Author's Corner
This chapter marks the end of a certain arc of the story as we prepare to enter a new one. Think of it as like the end of part one, or the ending to a first book. As we close on the Namida storyline and the mystery of the Shadow Master, we get ready to explore new elements of the world and another journey begins. I hope you've enjoyed yourself so far (I definitely have!) and I hope you'll continue to read on to find out what happens!
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha creds for that go to the legend Rumiko Takahashi herself.
EIGHTH BLOOD
Chapter 37: Goodbye and farewell
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'Zeus summoned his sons Prometheus and Epimetheus, ordering them to go to Earth and create men and animals and give them each a gift.
Prometheus's gift to man was fire, and when his father discovered his deed he was furious. He ordered his son to be shackled to a mountain and for eagles to peck out his liver every day until the end of eternity. He then began to scheme a punishment for mankind.'
Greek Creation Myth pt. III
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"You really cannot stay?" frowned Nagisa, clasping Octavia's hands in her own and staring pleadingly into her eyes.
Octavia shook her head, smiling. "I wish we could, but—"
"But you've been gone long enough, I understand. Still, it's a shame you have to miss it. Tanabata is beautiful here. You would love it."
"I'll still be celebrating. Just not here. Sesshoumaru says it's a big thing for his people too."
"Oh, it is. My mother adored it. I did well enough too until I came here and realised the true meaning of it all." Her grey eyes turned glassy, perhaps at the mention of her mother, and she squeezed her hands tightly. "Don't forget what you saw here, or the people you met. We won't forget about you."
Octavia's smile turned soft, and her heart fluttered with warmth. The beautiful landscapes, the glittering amethyst city, the harmony between humans and youkai . . . No, she would not forget. Not for a second. And somehow she knew that Sesshoumaru wouldn't either.
"I won't. I promise."
Nagisa's lips curved into a smile and she leaned in to embrace her. Octavia felt guilty that they had to leave so soon – especially after being so quick to doubt the sea dragon's motives – but it couldn't be helped.
Once everything was over, she would come back. She would bring Rin with her, and maybe Cyril too, and teach the island inhabitants to use their powers as she could. There had to be some mahoutsukai here who had yet to discover their magic. When the time came for them to experiment with and hone that magic to perfection, she wanted to be here to nurture it.
She stroked Nagisa's lapis hair and breathed her in a final time. Still wrapped in their embrace, the dragoness shifted her mouth close to her ear, and whispered, "When you get the chance, tell Sesshoumaru this. He'll know what it means."
The words resembled poetry, though Octavia didn't recognise it. Instead of driving herself mad trying to figure out the meaning of them, she stuffed them into an envelope in her mind and carried them away as she bid farewell.
Haru waved with tears in his eyes from behind Taro's legs, his black nose twitching with sorrow at the goodbye. She waved back, forcing a smile, then turned from the group of unlikely friends and family to join Sesshoumaru, who was already walking away.
Before beginning his descent down the cliff path, he turned his head and regarded Nagisa with a strange look in his eyes. It lasted less than a second, and before Octavia had the chance to properly discern what it was, he turned away and left.
She followed, not daring to look back.
The boat they'd borrowed from the fisherman was still docked on the beach, and Sesshoumaru moved to unknot the rope from where it was tied to the pole stuck in the sand. Octavia helped him push it across the wet sand and into the shallows, climbing in once it was far enough out.
She still couldn't bring herself to look back.
She replayed Nagisa's words in her head. Were they something that only Sesshoumaru would understand? If that was the case, why didn't she tell him herself? Why bother with having her relay the message like a carrier pigeon?
Unless the words related directly to her, and it was something that she had to figure out herself before telling him.
She wished the demoness had been less vague.
As the paddles combed through the turquoise water, Octavia stared out at the ocean beyond, and the infinite sky that was dappled with thin white clouds. She felt when they were approaching the barrier, and before they passed through, she turned her head for just a moment to steal one last glance at the island, before her vision was swallowed up by thick sea fog.
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In a desolate and forgotten corner of Namida, a woman crept between the leafless trees.
She slinked through the long-dead forest until she came to a bay abandoned by feeling and sound. When she was sure she was alone, she pulled down her hood and walked out onto the dry pallid sand. Hana and her beast had departed not long ago, and she had come to report the news to the Commander. Things had gone reasonably smoothly, though the Daiyoukai still lived. Regardless, she was sure the Commander would be pleased with how things had turned out.
She found him sitting on a rock near the headland.
His gaze was fixed on the green-blue water lapping against the sand – the only source of colour in the otherwise grey stretch of land – and the thick scars on his neck and cheeks were as stark and brutal-looking as always.
He didn't look at her as he spoke, although he never did.
"They're gone?"
She cleared her throat.
"Yes. We got what we wanted. The Shikonstone is fully functional and ready for extraction. Her touch awakened it, as you said it would."
"Good. Begin mining it immediately."
His voice was low and raw, like gravel, and she swallowed, tension eating away at her insides.
"Forgive me for prying, Dioikitís, but are you okay?"
He sighed – a soft release of breath – and his brow creased with woe. "It is difficult not seeing her," he said quietly. "It is difficult not knowing. I wish I could make her understand."
"You will," she reassured, "The trick of a demon is nothing and can be unravelled with ease."
"Are you so sure of that, Asuka?"
She tried not to take the insult to heart and squeezed her fists at her sides. Why did it have to be that foul and disgusting beast-lover? Why couldn't it have been anyone else?
The Commander didn't care.
Hana was far too precious to him.
"The Inugami is troublesome," he said, mechanically scratching the back of his hands. "Why hasn't he been dealt with yet?"
"Though I hate to admit it, he is powerful."
"That is no excuse for our shortcomings. Cunning cannot be defeated by brute force. We shall have to try harder."
"Understood. We'll begin the extraction now, Dioikitís."
He muttered no thanks as she walked away, simply sat there staring at the dusty horizon, scratching at the backs of his hands until the old wounds reopened and began to bleed.
They had been a fool to trust Mamoru with such an important task. She knew that, but she'd hoped he would be able to rectify their Inugami problem.
If the girl hadn't been who the Commander was searching for and instead a hatchling as they had initially believed, then finishing him off wouldn't have been this much of a hassle.
She still remembered the feel of Hana's terrible power.
It was as strong as the Commander's.
Her veins still burned with poison, and no matter how much she scrubbed her skin raw, the itch simply wouldn't go away.
She wanted to be rid of the awful beast-lover already, but unfortunately, things were only just beginning.
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Ah-Un met them in the seclusion of a steep valley several miles from Chiyo's castle.
Sesshoumaru had mentioned that there were dragon poachers in these parts, but Octavia hadn't seen any. She supposed it was more a precaution and proof that his affections for the creature with two heads ran deeper than he liked to let on.
Speaking of the said creature, Ah-Un whinnied softly as she rubbed its scaled necks and went to nuzzle her side. One head pressed into her stomach, demanding a head rub, whilst the other laid itself against her shoulder. Its rough tongue slid out to sweep across her skin and she laughed at the tickling sensation. She could've sworn that she saw Sesshoumaru roll his eyes before summoning his cloud and rising up into the air.
Giving each of Ah-Un's snouts another stroke, she climbed onto its back and leapt into the sky after him. To say that the creature was supposed to be a dragon, it moved remarkably like a horse, racing through the blue. She thought of her little show off with the bandits and smiled to herself.
Sesshoumaru was flying pretty far ahead, but she was sure they could catch up to him. Tapping Ah-Un's sides lightly, she urged it to go faster, feeling the wind force through her hair as it gradually increased in speed. They were getting closer and closer to Sesshoumaru – who hadn't seemed to notice them gaining on him – and Octavia flashed a triumphant grin as they tore past him like a comet.
But when she looked back, he was gone.
Vanished into the blue.
It was only when she turned back to face the front that she saw him, far ahead and flying as if a thing hadn't changed.
Her grin resurfaced and held the mischief of a she-goblin. Did he really think he could outsmart her so easily? Did he not see her as a challenge at all?
So, that was how he wanted to play?
He'd probably never been beaten.
Well, he hasn't played against me.
Another kick to Ah-Un's sides sent the dragon raging forward, and as it went like a shooting star, she tapped into Sesshoumaru's youki and felt dark magic rising inside her.
Her skin crackled with black sparks and summoned storm clouds. Thunder boomed all around them and the sky swelled with rain. In the midst of it all, she glimpsed Sesshoumaru's face for just a second and saw his eyes flash red, but it wasn't out of malice. Ah-Un's howls sounded over the thunder, swiftly advancing on its master, and Octavia swayed sideways so that they went barrelling past the Daiyoukai once more.
Like the last time, Sesshoumaru vanished yet again, only to reappear far in front of them. The chase continued over the grasslands, which were cast in shadow from the thick clouds clogging the sky above, and Octavia's heart thumped furiously in her chest along with the orchestra of thunder.
When she tipped her head back towards the clouds, she felt raindrops on her cheeks. She closed her eyes. Her skin was on fire and the air around sizzled with dark power. The rain started falling more heavily, soaking her senseless, but she didn't care. The storm didn't bother her, because she was the storm, and she could rip the world apart if she wanted to.
She chased Sesshoumaru without restraint, all the way back to his castle, where a new storm was awaiting their arrival.
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Author's Corner
• Dioikitís - Commander