Zhu Shu sat on a rock at the base of the cliff, letting the waves wash over her toes as she listened to the ocean and tried to make herself hope.
It had only been for a few seconds, but Ukyo had contacted her. As she had been crying in despair while Naraku had consumed the priest, Ukyo had touched her, and for those few seconds the darkness within her had receded.
But it had only been seconds, and the darkness had crushed her all the harder for it.
Ukyo hadn't been blocking her. The wall between them was not the other girl's doing, the silence not her unwavering hatred and fear, but it stood between them nonetheless, and made her all too acutely aware of how deeply the darkness within her had reached.
How could Ukyo look at her with such love after what she had done? She had committed the unforgivable. Yet she could not mistake what she had seen in Ukyo's deep brown eyes. She had wished for that look, hoped against hope for it, knowing it was beyond reach, and yet somehow, she had seen it within Ukyo's eyes. Despite what she had done, somehow, Ukyo had found the strength to not only forgive her, but to love her without reservation.
But that had not been all she had seen.
Ukyo loved her, she could not doubt that anymore, but Ukyo's heart did not belong to Zhu Shu alone. That was to be expected, because there was to be another neither of them had met yet, not to mention that she knew Ying-Ying loved her just as fully. She herself loved Rei, Akane, Ranma, and Shan Pu. She had Ukyo's heart, and as Ying-Ying had said, Ukyo had yet more to give.
But who she had seen connected as deeply to Ukyo's heart as she was to her own had shocked Zhu Shu.
Rei had seduced Ukyo. Even more, Rei had soulbonded to her, had intertwined herself as deeply into that union that existed between those Zhu Shu loved that she shared the same mental links. Rei had been behind Ukyo, her fiery wings spread wide, their light burning away the darkness for that brief time, the power of her love and her Senshi abilities making the brief link possible even against the overwhelming darkness. It had only been Rei and Ukyo's combined strength that had penetrated through the darkness that had stained Zhu Shu's soul.
And that more than anything had shown how deeply tainted she had become. She knew Rei loved her. She knew Rei was her best friend, and that she had supported her seemingly hopeless love of the okonomiyaki chef. She knew that Rei's seduction had probably started out as one of her harebrained concepts of help, and that the soulbond she had sensed between Ukyo and Rei had the Dragon's blessing. She knew Rei loved her more strongly and deeply than she ever had, had committed herself body and soul to being a member of Zhu Shu's destined loves, and that she would never have to choose between Rei and her other loves. Rei was one of those loves now. Now and forever. She knew this.
Yet the hurt and pain wouldn't go away. Her first reaction upon realizing that Ukyo and Rei had been sleeping together had been blind rage and – for a moment – pure hate. Had Rei been standing right in front of her at that moment, Zhu Shu feared she might have killed her.
A tear ran down her cheek as she shivered. I am a monster. In my fantasies, this is all I have wished for, for Ukyo to love me, and to not lose Rei. Why did the granting of my desires cause me such hurt? Is it because she succeeded where I failed? Because Ukyo chose her as a soul-mate? If I live, will I share in that soulbond? Am I afraid I will not? It is a silly fear. I know this, for I can feel that the bond with Rei within me has strengthened and opened as fully as the one I share with Ukyo. But why does my heart ache so? Why does my heart tremble in fear that I have not gained her love, but lost Ukyo's to her?
Images of Ukyo's naked body under her, fear in her eyes as Zhu Shu held her down, her body pressed against the chef's as her legs forced apart Ukyo's… the fear soaked plea ringing in her brain as Ukyo closed her eyes and braced herself in preparation of her body's violation… the mocking echo of memory as Naraku confronted her with her sins… they all swirled around in her head, making the memory of Ukyo's loving eyes seem dim and distant.
And worse, the heat within her body as those memories assaulted her, the cravings that they awoke, the fantasies of holding Ukyo immobile with her chi as she took her wantonly…
Did she even deserve forgiveness?
A soft footstep made her look up, afraid Naraku had found her to torment her further, but she saw the small white haired figure of Kanna instead. The quiet girl had been her guardian for the last few days, ever since she had returned from collecting Kohaku's shard, Naraku knowing Zhu Shu would not kill the colorless and emotionless girl like she would his wasps. She knew the girl would follow Naraku's orders without question, but there were times Zhu Shu could swear the girl was trying in her strange way to be almost friendly.
"They will come tomorrow." Kanna said in her near whisper.
Zhu Shu nodded morosely.
"Not just them. The Daiyoukai's wound's will be healed by morning. The baby also approaches."
"Perhaps this Sesshomaru will slay me before I am forced to fight Ukyo."
"Naraku will hold you in reserve. Sesshomaru and Mouryoumaru will fight. Sesshomaru will be absorbed. Then Inuyasha will come, and weaken Mouryoumaru. When he and his companions have been slain, you will kill Mouryoumaru. Once Mouryoumaru has been dealt with and the baby once more rejoined with Naraku, you shall be freed."
"Free to join my love in death." Zhu Shu sighed.
"Was this not your wish?"
Zhu Shu shook her head. "I do not wish for Ukyo and Rei or any of my friends to die."
Kanna nodded once. "I am ordered to kill Kagura."
Zhu Shu's eyes lifted to the pale girl's face at the soft words. Her tone had not shifted, nor did her eyes betray any emotion, but Zhu Shu felt something faint from the girl clutching her mirror.
Her eyes fell to the mirror, to a scene replaying over and over in its depths. Then the mirror faded and her eyes rose to meet Kanna's emotionless gaze.
"I am ordered to kill Kagura." Kanna repeated softly.
Zhu Shu nodded once as Kanna turned away. She didn't say a word as the diminutive youkai vanished up the path to the castle.
Had anyone else seen the mirror, perhaps they would have thought nothing of it, but Zhu Shu had known what it was Kanna had been trying to say. It had been a simple scene, one which might have been meaningless to anyone else, just a scene of Kagura absent-mindedly patting Kanna on the head as she smiled… but it had said what Kanna could not.
I am ordered to kill Kagura… but I do not want my sister to die.
She stood and drew out her swords to begin her forms. I am a monster. Perhaps I do not deserve life after I have given so much death, but if I am to die, let it be my atonement. I cannot save myself, but I can ensure that Naraku dies before he can harm my friends…
0 0 0 0 0
The battle plan was useless even before they joined battle. They hadn't even been able to take the time to prepare upon emerging from the far end of the pass. One look down at the town nestled in the valley between the arms of the mountain range had shown them there wasn't time.
The giants had breached the walls and the daimyo's soldiers were desperately fighting to prevent the Dutch mercenaries from entering the town, unable to do anything about the five giants assaulting the castle walls. They had to get down there fast if the town was going to be saved.
A hurried discussion left Ukyo and Rei mounted behind Sango on Kirara, while Inuyasha and Kuno rode Kagura's feather. The wind witch hurtled through the air as she rushed to get the heavy fighters into the fray. Inuyasha didn't even wait for her to land as he leapt straight for one of the giants. He landed on its head and used the rim of the giant's helmet to swing down, driving the diamond bladed sword into the neck joint as he unleashed a barrage of spears. The giant staggered, electrical arcs playing around the shards before the head exploded upwards. As the giant collapsed, the youkai was racing for the second.
Kuno dodged his giant's mace, his blade moving in quick precise strokes. He couldn't use the Tetsusaiga's full power in the town, but he had studied the giant they had fought before. As he danced around the giant, he used his hundred strikes attack to shatter the chains the giant used as muscles, aiming carefully between the invulnerable armor plates. It took six hits, but his final strike shattered the giant's right knee, and as it collapsed and tried to stand back up, he unleashed a Windscar directly into the exposed armpit joint, barely managing to dodge behind a rock as the giant exploded completely.
Ukyo hit the ground rolling, having leapt from Kirara's back as they passed over the failing daimyo's soldiers. She ripped a Hasai banner off of one of the fallen samurai as she wielded the Wrathseeker one handed, deflecting a Dutch sword as she flipped over a madly swung katana. She used the banner to block or deflect several more random attacks from the desperate samurai as she wove through the battle, her guan dao a blur as she cut down the mercenaries. She had killed over a dozen of the iron clad Dutch before the Hasai soldiers finally realized she was helping them. She smiled grimly as she heard herself called an oni as the troops yelled at each other that she was on their side. Satisfied they had gotten the idea, she tossed the banner aside, her neon blue aura burning as she danced forward.
Rei and Sango rose after dropping off Ukyo, Sango deflecting arrows as Rei tossed Fire Soul after Fire Soul. Explosions ripped across the battle field as she shattered the rank of musketmen still shooting at the archers trying to defend the castle from the assault. A massive explosion ripped across the field after she targeted the wagon behind the scattered riflemen, and she realized she must have hit the powder wagon.
Tao-Ching chose to follow Ukyo's route when Kagura returned with him, dropping straight into the milling troops outside the destroyed wall, his sword a glowing green arc as men went flying. His massive blade whirled around him like an unstoppable force, slowing not at all as it cleaved through flesh and bone as easily as metal and wood. He moved with every bit of the lethal grace of his feline form, a ferocious grin on his face as blood fell about him like rain.
Nabiki watched her friends as Kagura passed over the battle, shielding the feather as the sorceress selectively unleashed windblades to help Tao-Ching and Ukyo. The chef had rallied the defenders inside the wall, and was leading them in a push to drive the Dutch back, directing the men even as she herself fought. She had organized the nearly defeated samurai, and as she lead the still battle worthy troops, the walking wounded were dragging their less fortunate comrades out of the way and raggedly beginning to make a barricade across the breach. Seeing how naturally Ukyo had simply assumed command, it was easy to believe she had once been the Empresses' Guardian and general. Covered in blood, her blade a blur flashing in the afternoon sun as she lead the assault, she still possessed a bearing that seemed as regal as an emperor herself.
And Tao-Ching… this was his element. She knew the grin on his face wasn't because he enjoyed killing, but because this was a fight in which he could unleash himself, and hold nothing back. The enemy deserved no quarter, and would give none. He fought for what he felt were noble purposes, to defend the defenseless, the helpless women and children who would suffer if these enemies won, and he was an Amazon, a warrior among warriors. He could give his all, and if today was his day to die, he could do so with no regrets, confident he had done his best to walk the path he had chosen.
Then there was Rei. Her face grave as she burned men and animals beneath her. She did not relish her task, or protest against it. Her face held regret for its necessity in equal parts with determination to do what had to be done. She would cry on Ukyo's shoulder when it was over, but would not ask herself if she had done the right thing.
And Kuno, elegantly disabling his second giant. The samurai showed little of the buffoon she had spent years fleecing. He was still as fumbling as ever when it came to women, but he had gained a kind of quiet dignity since they had come to the Sengoku era. The loud mouthed braggart of Furinkan had become a real samurai, confident of his skills without being arrogant. She hadn't even heard a single mention of Akane come from the swordsman. He continued to refer to Zhu Shu as a goddess, but it had become apparent that his words were meant literally instead of being his old overblown attempts to be flattering. She had no clue what had changed Tatewaki so much, but she would take the current Tatewaki over the old any day.
And that prompted her to pause and think about herself. Here she was, calmly participating in a battle, where both she and her friends could be killed, the occasional bullet and arrow bouncing off the pink bubble she was generating, and completely unconcerned. The threat of the Dutch was little more than that of swatting a horsefly. Even without Miroku and Kagome, they were decimating the foreign troops. The battle was soon going to be over except for the clean up. Something like three hundred troops, and they had mowed them down like grass. It hadn't truly been a fight at all, just a massacre, the elimination of a minor obstacle in order to move forward.
But for the people living in the town behind the broken wall, it would mean the difference between life and death. There was loss, and pain, and grief, but they could go on. The horrors they had feared would destroy them had instead been destroyed. They had given the town its future back.
And compared to the feeling she had as she realized that, she felt ashamed for the joy she had once felt as she had profited off of others. Blackmail, extortion, greedily grasping for every yen she could wring out of those around her, uncaring of who she hurt in the process… the only difference between the soldiers they were eliminating and her was simply a matter of degree.
There had only been one path ahead of her along the route she had been taking, and she had known it, and not cared. She'd had her contacts in the Yakuza, just like Tao-Ching, and she had fully planned on wiggling her way into their ranks, get them to pay for her further education and become a lawyer/assistant/mistress. She would have never spilled blood herself, but the blood would have stained her nonetheless.
And all for the excuse of never wanting to have to go through the hardships of losing her mother ever again. All so that she would always have money to spend, and be able to get all the things she had wished for growing up that had been just out of reach. It hadn't mattered that others would suffer, so long as she didn't…
She had told herself that she was a realist, that it was just the way the world was…
But looking down on the battlefield, she had to admit to herself the truth. She had been a monster. A small monster, but well on her way to becoming one every bit as horrid as the troops who had raped and slaughtered the young girls on the other side of the pass.
The last giant fell to Inuyasha, and the few surviving Dutch were fleeing as a few cheers started, then more and more as the towns people realized they would live, that the threat that had loomed over them so large had fallen. Some of the soldiers just simply collapsed and sat where they stood, others danced, or slapped each other on the back, some pursued the last few Dutch mercenaries, but they all exuded the joy of still being alive, and relief that they had survived. They could go back to their peaceful lives, their wives and children, their daily jobs. The hell Nabiki had seen too often this last week no longer would engulf these people.
But wouldn't it have been better if that hell had never existed to begin with? If people had no fears of monsters ever again?
"Everything seems to be under control now Nabiki-san. I will set you down and go get Kagome, Miroku, Kohaku, and Sanjuro."
Nabiki waved her hand. "I can get to the ground fine, I can't fly but up and down is no problem." She smiled as she rolled off the feather into a pink bubble and started floating down. Kagura laughed and gave her a small head nod before swooping into a curve and heading back towards the pass.
She landed by the edge of the battlefield, near where Tao-Ching and Ukyo had met up. Sango and Rei were spiraling in above and Kuno and Inuyasha were making their way across the field towards them. Tao-Ching gave her a once over.
"Don't worry, Tiger. Not a scratch on me, unlike you."
Tao-Ching grinned. "Nothing serious, hun-bun. Mostly scratches from armor shrapnel. Those breastplates are rather brittle to a Bakusai Tenketsu. It made a handy way to clear things out when the crowd got a little thick."
Nabiki snorted. "Do it yourself grenades, humm?"
"Yup."
She reached out and tousled his hair affectionately. "Why do I have this image of you as a kid showing off the rocket launcher you got for your birthday?"
"It wasn't a rocket launcher, it was a mini-gun. I was so damn proud of that thing, even though it didn't work."
Nabiki shook her head. "I'm not even going to ask why your mother would give you a mini-gun for a present."
"It was a trophy from the bandit raid on our village ten years ago. She took the head of the bastard who killed her sister, Par Fum, Shan Pu's mother, and took the gun as proof she had avenged her. I gave it to Shan Pu when I left the village. Last I saw of it Ke Lun had added it to Shan Pu's trophy collection."
"Strange trophy." Ukyo noted.
"Not really. Taking the personal weapon of a defeated enemy is an old Amazon tradition. They used to be swords, spears, and axes, nowadays it's guns and grenades."
"Surprised you're not collecting then." Nabiki smiled.
"No-one here held any meaning for me, Nabi-chan. I claimed Lime's tiger stripped armor, and eventually I'm going to retrieve Herb's dragon scale from Tokyo bay, but these guys were a necessity, not a personal score."
Nabiki smiled. "I see." She looked at the village, where the celebrating soldiers seemed to have been joined by a few women, and she saw the castle gates had opened to let the villagers return to the town. "Can I ask you something?"
Tao-Ching raised an eyebrow. "Only if you want an answer."
Nabiki indicated the battlefield. "Why? Even if Naraku had turned these guys against us, they would have been no more difficult to defeat than they just were. You knew this, but you wanted to come here and get rid of them first. You only pretended to be reluctant."
Tao-Ching laughed. "Yeah. Saving the villagers was my priority, but Inuyasha would have raised a fuss if I had suggested coming here simply for that reason. As for why? Because there is right, and there is wrong, and the only way that wrong will prevail is if good men do nothing. Zhu Shu is safe enough for the moment, but these people faced immediate death."
Nabiki reached out and took Tao-Ching's hand. "That's what I was hoping you would say." She nodded upwards. "I was sitting up there thinking about how I was before I met you, and the fact that I don't think I'm cut out to be a Yakuza lawyer anymore"
"Oh?"
"Yeah. I think I'm going to be one of those crusader types that fight for hopeless lost causes."
Ukyo gave her an amused look and laughed. "And what lost cause are you going to fight for?"
Nabiki waved her hand over at their various companions, who were almost in hearing range. "We're proof that humans and youkai can co-exist peacefully. Inuyasha and Kagome are going to make some sort of Accord between now and the present, where the youkai exist by hiding. Kuno claims both he and Kodachi are a mix of inugami and succubus. Furinkan is filled with other youkai too. It's been three hundred years since peace was made."
"Yeah?" Ukyo tilted her head.
Nabiki gave her a cocky smile. "Don't you think it's about time youkai were allowed to live without hiding? We have women's rights, and gay rights, and even animal rights. I think it's about time for youkai rights too."
Tao-Ching chuckled. "It's a hopeless cause, Nabiki."
Nabiki nodded. "Yeah, I know. That's why it's worth fighting for. I'm going to get Lo Shen to train me when we get back, and start saving up for law school. And I think you are going to get your wish, Tiger. I'm not going to be a very credible advocate for youkai if I spend half my time being human only. Think Lo Shen will let me douse myself with the Chisuitton?"
"I thought you hated being a rabbit?" Tao-Ching said with a grin.
Nabiki shrugged. "I hated the feeling of losing control of my body, Tao-Ching. That's not a problem anymore. I'm used to the hormones now, and decided I'm perfectly happy being a nymphet. It seems to be a shared trait among us Tendo sisters after all. Why fight genetics? Besides, I overheard Rei telling Ukyo here that she's going to be coming to Furinkan next year for the same reason I have – to promote human and youkai co-existence."
"It's a good thing you're marrying me then." Tao-Ching said smugly.
"Oh, and why's that?"
"When you become a public figure, you're going to need a body guard who's immune to bullets."
Nabiki blinked at him coyly. "Why? I'm immune to them myself. You're going to be my personal sextoy, and keeper of the harem."
Tao-Ching raised an eyebrow. "Humm. I suppose I can live with that."
Ukyo chuckled. "Hentai."
Tao-Ching grinned. "Damn straight."
0 0 0 0 0
"Please, Akane! You have to wake up!"
It was Kodachi's voice, Akane's mind dimly registered. Kodachi was shaking her. Why was Kodachi shaking her? Her head hurt, and her mind felt fuzzy. Why did her head hurt?
"Akane, please wake up. I can't keep the flames back much longer!"
Akane's eyes snapped awake, focusing on Kodachi's outstretched hand. She was twirling her ribbon frantically, black rose petals erupting in a flood and fluttering outwards in a dome over them, only to be crisped and scorched by a black fire that danced and swirled through the petals as if it was trying to reach the girls.
"What happened?" she asked, her hand rising to the sore spot on the side of her head.
"The gym exploded while we were watching the fight on the field. You were hit by a piece of flying wood from the blast. Ranma and Shan Pu got knocked over the embankment along with Mousse-sama! There's some sort of youma in the gym. You must destroy it!"
"Huh?"
"Please, mistress, I know you're a Senshi. There's no time right now. Please change before I run out of roses!"
Akane blinked, but Kodachi's words were too urgent. Her wand appeared in her hand as she called out her henshin, her swords forming in her hands even as she swung them down in the direction the flames were coming from, twin shockwaves of erupting earth exploding forwards into the ruins of the gym and meeting in the center, the explosion collapsing the remains of the roof onto the indistinct figure hidden in the black flames. There was a cry of surprise and pain, and the fire flared and faded away.
The soreness in her head had vanished with the change and she had a chance to look around. Kodachi was breathing heavily, and seemed to be the only other person on the top of the embankment around the field, of the dozen or so who had been waiting for the girls to come out of the barrier. Several of them were sitting up and shaking themselves after having been tossed down the incline to the athletic field. Ranma and Shan Pu were already standing and heading her way. When they saw her standing there in her sailor outfit they exchanged looks and both blurred...
Only to reappear at her side having changed into the red and black copies of her uniform, Ranma's hair having been quickly retied into a cresting pony tail and Shan Pu's pulled back and tied behind her cat ears instead of in their distinctive odango and side tassels. They both had black sunglasses on too. Shan Pu was looking hard at where Kodachi sat trying to catch her breath.
"Idiot hentai dog girl cause this, nyah?" she asked, her hands flexing as her claws extended and retracted.
"No. She saved me." Akane knelt and cupped the white haired girls chin. "You okay?"
Kodachi nodded. "I'm out of rose petals, but I am glad you are safe."
"How did you know?"
Kodachi looked away. "I– I was in the cosmetics shop."
"I see."
"I won't tell anyone, mistress. You may trust me on this. Not even Mousse-sama knows."
The gym groaned as the debris shifted, pushed up from underneath.
"Fuck." Akane muttered. "It's still alive." She looked back at Kodachi. "Get out of here. Go help keep people back."
"Yes, mistress." Kodachi lurched to her feet and stumbled to the embankment, limping heavily as she leapt down the five foot drop. She made it just in time as the gym exploded a second time, the collapsed debris flying upwards as black flames rose in a column around a burning figure.
"So, a Senshi. I see. What did you do with my sister, Senshi? Did you kill Beruche?" Mad laughter skittered across the distance between them. "That's a shame. I was so looking forward to burning her to death an inch at a time."
Red eyes looked out through the black flames. "But I am glad you came. Destroying this place will be so much more satisfying if I do it after killing you."
The burning figure leaped forward with the speed of a pouncing cat, black talons of fire aimed at Akane's throat. She dodged and lashed out with her ribbons, but the black flame engulfed them and left her with mere tattered tassels attached to the pommels of her swords. Ranma's gloves were burned away as well, the cloth still smoking from her attempted punches.
"Damn it, we can't touch that thing!" the red-head called.
Shan Pu's bon buri appeared in her hands as she did a lightning fast spin, the weapons striking the fire creature in the stomach and hurling her back several feet. Akane's earth wave followed, but was dodged as the catlike fire being leapt over it. She had to spin to dodge the fireball it hurled, the burning orb exploding a small crater in the embankment.
Then an orange blur slammed into the burning figure and hurled it against the remaining gym wall, the blur resolving into a tattered Ayeka, her fists surrounded in steaming ice. A spray of ice bolts staggered the figure further as Akane heard a rapid chant near her and the figure was engulfed in a sphere of water. The flames died to reveal a naked Cooan.
Yet it wasn't the same Cooan they had fought previously. Her tall pointed odango had exchanged themselves for cat's ears, and a long tail trailed behind her. Her eyes were also slit pupiled, and long talons graced her fingers and toes. Her figure had been altered as well, her breasts much larger than they had been and the nipples had been pierced, the rings through them connected to chains that linked them to the spiked collar she wore, and another long chain ran down her front to disappear into the tangle of black fur between her legs. She howled and slashed furiously as she tried to escape the water bubble, but to no avail.
Lo Shen stepped forward, nodding. "I thought as much. Another youkai, like Beruche."
"Beruche was a youkai?" Ranma asked in surprise.
Lo Shen nodded. "Yes. Remember those wrappings she had on her arms and legs? Those were hiding the fine scales covering her hands and feet. She's an undine, a water spirit, just like Cooan here is a firecat."
Cooan growled. "I will kill you! I will kill you all! You cursed human scum will be exterminated!"
Lo Shen shook her head. "I'm afraid you're not going to be killing anyone, Cooan."
Konatsu was standing next to the lavender haired Loremaster, supporting a still shaky Ai. Behind her, Ying-Ying was helping Kyoko support a limping Kaede. The currently white-haired ninja girl was looking at Cooan and shaking her head. "I lack the strength to remove her Chaos Crystal, Lo Shen. I overused my mana, and Konatsu's body doesn't have the magical stamina to recharge quickly."
Akane blinked at the different voice coming from Konatsu's mouth, then recalled the shock she had felt at seeing the ninja girl turning into a virtual copy of Zhu Shu, and then into an all too recognizable black dragon. Now that she heard the voice, the conclusion was inescapable. "Oh my god, Clove!"
Konatsu looked at her with green eyes. "I'm not a threat anymore, Akane. Please don't attack me."
"But, but how? When?"
"It's a long story. Now isn't the time." Her eyes shifted to brown as Konatsu's voice spoke. "It's okay Akane-sama. I am protecting her as is my duty as a kunoichi. She's simply using my body to hide from those seeking to kill her."
Lo Shen waved it away. "We'll speak of this later. Clove, can you tell what's been done to her?"
Konatsu's eyes shifted to green again. "I'd say that Xi'an Chi used the crystal to boost her powers. I doubt he cared that doing it would burn her out quickly. I'd say she had maybe another five to ten minutes at that level before she exploded. If you hadn't put out her flames and sealed her, she would have been a walking bomb. A really large one."
Cooan's eyes were focused on her. "Lies! My Master's master granted me the power to crush my Master's enemies! I was sent to destroy this shameful monument to the misguided fools who led our species to our near doom! I will kill you all and erase this pitiful mockery of an ideal, of peace between human and youkai! I will destroy the dream before it can bring us to ruin! I will slaughter all of you evil lying humans and your treachery!"
She tried to escape the water ball again, and failed. Ai looked at her angrily.
"What's wrong with thinking Humans and Youkai can exist peacefully?" she asked heatedly.
"Because humans cannot be trusted! They betrayed us! We were fools to listen to the words of Nabiki Hibiki and Kodachi Kuno! And even more foolish to trust Ai Konjou! I will slay them all before they can lead us to our betrayal! We will end this war before it begins! And slaughter the humans before they can rise against us! Blackmoon will reclaim the Earth that we were forced to flee from!"
Ai stared at her in stunned shock, as did Akane and the others, even Kodachi had stopped at hearing her name as she and Mousse limped up the inclined embankment.
Lo Shen quirked a lip. "Nabiki Hibiki, Kodachi Kuno, and Ai Konjou. Why must they die?"
"Because they led us to our deaths! They fooled us into thinking we could live peacefully, revealing ourselves to the world! They and their friends and followers revealed us to the humans, and lulled us into believing peace could exist! And then Iscariot massacred Ai and her lovers, and invaded Japan, killing every youkai they found, and burning any humans who tried to defend them at the stake! Between them, those accursed Senshi, and their cyborg armies, we would have been exterminated. Had not an ancient spaceship and the Black Crystal been found, those few of us who escaped Earth would not have survived! But we will change that! We will destroy those fools who offered us false hope, and return from the future! We will cleanse this world of the taint of humans forever!"
"Now, now Cooan. That's quite enough of that. You're revealing our secrets to the enemy." A new voice cut in.
They all whirled to see a figure of a red-headed man standing in midair. He was tall and muscular, his bare chest defined, and the tight pants showing off his muscular legs. His face under the shock of red hair was handsome, and the earrings and gold cuffs he wore did not detract in the slightest from the aura of masculinity he exuded.
Cooan's face grew anguished. "Master! Forgive me! I will escape from this cage and destroy your enemies, please do not endanger yourself!"
The man laughed. "Endanger? I am merely a hologram. But you have failed me again my pet. Even after I forgave you, and my master chose you to begin making our future a reality. Even after he blessed you and unlocked your powers and memory. You are pathetic!"
"Master! No, please!"
"It is too late Cooan. You know your duty. I give you one last chance to redeem yourself," the man said as his image faded.
Cooan ceased struggling to escape and hung her head dejectedly. "I am sorry Master Rubeus. I understand." Her hand went to the long chain that went between her legs and she yanked it hard, screaming in agony as the object within her was torn free and blood stained the water between her legs.
The cylinder was dark metal, with spike-like projections covering it. As Cooan collapsed, the spikes began to glow and arcs of lightning began to play between them. Cooan laughed weakly. "I wished to serve you in life, Master Rubeus. But my death will serve you instead." Her eyes rose to look at Lo Shen's just outside the water bubble. "Even your prison will not contain this singularity bomb. All within a mile will be sucked into it and vanish." She sobbed as the bomb dropped from her fingers and she curled into a ball.
Lo Shen's hand touched the device and the lightning arced from it into her hand. It continued in a single arc for long seconds before fading away. Lo Shen detached the ring from its base and reached out to touch the sobbing girl's forehead, Cooan passing out into sleep instantly.
"Poor girl. I'm sorry you had to learn this way that you were being used, but perhaps it will speed your healing," she said softly as the water bubble evaporated and the unconscious girl floated in mid air. Lo Shen tucked the device into her sleeve and turned to motion to Ai and Kodachi to come closer. Konatsu nodded as Ai took her hand from around her shoulders and stepped forward alone.
"Ai Konjou, Kodachi Kuno, and Nabiki Hibiki, hum?" Lo Shen mused as she looked at the two girls. "I do not doubt that you will have parts to play in the future, but understand, this girl is from a future that is not ours. Her words are about those who existed in different circumstances than yours, and may or may not have the slightest bearing on your personal paths in life."
Ai shrugged. "So I fought for peace and was killed for believing that humans and youkai can live together. I don't care. Now that I know I am loved, and I have given my love in return, nothing will stop me from fighting to keep these girls I love with me. No concern about their gender, nor concern about their species matters to me. I don't care if the whole world is against me, so long as I can love them."
Kodachi nodded. "I am a Kuno. My forefather founded the Accord. He fought and believed that youkai and humans could co-exist. It is my duty to see his dream to its true conclusion. I have abandoned hiding my identity, and I am not ashamed to be an inugami. If being myself will lead to my death, it is a better death than that of a craven coward who runs from what she fears. Mousse-sama has taught me what it means to be happy, and I will live my life unashamed of who I have become. The Black Rose is dead."
"I am glad to hear that," Lo Shen nodded. "Don't you agree, Miss Tsuchigumo?"
"Indeed I do," the secretary said as she stepped over scattered debris. "I also want to thank this wonderful Senshi for appearing and saving us. It seems the crisis is resolved though, so perhaps she has more important things to do than listen to me doling out detentions, no? It would be a shame if Miss Konjou had extra guests with her in detention, but I do seem to have three students who are absent at the moment. They should probably hurry and get back if they don't want to be punished as well."
Akane blinked. "Um, yeah, sure. Um, if I see them as we're leaving I'll pass that along."
The secretary smiled. "Thank you for your courtesy. You might find them hiding near the administration wing, right outside my office window. They seem to have decided that was a good spot to hide because no students could see it. Perhaps that's on your way."
Akane sighed. "I'll send them right over."
"Thank you, Sailor…?"
"Earth. I'm a new member, filling in for Mars temporarily."
"It was a pleasure to meet you. Now, if you will excuse me, I have tedious duties to attend to."
Akane nodded and looked at her two beloveds. "Let's go."
They jumped over the gym and around the side of the building, finding cover in the girl's changing room. Ranma looked at Shan Pu. "I told you to be careful when you changed there. But you said no-one was watching."
"Shan Pu not know how miss. She no see white hair lady, myah. No sense either."
"Well, it's obvious she knows who we are, just like Kodachi, and it seems she's not telling anyone either," Akane said as she pulled out her wand. "Anyway, hurry, I want to get back to see what's happening, and I think Miss Tsuchigumo is waiting for us."
Ranma had already stripped down to her stockings and was pulling on her favorite red shirt, and loose black pants. "Yeah, I got that too. I hate detention."
"Shan Pu not know what detention is."
"It's an extended study hall, after school. We'll have to stay and study for three whole hours while the clubs and stuff are meeting. We won't be able to give the girls their lessons if we have to go too."
"Myah! Shan Pu no want not teach!"
"Then put your dress on and let's go."
0 0 0 0 0
By the time Akane and her lovers had returned to the devastated gym, back in their normal clothes, Miss Tsuchigumo had managed to somewhat sort things out. The students had been seated back in the bleachers, Ai and her cheerleaders, currently wrapped in raincoats, as well as Konatsu and Ying-Ying, were standing near the secretary as she spoke with several of the teachers. Kodachi saw them and waved to the three seats she was reserving for them.
Akane looked her over as she sat down. "I guess you really have changed, Kodachi."
Kodachi bowed her head. "I caused you many problems, Akane-sama. I still adore you, but I can see the happiness you have found, and I am content with that which I have found as well. I will always love you, but I hope you can find it within your heart to forgive me for my past madness."
Akane nodded. "I brought on my share of those problems too, Kodachi-san. I did not treat you well when we fought. I got too personal, and did things to you I should not have."
Kodachi blushed. "I have no regrets for that, Akane-sama. Much as my body longs for your touch, I have accepted that you will never be mine. I have a wonderful lover in Mousse-sama, and she fulfills my every desire, both for male and female. She has given me courage where I had none, and given me back my life and sanity. I can only hope that when my brother returns he will have found some of his as well, but do not fear, I will ensure his attentions do not disturb you anymore. Sasuke says he took down all his photos of you and Ranma's girl side, leaving only a single picture of Song Zhu Shu up in the dojo. Perhaps my brother has finally begun returning to sanity as well. Regardless, I will protect you from his mad attentions."
"I see. Thank you." She looked around. "Where is Mu Si anyway?"
"Mousse, please. I know it was a mispronunciation, but she has requested that it be used instead of Mu Si. Just as she has decided to remain female most of the time. Mu Si is a boy who vowed to marry Shan Pu, Mousse is a girl who has consented to share my love and stand by my side. She is sitting on the other side of the stands. She wished to give me time alone to speak with you."
"I see."
"It was not my intention to discover your secrets Akane-sama. Simply luck. I was foolish enough to believe the claims that cosmetics could win me your love, and in despair I arrived at that store while you where there. That despair also lead to my attempting to throw myself from Tokyo Tower. Had not Mousse-sama saved me, I would not be here to apologize, or contemplate my many sins. You are not the worst of my sins, Akane-sama. I grievously harmed one of your students as well, Makoto-san. We once attended St Hebereke's middle school, and fought over the same boy. I seduced him, and stole him away from her, all while rubbing her face in that fact, then tossed him aside when I became bored. She has never forgiven me, and I tossed her out of the rhythmic gymnastics squad before I graduated middle school and moved to St. Hebereke's high school campus." Kodachi sighed. "Nor is she the only one. I am the daughter of a succubus, Akane. My mother was an evil creature who lived to torment men and control them through their lusts. I hated her, but tried so very hard to be exactly what she insisted I be. I seduced my first girl at eight, and my first boy at nine, I've had sex with dozens of partners, using them for nothing more than to satisfy my own wants. I was an evil girl, Akane. I cannot make up for all the evil I have done, let alone apologize, but the girl who committed those sins is no more. I am simply Kodachi now."
Akane smiled. "I see." She looked over at Ranma, and Shan Pu, who had been simply watching. "I will be honest then. I hated the Black Rose, and probably always will. She tried to steal from me some of the most precious things in my life, the love of Ranma Saotome, and my sister Zhu Shu. I cannot forgive her for those things."
Kodachi nodded. "I see. It cannot be helped."
Akane held up her finger, "However… That was the Black Rose, not Kodachi Kuno. Kodachi Kuno is someone I think could be a friend, if that is her wish."
Kodachi looked at her wide eyed. "Mistress?"
"Akane-chan, Dachi-chan. Mistress is some foolish fantasy the Black Rose chased. Let her go the way of the Black Rose as well. Consider it Mistress's final command."
Kodachi nodded as she smiled. "I will, Akane-chan."
Shan Pu sighed. "Ayah, Shan Pu cannot believe she say this, nyah, but you tell Mousse, if she is truly happy with Gymnast girl, Shan Pu will recognize Mousse. Shan Pu like Akane, she no can forgive Mu Si, but she will try accept Mousse as friend, myah!"
Kodachi bowed, "Thank you, Shan Pu-sama. I am honored you would even consider talking to me considering–"
Shan Pu held up her hand. "Shan Pu no wish talk what Black Rose do. Black Rose gone, Shan Pu forget she exist, nyah. No point hold grudge against dead."
Kodachi nodded again. "Thank you."
Miss Tsuchigumo clicked the megaphone she was holding to get everyone's attention, and they turned back to the front as she started to speak.
"Attention please, students." She looked around to make sure everyone was looking. "Alright, this is a warning to everyone first. What has happened today at school is not to be discussed with anyone who is not a school mate. This is for your own protection, as well as that of your fellow school members. I am requesting this because you have all discovered a school secret, and revealing it could cause many problems not only for yourself, but for your friends, their families, and their loved ones as well."
"As you have seen, not everyone who attends Furinkan is human. Like our cheerleaders, many of your classmates are youkai. They have been for as long as you've known them, and nothing about them has changed. They share our schools, our cities, and our day to day lives. All that makes them different is that they belong to different species."
"If you cannot bear to know that youkai walk among you, that is fine. I will approve your transfer to another school that does not allow youkai students. Furinkan is one of only fifteen that exist of the hundreds in Tokyo, and the only one for the surrounding five wards."
"But it is my fervent hope that none of my students will desire this. Furinkan was my school when I was young, and though the buildings have changed and the neighborhood has changed, it will always be the Furinkan high that taught me how to laugh and love, and live with my head held high, proud to be myself. I know many of you feel the same way, and love our school as much as I do."
"You have grown used to the minor oddities of having students with animal ears, grown accustomed to the realization that magic exists, that several of your fellow students change their forms depending on whether they get wet or not. You have accepted a ghost as a fellow student, and cheered for the revelation that your cheerleaders are kawaii monster girls."
"But around you sit others like them. Now that you know of their existence, they cannot hide as well. They may well be sitting in fear right now, worried that their friends, their classmates, and their teachers will discover who they are and will fear them."
Miss Tsuchigumo shifted and warped, her lower body from the waist down converting to a giant spider. She adjusted her eight legs and addressed them again. "I am a youkai. I am not pretty like our cheerleaders, but I have supervised this school for eighteen years. I know all of you personally, and I've talked with most of you at one point or another. Would you think I was scary if you met me in dark alley looking like this?"
There were scattered mutterings, and a few brave nods. Miss Tsuchigumo nodded. "Of course you would, and three hundred years ago, you would have been perfectly justified. But the founder of the Kuno family, Inuyasha, met and fell in love with a human maiden. They brought peace between humans and youkai, and most of the youkai became like those here, followers of the Great Accord. We abide by human customs and laws and exist as your equals, side by side. If you met me in an alley, knowing me fully, and knowing this is my true form, would you still fear me?"
There was more muttering, and a lot of head shakes, even a few shouted no's.
"This same fact holds true for those around you. They live by the same Accord. They simply wish to be able to live the same life that all humans live, to be able to live peacefully, and have jobs, raise children, laugh with their friends, love their chosen ones, and die of old age in contentment. In this, they are no different than any human."
"So I must ask, now that you know of their existence, that you give them the same freedom that you want for yourself. You have accepted some of them, like our rabbit eared girls, and our cheerleaders, but can you accept all of us? Can those of you who are not youkai accept that we who are exist, and simply wish to be allowed to be like you?"
There were sporadic nods and a lot of conversation buzzing through the stands for several minutes, then Ai took the megaphone away from Miss Tsuchigumo and tossed aside the raincoat she had been wearing. The crowd immediately focused on the naked blonde, the soot and bruises standing out on her pale skin.
"Alright Furinkan, listen up! You got a naked girl to stare at, so you better listen!" She waved back at her squad. "You came here to watch a fight, because you hoped you'd get to see naked cheerleaders, and that's what you're getting. Look all you like, and notice, I'm human. No tail, no ears, no claws. But I'll tell you something. I'm a monster too."
Ai looked around at the confused crowd, raising her arms as she turned in a slow circle before bringing the megaphone back to her mouth.
"That's right, I'm a monster. You know why? Because I wanted the beat the shit out of a sweet and innocent girl because she sang better than I did. I wanted to violate her innocence for no better reason than jealousy."
"So yeah. I'm a monster. I don't have to be a kitsune like Kyoko, or a vampire like Ayeka. I don't have to be any kind of youkai at all, but I'm still a monster. And so are all of you."
She smiled at the increased mutters. "That's right! You are all monsters too. You came to watch me beat the shit out of a poor innocent girl, in hopes of getting to see naked cheerleaders."
She spread her arms again as well as her legs, giving the crowd a good view. A motion to her side drew her eyes, and she saw Kyoko standing next to her, naked as well, then Megumi stepped up, tossing aside her sweater to match the missing skirt. Ayeka and Kaede joined her, all five of them standing naked before the crowd, all of them in their true forms. Ai grinned and looked at the crowd again.
"Well, here we are! Naked and exposed. Our clothes are gone, as are our secrets. You know us all for the monsters we are! We revel in our monstrousness! The kitsune, the vampire, the succubus and the yuki-onna, and me, the worst monster of them all, the human."
"I'm the worst, because unlike them, I made a choice to be a monster. I chose to be vain, and spiteful, and petty. I chose to be jealous, and to attack those who I saw as a threat. I'm the worst, because I'm a monster who can never be detected, because you cannot see my soul, only my body."
"Take a good look, Furinkan. Because I am you."
She nodded to herself at the dead silence, then began to stroll in front of the squad. "I told Ukyo once that it's us against the world. Out there, we're square pegs trying to fit in round holes. But here, here in Furinkan, we've found our square holes. Ayeka here used to be violently angry all the time. Her parents barely acknowledge her existence, and neither did anyone else. Megumi locked herself in a shell of ice, afraid to come out because she feared rejection. Kaede hunted constantly for love amid endless sexual advances, and Kyoko wanted more than to be chased, but didn't know what."
"And then there's me, Ai Konjou. Pregnant at fifteen, miscarried, love lost, and despising a world where she wasn't wanted. I was afraid to open my heart, afraid to care about anyone or anything. I gathered these girls together to torment and torture everyone I despised, used them to satisfy my carnal desires and played with them like they were my possessions."
"I chose to be a monster. All of you know how good a monster I was."
"But you know what? Ayeka's fire burned away the flames of my rage against the world. Megumi's ice unfroze the depths of my heart. Kaede's need for love renewed the dried up springs in my soul, and Kyoko's tail chasing knocked down the walls I had built to keep everyone out."
"I'm a monster. But with their love, I think I can be human again."
"Look around you Furinkan. Look at the monster sitting next to you, and think about what they have brought to your life. Think about the holes they would leave behind if they were gone. Then look at yourself, and realize, we're all monsters inside. If all of these people around us didn't exist, we would, every one of us, be a monster. If we didn't have our friends, those who care about us enough to make us want to care back, we would all be the same lonely frightened monster I once was."
"And now, that you've gotten your wish, and seen me naked, both physically and spiritually, I have one last thing to say." She held out her hand to the quiet stands. "My name is Ai Konjou. And I am a monster. I am proud to be a monster, and I am proud to be friends with monsters. Will you be my friend?"
The students in the stands looked at each other, and back at the cheerleader standing naked before them, her hand outreached to them in supplication. It was soft, scattered at first, but it gained in certainty as more and more students nodded and a chorus of "Yes," arose.
Ai pointed to herself again. "I am a monster. I am friends with monsters. If you are my friend, it is because you are a monster too. Will you still be my friend?"
This time it was one voice. "YES!"
"Are you monsters too?"
"YES!"
Ai's fist rose into the air. "ARE WE ALL MONSTERS TOGETHER?"
"YES!" the crowd roared, their fists joining Ai's in defiance.
"DOES IT MATTER WHAT KIND OF MONSTER WE ARE?"
"NO!"
"WHO ARE WE FURINKAN?"
"WE ARE MONSTERS!"
"DO WE CARE THAT WE ARE MONSTERS?"
"NO!"
"WHAT ARE WE PROUD OF?"
"WE ARE PROUD TO BE MONSTERS!"
"WHAT ARE MONSTERS?"
"MONSTERS ARE OUR FRIENDS!"
"WHO ARE WE?"
"WE ARE THE MONSTERS OF FURINKAN HIGH SCHOOL!
"WHO ARE WE OUTSIDE THESE WALLS?"
"WE ARE ALL HUMANS!"
"AND INSIDE THESE WALLS?"
"WE ARE ALL MONSTERS!"
Ai smiled and lowered her voice, speaking softly, conspiratorially. "Then let us make a pact. We are Furinkan High. Let it be said that here, there be monsters. There are no youkai, and no humans. Just us monsters. What say you, Furinkan?"
They screamed it. "HERE, THERE BE MONSTERS!"
"Does anyone dissent?"
"NO!"
Ai cocked her hip jauntily as she put her hand on it. "Then I guess it was worth getting naked in front of you all, along with my squad. And now that we've all admitted to being monsters, I'm going to give all of you an extra special one of a kind present from me, to all my wonderful monster friends."
She smiled impishly at the crowd as they cheered. She waited till they quieted down a little then raised the megaphone again. "In fact, I'm going to give it to you four times! Are you ready?"
The crowd cheered noisily as Ai tossed the megaphone aside. She jauntily waved at them, her bare breasts bouncing, then turned and bent over while spreading her legs to wave through her legs at everyone again.
Then she stood and French kissed all four of her lovers one after the other as the crowd screamed and half the boys and a few dozen girls fainted from blood loss.
0 0 0 0 0
Kagura stood on the battlements of the castle, and mused.
The battle was long over, they had been met by the Daimyo and welcomed into the castle as honored guests. Sanjuro had explained to the lord about his capture and shame, and how he had been rescued. The lord had been strangely subdued, and had accepted his subordinates report almost reluctantly. Sanjuro had been brief and requested he be allowed to remove himself from his lord's sight as soon as he had finished, claiming he had shamed his lord's honor by his capture. It had been a strained few minutes, but the Daimyo had quickly regained his good humor when he had addressed his saviors. They had been feasted, and the Daimyo had given them horses to travel more quickly to Mikado. Kagura had even been asked by the lord if she would consent to allowing his artist to capture her beauty on parchment. It had been strange. The lord had known she was a youkai, yet he and all his people had accepted her along with Inuyasha and all the other members of their party.
"Are you not chilled, my lady?" Tatewaki's voice came from the shadow of the tower near by.
"No, Tatewaki-san. I am not cold. I simply sought solitude to think."
"I see. Mayhaps I canst offer thee a willing ear to thy musings?"
Kagura smiled. "Mayhaps. I am trying to figure out why the actions of the people of this town have filled me with an emotion I have never felt."
"I hath not seen them treat thee badly."
"They have not. In all ways they have treated me well, and expressed nothing but gratitude for the rescue of their town. I have had children run up to me and hug my legs and tell me thank you for saving their parent's lives. In every way I have been made to feel welcome, though I am a youkai. And it has made me feel… pleasant? Happy? I do not know. It is a feeling I am unused to feeling."
"I too have felt this emotion my lady. And it is a new feeling for myself as well. I hath ever striven to be a hero, yet today, in truth, I truly was one."
"But I am a youkai, Tatewaki-san. A monster. How can a monster be a hero? Why do I feel so strong a desire to keep feeling this way? To continue to help those weaker than myself, to treat them as things I must protect instead of prey?"
"I am a youkai as well, my lady. I must struggle every day to control those impulses within to simply take what I desire, to seize what I have sworn to defend. Yet to be a hero, is this not a struggle every man must face?" Tatewaki joined her looking over the parapet. "Not three months ago, I was such a man. I desired the attentions of several beautiful women, and constantly pushed my attentions on them. In my lust I was oblivious to the disgust they felt for how I treated them, not as people, but as trophies, as mere objects. They were but playtoys to the imaginings in my head, players in a drama I made up as I went along. And then I found myself involved in a true drama, and stood before a demon of the dark. I faced one who I knew would be my death, and in my arrogance and pride, I said words that would change my life forever. I swore I would defend Song Zhu Shu with my life, knowing I would die." His hand dropped to the katana at his waist. "And that is when she awoke, and asked me to make a choice."
"She?"
"Tetsusaiga." Kuno answered. "Totosai is correct that she has a spirit of enormous power within her. A holy woman who gave me a choice. I had said I would defend Zhu Shu, the avatar of the Dragon, and for that I had proved my bravery. She showed me my entire life, and I could not hide from who I was, and had been. She showed me my shame, and asked me if I wished to stay what I was, or become what I dreamed. One path, the path I had been on, I would live in safety and peace, free to pursue my pleasures for all my life. But that is not the path I chose. I chose to cease being a monster, my lady. I chose to walk in the light, never knowing what moment may be my last, as I defend others from monsters."
"And so you became a devil hunter."
"Yes."
"I see." Kagura stared into the darkness for long moments. "Tatewaki-san. I am tired of being a monster. I know I go to my death, that no matter what happens tomorrow, Naraku will ensure I die for betraying him. I have done much to deserve death, though I do not wish to die. Yet I do not wish to face him as a monster."
"I will not let him take you my lady."
"I will not meekly accept death either, Sir Kuno. I intend to live, if I can. But as a monster, I have no hope of defeating him." She turned and motioned down at the village. "I want to continue to be someone people can accept. I want to help those who I can, and rise above what I was created to be."
"I will aid you in this in any way I can, my lady."
Kagura's hand covered Kuno's as she turned to look up into his face. "Do you love me, Tatewaki?"
There was no hesitation. "I do, my lady."
"I do not know for sure what love is, Tatewaki, yet I think that what I feel for you is love as well. I do not wish to be a monster anymore, and I do not wish to ever be anywhere but by your side. Will you take me, Tatewaki-sama? We you make me a woman instead of a monster?"
"I have wished for nothing more than to be allowed to walk by your side Lady Kagura. I have thought that I loved many women, my lady, but since I have met you, their faces have all faded away. I serve my goddess as her paladin, but you have held my heart since the day I first looked into thy radiant eyes."
Kagura turned to face him fully, and stepped into his embrace. "Make love to me, Tatewaki. Let me feel my body respond to your attentions, and let me feel like a human woman tonight. Possess me body and soul, and break the claims Naraku has on me. Make me yours and yours alone."
Tatewaki said nothing, simply swept her up in his arms and carried her down the stairs and across the courtyard to the room she had been given. He sat her gently on the futon before he turned to slide the panel closed. By the time he turned back, Kagura lay naked before him, smiling.
This time… he didn't faint.