Chapter 30 Death and Life
Kouga's unseeing and bloodshot eyes stared up into the crystal blue sky and the glorious golden sun that rolled lazily across it. The same sun, which had stared down at his father and his father's father and so on back for countless generations. A sun that Kouga, as a young cub, imagined to be a heartless God who did not care what happened to anyone as it sailed its celestial voyage across the heavens in a blazing chariot. Never once had it stopped or even slowed during its everlasting travels from the sky's east to its west. It didn't matter whether Kouga was laughing or crying, living or dying, nothing could convince the everlasting Sun, the Golden God of the skies, to alter its blazing course.
It was a Golden God that stared down at his corpse even now as it leisurely passed by without a second thought. The harsh and heated gaze it cast upon the land was like a constant reminder during the day of how totally unsympathetic it was to the mortal toil.
Similarly, the golden orbs of Sesshoumaru Ryusaki stared unsympathetically at the purplish face of Kouga, now frozen in an expression of silent torment by the effects of rigor mortis. Sesshoumaru had always believed the wolf prince to be an overconfident and impulsive idiot and felt a certain sense of satisfaction in seeing Kouga dead at his feet.
Practically right after being retrieved by Kagome and entering into the feudal era to pursue Wei, Sesshoumaru made out the vociferous sounds of dispute between Hakkaku, Ginta and Jaken in the village. Upon confronting the wolf youkai, he learned of Kouga's death and was less than pleased to discover their interest in acquiring -stealing as Sesshoumaru named it- the Tensaiga for the purpose resurrecting Kouga.
Kagome, of course, had a more forgiving disposition than he did.
How fortunate for them Sesshoumaru thought to himself irritably.
From inside Kaede's dwelling, he could feel her silent urging flooding through his mind through their link, demanding that the Tensaiga be used on Kouga to restore his life. Not that it was unexpected, really. Undoubtedly that part of her, the part that was so generous and compassionate was what made her so special to him. That was the part that had melted the ice from his heart and made his life actually worth living.
Nonetheless he could not just resurrect Kouga out of generosity or for Kagome's pleasure. That might convince the Hakkaku and Ginta that he was somehow tenderhearted and that was the last impression he wanted to cultivate in front of these wolves. No, a practical reason had to be found for Kouga's resurrection, which would avoid any belief that there was a possible weakness in his character to be exploited. That was the main reason he had asked her to let him conduct business with the wolves privately.
Facing Hakkaku with an expression of contempt Sesshoumaru, asked in a detached voice, "What reason would I have for resurrecting Kouga exactly?"
Ginta, racking his brains, was the first to try to come up with a compelling reason for which to revive their lord.
Hakkaku then weighed his words carefully. "If having him in your debt for resurrection is not reason enough, perhaps the fact the he was killed by the one who had Kagome's blood on him. You're looking to find him right? If you revive Kouga, we'll tell you what we know about him. We also know where to get some more information besides."
Hakkaku knew he was stretching the truth a little with that last part, but was willing to risk anything for Kouga.
Sesshoumaru gave Hakkaku a cool appraising look, "His name is Wei Cheng and that is worth using the Tensaiga."
In a flash of violet light, Kouga's body became engulfed in the radiant energies of the Tensaiga and life flowed through his veins once more. Kouga sat up almost immediately and began hacking and clawing at his throat as though he were still choking. Sesshoumaru knew, however, that he was just reliving the last moments of his death and he would realize that he could breathe again very shortly.
Once Kouga became aware that his throat was no longer crushed and stopped clawing at it, Sesshoumaru hauled him up by the scruff off his neck and pushed him into Ginta and Hakkaku's arms. Still disoriented, Kouga looked wide-eyed at his savior with a mixture of horror and bewilderment.
"Sesshoumaru..."
I think death may have been better...
"Obviously," Sesshoumaru commented acidly. As Kouga took in the Youkai Lord, he noticed that instead of his usual silver and white silken wardrobe, Seshoumaru instead wore an attire that seemed similar to that of his executioner. Only the shirt, instead of black, was colored royal purple with a white undershirt beneath it.
Kouga's keen nose detected the smell of burned linens though, so he guessed Sesshoumaru recently run afoul of the maniac as well.
Bet Jaken has a spare wardrobe lying around just in case Sesshoumaru isn't looking his best, Kouga silently reflected. Pretty boy.
Kouga was not certain if the subject of his thoughts was somehow detected by Sesshoumaru, but his golden eyes suddenly blazed dangerously and focused an annihilating gaze on him. "Your resurrection was part of a bargain struck with your beta wolves. I expect that bargain to be fulfilled."
