Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or its characters; that right belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. Nor do I own One Piece or its characters; that right belongs to Eiichiro Oda.
Author's Note: This was just a random one shot that popped up while watching an AMV called Immortals by ZeroStrikeKing on . I started to snigger, and had to type this up. Of course it is a crossover, but personality insanity will ensue! Enjoy please!
It had been a day like any other day for us. Wake up, wander from place to place to stay safe. I was watching as the world moved continuously by around us as if we weren't there. Leaving a happy yet sad feeling in my chest. Being normal, the thought of growing old and dying a fear, like everyone else, was taken out of my hands a couple of thousand years ago after a great evil was killed. But for that deed and the wish that was granted, my life and that of my companion was forever changed and linked eternally.
Here I, one Kagome Higurashi, Priestess and guardian of the Shikon no Tama, an immortal now. Sat with one Sesshomaru, once the ruler of the western lands of Japan, and proud son of the great Dog General Inu Taisho. Both were enjoying the relatively quiet atmosphere of the little tavern that had been recommended to us. It was quaint and very homey. While the service was simple, it left a calming aura around those who were in it.
I was looking at my guard and long-time friend, who just sat very still, while amber eyes subtly darted too and fro always on the lookout for potential threats. I sipped at a hot cup of fragrant Jasmine tea. The wisps of heat tickling my nose. It was these moments that I had come to enjoy in my long life. So with a contented sigh, I let my eyes close to allow my sense of taste to enhance.
It was then that I heard a male voice from a distance cry out, Gumo Gumo no Whip. Thinking it was an odd thing to say, I let it slide on by me. That was my mistake as the sound of splintering wood, glass breaking and metal and porcelain crashing to the floor flooded my ears. It caused me to snap my eyes open just in time to duck, making me spill my hot tea, as a foot swung over my head. The shock was the only thing registering in my conscious mind as I felt a strong hand rest on my shoulder.
Lifting my head to see Sesshoumaru's eyes widen in a mix of disbelief and worry. I stood up, wondering why he was giving me that particular look. Only to realize it wasn't me, myself he was looking at, but the side of my head. Curious as to what had landed in my hair, I lifted my hand to run it through my hair. My gaze still on Sesshoumaru as he flinched back, just as my hand met with nothing but air, before brushing the bottom of my earlobe and jaw.
Let it be known that I am not by nature a very vain person. But in the few millennia I have been alive, the one thing about me, other than my eyes that I had gotten proud of, was my thick, black curly hair. The care I put into making I stay healthy as it grew to my knees was what most would consider insanity. And the fact that I was missing a good shank of hair, due to that foot that had swung through the little tavern, left a bitter after taste in my mouth as a subtle shiver ran through my body.
"Kagome, please keep control of your emotions. It would not due cause an incident in a small place like this." Sesshoumaru spake, cautioning me.
Lifting my gaze to his, I put a sweet smile on my face, before speaking in a sickeningly sweet voice, "Why Sesshomaru, I am wounded that you would think I would cause a scene."
The fact that he lost a few shades of color in the face, making his magenta-colored demon markings more pronounced on his beautifully sculpted face. Let me know that he wasn't going to stop me from doing what I was already planning on doing. He had long since learned that due to me being the guardian of the damned Jewel of four Souls, my powers and temper had gotten worse. His brother, Inu Yasha, the gods rest his soul. Learned painfully after one sit, put him halfway to the earth's core.
"Come, we must find this individual. This kind of destruction is unwanted and unwarranted. They must make amends to this community." I said as I set a large piece of gold on the countertop.
A small gasp of shock from the proprietor was all I needed to hear. Their soft-spoken thank you eased my mood a bit. But as I stepped foot out of the building, my gaze landing upon several more buildings that didn't get off as 'easy' as the little tavern had — narrowing my eyes as I pulled my Reiki to me and used it to listen to things in the distance.
When I caught the familiar voice that had said Gumo Gumo no Whip, I marched in that direction. Wrapping myself in my ReikiReiki so that people would move from my path more quickly as I continued on my way. Already my eyes were sending a visual overload at the destruction that one move had caused and for how far. The start of a tic under my left eye could be felt as I picked up my pace.
Soon enough, after having to backtrack to get through the debris left in the aftermath of the attack. The area opened up to what was the ports' small town square. There in the middle was a tall man, ragged black hair hanging down his back, two pistols strapped to his hip as he sneered at a much smaller man, wearing a straw hat with a red band around it and what seemed to be short messy black hair under it... Their gazes locked as if trying to assess the other's next move.
Carefully gauging them, so I moved when they attacked each other. I just watched and assessed them. It was evident that the bigger man was a pirate by the mark of a skull and crossbones on his black vest. As for the small man, I couldn't say since he bore no mark upon his red jacket. Though the car that was across his chest seemed somewhat familiar to me, I didn't try to place it, for they broke their standoff, charging at each other.
The larger man moving with an agility born of practice pulled out both pistols and shot them off. Each bullet hit it's mark, making the smaller man stop in his tracks. Expecting him to fall over dead, I saw his aura flare-up, as he curled inwards on himself. Only to see his Aura flare around him, or Haki as they now call it, before standing up with a loud bellow and throwing his arms wide. The bullets that had tried to enter his body were flung back at the other man.
A small quirk of my lip as it dawned on me, the little man was a devil fruit user and had eaten the Gumo Gumo no Mi. With a wry laugh as I watched him throw his arms behind him, calling out, Gumo Gumo no Pistols, I began to walk towards them. The sounds of people calling out to me, their voices shocked and laced with fear. Though I didn't care since I knew what was going to happen.
As I stepped between the two men, I glanced up at the tall man, who was looking at me like I had lost my mind. Then let my gaze shift and flow like water, towards the other, who now had a panicked look on his face as his fist came flying me. The quirk on my lips formed into a full, blinding smile as I stopped dead center. Just as the smaller man yelled at me to get out of the way.
Turning towards him, my partially dry white blouse, now stained a pale yellow from my Jasmine tea. I gave him a cold, blithering stare as I pushed both my Aura and Reiki out. The man behind me was immediately falling to his knees as he struggled to stay conscious. A battle he was quickly losing, as the other man's rubber arms just fell limp on the ground. I was keeping my eyes hooded as I stared at him as he tried to call them back to him. His face was contorted in a mix of confusion, frustration, and pain.
Bending over, I picked up each fisted hand in my own, silently marveling they felt like soft rubbery skin. "That won't work, you man. I have cut you off from your devil fruits powers. And now your feeling the actual strain it is causing your body." I said in a soft voice as I gave the hands an experimental squeeze.
My words echoed around the now silent town square like the Knell of a bell as it faded in the distance for miles. Opening my eyes a bit more, letting him see them, with the power swirling in their dark depths as he became outraged. The teeth of his mouth were grinding against each other from the pain and his situation. But as he opened his mouth and screamed, his Aura was thrust at me. Washing over me like a cool breeze.
But in the next second, he was running at me, his Aura telling me his intent to harm and causing me to smile as I spoke, not only to Sesshoumaru but a small mixed group of people in the crowd behind him. "Stop! You will no interferer in this. Let him have his tantrum. For he takes his punishment like a man!"
My words caused the man to stumble, making a red-haired woman call out Luffy, as he caught himself and continued his charge. The distance was quickly shortening between us, so I retracted my Reiki, allowing his devil fruit to activate again. Like a small chemical burst, his arms retracted and flung back at him. Snapping to his body hard enough that he flung threw him backward with a surprised yelp. IT was in that second, I darted forward, moving quickly enough that, by the time he regained his balance, I was standing with my nose to his chest.
While he sputtered at me, I pushed my Reiki out once more, though not as firmly. I was cutting him off from his devil fruit power once more. "You will listen to what I say and do as your told, Luffy. Or I will make it so you can never use your Gumo Gumo no Mi again, but still drowned at sea." I whispered in his ears alone, in a soft but icy tone.
He became very still as I felt his gaze bore down at the top of my head. Lifting my face, I looked at him with that same sweet smile on my face as I spoke once more in that sickeningly sweet tone of voice. "Do you agree to listen to what I have to say, Mr. Luffy?"
The visible shudder that ran through his body as he nodded yes to me. Letting out a small sigh as I stepped back away from him. I was still keeping my Reiki wrapped around him, as he eyed me with both anger and fascination. He was making me think of my little brother, causing my emotions to swell briefly into my eyes. The look in his own changed, let me know he saw my loss and sadness.
As we stared at each, a soft cough came from behind me. Closing my eyes as I let an exasperated sigh out, "Shall we go somewhere and eat and talk now? Your people and mine?" I said as I opened my eyes, the power of the Shikon no longer in them. Leaving them their standard dark cobalt blue.
The grin that nearly split his face in two made me want to reconsider my words immediately. But not being one to retract her word, for the consequences would not be good. I just nodded and stepped back and motioned for him to follow at his leisure. Then began to walk back towards Sesshomaru and the direction of the tavern we had just left.
My intentions of taking Luffy and his crew through the rubble and debris that he left behind with his attack, got the desired reaction. Even if it was from his crew, while all Luffy could be heard muttering over and over again was meat. The two women were berating Luffy, while the green-haired man seemed to be silently seizing up Sesshomaru, who wore three blades at his side, like the green-haired man. Behind them came a tall blond man with a cigarette in his mouth and walking, talking skeleton.
The fact that I hadn't reacted at all to, caused the tall cyborg-like man to comment on something I couldn't see, but heard. It sounded like a small child to me, making me wonder why a child would be with a group of adults. Tilting my head so I gazed up as my companion to see him mouth the word reindeer and leaving me a bit confused as we finished making our way to the little tavern.
Turning to the group, my eyes flickering over each person, only staying for a second or two. Though after looking at the blond man, my skin felt oily as hearts appeared in his eyes before the red-haired woman punched him hard enough to sit him. "This place will do," I said with a small formal half-bow.
In the next second, I turned and walked into the establishment. The look of astonishment on the proprietress's face was amusing as I made my way to the table I had previously been sitting at. There, on the surface, next to my cup of spilled tea, was a long shank of my hair. Reaching out and picking it up with a sad sense of reverence as the group behind me came to a stop and went silent.
Shifting my body slightly, I saw them watching me. The women each reaching up to touch their hair, as they finally noticed that half of my head was a lot shorter than the rest. While the Blond, skeleton man and cyborg stared in mild horror. The green man still had his gaze fixed intently on Sesshomaru, causing me to smile mentally. The whole time Luffy was looking around as if searching for the food.
Letting a frown mar my features as I narrowed my eyes at him. I spoke in a soft voice that was like velvet and steel at midnight. "Do not worry, Luffy, little boy; you will get your food. I keep my promises, but first, you owe this lady and everyone else who's home and businesses you destroyed an apology. I expect it too since your kick almost hit me. Taking from my head, my hair."
My words drew a small gasp from his group, as they all looked from me to him. Including the green-haired man. Who seemed to now be focused on me. "Eh! Why would I do that? As for your hair, nothing I can do about. So why worry. Shorter hair is easier to manage, right!" Luffy said, his voice so very child-like.
Feeling anger welling up in me, as a hand clasped my shoulder tightly in a warning. I saw the redhead punch Luffy in the back of the head four times in rapid succession. To say I was impressed wouldn't cover it as the knots from the hits stacked upon each other, each redder than the last one. Causing a small laugh, I tried to choke back escape my mouth.
"Luffy! You moron. I get we are pirates, but that... That is unforgivable. A woman's hair is a sense of pride. A thing that is like a badge of honor and pride. You took off half of her hair with your attack, you moron!" the redhead screeched as she grabbed him by the front of his red jacket and shook him violently.
The rest of the crew backed away cautiously as she went on her rampage, while through it all, Luffy spoke. "N-nami, I ...g-get it... Please s-stop... y-your hurting my-neck. I will a-apolo-g-gize o-kay! So s-stop ur-hurting me."
This caused the redhead, now named Nami, to stop and look at him confused wonderment. While Luffy focused his gaze on me, as I just looked up at him. Shifting my body, so I was facing him more, I let my lips curve up into a cold and slightly malicious looking smile as I stepped towards him — my hand holding my shorn hair lifting until it was right under his nose. I let the power of the Shikon fill my eyes once more.
As he stumbled back away from me, his eyes going wide as his pupils shrunk to tiny pinpricks of fear. "What are you? You have sealed my Gumo Gumo no Mi from me. It made me feel pain as my arms lay there stretched and unresponsive. Now you thrust your hair in my face as your eyes change from blue to pale pink. What and who are you?" His voice was shaking and breaking as it got nervous and high pitched.
It was at that point, I felt the others take a good look at me, and the soft, child-like voice spoke up saying two simple words, "A Goddess."
Blinking suddenly and stepping back in surprise as I felt heat suffuse my cheeks. I was shaking my head as I let the power fade away. Letting out a breath of air, that made me sound as if I was ancient, and my technical terms I was — closing my eyes to fight back the emotions threatening to fill them. The feeling of a soft hand and arms wrapping around me, pulling me into the safety of an embrace I had come to know over our time together.
Surprise feeling me when Sesshoumaru spoke, "This Sesshoumaru will tell you now little reindeer, she is no goddess though many have thought that. She is a simple woman, known by an archaic term of Priestess. As for you, young Luffy, this Sesshoumaru would as you not to make her call that power to her like that. It strains her mentally and physically to keep it in check. Your actions today have changed our course. Destiny isn't a nice or pleasant thing. So apologize."
This silence that followed and stretched had me open my eyes and looking up wearily at Luffy and his group. Each member was looking at me with various looks on their faces. Feeling strange having that many gazes on me since the void era. I turned my face into Sesshoumaru's' Kimono to hide the blush that was staining my cheeks embarrassingly — feeling as Sesshoumaru squeezed my shoulder comfortingly, as the silence continued.
"So you are saying that she is a healer then, of the spiritual sort. But that doesn't explain how she cut off Luffy's devil fruit powers. Explain that to us." A low timbre reverberated in my ears.
Removing my still flaming face, I glanced at the green-haired man. My eyes were boring into him as he calmly looked at me undaunted. Taking a deep breath and letting it out, I said, "You know what Haki is since Luffy used it. I was raised on that being your Aura and how you consciously or subconsciously manipulate it. I used that to knock out the other man, But to disrupt the power, I used what is called ReikiReiki."
Watching in silence as each person took the information I gave them and processed it. The different faces they were making were amusing. More so, the tall black-haired woman with eyes like a robins egg. Her face seemed to say she had heard of it. Deciding to wait to see what would happen, I turned my gaze up to Sesshoumaru, who met mine straight on. The silent communication between us was swift, as he soon let me go and made his way over to the owner of the establishment to query about some food and drink.
It was only seconds after he left my side that the green-haired man spoke up. "I don't get what you're saying. Haki is our Aura, and it is manipulated as we want it or needed it? And how does ReikiReiki differ from that to disrupt Luffy's power? Explain it to us now." His voice was a bit gruff and demanding, which brought a small smile of fondness to my lips.
Seeing him look unsettled at my smile, I just nodded my head in ascent before doing as he 'asked' "To put it bluntly, Reiki is the life force of the body. It can be manifested as Luffy saw in my eyes as a pink glow. I can use it to heal or disrupt the flow of another person's life force if you will. It is harder to wield. Cause it's essentially my life force, I am using Swordsman. And by keeping it wrapped around Luffy, he cannot use his powers, because it is a part of his life force. Meaning if he fell into the ocean, he'd still sink like a rock because that is what his body tells him."
The look of awe and confusion playing across their features, in turn, was interesting to see. The redhead looked a bit mortified at that concept, while the black-haired one nodded as if what I said agreed with the knowledge she had. While all the men seemed taken aback at that, the Swordsman in particular. The little Reindeer-man seemed intrigued by this concept as his eyes showed he had questions. But it was Luffy who looked at me as if what I said was nothing special.
"So you use up your life force to heal others or disrupt their life. You kill with your own life then. How stupid would you have to be to do something like that woman!" his voice rising in octaves until he yelled at me. Anger at what I said very obvious, letting me know he valued life greatly.
Unable to help myself, I let peal after peal of laughter bubble up from deep within myself. I am letting it just go, feeling as if a weight was taken off of my shoulders, as I doubled over laughing. Only to feel a smack to the back of my head. Luffy's voice soft yet so hard, "It isn't a laughing matter. Life is a precious thing that isn't to be tossed away like that. For the ones left behind would be sad that you're gone. A hole would be in their lives where you once stood."
The pain behind those words quelled my laughter as I stood up, looking into the dark eyes as they glared down at me. Lifting my hands and placing them on each side of his face, dropping my guard, allowing him to see all I hid from the world as I spoke. "I wasn't laughing because of what you think, Luffy. But because that you value life so much that you would yell at a stranger, while still not fully understanding what I meant. Thank you, it is nice to see another who cares about people, even strangers." My voice was just loud enough that the group and Sesshoumaru could hear me.
The moment I put my guard back up, hiding my emotions and letting my hands drop from his face, Luffy backpedaled away from me quickly. His gaze softer now, but still guarded and angry at me. Giving another small shake of my head as I looked at them all. Allowing me to see their auras and how they were so intricately and intimately entwined with each other. Showing they all had been through many hardships together.
"I should try to explain this again. I may use my life force, but it doesn't kill me. And I WOULD never use it to kill people. As Priestess, it is my eternal duty to protect all life. Even the most evil and vile of people who everyone thinks should die, I'm duty-bound to protect. When one can learn to use their own life to save others, over and over, then I believe that a person knows the value of life. Even if you can't use ReikiReiki, their experiences, choices will do the same. NOW I think I know what Luffy's punishment will be." I said, my voice going soft, distant, and serious yet teasing.
The looks I got from them all, before they looked at Luffy, their friend and captain, since Nami stated they were pirates, with a fondness and respect that spoke volumes. Made me smile as I recalled my own friends long since passed and lost to time and memory. At that moment the only tie I had to my past came back, softly informing me that they would all eat soon and asking what the punishment would be.
A polite cough brought our attention to the walking skeleton, who bowed while tipping his top hat at us. "What do you mean by punishment? To which and for what should Luffy be punished miss... Where are my manners, I am Brooke and may I see you panties?"
As he stood up, My hand reacted naturally as it came out and slapped Brooke's skeletal face as he stood up. His words reminded me of Miroku I was left horrified and in pain. "I am so sorry... I reacted on instinct...I mean... did I hurt. But... oh... it's Kagome, by the way." I sputtered out before giving my name.
Receiving laughter from the crew, including Luffy, only made me flush darker as I let my gaze drop to the floor. It was then that Sesshoumaru spoke up in my place. "As for punishment, I would think it is obvious. Luffy must pay for cutting her hair off. Leaving the Miko looking very unacceptable, even if it wasn't his intentions. She has spent many years growing out her hair, taking care of it with pride befitting a noble lady, which she is of equal status to."
His words rang in the silence, heavy and hot like a hammer striking heated metal. With a wrinkle my nose I looked at Luffy who glared belligerently at Sesshomaru, who just ignored him as if he was beneath his notice. "So what is Luffy's punishment Miss Kagome?" came that child-like voice again.
Turning my gaze down to the little Reindeer-man who was trying to hide behind the Cyborgs legs but in the wrong direction. Making me wanna squeal at the cuteness of it. Coughing politely to mask my amusement, I wiggled my eyes as I replied. "Luffy is this; he is to keep me company, tell me stories of his adventures, drink and eat with my guardian and me, dance and by the end of the night when the sun is close to rising in the sky, kiss me."
A collective gasp was given, while an intense, threatening growl that reverberated throughout the whole building came from Sesshomaru. Rolling my eyes as I watched Luffy for his reaction after I spoke. He seemed to be ecstatic about everything but the kiss, which brought another round of laughter from my lips as I raised my hands above my head. The action got the attention of all in the tavern.
"Tonight all food and drink is on me. Enjoy yourselves and don't destroy this building, or I will take serious actions... SO let the festivities began. Remember, Luffy, you have to dance with me and give me a kiss before the sun rises tomorrow... Or I can and will leave you like you are now permanently." I said in a cheerful and amused voice before going serious.
Once I finished speaking I turned away to a small crowd of cheering people who'd been there the whole time. Already I felt a weight briefly lifted from my shoulders. A night of fun happening, that I was allowing.
THE END!