The lone figure on the beach wandered in ignorance as the armada drew ever closer, and as red and white flashed in the wind, Sesshomaru felt pity for the poor foolish girl lingering on the seashore.
Whatever power she thought she had would be crushed under the oncoming storm, and she would have no one to blame but his foolish brother.
Ever closer they sailed, protected by the yokai who wove illusions under Naraku's command. As the restlessness of bloodlust rose in those at his back, the wind did too, and the lone girl stood.
With eyes sharper than any blade, he saw her eyes widen as she reached for her discarded weapon. Frowning, he leaned forward, foot braced upon the bow of his ship. Impossible.
She fired.
Brilliant light filled the sky, pink dancing so violently his nose itched with the strain of keeping his eyes open. And then their protection was wrent in two.
Roars and shrieks filled the air behind him, foreign yokai swirling around him in pulsating shock and fear. Sesshomaru refixed his gaze on the shoreline. When had his father acquired a priestess of such power? For how long had he hidden her?
He saw her gaze fix upon him, saw a brief flicker of sadness in her face before it hardened in resolve. She reached for another arrow, and for the first time in decades, Sesshomaru saw death in the face of an enemy.
Leaping for the tiller, he shoved the boy roughly aside and seized control of his ship. "Be prepared!" He snarled at both slayers and the Kappa. "Jaken-"
Whatever order he might have given was stalled by another bolt of beautiful lightning. It soared by his ship by a hair's breadth, exploding the ship behind him in a dazzling burst of reiki. Screams of fear and agony filled his ears, and his eyes swallowed the sight of melting bodies before the tolling bells of warning began ringing from the city walls.
Sesshomaru tore his gaze away from the smoking carnage. Close enough now to be absolutely certain, he reeled as she once again locked eyes with him.
He shoved his questions down, arms taught as he awaited her next strike. His ears picked up the groans of protesting wood as yokai and humans all around him struggled to slow and redirect their ships. Further behind, the sounds of crashing and splintering echoed as fast moving ships collided with those slowed at the front. Fools.
The third arrow flew, and he forced himself to watch it's path. His vision blurred with the effort as she reduced yet another nearby ship to rubble, and his suspicions were confirmed.
Red hot anger flooded his veins, but he was no fool, to disregard the advantage her weak sentiments gave him. "Jaken, faster!" He snarled in command, determined still to reach the shore first.
"Y-yes milord," the Kappa warbled, rushing to do as bid. Distantly, Sesshomaru heard Kohaku and Sango struggle to calm Ah-Un.
A short burst of yokai quelled the beast's protestations, and Kohaku leapt astride him, taking the reins from his sister as Jaken funneled power into the sea below.
The city gates spilled open, forces taking to the ground and sky as the armada floundered, and he heard Kagura's voice rise sharply on the wind, demanding reformation. The priestess began to retreat, running along the beach for the seaside temple. Though parts of him seethed, he could not help but admire the chaos she had induced with so few blows.
Reaching the marbled steps, she turned, and his claws dug into polished wood as she fired yet again into the forces that had fallen further behind, wreaking havoc before disappearing inside the temple doors.
As the Inu no Taisho's armies spilled across the vast beach towards the sea, his ship jolted unpleasantly, jerking into shallow waters. Glancing down along the shoreline, Sesshomaru saw more distant parts of the fleet - those unaffected by explosive reiki - also make shore.
From the far side of the temple, a stream of bodies in red, white and blue emerged, many racing and stumbling for the safety of city.
Leaping from the bow, he clear the remaining expanse of water in a single jump, landing on the shifting sands with unnatural grace. As both slayers followed by air on youkai mounts, he began to run, claws glowing green in anticipation of battle. Weak as many of those holy warriors might be, they were still a threat that required his pursuit.
As he took chase, some of those he assumed more proficient turned back, arming themselves to protect the others against his attack.
Sesshomaru had only an instant of warning.
Instinct flared to life, driving him back just moments before an arrow snaked across the sky in front of his face - between himself and his quarry. It left a shimmering remnant - the threat of a barrier - in its wake, and he turned back, eyes cold with fury. Fabric whipping in the wind as wildly as her ebony locks, blue eyes glared back across the empty shore.
"Lord Sesshomaru?" Sango questioned, voice hard as she and her brother fell in at his back.
In answer he drew the second sword at his waist, turning his back on the retreating force. If she wished to sacrifice herself in battle against a daiyoukai instead of retreating with her people, he would oblige her.
Tōkijin crackled in his palm, blue yokai swelling in the blade as he advanced towards the gleaming temple he had frequented in his youth. It had been built shortly before his birth, as a bride gift from the Inu no Taisho to his first wife, Inu Kimi, in celebration of the union between the two greatest lineages. On the eastern side of the grand steps, the statue of Amaterasu rose vibrant and beautiful, the patron goddess of his sire's ancestors. Opposite her, to the west, Tsukuyomi stood stoic and proud, pronouncing his favour of the house of the moon.
Bow in hand, the priestess lingered on the stairway, ignorant of the visceral pronouncement of his father's betrayal. How fitting it was that he should spill the blood of his father's priestess upon those very steps.
His glowing blade arced through the air widely, spraying needles of power towards the foolish woman who had allowed him so close. A ranged weapon was useless now, against one such as him.
Her eyes widened briefly, but his attack crashed against the barrier that flared to defend the temple walls. Lilac sparks fizzled and faded as it rejected Tōkijin's yokai, until the barrier dulled again into dormant obscurity.
The priestess's lips curved up, and to his surprise she dropped the bow, letting it fall with a clatter to the ground. He narrowed his eyes, pausing at the barrier line and testing the air with his blade.
It reacted with volatility, sending a nasty shock through the steel to his hand and arm, and he growled in annoyance before withdrawing the oni sword and plunging it into the sand.
As Sesshomaru stepped through the barrier, the priestess sank to her knees, folding her hands in her lap as she watched him.
Here, undampened by the suppressing forces of the barrier, scents filtered through the morning sea air. Familiar and unwelcome, recognition stirred, slowing his steps until he stood but a few feet from her.
It had been nearly two decades since he had last seen Saito's daughter, a blue eyed toddler trailing after his half brother as faithfully as any dog. She had been covered in scrapes often, scowling furiously at anyone who had even dared to look at Inuyasha wrong, including himself. Gap teeth smiles and bright eyes overlayed the image of the woman kneeling, staring at him in grim determination, and he could believe that girl had grown into this one.
What was less clear was why a woman so devoted to his brother had made so visible an effort to spare his life, and curiosity stilled his claws a moment longer as she met his eyes evenly.
"Milord?" Kohaku's voice was urgent, a worried query at his back. Both slayers were coiled tight, prepared to strike at his word.
"Tell me, woman," he commanded instead. "Are you a fool?"
Blue fire flared to life in her eyes as her jaw clenched. Her chin lifted. "I would no more kill my prince than I would my king."
So it was a twisted honour that clouded her judgement; thoughtless loyalty to his bloodline. "I am your enemy, priestess. I will have this Kingdom by blood."
She seemed to tire, and her eyes again showed the brief sadness he had glimpsed so far at sea. "Yes, I believe that," she answered quietly.
She knelt there placidly, scent free of any fear. Was it simply him she did not fear, or was she truly so unafraid to die?
She had chosen to die, he realised with sudden disturbed clarity. Her ferocity in battle combined with her apparent apathy struck him as unnatural, and he wondered what had happened to her to make her put his life above her own. Perhaps his brother's marriage was a betrayal, and she wished for vengeance she couldn't herself enact?
As if in answer, over the near din of battle he heard a heartfelt cry rise up.
"KAGOME!"
Searching, desperate, the call sounded over and over, but she closed her eyes against the sound, lips pressed tightly together.
"Do you not wish to answer, priestess?" He asked coldly.
She again looked at him, but was silent.
Thoughtfully, he considered her imminent death. No longer fully loyal to his brother; somewhat loyal to him, and a powerful holy woman. Respected, he suspected. Perhaps loved. The daughter of a bloodline that had stood by his for centuries, and well known by the people he would rule when this war was over. Tenseiga pulsed in approval at his side.
"You are dangerous," he reconsidered out loud, and a momentary confusion clouded her features. "I will have your oath."
Her face turned to stone. "I would never lay hands against you and yours." Oath it was not, but her offense was satisfactory, her scent free of deceit.
"We shouldn't trust her," Sango said lowly in protest, edged with a dangerous hiss.
His gaze flicked back only briefly.
"Get up," he told the priestess. "You are coming with me."
~SKSKSKSKSKSKSKSK~
Ack so it is Kagome and Sesshomaru finally meeeet.
Thanks so much for the amazing review so far guys I am glad you are enjoyinf the story so far!