this. Now explain yourself and your defiance, witch!" the voice of the fire demon was hard on the woman, his burnt hair smell infuriating to her nose.
"My reasons are my own," she snarled.
Another sharp backhand sent her flying into yet another inanimate object, the bookcase. Landing on the floor, several books followed her lead.
"Your reasons are mine! I want to know what you are thinking!" he snarled.
"Setsujin, I have my reasons. And that human is getting in the way of what I want. She is only a human, and I have every right to take that insufferable son of hers and give him to his father!" she snarled.
"And who is his father?" Setsujin stepped closer, the witch could feel the heat of his body double, then triple.
"Now now, a good spy never gives away anything," she said wiping the small amount of blood from the corner of her mouth. "Cook me, I won't die from it. I will complete my employer's task and ruin that little bitch," Kagura sneered.
"Sesshoumaru sama will not let you go Kagura, he's on his way to speak to you now," Setsujin sneered.
"Well, that means you aren't going to burn me now doesn't it? Can't have me in bad shape for the meeting with the Lord of the West now can we?" she said seductively.
The door opened, and Sesshoumaru stepped into the small windowless study room.
"Leave us," he said coldly. Setsujin quickly bowed and left the room the way Sesshoumaru had come.
"Kagura," he said standing there like ice.
"What do you want?" she said with a smirk.
"I need information, that you have," he said with a tilt of his head. "Why are you after Nishichan? What has she done to offend you?"
"Offend me? Nothing. She is just in my way," she said satisfactorily. "What do you care? She's just a human, right?" Leading him to give more of an answer.
"Hnn." was his only reply.
"Come now Sesshoumaru sama, think. What does Kagome Higurashi have that I could possibly want?" she said sliding herself to her feet and slowly putting the books one at a time, back on the shelves, using herself like a seductress would.
"Me," he said coming forward. He grasped her wrist and spun her around, pushing her back against the wall with his body. His arms pinning hers above her head. "Isn't that the case?"
"Well, you have half of it pretty boy," she said letting her tongue lick under his chin. A sign of submission.
"What is the other half?" he purred into her pointed ear. Nipping at the earlobe, he tugged slightly.
"It doesn't matter Sesshoumaru sama, " she said purring. She pressed her breasts against his chest tauntingly.
"Who is the whelp's father Kagura?" he pressed his hips into hers giving a growl as she gasped at his forwardness.
"Let's think," she said quietly. "Let us say I tell you, of course he's a mutt and doesn't deserve the air he pulls into his lungs every day. Let us say that I kill him, and take the threat of his existance away. What do I get out of it?" she said licking up the side of his neck. "I'm not something to just don your bedsheets when you are bored, Sesshoumaru."
"Let's say that I agree with you," he whispered, "Let's say that I allow you to do this, and reward you with what you are wishing... now tell me who the father is..."
"Think Sesshoumaru sama," she said seductively. "There were two Inu in those cages. You, and who else?"
"Marsuni, the lotus clan," he whispered grinding into her again. He nipped down her shoulder. "But the boy's hair is silver, not red."
"So who is the father Sesshoumaru sama? Let me kill the whelp," she purred against him. "He's weak, and taints your blood. So old, and he can't even fight yet," she purred, leaning her head to the side. "You were half out of your mind, in hunger and rage. His life was a mistake. He isn't worthy to be the heir to the West, not like a strong child I could give you."
Sesshoumaru opened his mouth wide, and bit down hard on Kagura's shoulder, she moaned loudly at first. Until he bore down even harder, bone crunching could be heard as he did. She screamed as she was forced to stay against the wall. He released her shoulder allowing his poison deep into her bloodstream. Pulling back, blood on his lips and chin he looked hard into her eyes.
"Four hundred years, you have known this? Four hundred years you have said nothing! Juniji, my mate deserved to know! And you ask me to mate you!" his eyes were bleeding red. "You dared to not tell me as I rebuilt the West. As I trusted you not to be like your evil hanyou sire!"
Kagura's eyes widened in fear. She had fallen hard into his trap. His poison was weakening her further than the ofudas already were. Her legs were turning to jelly. He held her up by her arms snarling into her face. His fangs elongating.
"She... she had... vanished... Until recently... I didn't think she.. was still alive.," she whimpered. "I didn't... know.. until..." she felt her eyelids getting heavy, but the burn would not let her sleep... "I saw... the file... "
"Who gave you the file!" he snarled angrily.
"My employer... " she hissed, her lids at half mast.
"Who is...?" He was snarling in her ear.
"Mansur... Elliot Mansur..." Sesshoumaru spun away from her before he ripped out the witch's throat. Mansur! The Italian Mafia! DAMNIT! "Get this poison out... I told you... everything..."
"Oh no my pretty witch, you made your bed, now you lie in it! You attacked my son! You will die for your transgression!" he snarled angrily.
"Hanyou...weak..." she whispered, her lungs starting to lose the capability to draw air.
"Oh yes, he's so very weak, isn't he?" he leaned up to her dying body. "And now, so are you, the difference is that by morning, he'll still be breathing."
And with that, Sesshoumaru left the woman to die, and stormed from the room.
"Sesshoumaru sama, you need to calm down," the smooth voice said calmly. She had been watching him pace for over an hour. Not his usual contemplative pace, but practically storming around the room.
"How can I?" he snarled. "Do you realize what this means!"
"You mated a human?" she guessed, her voice still delicately smooth.
"She's not human, I'm unconcerned about that!" he said with a scoff.
"Then no, Sesshoumaru sama, I do not know what this means," she said softly.
"Of course you don't Kanna!" he paced running his hands through his hair.
"Tell me what it means Sesshoumaru sama," she whispered in that child like voice that always calmed him.
"She will despise me, for all time! I have ruined her!" he said spinning and letting his claws slash through the velvet curtains of the library.
"Do you think she is capable of hate?" she asked softly.
"Kanna, you didn't see those photos! Her body was absolutely ravaged! What if I lose control again! What if it happens again?" he was shaking.
"Has it happened since then?" she asked.
"No," he said breathing off his anger.
"Is it your anger at yourself about your mate Juniji you are so angry about?" Kanna asked.
"That too! She deserved a full mate!" Sesshoumaru sighed slumping down to the floor, burying his hands in his hair.
"So does Kagome," she whispered. "You are angry that you hurt her. Make it up to her. Heal her."
He let out a long sigh, pulling his head up to the beautiful woman before him. Her long white hair and dark eyes looked at him with curiousity. A case on her lap held her mirror, she did not carry it everywhere anymore in her hands. She rarely needed it anymore.
"You realize that Kagura..."
"Kagura must die for her transgressions, she had been warned and refused to listen," Kanna said passively. "My sister knew her fate long ago would be decided by you. But do not lose sight of the one that hired her. The Mansur family is still a bitter enemy."
"Damnable Italians!" he hissed.
Kay spent the night sitting next to Muteki, keeping an eye on the drugged boy. Li had given him a sleeping drought so he could sleep through the pain in his ribs. He was on the couch, resting on a pile of pillows. Kay was in the LayZBoy (newp don't own them either), reclined back sleeping.
The howls and the screams were finally dying down. The music coming from within her own lungs was peaceful and content, despite the malcontent of the woods around her. She smiled, they were free again. No more would these priests hurt or harm them. No more would these humans be allowed to contain the very wild of the world and make them suffer. Sesshoumaru had not been here, or so she had seen, but it was obvious that she was needed. They had been screaming something about the Lady of the West. Who knew what that was about? She wasn't about to stop a ticked off youkai to ask. If it was prevalent, someone would someday let her know.
She watched with pride as Kagura lifted herself on her feather, free once again. No more a pawn to these sick individuals that dared to call themselves priests. She untied her hair and let the wind that was Kagura's blow through her hair. Kagura stopped in midair and seemed to hover in a silent thanks before she began to move once again. This made her smile. She rose to her feet and still singing softly, moved to the lip of the well.
She saw two strong red eyes staring at her from across the well. She showed it no fear, and continued to hum softly her song. Her own aura was beaming brightly, warning those who would do harm to stay away, it almost lit up the clearing. Suddenly a violet darkness surrounded her own light, choking it and starving it of energy. Still she showed no fear. Her voice began singing instead of humming. This had always been her best defense. Soothe the beast.
The violet darkness did not stop at her aura, and soon she found herself struggling to breathe against it's violent advance at her body. She stopped her song, and looked deep into the red eyes staring at her. A growl eminated, and suddenly the world was dark.
She awoke to the most amazing pain, the feel of her own body ripping in half, blood was all over her hands as she looked down on them from her crawling position. She tried to lurch forward away from the pain, only to feel a strong arm pulling her back like an iron vice against the painful intrusion. She clawed the dirt, refusing to cry out. Crying out would only entice what was behind her, what was violating her body, what was hurting her. She felt claws, digging deep into her body, raking across her flesh like daggers. Her body rocked forward hard, hitting her head on the wood of the well before her.
The well stood witness, silent and cold as the times it had brought her to. She did not cry out. She was strong, she wasn't going give in. She felt the bile rising in her throat and forced it back down, it was a pleasant distraction from the rest of her body. She felt her hair get pulled hard backwards, and the biting began. Bite, then lick up the blood, bite, then lick up the blood. She could feel the caress of the tongue, then another sharp bite.
When the bite came to her neck, she lost conciousness yet again. She awoke, her body was on fire. Whatever was with her had flipped her onto her back, laying on a rough wool blanket of some kind. It was whining, rubbing it's face against the bite on her neck. She didn't move, she froze. The pain was excruciating, she didn't feel alone in her own body. She felt so dirty, and violated. A painfelt tear burned down her cheek, and struck the creature's face. It reared up out of her sight, it was too dark to see. Only it's red glowing eyes that penetrated deep into her soul, it sniffed audibly, then ran into the woods. Then darkness came once again.
She awoke again, in the hospital. Trying to hear the voices asking too many questions. Her head hurt. Her body hurt. She moaned and it silenced them all. She felt empty and full all at once.
Kagome sat upright, her eyes scanning around the room with the ghost chill that filled her bones. Muteki was sleeping soundly. She pulled her fingers through her sweat filled hair and shuddered again at the vivid memories. Her face was covered in sweat, and she felt sticky against the leather of the chair. With a heavy sigh, she lowered the recliner down to it's normal rocking position, and headed to the shower.
Li just sat in silence in the darkness. He had seen this every night for the past 17 years. Every night she would wake, every night she would shower, and every night she would try to remember something that would give her a clue to find her attacker. Every night she would find no clues, other than her beautiful son. And every night sleep would elude her for the rest of the night and she would practice with the sword she had found near the well. Then shower again and be awake for her son in the morning.
Li prayed to Sariyu every night for her to have justice, to have the right to battle her attacker, to find peace in knowing she was strong. And every night his prayer went unanswered.
Every night he would train her to weild the demon sword left to her by her attacker. One day, that sword would wake up her mate, and make him realize just how much she needed to be strong.
He awoke, startled. The phone was ringing, and it had awoken him from some of his darkest of nightmares. He had many, of course, he had many years of trials and pains that were not sorted out in his day to day life. Thusly, they were worked out in his dreams. Wiping off his face of sweat, and watering eyes he reached and answered the cell.
"It's Setsujin sir," the voice called before Sesshoumaru would speak. "It is done, Kagura will not be troubling you any longer."
"Very well," he slid the phone closed. His heart was still pounding in his ribcage. It was one of many feral dreams that awoke him to begin with. He had them often. The hotel was uncomfortable, and stuffy. The air here was fake, filtered in through the air conditioning system. Stifling was putting this place nicely.
He got dressed. Baggy Z.Cavaricci's (newp, don't own them either), and an Armani silk poet shirt. (newp, same story). He slid on his trench, and grabbed his keys and sunglasses. He slid his 9mm Beretta into the holster at his hip and left the room. He didn't have a destination in mind, but he had to get out of this room.
He walked out of the doors, the doorman was more than polite to try and offer him a taxi. With a simple shake of his head the doorman said no more, and he walked down the wet sidewalk. His forests of the past were now covered in grey cement, his shoes were no longer silent, he could hear them striking the pavement with every step. His long hair flowed freely behind him but the wind was free to do so now that the witch no longer controlled it. It seemed to free him slightly to know that such a power as the wind was now free from something so vile.
He walked until he saw the sun peeking through two tall glass and steel buildings, lighting the sky in hues of blues and purples. It was then he realized that he was only blocks from her house. He sighed. This had happened to him before in Tokyo. He would walk aimlessly and find himself near the Higurashi's Shrine and the God Tree. Something always drew him there. He had put that as finding a place of familiarity, but what excuse could he put behind it now? Here in a city as large as New York, he had ended up near her again.
He cursed himself for the information that Kagura dared to lay before him. Her lust for power, her lust for him, her lust for things she could never attain alone, had left him stunned and his feelings bubbling to the surface wanted or not. Now here he stood, near the woman whom according to Kagura had been tortured endlessly at his own claws. And Kagura had done nothing to inform him until her own life was waning away.
A man across the street had his cart set up to sell his wares. He had a boombox playing music, not loud, not offensive. Just enough to draw attention to his wares and his presence on a street that would surely be much busier in a few hours. He leaned against the building flipping out his sunglasses and slipping them over his amber orbs. He listened to the familiar tune being played.
'Hold onto me now. You know I can't stay long. All I wanted to say was I love you and I'm not afraid. Can you hear me? Can you feel me in your arms? Holding my last breath. Safe inside myself. For all my thoughts of you, sweet raptured light. It ends here tonight.
I miss the winter, a world will find new peace. Look for me in the white forest hiding in a bowl of trees, I know you hear me, I can taste it in your tears. Holding my last breath. Safe inside myself. For all my thoughts of you. Sweet raptured light, it ends tonight.
Holding your eyes to disappear, you pray your dreams will leave you here, but still you wake to know the truth. No one's there. Say goodnight, don't be afraid. Calling me, calling me as you fade to black. Say goodnight, holding my last breath, safe inside myself, for all my thoughts of you, sweet raptured night, it ends here tonight. Holding my last breath..."
(Evanesence-Holding my last breath... don't own that either)
He sat in awe of the lyrics. He had heard these before too. She had sung it when she was sitting on his futon. Innocent eyes, looking into his. He didn't know then what she was singing. It was a subtle seduction that would take centuries to unfold. Did she know what an affect she would have? Did she know she had accidentally seduced him? Surely knowing what she did of him, she must have known that eventually he would know the words. Or did she think she would be forgotten? Or maybe not her, but he would not remember the words? All things like this were possible. Did she mean them? Was it her way of singing to him her feelings without letting him know what she meant? Something within himself became restless at the ideal of her songs moving him so. Was it intentional?
He made a decision. She needed answers, and now, so did he. For his inner beast had surely been listening to her words and her songs. It had soothed the beast within so many times. Perhaps that is why in his extremely feral state he had attacked her, no. He hadn't attacked, he had claimed his mate. In the most feral and extreme of ways. She must have been in heat if she conceived. That combined with recognition of that which was soothing to his feral nature.
A subtle seduction that took years to unfold. Ruined by humans that had caged him, tortured him, taunted him, starved him and set him loose on his own kind killing them. He remembered his last fight in the cages. He had been sent into the ring with Li. Li did not fight to his fullest capacity. This left opportunity. And feral with instinct, hunger and lust, he had demolished the hanyou. Or so he thought. He remembered them dragging Li away while powerful ofudas kept him in check on the floor of the fighting ring. They must have thrown him in the Bone Eater well. Kagome must have found him there.
The torturous events after that were a haze, he had lost to the beast within. He remembered the faces of two of the priests he killed. One was carrying Tenseiga, the other was carrying Rin's Shi-Ori sword, it was fasioned from his own fang for the woman who loyally stood by his side. But when he awoke in the woods, sun beaming on his face, he was without Rin's sword. He had assumed he just didn't take it from the priest in his lust for blood and that it was lost. He could feel it humming now, it was in use.
When he awoke he was alone, he had assumed it to be only a few hours after the death of the priests that had held him. His claws covered in human blood, his body strangely satisfied he had just assumed he had broken free of his restraints and killed those that had wronged him. He washed until the smell of human was gone from his presence. He felt at peace for the first few days afterwards. Then the beast within had become wrestless. It wanted something, longed for something. He had just assumed that after his ordeal, his instincts were demanding he reproduce due to his close shave with death.
He began the hunt for a strong mate then. It took him two years to find Jujini. But she was everything an Inu wanted in a mate. Strong, well built, well controlled. Not egotistical, and she wasn't seeking power from him. He claimed her as his and gave to her the mating mark. She was known as the first Lady of the West. History would never know that the true first Lady was living 455 years away with the heir she would birth alone. She would raise alone. She would live, alone.
It was time to pay the piper. Give answers to his savior, and pray she was his salvation once again. She was truly eternal, and the only way she would ever release him was in her death. And he would not stoop to her death when he was young, he would not stoop to it now.
His decision made, he walked to her building.