In Time, Death
By Alesyira
Summary: Sometimes it's not so easy to figure out who to trust and how to make things happen, and other times it just takes a bit of wine.
Author's Note: sorry for the delay, this one took a lot more work than I thought it would!
The Community
- 1650 -
Whipping chilly winds of a sudden ice gale accompanied the great water dragon's transformation back into his more humanoid shape. Kagome guessed it was probably meant as an attempt at intimidation, but her outfit did its job well and kept her warm. She watched with polite interest as the deep blue eddies of his power shrank and compressed around his form to reveal an almost ordinary man. His lips spread in a wide, shark-toothed grin as he strode toward the taciturn inu-youkai with an outstretched hand. Sesshoumaru pulled back a long sleeve before the two gripped each other's forearm in greeting.
She looked over this new ally as Sesshoumaru briefly introduced her in the unfamiliar language of the region. With dark hair pulled back in a simple tie, carefully styled beard with a few metal ornaments, and dark eyes that looked like the impossibly deep waters of the lake in which he'd been lounging just minutes before, he could almost pass as someone mundane, were it not for his slight blue tint and razor-sharp teeth. Something Sesshoumaru said at that moment inspired a sideways glance, a quirked eyebrow, and a rapidly widening smile. And then, when she thought it could not possibly get any worse, she heard the name Shippo and rolled her eyes skyward, hoping that the raucous laughter that bellowed forth from the dragon's mouth was not a sign of trouble on the horizon.
The dragon turned to her with a wide smile and nodded in greeting before introducing himself in her language with a buttery smooth accent that showed he'd had a great deal of practice. "Welcome, Priestess Kagome. I am Baikal Khan, leader of our great community and protector of these lands." He turned and beckoned that they follow him as he walked down a well-trodden path to a road lined with large, carefully fitted flat stones.
"Your kitsune has had his hands in a good deal of events since you left. This one," Sesshoumaru nodded to the youkai meandering along the forest road ahead of him, "was brought to my attention shortly after he returned to us. Baikal's community is one of several scattered around the world, home to mixed peoples from many countries, many upbringings, and many magics. My lands are home to one as well. If what you are suggesting should come to pass, we will also need to plan for our unique situation."
She hadn't expected to have to travel so far to reach the ally Sesshoumaru trusted with her secret, but a portal from Reikai had made the trip lightning-quick. Koenma seemed content to walk quietly at her side as the dragon strolled ahead, pointing out the many fine features of his lands, like the road and details about how they'd constructed it some hundred years prior. He broadly waved an arm at the trees towering over a scattering of quaint cottages along the road, pleased that they'd been able to maintain such beauty of the land despite their growing population.
He even bragged about the perfect August weather as they made their way west from the shores of the great lake. Kagome wasn't sure if he was implying they controlled the weather or if he was just pleased they'd visited on such a nice day.
Kagome spared a glance at her silver vesper, spotting a strange little number in the corner of the display that she hadn't noticed earlier. It looked like some kind of countdown, showing just a bit over twenty hours. She peeked at Koenma, thinking to ask him if he had an idea what it meant, but realized it was a few hundred years too soon for him to be of much use with her little device. She frowned in concern, then glanced at the current time and did a double-take. She was pretty sure that meeting she'd crashed earlier had been set for five in the evening, yet it wasn't even lunchtime according to her little device. She looked up, but the sky was blocked by the thick green canopy of trees.
"Something is wrong with the time," she murmured. He gave her a funny look before she clarified, "Something else. That meeting was at five, but it seems like that was hours ago. I think it's only midday, now."
He shrugged. "Reikai time runs a little different." He was acting awkward again, his cheeks pink as he looked everywhere but at her.
"What's wrong? You've been acting strange since I arrived."
He shrugged, glancing at her from the corner of one eye. "It's nothing."
"Sure seems like something," she muttered.
"It's just that when we met last time-" he paused, tilting his head back to look at the canopy of trees as they walked. He sighed. "I promised I wouldn't talk about it. It's nothing."
His face had turned scarlet again. Suspicious. She pressed her lips together, wondering when she'd find out this mystery of his. "Alright, fine."
Their small group passed a few heavily armored patrols as they followed Baikal along the road. His words became little more than a pleasant drone in the background as she began to detect something in the distance. She was certain they were walking toward it, and it felt familiar, a little bit like home. A slight tugging sensation in her chest drew her forward, and as the other three paused to greet someone at the side of the road, she continued forward with baited breath, wondering what it might be.
Within a few minutes, she found what she was seeking: a grand barrier, taller than any she'd seen before, shimmering with a rainbow of energies. She caught the ends of one glove between her teeth and pulled her hand free before tracing her fingertips along its surface and closed her eyes, delighting in the hum of so many cooperating magics singing along her skin. She sighed in pleasure as she stepped into the energy field, the warm eddies buffeting her hair and clothes like a gentle summer breeze.
A few moments later, the barrier wavered as her companions stepped through, the currents of energy parting around their auras. The dragon stared in open curiosity. "Can't say I've seen someone stand in our wall before."
Someone nudged her through to the other side, where nearly a dozen people looked at her like she was crazy. She ducked her head with pink cheeks and followed them through the meandering streets, her eyes downcast while she carefully replaced her glove. Koenma tucked her hand into the crook of his arm as he walked alongside her. "That barrier was remarkable but felt odd. You looked like you were enjoying it."
She nodded. "Can't explain. It just seemed right."
He hummed in amusement. "I should not be surprised."
Kagome glanced at him from the corner of one eye. She wondered what experiences in his past—and her future—had led to him being so visibly embarrassed by her sudden appearance during the meeting. The more hours she spent in his presence, the more certain she became that his reactions were nothing short of some kind of awkward history that had resulted in this out-of-place familiarity.
Her attention drifted back to their surroundings as she began to notice the variety of pleasant scents in the air. Outdoor cooking fires roasted great hunks of seasoned meats and she could see hundreds of bouquets of aromatic flowers mixed with bundles of herbs strung along the streets.
She smiled as a group of laughing children scampered past them, their voices soon lost amidst the hundreds of others chattering happily in the winding streets. They passed dozens of stalls displaying bright strips of fabric and even more colorful fruits from exotic locations. Vendors freely dispensed cups filled to the brim from casks of ales and wines to those that shared a few words of greeting. There was raucous laughter and singing to accompany tunes from musical instruments that she'd never seen before.
It was a marvelous sight to behold as they wove through small clusters of the mixed population.
"You have come at an opportune time, as we are in the middle of feasts to celebrate the rain of fire!" Kagome tilted her head at this in confusion. Baikal laughed, pointing up before he continued. "The streaking lights in the early morning skies, best viewed just before the sun rises. There is much revelry throughout the evening hours."
Kagome smiled brightly. 'Oh, maybe he means a meteor shower,' she thought, briefly glancing upwards. She wondered how much easier it might be to see astronomical events if she had such sharp vision as the youkai she had befriended.
She slowed as they neared what appeared to be some kind of town square. Sturdy stone and wooden buildings with elegant wood-carved eaves surrounded a wide open space. This part of their city had been tiled with colorful stones in a pattern that swirled toward the central feature: a pale white pillar that towered above them, at least twice as tall as the closest buildings and over a dozen feet in diameter. It was like an ancient god tree had been petrified and carved smooth, a single bleached bone from a once gigantic forest.
The khan spread his arms wide with a grin, the noon sun sparkling brightly in his eyes. "This, as I'm sure you can tell, is our anchor."
She stared in wonder from the edge of the courtyard. Even from this distance, she could sense magic from dozens of people thrumming through the solid material. She ached to touch the stone and drop her focus into its deepest recesses, to feel the focal point of so much harmony.
Sesshoumaru huffed in mild irritation. "Come, there is still much to discuss. You will have time later to enjoy the festivities as well as admire our work."
She nodded in agreement, allowing them to lead her away from this magnificent thing as she glanced back at it in longing.
The tallest building on the other side of the great courtyard was a gathering hall with a spacious main room. Baikal led them straight through to an antechamber at the back, where they were met by a willowy, dark-skinned male with his hair pulled back in thick, complex braids. He had a tray of tea balanced on one hand with a fist set upon his other hip as he watched them with a carefully neutral expression. He wore a set of light armor in a similar style as those on patrol, except his was adorned with bright loops of silver and blue fabric and had no gauntlets or protective leather gloves.
"Now then," Baikal began as he settled down in a wide chair beside an unlit fireplace. "What is this favor that you are asking of me?" He accepted a small cup of tea from his guard with an amused smirk before turning his gaze expectantly to Kagome. The guard approached Sesshoumaru next, who accepted a cup with a slight nod, as did Koenma.
Kagome glanced at the guard in concern as he approached. He had some weird magic going on that she'd need time to decipher, and time might not be something she had a whole lot of, if that countdown timer really meant how long she had to accomplish her task.
His ebony fingers brushed her gloves as she accepted her cup, and she didn't miss his slight frown as he turned his attention to the khan, pausing for a moment before he retreated with the remaining drinks.
She waited until he left the room and a silencing barrier pulsed into place with the click of the heavy wooden door. She took a sip, then traced the rim of her cup in thought. "I suppose I'm really asking you to do a favor for yourselves. I believe I'm here today to help put an end to the war."
The khan laughed. "This young one, stopping a war that has been raging for longer than she's been alive? Sesshoumaru, it cannot be possible that this girl is the one from Shippo's stories."
Even though the dragon was openly doubting her veracity, she grinned in amusement. The sound of his mirth was infectious and joyful. She glanced to the side as Sesshoumaru sighed into his teacup. She never thought she'd meet someone who would freely question his word.
He peered over the rim before setting the fragile empty vessel on the table at his side. "She is the very same."
"Where I come from," she began, "there is almost nothing with magic to be found. No youkai mingling with humans, no elementals playing in streams, no tortoises the size of mountains. Maybe a few old cursed relics scattered about, but really, until everything happened to me starting a few years back, life was completely mundane."
Sesshoumaru had likely heard a variation of this story in the distant past, but he paid close attention to her words. The khan watched her with narrowed eyes, stroking fingertips along his short beard.
She looked at Sesshoumaru. "Shippo tells me that everyone there has been hiding in communities, but that doesn't feel like the whole truth. I think he meant to tell me something more about it, but we didn't find the time to go over any details of what he meant before I was called back."
Sesshoumaru nodded. "This place is likely one of the communities he mentioned. Here, the balance is treasured and all life is worthy. Shippo is one that helped erect our protective barriers, working with other magical folk to ensure that no single type of magic was used to provide our protections. It is difficult to bypass or break without cooperation between a similar array of intruders, making it highly effective against those who have not learned to coexist."
She pressed her hands together in delight. "That's really amazing! The barrier I have around the shrine is just a mix of my magic with his, but I'd never considered that other magic could be combined to work together and create something so much more. I wish I had more time to study it!"
He sighed. "It's likely still present. Should you wish to see it when you return, simply ask the kitsune to bring you along."
She smiled in anticipation, thinking ahead to what differences she might find after hundreds of years.
Baikal hummed in thought. "Koenma was with us when we stepped through, which granted him passage, but you freely entered the barrier without an escort. Did Shippo give you a key?"
"I don't know. He gave me this pouch, some traveling supplies, and my outfit. He said it was made by one of the community tailors."
The two youkai nodded in consideration. It was possible he'd tucked a key for safe passage into one of her belongings.
"We have strayed far from our topic at hand. Why are you here, asking for my help?"
"Sesshoumaru-sama thinks you are one that can be trusted."
"You can trust me to eat those that go against our ways."
Kagome felt a little horrified as his grin spread wide enough to flash those shark-like teeth again.
Sesshoumaru clarified, "Our ways means to keep the balance and lead honorably through example."
"Oh. Ok, that's …great." She cleared her throat, trying not to think about how big the khan's teeth were in his dragon form. She twisted her fingers together, staring down at the pale grey material of her gloves. "This thing that I have… in the wrong hands, it has ruined the balance more than a few times. It's very important that it stays a secret amongst those that wish for peace." She glanced up, meeting the khan's very serious gaze.
"And you are the right hands for such a thing?"
She smiled faintly. "I hope so." I'd rather not be eaten by a dragon should I prove otherwise. She tugged at the end of one of her gloves. "May I?" she asked, standing from her seat with her hand outstretched.
The dragon stood and stared down at her with a challenging grin, his youki unfurling to fill the room with its oppressive chill. Nervously, she glanced over at Koenma, who stood and moved behind his seat as though to use it for a shield should something go amiss, and Sesshoumaru, who nodded that she may proceed.
Warm hands gently enveloped her bare fingers, drawing Kagome's attention back to the dragon. The room and its occupants vanished. There was nothing but cold, endless darkness. The darkness was not still, though, and she briefly felt as though she were moving up and down, back and forth with massive swells on the surface of a great body of water, tugged by unfathomable currents and surrounded by miles of nothing. She floated effortlessly at the surface of this vast ocean, drifting along with the currents and eddies.
Deep water was dangerous to land-dwelling creatures. She understood in this moment that a slip in focus, a distraction of the mind, could result in her sinking below the waves to be drowned and crushed by the pressures of the deep. But what lurked beneath? What wonders -or monsters- lie in wait below?
It was her mistake to ponder this, for once her attention gravitated toward what dangerous or mysterious things might be just out of sight in the encompassing darkness, she sank. Chill water rolled over her face and the air escaped in tiny bubbles from her nose and mouth as she stared numbly into the depths below. Glowing blue eyes emerged from the dark, rising rapidly toward her. She saw massive scaled hands tipped with deadly sharp claws, each as long as her entire body, stretched wide to either crush or save her.
Her magic flared deep within her chest, lighting her hands and eyes with pink fire that could not be doused by any amount of water. If this creature meant harm and ill-will, it would not last long.
Warm hands caught her as light filled her vision and air returned to her lungs. She coughed and sputtered as she blinked in surprise through the water dripping down her face. Baikal held her at arms' length, a ridiculous grin plastered to his face as water leaked from his clothes. Everything in the room was soaked, including Sesshoumaru and Koenma, who stood with matching looks of chagrin as their clothes dripped loudly on the wooden flooring.
Koenma twitched in surprise before pulling a wriggling fish from his shirt.
Sesshoumaru slowly closed his eyes and pressed his lips into a fine line, taking a calming breath before he spoke. "If someone would practice youki control, we might not have experienced such a show of power."
Kagome stared at the inu-youkai, wondering what madness his magic might have inflicted upon them all had he not kept everything under such tight control. He unfurled a brief flare of youki, causing his hair and clothes to whip around him in a minor maelstrom. He flicked his clawed fingertips through the length of his hair and then shook his clothes with a firm, practiced hand, and he was completely dry and in order once more.
She glanced back at the dragon, who was also already dry and patting his clothing back into place, wondering if she didn't feel a little bit cheated to have been denied a similar sampling of Sesshoumaru's youki. She bit her lip, thinking back to what she'd experienced while sharing with Shippo and Hiei. It had been so muffled and subdued. Had she changed, or was Baikal just that strong?
"Kagome-sama?" Koenma called quietly to get her attention.
"Hm?"
"Can you…" he waved vaguely, holding out his hand for hers.
Confused, she gripped his palm and then laughed as their hair and clothes fluffed around them, flinging the water away as they briefly suffused with light. The sparkle of his magic was accompanied by an oddly neutral hum. It felt like shades of grey against the deep water blue and caustic green of the two youkai in the room. This experience was more along the lines of what she'd expected to happen with the dragon. He let go first, then tossed his short hair back into perfect appearance with a shake of his head. He turned away from her, his face burning red once more.
What in the heck is his deal? She looked down at herself, wondering if she had some scandalous bit of skin exposed. A few locks of frazzled hair fell into her face, so she ran her hands through the strands hoping to put it back into some semblance of order. She quashed the brief hint of jealousy at the effortless maintenance required from the others to return to pristine appearance. Maybe she should be pinning her hair up.
Baikal clapped his hands together. "Wonderful! You are quite right to want to keep this a secret. Such a thing could bring us great ruin. But you still have not answered, what is this favor you ask of me?"
Koenma cleared his throat. "The Reikai will cast a spell to separate the magical from the mortals. I am certain my father will not have enough power to accomplish such a thing, so Kagome is going to help. What she can do for us is as reliant on those participating as it is that they are trustworthy with her secret."
Baikal hummed in thought before he perched on the edge of a wooden table. The cushioned seats they'd been enjoying earlier were a sodden mess. "What makes you think such a separation is the answer to the war?"
"This is what keeps the magic apart from the mundane where I live. The youkai and most of the supernatural exist in a completely different realm than the mortals. It was due to this barrier spell—"
Baikal held up a hand to interrupt her. "Where did you say you were from?"
She grinned sheepishly.
The dark youkai was back a short while later with a new tray piled with a variety of snacks. His feet squished into a woven rug near the door, and he paused with an expression of shock as he first stared down, then looked around the room. "Mother of light! Where did all of this water come from?"
"Sorry, my friend!" Baikal clapped his hands together. "We must relocate someplace dry, I believe?" He patted Kagome on the shoulder with a genial grin, his dark blue eyes twinkling with amusement. "Such madness! You must tell me more. But first," he snagged a succulent cube of smoked meat from the tray, "This is Kiapo. He is my most trusted advisor. Kiapo, this is Kagome."
Kagome stared up at the dark youkai with the weird magic as he nodded in greeting. She had assumed him to be some kind of guard or attendant with his distribution of tea and snacks. "Hello." Kiapo's dark eyes looked her over with thinly veiled suspicion. Eek, what's his problem? "I'm here to help," she added on, unsure what else to say.
Kiapo glanced at Baikal with a look of frustration, who merely chuckled with a shake of his head. "I will explain later," he promised, gripping the dark male on his upper arm with a wide grin.
Kagome was impressed by the wide, tapestry-lined hallways and the solid black wooden beams etched with flowers as Kiapo escorted their group through another part of the building. They climbed several flights of stairs that ended at the landing outside of a long, glass-walled room. Just beyond the entrance, a table held more sweet and savory treats along with a tray of bright blue glasses filled with a sour fruity liquid. Kagome took a sip and shuddered at the tart flavor, inspiring another round of laughter from Baikal as he took a gulp from his own cup with a satisfied sigh.
They looked out upon the city at the crowds of people gathering around the anchor. Scattered plumes of smoke from small bonfires dotted the town's silhouette.
Baikal frowned as he considered her story and how it might work with the Reikai's spell. "If this barrier you speak of is meant to separate the mortals from the magical, then it could tear our communities apart. Many of our members have coexisted long enough to have half and quarter children."
She nodded, deep in thought. "I wonder if the spell can exempt those within these types of barriers."
Koenma rubbed his chin. "The spell my father will be using expands on a massive scale. There will be some elements to help guide the intent and structure. Perhaps we can incorporate something to manage."
She nodded, thinking ahead. What about those outside of the barriers?
"I don't think my secret is something I should show your father, so we must find some way to grant him the energy needed for the spell without him knowing where it has come from."
Koenma nodded in agreement. "This item," he held out a small blue bauble, "is meant to store my excess energy in case of emergencies. I believe it will suit our needs. Before we gather the energy, I should confer with my father on the spell's specifics so that he's aware of what we're asking. I want to make sure we know everything there is to know before I have the power in hand, just in case."
Kagome frowned in concern, reaching out to put a hand on his shoulder. "You don't think someone would try to take it from you, or use it for something it's not meant for, do you?"
He grinned. "Trouble can be found in the safest of places under the right circumstances, and having a pocket filled with a potent energy source is the perfect start to such mischief." He shook his head. "Better to be safe, especially around some of those my father considers to be trustworthy. I should only be gone a few hours. Please relax and enjoy some of that excellent food."
Koenma bowed to the others and waved with a smile before leaving the room.
"That one was the first visitor that we've had from Reikai. I'm glad they've finally taken into account that there is more to life than death." Baikal sighed, shaking his head. "That boy has some growing to do, but from the stories I've heard of his father, he seems to be shaping up well despite the poor example of leadership."
Sesshoumaru nodded once. "He's had a few worthy mentors and considers how his actions might affect others before proceeding. One day he will make a fine leader for the Reikai."
"Kiapo, I believe we should show Kagome what we can of the festivities while keeping our distance from the crowds. Will you show her to the ladder? I will send for additional refreshments."
Sesshoumaru walked with them to the door. "I will accompany Baikal. Kagome, you will be safe with Kiapo. Do not stray."
She chuckled nervously. She hadn't planned on running off to explore by herself, but she had probably behaved in unexpected manners more than once over the years she'd journeyed with her friends. He was a right to remind her to be wary.
Kiapo nodded to the request and led the way from the glass-walled room and down another long hallway to the north. "It's here," he said quietly as he pulled aside one of the dozens of narrow tapestries that lined the walls of this hall from ceiling to floor. There was a small ladder carved into the dark wood leading to a narrow alcove near the ceiling. She climbed the rungs carefully and pulled herself up onto the ledge where there was a small reinforced hatch above her head with barely enough room for her to stand. She crouched to pull on the heavy iron latch until it clicked free and then stood to push it open, sending it over on its hinges to thunk quietly against the roof. She climbed up into the cool evening air and stood, staring at the deepening golds of a beautiful sunset over the mountains to the east.
Kiapo made no sound as he slipped through the hatch, but in the next moment he stood beside her, staring out over the horizon as well. He was quiet for a few minutes as he considered her with impenetrable obsidian eyes. "The ladder hasn't been used in over a century. It was originally meant as an escape for the khan's youngest child, but she has outgrown such secrets."
"I don't think I will ever outgrow my secrets," Kagome whispered.
He propped his hand on his hip as he turned slightly in her direction. She could feel his wariness in their proximity, but he'd been charged with her protection, and she bet he didn't take such a thing lightly. "Do you hide those secrets behind your gloves?"
She nodded. "It's something new, sorry. I don't know a lot about what they're meant for, just that I'm supposed to wear them." She sighed, inwardly lamenting her lack of knowledge.
"Forgive my rudeness, but you are the first guest in centuries to be allowed such liberties around the khan without my approval."
Kagome turned to look at him, caught halfway between a frown of disbelief and amusement at his declaration. "You approve his guests?"
Baikal alighted at the edge of the roof with a pitcher of liquid in one hand and a basket over his arm, filled to the brim with food and empty cups. "Kiapo, you jest! I pick my own guests."
"And then you eat the ones that I indicate aren't worth your time," Kiapo clarified.
The khan laughed, setting the basket between them. "Sesshoumaru will join us shortly," he explained. "I believe some wine caught his attention. Now then, Kiapo," he said, pouring more of the fruity liquid into the empty cups and handing one to each of them. "Before you get any more upset at your inability to read our little ally Kagome, you must know that this is Shippo's priestess."
Kiapo choked on his first sip and spit pink liquid onto the khan's pristine sleeve. The dragon sighed and shook the droplets away with a look of dismay. Kiapo stared at Kagome in confusion. "But, wasn't she human?"
"I'm pretty sure I'm still human, unless you know something I don't," she half-smiled.
"But those stories—" he started to say before the khan waved his words away, and then he blushed as he shot a horrified look at her. "Mother of light! I beg for your forgiveness." He suddenly knelt at her feet and bowed his head.
Kagome frowned in dismay. "Oh, no please don't do that," she murmured, reaching out to pull him back to his feet. "I don't think there's anything you have to apologize for, is there?" She shot a pleading glance at the khan, who had pressed his lips together in a fine line.
She wasn't sure if he looked angry or amused until he started to shake with silent chuckles. He took a moment to collect himself. "Kiapo was annoyed with me earlier because you have blocked his ability, and I remained content to leave him in the dark."
She wasn't sure if this was meant as an explanation for the strange apology or as a swift change in subject, but Kiapo stood and stared at her with dark pink cheeks.
"What's his-" she stopped, then turned to the male in question. "What is your ability?" she asked.
"I can sense intentions. I check all of the khan's guests so we can avoid surprises."
"And my gloves blocked you?"
He shrugged. "Perhaps."
Burning with curiosity, she tugged a glove free and held out her bare hand. Kiapo looked between it and Baikal, who nodded with a chuckle, "At least this one can't drown you!"
Kiapo's mouth curled into a deep frown. "It will take us weeks to repair that much water damage. How did you-" and then he touched her hand and his words fell away. Kagome felt her hair poof and swirl about as the fuzzing magic swept through her and over the edge of the roof, rolling out like an invisible fog in a rapidly expanding circle. Sesshoumaru arrived in that moment, and she could barely drag her attention away from the wide-eyed look of surprise on Kiapo's face as his magic slid through the crowds of people far below.
"Normally," Baikal said quietly, "His ability is limited by touching exposed skin, usually someone's hand as he dispenses drinks as part of our welcoming rituals. After we ruined my meeting room, I was curious what might happen."
Kiapo pulled his hand free and turned with a look of concern to Baikal. "Sabotage," he murmured.
Sesshoumaru quirked an eyebrow, handing a delicate glass flask to Baikal.
Baikal hummed and sat at the edge of the rooftop, sipping from the small container. "Ah, yes. This one is especially fine." He swirled the small container as his gaze swept the celebrations. "Do you think it means danger for the festivities or something else? Here, little priestess, take a taste!"
She grimaced and waved her hand to turn away his offer, holding her fruity drink aloft with a look of apology. If they kept plying her with random alcohols, she wasn't sure what insanity might ensue. The khan chuckled and offered her a hunk of fresh bread from his basket, instead. She sat beside him to eat, looking out over the crowds laughing and singing nearly a hundred feet below them.
Kiapo glanced at Kagome. "It is hard to tell with such an expansive sampling. I do not know who or how many felt such leanings, but it was strong enough to catch my attention. I do not believe she has been here long enough for such plans to already be set in motion."
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes as he turned his attention toward a brief disturbance in the mass of people below. "When it comes to the secret that one possesses, it's impossible to be too cautious."
Someone far below them flung sparkles of magic into the air to the sound of cheers and whistles. Her eyes followed the movements of the crowd with a little bit of longing. So many new sights and sounds as hundreds of people moved together like schools of fish in the ocean. Her attention jumped from adults swaying to children playing around the base of the great structure towering above them all.
"How did you get such a tall pillar to stand without supports?" she asked, staring up at the narrow tip of the barrier's anchor.
Kiapo sat behind them to rummage through the basket for a choice strip of meat. "That is a question for one of the builders. We just admire their handiwork and maintain the magic."
Baikal bellowed a name, and a guard standing on a platform a few dozen feet below them looked up at their small group. He leapt effortlessly to the roof and knelt before the khan. "Gatai, there is trouble brewing. Have the city guards and the patrols alerted to be on the lookout for more than the usual."
Kagome immediately recognized the burning magic within him and couldn't help her friendly smile. Both Hiei and Shippo had similar traces, and it brought to mind feelings of nostalgia and comfort, despite her deadly run-ins with the fire elementals during her last trip through the Makai. It definitely helped to know that Kiapo could detect the bad guys with a touch. She wondered if any of the khan's guards dared to break ranks knowing their leader would eat them.
Gatai snapped a salute and then had the audacity to wink at her before he leapt off the roof again. She blinked in surprise, her amused smile shifting into chagrin. Perhaps she should practice Sesshoumaru's poker-face.
Kiapo was subtle about it, but she noticed that despite how closely they all sat on the rooftop, he was careful to not touch her again. She couldn't imagine what kind of mental feedback he'd had to deal with while boosted by the jewel, considering an empathic ability like his. To know and process one person's feelings was a good ability, but to suddenly try to process thousands at once, perhaps not so much, especially without a lot of practice. She'd had to practice with Shippo and Hiei many times before she became comfortable with the jewel's boost to her skill, and she…
Her thoughts trailed off as she bit her lip in concern. This was with the seal. How much worse might things be without it?
The evening grew late as they waited for Koenma's return, lounging on the rooftop with choice foods and drinks accompanied by quiet tales of old heroism and mischievous children. Kagome yawned before taking another sip of her drink. It had been a long day. She'd managed to avoid the mental fuzzies from too much alcohol, a sad experience she'd had more than a few times during her adventures in the past. Even now, a human her age would have been considered an adult for several years already. She glanced at her vesper, its pale screen briefly casting dim light on her face.
Eleven pm. The countdown showed just over ten hours remaining. She frowned at this, wondering what the heck that new number meant. She did some quick counting and realized that the timer would reach zero right around the time she'd arrived in the meeting much earlier that morning. A twenty-four hour countdown? Did that mean she had to leave at that time? Surely the coincidence wouldn't be that her task must be completed by then. She tucked it away in her pouch, frowning up at the starry sky.
Kiapo dropped a warm length of fabric over her head. The temperature had slowly dropped to something that felt a bit chilly against her face and she was thankful for her expertly crafted outfit. "Humans are susceptible to the cold, especially those from the south," he murmured. She nodded with a smile and tucked the fabric under her chin, appreciating the extra level of warmth.
He carefully patted the top of her head through the thick fabric. "I will regale you with stories of Shippo's conquests, if you'd like."
Kagome had just tipped back her cup to catch the last few drops and choked in surprise. "Oh, no, no that's alright." Her face was burning.
"But the story of the night he found the missing great bear that had gotten trapped in the ice caves! That one is the best and we cannot end this night without at least one telling!"
She stared at him in suspicion. His wording sounded awfully bad, but maybe he meant something less raunchy by the word conquest than she'd immediately assumed. Shippo probably didn't do a bunch of crazy adult stuff so early in his youkai life. Of course, it probably was some great adventure of being heroic and saving some poor…
"That she-bear had gotten so drunk that she couldn't remember how she'd gotten lost to begin with, and then she refused to leave the cave until she finished what she'd gone there for. And since Shippo was the one to find her, she insisted that he must be her destined mate!" Her eyes widened as he leaned forward, laughing in delight. "He swears he did everything he could to deter her, but the noises we could hear from miles away," he continued, "I still give him a hard time about it when he visits, and now you can, too."
Kagome sighed and pressed her hand to her face. Gods, that was a visual she did not want.
The little trap door popped open with a quiet thud before the youthful demigod scrambled through the hatch. "I'm back with news and information! Did you miss me?" he winked in her direction, but she was having trouble finding her sense of humor at the moment. "Alright," he chuckled, stepping forward to sit at her side. "I can tell when someone's not wanted," he grinned, although his amusement slipped from his face with his next sentence. "I spoke with my father. We might have a problem."
He accepted a drink from Kiapo, who likely got a fresh read on Koenma's mindset with the casual brush of his fingers as he relinquished the cup.
"What few details I could gather from my father makes me believe that the spell he originally cast was less of a barrier separating the living from the dead and more like splitting off a part of reality into a separate location. We use magic, like portals, to gain access between the realms, but what happens here cannot directly affect the Reikai, and vice versa. With a normal barrier, if you manage to destroy the land that is protected, it's still destroyed when the barrier falls."
Kagome nodded in understanding.
Koenma waited until she looked at him so she could see the seriousness in his gaze. "If this same spell is cast upon the mortal realm, it won't just put a barrier in place, it will divide reality in half."
"Alright, I kind of expected that. Can places like these be protected from such a divide?"
Koenma frowned. "I asked Father about exemptions. He said he'd need to consider what might be possible, but I worry about how he worded his response. I'm not sure what he will be able to do, yet."
She glanced down at her empty cup in concern. That didn't sound very good. Motion to the side caught her attention as the khan shook a container of liquid with a grin. She sighed and held out the cup for a refill. "How soon will we know more?"
He shook his head. "Sometime early tomorrow, probably. He needed time to prepare, but he wants to get started as soon as he can once I've brought him the power for it. We are absolutely at capacity right now, and souls are being left to wander the mortal realm with no room to bring them to the Reikai."
"But they're dead. They can't wait?"
He shook his head. "There are many fiends that enjoy dining on the souls of the dead. If we leave them unprotected for too long, they might be destroyed with no chance for reincarnation or finding their final resting place."
Her hand flew to her mouth. "How awful!"
"I am hoping he will be ready to cast the spell by noon, tomorrow."
She nodded, feeling a little numb at the thought that everything must happen so soon to avoid further catastrophe. She caught her lower lip between her teeth, staring down at the red liquid in her cup. What if they moved too quickly? How much damage might be done without knowing all the details, without planning adequately?
She yawned again and sipped at the contents. It slid down her throat, coating and numbing the back of her tongue. Hmm. She took another sip, tasting the berries and flowers, wondering at the vague tingling sensation in her fingertips. "I've been meaning to ask," she said, feeling a little strange. "What did you mean this morning about four realms? I've only ever heard mention of three."
Koenma turned his gaze skyward. "Well, there's this realm, home to all living creatures. Limbo is where the neutral gods and demigods reside, and we process those that have died for either reincarnation in the mortal realm or their final rest in one of the last two realms, what humans have taken to calling heaven and hell."
"You consider heaven and hell to be realms separate from the spirit realm?"
He gave her a funny look. "Have you ever been to hell?"
She grimaced and shook her head, licking her lips before taking another sip from her cup.
"Yeah, I didn't think so. Other gods and demigods of matching alignments reside in those realms, too."
He stared at the cup she held, then reached out to snag it from her, sniffing its contents with a look of suspicion. He held it away from her as she reached out to take it back with a shake of his head and a grin. "No, I don't think you need anymore of this stuff." He chuckled at her scowl. "Did you know, demigods with your alignment generally reside in hell, and those with alignments like Baikal Khan and Sesshoumaru-sama reside in heaven?"
Baikal barked a short laugh. "Fascinating!"
She paused, staring between them. "What? But … most humans think of youkai as being evil."
He shrugged. "Youkai magic is generally based on things found in nature like fire and ice. Your kind," he paused, poking the tip of her nose with his finger, "has unnatural magic. Plus, it's the best kind of magic to torment the evil-doers that get sentenced to hell."
She rubbed at her face. The stars were spinning crazily in the sky, and she wasn't sure if that was the meteor shower or the drink. "I think I need to sleep," she muttered. "Nothing is making sense anymore."
More laughter.
Kagome insisted on staying on the roof with them, so Kiapo brought a cushion and a fluffy woven blanket. She had no problem curling up to sleep off the alcohol under Sesshoumaru's watchful gaze.
Someone nudged her awake in the dark hours before dawn. She yawned, feeling much less woozy, and cracked an eyelid open just in time to spot a bright line streak across the sky. She smiled in wonder, watching for the next few bits of flaming debris burning bright paths through the atmosphere before she dozed off again.
She stretched and yawned widely in the bright morning light, a little surprised that the din of crowds from far below had finally tapered off to only an occasional murmur. Sesshoumaru sat quietly nearby, his eyes closed but still very much aware of his surroundings. She could sense the flare of his youki as she cast out her aura, seeking out any who remained nearby.
Koenma quietly explained, "The celebrations tapered off once the sun started creeping over the horizon. Before he left, the khan said it'll be mostly quiet until this afternoon, as people rest and prepare for another night of gatherings."
She nodded, rubbing her eye with the back of her hand. She dug through her pouch, first checking the time on her little device —past eight already?— before she found a water bottle and drank half its contents. She twisted the cap back into place with a sigh of relief. Staring out over the brightening horizon, she thought about the great changes that might be happening that day. "This must happen soon, right?" she murmured, turning a worried gaze to Koenma.
He nodded. "I spoke with the others while you slept. I'm worried about keeping these communities intact, sure, but I'm concerned with how father worded his intentions. To separate out the magic, he'd said. The more we talked about it last night, the more I'm certain he might mean anyone with magic, theirs and yours."
Her brow creased in concern. "Priests and priestesses are mortal. Their magic is spiritual in nature - they have very little to do with these battles for dominance, based on what I'm understanding," she said. "Does he mean to…" she paused, thinking hard. If Koenma's father dumped anyone with holy magic into the Makai when the realms split, it could be a bloodbath. Youkai generally didn't trust those with magic like hers, and vice versa. Only the fact that she'd been raised without the learned bias and fear made her able to coexist with those that might otherwise have considered her a mortal enemy.
Koenma shook his head. "I won't know until I return this morning. He needed to prepare for the spell and confer with others."
Which others?
"I'm trying to not be worried," she murmured, staring down at the nearly empty courtyard below them.
"Being worried doesn't help any of us. All we can do is gather information and plan accordingly."
"Before everything happens, I want some time with the anchor. I might not have another chance before I go back…" she trailed off, thinking of the mysterious countdown on her vesper.
Sesshoumaru stood and looked down at the two of them. "I do not like leaving such a major change in the hands of someone like your father. It would be greatly appreciated if you could gather any further details so that we might adequately prepare." He reached out to offer Kagome his hand, which she gratefully accepted. She slung her bow over her shoulder and adjusted her pouch, the water bottle tucked away safely once more. He effortlessly stepped off the rooftop to land lightly in the courtyard, releasing her after she found her footing.
She raced toward the tall pillar, excited to have her moment with the incomprehensible monument they used to anchor their barrier. She dropped to her knees beside its pale stone surface and marveled at the subtle glow she hadn't been able to spot the day before under the bright midday sun. A rainbow shimmered from its surface, casting colorful bands of light across the pavement and her hands as she reached out with her gloved fingers, sure that despite her protections she'd still be able to—
Her consciousness tipped forward into the cold stone.
The rainbow of magics rushed up to greet her, tickling, pricking, sparking with emotions that brought tears to her eyes. This massive source of protection had been built by people with a strong sense of love for their families, honor to uphold the community safety, protectiveness toward their students, commitment to do the right thing. Some magic felt sharp like the spines of a cactus, others firm like steel and stone, some flowed languid and free to fill in the gaps that had been left by those more rigid. She felt the sting of earth as the wind kicked it up, the warmth of fire and the chill of ice. The singing harmony of magic like hers brushed against her in a brief embrace, twisting away to play with the others present. It felt as though the energies of creation wove through this anchor, and anything could be possible if someone just knew how to use it.
Sesshoumaru's energy sparked along her senses, bringing her attention back to where she knelt, and she reluctantly dropped her fingers, staring at the pillar in awe. He spoke quietly behind her. "We don't fully understand it, but when the conflicting magics work together instead of against one another, it becomes something more. Connecting our barriers to such an anchor has helped us maintain our protections for decades with minimal upkeep from a few."
Her hand absently dropped to settle on her hip, just below where the empty shell of the jewel still rest within her. So much more is possible when everything works together.
Koenma had joined them and placed his fingers on the smooth white surface of the pillar. "We don't have anything like this Reikai."
Kagome thought about Tek, who had told her energy like this would be used for so much more in the future. Koenma muttered at her side, "You were occupied for a while there, and something in your pouch made a strange noise."
She looked down at the soft yellow fabric in confusion. What did she have that could be making sounds? The vesper?
He dropped his hand from the surface and turned toward Sesshoumaru. "If I am to have time to gather more information before he starts the spell, I'll need to go soon."
Kagome nodded, turning toward them. "Where is Baikal Khan?"
"He approaches."
"Should we do this here, or somewhere else?"
Sesshoumaru nodded at the anchor. "Magic that is used near this structure tends to be muddled. A barrier to hide our actions will suffice."
The dragon strode into the courtyard with Kiapo at his side. "Good morning! I trust you rested well, despite remaining outside?"
She nodded. "I'm sorry to have taken up so much of your time during the festival."
"Nonsense! Meeting Shippo's favorite person has already been a memorable experience."
She tucked her hands behind her back and scuffed her shoe on the stone, feeling a bit awkward. What had that kitsune been telling these people? "You know, I don't think he's supposed to know I was here. In case it comes up, I mean." She bit her lip, looking at the youkai present. Kiapo seemed confused, but Baikal made a short gesture and his expression quickly cleared as he stepped back to stand guard at the edge of the courtyard. 'Shippo didn't seem to know for sure that I'd done anything else in the past. Did these friends of his never say anything?' she wondered.
She cleared her throat and rubbed her gloves on the bright red material of her pants, feeling suddenly nervous. "I really must apologize ahead of time. What we're about to do is…" she paused with a frown, looking around at the three who stood with her. "I've only done it once. I expect it will be different for each of you, but to me it feels pretty connected."
She suddenly noticed an unfamiliar tingling sensation in her fingertips and toes, trickling up her limbs. She looked down in surprise as the paper stuck to her torso began to disintegrate, sending ripples of magic pulsing through her. Her eyes widened in dismay; she'd forgotten to replace it with all the excitement, and whatever this strange new sensation was, she hadn't experienced it before. She didn't have time to figure out what had changed. They had serious work to accomplish before she ran out of time.
She fumbled in her pouch for the next slip of paper, only to realize she couldn't feel them with her gloves on. She hastily tugged her right glove from her hand with her teeth and then stuffed her bare fingers into the pouch to find the edge of a tiny seal. She bumped the silver device with a knuckle just as her fingers closed around the fresh slip of paper. Her mouth fell open in surprise as the same tugging sensation from the day before yanked from her middle to whisk her away in a sudden flash of light.
A single grey glove drifted to the ground where she'd been standing.