Chapter 8 – Glass: Half Empty
A/N: You can find a map at the end of this chapter that gives a brief overview of the Western Basin. Nothing is really to scale, it's just to give you a general layout of how my brain envisions everything!
The song for this chapter is:
Glass: Half Empty by Hail The Sun
You can find the playlist on Spotify under the same name as the fic. I'll be updating the playlist as the chapters progress.
~oOo~
Kakumaru was in serious trouble. He shifted nimbly out of the way of clumsy claws, a gleeful laugh following him as he threw his entire being into making his escape, channeling youki into legs to propel him faster across the barren mountainscape. Blood, from where she pulled his left antler out at the root, ran down his face and neck, somewhat obstructing his view.
'Shit, this isn't good. I can't let her catch me. I need a place to hide.'
He jumped from the boulder he was situated on to a ledge further down the mountain and quickly scanned the peak. There weren't a lot of options available to him. Everything was mostly scraggly shrubs or steep rocky ledges at this altitude. He needed to move to a lower elevation where large beech, oak, and maple trees took root in the loamy soil along the foothills. Pebbles sprinkled down on him from the cliff above. Kakumaru didn't even look up to see what caused it; he shoved off from his ledge to another far below, claws scraping into the rockface when he realized he was moving too fast to safely make the landing.
"Going so soon? You've been teasing me for days, where's the fun in that?" the siren miko called down, red eyes alight with joy at the chase.
They had been moving across the countryside on their journey to the west like two magnets of the same polarity – whenever the miko got close she repelled the deer farther along at a safe distance. That was until recently. Sensing some weak youkai in the area, Kakumaru had decided to lead Kagome towards them to consume their essence before cutting through the mountain pass. The likelihood of crossing paths with other travelers on their way to the west was fairly slim, and the sika didn't like to take the unnecessary risk of her taking off in another direction.
He put even more distance between them and siphoned off his youki, then went to check out what types of demons lay ahead. To his surprise a sika mother walked along the path with her two twin fawns prancing ahead of her – one boy, the other a girl. The family was dressed poorly, but were rich in their happiness as they chatted and laughed as they walked. The mother pulled her pack from around her shoulders and pulled out a peach for each of her children. The buckling knocked his sister over in his haste which caused her to cry fat crocodile tears. The mother chided him gently before handing him a peach and helping her daughter up. She gave the girl a hug, handed her the remaining peach, and then carried-on with her hand in hand – the buckling following grumpily behind.
Kakumaru watched the small family quietly, his heart aching at the close familial bond which surrounded them. He could vaguely remember his own parents, but time snatched away any of the details. A twig snapped behind him and he startled, twisting to look behind him, paling at the sight.
"Darn it, I need to work on my sneakiness factor! Some sorry hunter I am." Kagome grinned toothily and shrugged her shoulders, "Aww well, maybe next time."
A heavy beat of silence where no one so much as blinked.
Kagome jumped at him, hands outstretched in mock zombie fashion, "Boo!"
Kakumaru turned tail and bolted.
She laughed manically, wiping tears from her eyes, "Oh boy, this is gonna be fun! Wait for me!"
Kagome chased after him.
In an effort to keep the siren away from the sika family, risk be damned, Kakumaru headed away from the well-established pass and hurtled up the rocky slope instead. He flung his pack off to the side to make himself lighter and unencumbered in his ascent. Laughter followed behind but he dared not turn to look to see how close she actually was. He needed to get out of hearing range before she used her Siren's Song on him. If that happened…well, he didn't want to think too hard about the what if. He heard the flap of wings as she launched herself into the air behind him, using her winged advantage to overtake his steady climb. He scampered faster up the steep slope.
"Tag! You're it!" she booped him on head and took off over the cliffside out of view.
He lost his footing and slid several feet down before reaching a narrow shelf of rock. He stood on it confused, eyes cutting to the cliff that the miko disappeared over, "What…what the hell was that."
Her actions didn't make any sense to him. She should have grabbed him, ripped him to pieces, devoured every last drop of youki that she could pull from his screaming body. Cautiously, he scurried up the mountain-face behind her. When he made it to the top of the cliff, he peered hesitantly over the ledge. On the opposite side of the outcropping, Kagome sat on the edge swinging her feet girlishly, face tilted towards the sky with a look of utter rapture. The late morning sun shone off her raven hair and lavender scales giving both an iridescent sheen.
'What do I do now? Go and talk to her…no, she's far too unpredictable. I'll go around and try to lead her down the mountainside like I have been. It's not much further until we reach the valley, then I can get the hell out of here.'
Kakumaru pushed himself quietly onto the ledge and skirted behind a boulder to the left, edging around the miko, senses on high alert. He took a silent calming breath to slow his racing heart. That moment of pause provided him the opportunity to hear the quick movement coming from his right. He dodged out of the way right when a fist punched where his head was a second earlier, denting the boulder and sending shards of rock in all directions.
Kagome pouted and stomped her foot, "Crap, I thought I had him that time. Just hold still –" she punched once more, this time the sika had anticipated the movement and did a backflip so he was out of reach once more. She was getting quicker though and was already on the move to catch him. Using her own burst of speed, Kagome reached the deer just as he was going over the opposite ledge. She pulled him up by the antlers, white knuckled fists clenched around either beam.
"Gotchya!" she squealed like a child catching a frog for the first time.
She dragged him backwards by the antlers while he thrashed to get away. When that proved to be a fruitless endeavor, he braced his feet on the ground and shoved towards her, throwing her off balance. Kagome didn't let go like he had anticipated. Instead, she maintained her grip and latched her legs around his slim waist, pinning his arms to his side. Then began to wrench the antlers apart in opposite directions. The antlers themselves were just calcified bone, but they were full of nerve endings and blood vessels where they rooted deep into his skull – he cried out in pain and threw his head backwards in hopes of impaling her before they could be pulled out.
Kagome shifted her face back as one of the many tines tried to gouge out her eyes, "Oh, no you don't," she chided.
Kakumaru thrashed harder and fought desperately to get out of her grip. Her salty camellia and ozone scent suffocating his nostrils as he panted. He managed to free one of his arms and a well-placed elbow into her gut knocked the air out of her. Kagome giggled breathily at the pain before finally letting go. The deer squirmed to right himself and get away. He had only managed to turn over and was on his feet when Kagome regained her composure and scampered onto his back, putting him into a headlock and once more wrapping her legs around his waist. He reacted like an enraged bull, bucking and bashing her against the rock face in an attempt to get her to loosen her hold. Slamming her headlong into the mountain again and again before she caused him to black out.
Kagome quoted, "Good! Use your aggressive feelings, boy. Let the hate flow through you!" then chuckled wildly at her own joke.
She released her legs and, using the mountain face as a springboard, shoved off. The unexpected motion toppled Kakumaru forward onto his face. Kagome released his neck and he panted desperately for air, his vision swimming. With both hands now free she gripped the base of his left antler and heaved with all her might. She leaned as far back as she could using her leverage to inflict maximum damage.
With a sickeningly wet crunch, she tore it from his skull and held her trophy in the air with triumph. Blood dripping from the base like macabre confetti.
Kakumaru screamed in agony at the pain that ripped through his skull.
"Devour!"
A large umber brown piece of youki extracted itself from the deer and fed itself to the black jewel. The missing energy weakened him immediately. If he didn't act fast this would be the end.
Kagome shivered in delight and licked her lips, "I'll have to mount this to my wall in remembrance of my first successful deer hunt," she cooed, clutching the bloody antler to her chest.
Kakumaru eyed the ledge not far from him, tensed, then rolled harshly to the right. With her hands preoccupied with her prize, she flared her wings to regain her balance, but the momentum he created and his larger size titled her too far. She tumbled off his back and he kept his momentum going to roll right off the lip.
Kagome swiped clumsy claws at him. With gravity on his side, he nimbly shifted his body away, righted himself during his fall, and sprinted off.
And that's how he found himself being chased down the mountainside with what he assumed was an enraged siren hot on his heels, smiling like it was a game rather than a life and death situation – which for her it wasn't, but Kakumaru felt like she could have taken a little less delight in attempting to murder him.
The trees were still a mile or more down the mountain with no obvious means of hiding between then and now. The rampant pain in his skull and Kagome calling, "Wait, I need a matching set!" gave him all the motivation he needed to barrel down the steep slope pell-mell. He was terrified of the possibility of hearing her melodic voice command his body to allow itself to be killed. The deer moved as if he too had wings. He was a brown blur down the mountainside, often plummeting straight through the air to a ledge far below in hopes of reaching the tree line uninterrupted. Kakumaru knew that once he made it to the forest, he'd be able to lose her.
Kakumaru was sure that she wasn't aware of all the powers she had in her demonic arsenal and highly doubted she'd be able to track him. His life was relying on that fact. He gave himself another push and entered the forest. Instantly a sense of safety and comfort surrounded him within the familiar environment. The forest had always felt like home. The trees whispered their encouragement as he flew through their branches. He zigged and zagged among their branches, doubling back and circling around in hopes of confusing his trail in the off chance she was tracking him. He found an oak tree which towered above the rest and settled himself into its branches, panting harshly, blood and sweat coating his brown skin and clothes in a thin film. Nervous green eyes scanned the surrounding forest and mountainside from their perch. He didn't see any movement whatsoever and that worried him.
'Where is she,' he thought.
The entire landscape waited on bated breath to see what would happen next.
The sky began to turn dark from the imposing black clouds which appeared out of thin air. Everything gained an electric quality to it, too many positively charged particles ionizing the atmosphere. There was a low rumble of distant thunder and a sudden change in barometric pressure worsened his already terrible headache. A strong gale swooshed through the tree tops causing them to sway and rustle angrily.
Movement in the distance.
He watched as a winged figure took to the air, perfectly at home within the gradually brewing storm. She circled far above the forest – once – twice, and on the third rotation angled off due west. Heavy raindrops followed in her wake like a showery bridal train.
She had figured out how to use the Calamity Tempest Stone and was heading right for the western fortress.
"Finally, some luck," he waited until she was a speck in the distance then twisted his antler ring clockwise three times.
"What is it?" came the Demon Jewelers irritated voice.
"A status report milord. She's figured how to use the stone and is headed for the castle now. I'd suggest putting eyes in the area if you can."
"Understood. Keep watch. Report back if things go awry but do not compromise your freedom."
Silence.
Kakumaru leaned his head back against the trunk of the tree taking a moment to let his guard down, rain mixed with blood and dripped down his face in a steady trickle. With gentle fingers he probed the wound in his head and flinched at the contact. He would need to stop the bleeding before heading off after the girl. Jumping to the ground, he landed on bent knees and began his search for an herb to stave off the bleeding. He knew from experience that yarrow, dampened and packed into a wound, would help hemorrhage the flow. The flowering herb could be found in open forests which he was lucky to find himself in.
It didn't take him long to find the plant and he hastily smashed the flowers between his palms using his hands like a mortar and pestle. Once the flowers were crushed to his satisfaction, he packed his wound. Then he tore a strip of his obi to use as a bandage and tied the ends tight. The wound hurt but it wouldn't prevent him from completing his task. It would heal in time; so to would his antler grow back. He didn't look forward to the dreadful itching that growing new antlers caused and scratched the base of his singular antler with justified formication.
'No time to lose,' he headed towards the Western Lord's fortress.
~oOo~
Kagome swiped at the sika who dove off the edge, black claws whistling through thin air rather than flesh. She watched as he oriented himself and used the helpful pull of gravity to increase his speed down the mountainside – headed for the forest below.
"Wait, I need a matching set!" she called, sliding down the edge a bit causing pebbles and dirt to rain down beneath her. The deer didn't hesitate as he propelled himself off of a boulder and threw himself into his escape, blurring into the trees.
Kagome scooted herself down the cliff until she could comfortably sit on a ledge, the bloodlust leaving her at the infusion of strong youki. It staved away a bit of the insanity, but in no way removed it. It was like she had been traversing a desert, thirst overwhelming her, and when she took a sip of her canteen instead of the tiny droplets which taunted her, she got a mouthful of delectable water. It fleetingly quenched her parched tongue, but didn't resolve the thirst.
Kagome closed red eyes. She had become cardinal sin – greed and gluttony, wrath and lust; an endless desire to consume all things no matter the cost. Madness stroked her mind like a loving devil, setting her free to do as she will. The stone in her chest pulsed and she touched the lavender scales surrounding it tenderly.
'Usssse my sssstrength,' it breathed blackly into her mind, 'Desssstroy and conssssume everything in your path. Feel the power radiating from the wesssst.'
'How?' she thought back.
'Become the sssstorm.'
"Become the storm."
Kagome considered the words. What made a storm and how did one become it? She thought of dark clouds rolling across the clear summer sky, blocking out the sun. Of the drop in pressure. How everything would gain an earthy smell as the first few drops of rain hit the soil. Of the wind picking up speed, battering everything it came in contact with.
She thought of rolling pillars of thunder which shook the ground with their furious roars.
Thunder rumbled around her.
She thought of proud lightning bolts with narrow tines like antlers, which streaked across the sky.
Lightning flashed.
She thought of rain cascading from sorrowful dark clouds to soak the earth like tears.
A droplet landed on her cheek, then another – she opened her crimson eyes.
A storm had begun and she reveled in the power that coated her like a second skin. She felt electrified and cast herself into the aether, wings catching an updraft that took her soaring higher. She had become the eye of the storm. All of the effects emanated from her. From her thoughts and her will. She circled the forest, marveling at her creation.
'More rain,' she thought, and the drizzle turned into heavy drops behind her as she flew.
Kagome angled herself west and raced towards the power that radiated from there. From her height she could see clearly across the valley which made up the western basin. Steep sloped mountains surrounded the valley in its entirety causing the basin to be cut off from the rest of the world. A waterfall cascaded down from the northeast which turned into a winding river that split the forest in two. It ended in a large lake which was surrounded by farm land. Fishing boats traversed the waters in search of trout and pike to sell at the markets. Three well-worn roads cut through the mountains; one each from the north, east, and south which converged at a huge market square in the bottom center of the city proper. Everything within the city was situated on a hill, with the castle at the top overlooking the city which sprawled beneath it like a proud surveyor. The market square was filled with a plethora of stalls and youkai vendors hawking their wares to passersby. The city itself was expansive and could be considered impressive for the time period. Homes and established businesses were built from stone and wood rather than woven bamboo and earth and were butted up against massive stone walls which surrounded the castle.
The walls themselves were a semicircle which started from the base of the westernmost mountain and curved to the northernmost mountain creating a partial perimeter around the castle and its grounds. The northwestern mountain acted as a natural barrier protecting the castle from behind. A wide stone-paved road led from the market, up the hill, to imposing black iron gates that acted as an entry point for the fortress. While four sentry towers spaced behind the walls provided the guards with an uninterrupted view of the valley below and each entry point into the basin.
Kagome circled above the marketplace and watched as youkai of all types confusedly looked at the quickly darkening sky. Thunder and lightning accompanied her as she dove towards the ground. She landed gracefully among a throng of demons who all scattered to move out of her way lest they be knocked over by her large flaring wings.
"Hey lady! Watch where you're going!" growled a tanuki, straightening his vest and poking her in the chest. "You can't just land in a busy street like that! Didn't your mother teach you any manners?!"
Kagome tilted her head and analyzed the raccoon dog.
"You're not the one."
Lightning struck the tanuki head on, sending him flying backwards into a spice stall. The smell of deliciously charred flesh filled the air. The siren scrutinized the rest of the youkai onlookers, some of which went to help the tanuki while others went back to minding their own business.
She made a frustrated sound, "Where is it coming from –"
"Miss are you alright? You're lucky you didn't get hit by that lightning – what strange weather we're having today," said a weasel youkai, face lined with concern.
She shifted her red eyes down to him, "Where is the power coming from?"
"Oh! You must be new to the valley, that power comes from our lord who resides within the fortress. He's a mighty inudaiyoukai who protects this land. His aura can be a bit disconcerting to new comers, but you get used to it." He chuckled to himself.
Kagome eyed the castle which loomed in the distance behind the gates, "Bring him to me."
"Excuse me?"
"Bring. Your lord. To. Me." she punctuated each word like she was talking to a simpleton.
The weasel laughed and shook his head, "I'm sorry miss, but I'm not fool enough to go to the fortress and demand our lord do anything." He started to walk away, "Can you imagine, me! Demand that he come to the market for some strange lady."
His laughter was silenced by a great thunderclap and a burst of lightning. This one powerful enough to cause the weasel to explode, blood and viscera coating anyone unfortunate enough to be close by. The demons of the market who had witnessed the tanuki being struck, the exploding weasel, and the angering siren – quickly put two and two together and began to clear out.
Enraged by the act of cowardice, Kagome threw both arms into the sky and lighting bolts peppered the market and any homes that were within range. Several youkai caught in the blasts suffered the same fate as the weasel. Ozone and copper permeated the air as Kagome summoned more and more lighting. They gouged the earth with the force of their strikes while copious amounts of rain poured down – soaking the valley. Later, residents would be grateful for the rain as it prevented any fires from breaking out and causing more damage.
She continued her destruction of the marketplace, arms waving like a conductor setting the tempo of her chaotic orchestra. Massive gusts of wind ripped apart roofs, blasts of lightning shattered buildings, and thunder acted as echoing accompaniment to her havoc. She flitted to and fro, maximizing the damage until the once peaceful marketplace was a stage of ruin.
"You there! This will be your only warning to stop and come peacefully!"
Kagome turned to face the barricade of soldiers who lined the path that led up the hill to the castle gates. A mixed battalion of youkai greeted her – two lines of ten, armed with halberds and swords and covered in armor. Their helmets reflected the lightning that split the sky. Clouds circled ominously and the storm seemed to resign itself to a threating grumble.
"Will you come quietly?" shouted a captain in the center of the second line.
She hissed and flared her wings wide.
"So be it – charge!"
Kagome watched stoically as the first line of soldiers began their assault moving quickly.
A melodic waver entered her voice, "Stop."
Nine of the ten soldiers stopped in their tracks. The last soldier skidded to a stop when they realized no one else was moving forward.
"Turn around."
They did an about-face. The soldier who still had their free will shouted, "What are you all doing, turn around!"
"Kill the rest."
The nine soldiers flew at their companions. They watched wide-eyed as the first soldier fell with a halberd in his gut. After the initial shock, swords clashed and yells rung throughout the plaza. Both sides cried in anguish at the fratricide they committed. Kagome watched the chaos with a satisfied smirk, not noticing the one soldier who still had their composure, was flanking her from the left.
A sword sung its aggression through the air and Kagome summoned a powerful wind which knocked the soldier back before it could land. They tumbled end over end before hitting a partially crumbled wall. The helmet was knocked off and down tumbled long orange locks. Angry garnet eyes glared at Kagome who watched on nonplussed.
"Keiko! Get out of there!" called the captain who was in the process of holding off one of his men.
Keiko ignored the order. Instead, the inuyoukai growled viciously before charging at Kagome, sword raised high. Kagome took to the air, summoning lightning once more. The sword acted like a lightning rod, charging from point to hilt before coming in contact with the inuyoukai. The explosion was immense – it shook the earth, leaving a small crater to mark the location where Keiko once stood. Later, only her scorched sword and armor would be found, everything else had been incinerated on contact.
"Keiko no!" shouted the captain, shoving off his attacker. His eyes bled red and face elongated into a doglike snarl as he rushed the siren.
A piercing howl signaling retreat echoed down from the walls.
The captain gave a frustrated growl, fangs gnashing, before grabbing one of his injured men who was about to be stabbed, and dashing up the hill towards the gate. Three soldiers including the captain, made it to the safety of the fortress. The remaining two soldiers of the nine that Kagome controlled, chased after. They were brought down by arrows shot from the walls.
Kagome strolled casually up the hilly road towards the gate; taking her time and bringing down more lightning whenever the mood struck. Debris from the explosions showered down behind her. At this point, the majority of the city had been evacuated to either the fortress itself, or to a system of shelters which were hidden away in the foothills of the mountains, known only to residents of the basin. Rain went from torrential downpour to persistent drizzle as the eye of the storm followed her and she observed the youkai standing along the walls. Archers trained their bows on her as she neared.
"Halt!" roared a booming voice from the gate's parapet, "What is it that you want?"
Kagome considered the burly looking inuyoukai and admired the ragged scar across his throat.
She sang sweetly to the archers, "Tear your bows apart."
There was a clamor of bows being broken into pieces by the majority of the archers. The handful of females within the company who were immune to Kagome's song, looked at their fellow soldiers confusedly. A worried murmur raced across the parapet as they all speculated as to the reason why.
"At – ten – tion!" roared the general.
The soldiers ceased their whispers and snapped to attention.
"I ask again, what business have you with the West?"
"Bring him to me!" she called back.
The general looked to the recently returned captain who was walking across the walls to reach him. They conferred quietly. The captain shrugged and shook his head.
"Who are you referring to?"
Kagome rolled her eyes annoyed, 'What a silly question,' she thought.
"The only one who matters!"
Understanding dawned and the general gave an order to the captain, who snarled angrily, before begrudgingly taking off in the direction of the castle.
"It will be a moment," the general yelled down sarcastically, "Our lord is quite busy and typically does not take unscheduled visitors."
Kagome shrugged, "That's fine, I'll wait." She strutted over to a partially charred wooden beam and sat daintily, elbows on her knees, chin in her hands. Nervous energy radiated from the soldiers at the complete lack of self-preservation the siren showed. Either she was terribly stupid and didn't understand the risk, or exceedingly powerful and didn't care. The first option seemed far less likely than the second.
"Tell me, how did you get that scar?"
The general glanced behind him impatiently, "It is not a story I typically share outside of good company nor without several flasks of good sake."
A thunderclap roared threateningly above and she gave him a pointed look, "Indulge me."
He glanced at his soldiers. He could see the panic rising within them from the way they whispered and stared at the broken pieces of equipment. The uncertainty of the situation and the lack of understanding of her powers was making everyone jumpy. He needed to buy them some time until Sesshomaru appeared.
He narrowed his eyes, "Very well, making a long story short – I was ambushed while serving our previous lord during our war with the north. Assassins thought to sneak into our camp to catch us unawares. I had been writing reports to send back to the west when a dragon figured the best way to pause the incursion was to cut off the head of the dog barking commands." He grinned showing too much fang, "Needless to say, he didn't cut deep enough."
Kagome's skin prickled with goosebumps and she was thrilled by the sensation, "So what you're telling me is – you're strong."
"In my own circle I might be considered as such."
There was a flare of staggering youki and the hairs on the back of Kagome's neck stood on end.
She grinned excitedly, "Looks like that's my cue. It was good talking to you." She waved and started her long way back to the decimated marketplace at the bottom of the hill. The temperature dropped dramatically and the drizzle of rain transformed into freezing sleet.
The general growled low in his throat, 'The audacity! To attack the west, kill my troops, then act like we're two friends casually chatting over tea! If I get the chance, I'll kill her myself!'
~oOo~
"My lord, I'm sorry to intrude but we have a serious situation outside the gates. The city is under attack. Troops have already been sent out but the situation is dire, I don't have all the details. Captain Kiba is waiting in the hall with a report."
'What kind of fool attacks the West while I am in attendance?' Sesshomaru stood hastily and crossed the room in several long steps, "The meeting is adjourned for today."
He exited the chamber and found Captain Kiba waiting anxiously in the hall. Grief and anger warred each other for dominance over his natural ginger and clove scent. Sesshomaru walked quickly down the corridor knowing the captain would follow in his stead.
"Report. How many youkai are attacking the city," he barked long silver hair and pelt flowing behind him at the speed he walked.
Captain Kiba paled, "Just one, my lord."
Sesshomaru's forward momentum ground to a screeching halt, "Just one? Is the Western Army so incompetent that they cannot defeat a single youkai?" His already angry youki flared violently.
Bombarded by the powerful aura which was aimed at him, the captain whined pitifully – lifting his chin and baring his neck in apology to his alpha as custom demanded. "My lord, she is somehow able to control our troops. Half of my unit turned against us and she ordered the archers to break their bows. They all did – there was no hesitation! They had no control over their bodies once the order was given."
Sesshomaru controlled his aura and resumed his fast pace down the corridor, the captain followed cautiously behind.
"We had to evacuate the market and the surrounding homes. She's controlling the storm somehow."
'Ah, that explains how it came from the eastern mountains. A single female is causing this much distress – for what purpose?' A thought niggled at the back of his mind but remained elusive – something about fish.
They had made it out of the northern wing and cut across the practice grounds towards the gate. The rain had turned into icy sleet that slanted crossways from the increased wind. It felt like a war of the elements; each aspect of mother nature clamoring to make its presence known to the inhabitants of the western basin.
"Anything else?"
Captain Kiba thought carefully, "I'm not completely certain, but it seems like the female troops weren't affected by her commands. Keiko was within the first squad ordered to dispatch the threat – the nine males all turned against us but she still had control over herself."
"Where is she – This One wants a full report before passing the gate."
"She's dead."
Sesshomaru stopped to face the captain. It had only been a month prior that the captain had come to him to request his blessing for a mating bond with Keiko. As alpha and lord, it was a part of his duties to approve all matches for the inu within his service. When the young dog nervously knocked on his study door, his eyes alight with determination – Sesshomaru readily agreed. They made a good match. Both were intelligent and strong and would breed excellent pups for the continued greatness of the West. The mating ceremony was set for autumn, 'When the leaves best bring out the color of her eyes,' Kiba had said.
Sesshomaru dipped his head in acknowledgement of the captain's pain, "A terrible loss, one that this One will extract payment for tenfold."
The captain nodded grimly.
The two had made it to the gate and leapt to the parapet where the general stood watching out over the city.
"Captain, I want you to take a unit of our best females and circle from behind. We'll see what the bitch wants and if things go poorly, you're to kill her. Use your best judgement. Dismissed," growled the general.
The captain bowed and called out to several females the stood at attention throughout the courtyard. They shouted their acknowledgement and met him beside the guard towers for orders. He spoke to them for a few moments before they hurried to the northern wall; moving in unison like a single well-oiled machine. Sesshomaru and the general watched them hurry through the smaller gate situated within the wall and disappear into the city. The general turned his regard to his lord.
"Well pup, who'd you piss off now?"
Sesshomaru gave him a flat look. Tadashi was one of the few people brave enough to speak to him that way. The general had been a close friend and advisor to his father and had been part of Sesshomaru's life for as long as he could remember. Tadashi had acted more like a father than Toga ever had. Although he was grown now, the grumpy general still spoke to the Western Lord as if he was a young pup training to use a sword for the first time.
Dropping his own formalities, "Considering I've been here in the castle for the last six months, I haven't had much opportunity to 'piss off' anyone – let alone any rogue females."
The general gave him a knowing look and clapped him on the shoulder, "Ah, that explains why you're always so tightly wound."
Sesshomaru gave a slight roll of eyes then took inventory of his partially destroyed city. The female was a small dot at the base of the hill near the temple
"The captain says she can control males. What are your thoughts?"
"She's a Ningyo and their queen at that, for that I am certain. When asked what she wanted she said 'bring me the only one that matters.'" the general scoffed, "I sent the captain to retrieve you immediately. If you ask me, there are fewer taxing ways to demand an audience with the Lord of the West then wrecking his city."
The Western Lord was taken aback. He allowed himself a moment of surprise before schooling his features.
'What would a Ningyo Queen want with me.' He thought back to what little he knew of the reclusive Ningyo clans and considered his options.
"The lore – was it all males or only the weak ones?"
Tadashi shrugged, "I was trying to remember the same. She asked me earlier if I considered myself strong."
"You spoke to her personally?"
"Yes, to pass the time while we waited for you to grace us with your presence." Another eye roll from his lord. "She asked about my scar then threatened me when I was less than eager to share personal history with her," he smiled wolfishly, the scar on his face marring his otherwise handsome smile. "Lovely little thing too. If rudeness, mass destruction, and nasty weather are your thing."
"Hn." Sesshomaru eyed the clouds disapprovingly and prepared to jump down from the parapet.
"Wait, one more thing you should know before you head down there," he looked thoughtfully down at the square, "Something seems…off, about her."
The Western Lord raised a single inquisitive brow.
"She does not seem in control of herself. Her eyes, they're red, like her demon has complete control over her and she's lost herself somehow. And her aura, there is something not right about it but I can't figure out what. It's substantial – I know that much."
Without a word, Sesshomaru leapt over the balustrade and landed gracefully on his feet. The wind howled and sleet stung. He ignored both and strode confidently down the paved road, iteming the damage as he went. The road itself was pockmarked from the lightning strikes while homes and business were in varying degrees of ruin. Bodies of his men and the city's residents were strewn about, their blood mixing with the water to form red rivulets which streamed down the hill. The Western Lord's fury grew with each step, his youki pulsed wildly in imposing green coils around him. As he neared the decimated plaza, he saw a petite female wave pleasantly from where she sat on the temple steps diagonal from him.
"Hey! I've been waiting for you!" the siren called.
His anger fled him. He recognized that voice.
'Inuyasha's miko? No, that's not possible.'
Sesshomaru made his way into the center of the square, from there, his eyes confirmed what his ears already knew. Kagome stood from the steps and purposefully made her way over to him. He eyed her warily. She looked like an avenging seaborn angel. Her clothes were in disrepair, wings held slightly open; the black membranes dripping with heavy drops of water behind her. Lavender scales accented her pale skin and her fingertips were graced with sharp black claws. Her face held a familiar determined set to it. Despite elfin ears, elongated fangs, and features that were more ethereal than he remembered – she still looked like Kagome. Her raven locks tumbled wetly passed the column of her neck and over her chest. And in the center of her sternum, a black jewel pulsed greedily. He looked back to her face; where he recalled piercing cerulean eyes, crimson stared back ardently.
Tadashi had been correct; something was off about her. And it wasn't just the fact that the miko he knew had become this creature. No, it was something deeper than that. Her eyes gleaned with an insanity that he was unaccustomed to. Sesshomaru took a moment to categorize her aura. It felt black and ominous. Gone was the pink purity that made him flinch internally whenever it was unleashed. In its place, a nightmare fueled pitch yawned hungrily in all directions. He narrowed his senses.
'No, it's coming from her, not created by her – it's the jewel!'
Once he recognized where the insatiable aura was coming from, he was able to pick out the swirling purple youki and tumbling pink reiki masked beneath it. It shouldn't have been possible. The two energies were opposites in every way and should have cancelled each other out. How were they able to coincide within one being? Let alone with that ravenous aura surrounding them.
'We need her alive for further observation.'
He would need to warn the captain to subdue rather than destroy when and if, the time came.
They stood several yards apart amongst the wreckage. Him, suspiciously. Her, hungrily. She could feel the raw power emanating from him and was drawn like a moth to flame. Kagome sucked in a deep breath, squeezed her eyes shut, and moaned low in her throat. The barrage of youki caused her stomach to coil tightly in pleasure. This is what she had been searching for all this time.
This is what drove her west.
Kagome began to laugh, tears springing to her eyes with the sense of relief that she felt. She recognized herself enough to know that once she consumed this youki, she would no longer be so displaced. She just needed to separate herself mentally from the task she knew she had to do, from where she wanted to be. It was a means to an end. This cloying hunger, this post-apocalyptic state of mind, this severed satisfaction – it would all be a bad dream once she consumed every last drop he had to offer. Kagome didn't want to learn to live constantly craving more than she was given; to endure this complete lack of appeasement that cursed her. No! She wanted to be free of this insanity.
And she needed all his power to do it.
"Fuck it all anyway," she whispered, the now brutal wind picked up dangerously around them, carrying away her voice before it could reach sensitive canine ears.
"Miko. The general said that you wished to speak to this One."
She remained silent as she wiped the tears with the palm of her hand and set her shoulders squarely.
He tried a different tactic, "We were once allies. This One had assumed that the title would carry on even after the battle was won – why do you attack the West?"
"I needed you," she pumped her wings and took to the sky, "I needed your power!"
She threw her arms wide and dozens of massive bolts of lightning struck throughout the plaza. They charged the very air as they pounded against the earth in endless succession. Sesshomaru used his supernatural speed to flit through the attacks and landed nimbly on top of a partially caved roof. The area reeked of ozone; it burned his nostrils with every inhale – the odor both overly sweet and pungent. There was a roaring thunderclap and another wave of lightning reached for him with electric fingers. Another acrobatic leap and the roof where he once stood collapsed into the home. Sleet continued to pelt him from all directions as the wind howled furiously at his escape.
Kagome flew in circles above the market like a dark omen come to call. Her wings pushing efficiently from one updraft to the next, before gliding across the square. She conducted more terrible lightning, beckoned the sleet to become hail, and summoned a wind that tore through the plaza – throwing wreckage and bodies every which way.
The inudaiyoukai avoided the lightning once more, oriented himself, then sprung into the air towards her; his light whip snapping out from his hand to wrap around her ankle. With a flick of his wrist, Kagome was wrenched from the sky and thrust towards the ground. Debris flew in all directions as she made impact.
Kagome lay on her back, gasping to regain the breath which was starkly knocked out of her. The storm died down to a peaceful mid-summer rain storm as her concentration lapsed. The afternoon sun peeking through the clouds. Thunder rumbled pleasantly in the background. The Western Lord landed at her feet, bored by the battle which posed barely a challenge for one of his skill and strength. She sat up carefully, blood dripping down her neck where her head had met a particularly hard rock.
She rubbed the tender spot and looked at her sticky blood-coated hand, "Oww, that hurt! Now why'd you go and do that!"
"Do you yield?"
She hissed aggressively at him, face turning grotesque with fishy horror, "Never."
He sighed, "So be it."
He summoned his light whip once more and wrapped her tight within its confines, "We'll hold you in the dungeon and send word to my idiot half-brother to come atone for your crimes." He began to drag her behind as he headed back to the fortress.
She let him drag her a bit up the hill to give him a sense of accomplishment before smirking wickedly and sang, "Release me."
The melodic command wavered through the air, demanding that the call be met with immediate action. It left no room for hesitation or delay.
The whip slithered down around her before disappearing.
Sesshomaru turned his head warily.
She stood with a confident smile stretching her mouth too wide.
"Sit boy."
He carefully lowered himself and crossed his legs.
"Good. Now, stay."
He tried to move, but could not.
She stalked around him and ran her bloody fingers through his ivory pelt, relishing the softness. He growled low in his throat.
"I don't know what's wrong with me. Everything feels so – different." Red eyes searched citrine, but for what – Sesshomaru didn't know. "Like everything is going too fast. One day, I'm wreck and the next I'm fine. Does that make sense? I just want to be fine."
Kagome moved in front of him and knelt. She held his face in her hands and stroked a magenta stripe with her thumb, "I just need you so I can be fine," she whispered.
She wasn't making any sense to him and he had enough of her ramblings, "Release me, miko – or suffer the consequences," he seethed.
Kagome pulled back and tapped a finger thoughtfully to her lips, "No, I don't think I will."
Then, quick as a snake, she climbed into his lap and bit him in the neck. Fangs sunk deeply into his flesh like some sort of psychotic vampire and Sesshomaru struggled to free himself from her grasp – but it was futile. His youki flared to life, sending wreckage and stone careening in all directions with its unbridled power. Kagome tightened her jaw and he briefly worried that she was going to tear a chunk out of him. The green youki swirled around them like a cyclone as red began to bleed into his yellow eyes. His face took on a more bestial shape as his nose lengthened into a muzzle and teeth sharped into fine points. He snarled and snapped fangs dangerously close to Kagome's ear, but she paid him no mind.
Sesshomaru threw all his power into breaking free from the siren's command while Kagome snuggled her arms beneath his to wrap around his back. From an onlooker's perspective, the scene looked like a painting. The art would be titled: Beauty and the Beast. Winged Angel calming The Devil. The Lovers. They were two magical creatures caught in an intimate embrace. To Sesshomaru, he began to feel the first whispers of fear creep into his mind. This shouldn't have been possible; he was the master of his own body and emotions, years of training ensured it to be so. But as he struggled to even change into his true form, youki bursting in all directions, fear blossomed within his chest.
He had no control.
Kagome released his neck, blood dripping past her plump lips and down her chin, she whispered, "Devour."
A large portion of the fear and rage laced youki separated itself from the swirling mass and fed itself into the black stone.
"Devour!"
Another piece gone.
"Devour! Devour! Devour!"
Kagome had gone mad with the sensation of powerful youki entering her body. She wanted it all. Each portion that entered the stone felt like a bucket of water being thrown into an empty well. She wouldn't stop until it was overflowing. Until the well was brimming with essence and emotion and explosive energy. Until his well was dry.
The wind storm that his youki created began to fade away as she siphoned more of his power away from him. Each bit of youki that was devoured left him feeling more drained and all he could do was sit and watch as his very being was consumed by the tainted stone.
He caught movement behind the miko. The captain and his small squad had made it into position and were fanning out to flank her from both sides. They needed to hurry, the massive whirlwind of power was quickly becoming smaller with each rotation. Sesshomaru needed to distract her. He fought off the fear and stopped his partial transformation. His stoic façade back in place.
"Tell me, did you consume my half-brother as well? Did you devour Inuyasha?"
She stopped her rapturous calls and looked at him inquisitively, "Who?"
"Inuyasha – the hanyou that you've been following around like a lovestruck pup. And what of your other packmates? The slayer, the fox, and the monk."
Kagome's eyes widened as blue fought its way out from her pupils, wavering, "My - my friends."
She sat back and began to rock back and forth, "My friends. And Inuyasha wouldn't leave. Miroku calling me." Tears pricked her eyes, "Tried to save me. So much blood. All those people. It was me. It was me."
Kagome's face turned to one of pain and sorrow as realization coursed through her. The blue slowly began to win out over the crimson. Her madness forced back.
"I came looking for you. To ask you to help me," she looked around the destroyed plaza in shock, "Did I do all this?"
"Release me, miko." He tried again attempting a more calm and placating tone.
Sitting before him she looked like a frightened animal; like the slightest sound would cause her to bolt or attack. She began to sob into her hands, curling into herself. Her wings wrapping around her body protectively.
"Help me. Please help me. I don't know why I'm doing this. I don't know where I am. Help me."
The captain's team was finally in position. He nodded once to his lord then moved out of ear shot. The females had their orders, they were to kill the demoness attacking the city.
Sesshomaru intoned calmly, but loud enough for the approaching females to hear and interpret, "Miko, this One will help you. You have my word that you are now under the protection of the West. No harm will befall you while you reside within these borders."
The females who stalked closer understood and silently sheathed their weapons. The badger youkai in the lead signaled to her compatriots and as one – they swarmed the sobbing miko. Pulling her up roughly until she was on her knees before the Western Lord. Kagome began to thrash and kick and scream as they held her tight. Her melodic voice commanding them to, "Let me go!" but they ignored her – immune to her Siren's Song. She screeched a high-pitched wail causing the demons with more sensitive hearing to flinch, but they remained steadfast. The badger youkai who led the charge picked up a stone a bashed Kagome in the back of her head, effectively cutting off the wail. The siren went limp in their grasp.
"What are your orders my lord," asked the badger.
Sesshomaru stood with great poise, surveying the soldiers and their captive. His lordly veneer firmly in place, "Bind her and throw her in the dungeon. Ensure she is gagged."
"Yes sir!" echoed the soldiers.
They followed his orders, binding and gagging Kagome with ropes they found in the rubble until they could find securer bonds within the castle walls. An inu and lizard youkai carried the siren between them as the troops began their trek up the hill, passing the captain as he stormed towards Sesshomaru.
"My Lord, why are the soldiers taking her captive?" he asked, anger barely contained.
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, "The situation has changed –"
"You're taking her prisoner even after everything she's done? After she killed Keiko?! You said you would make her pay!"
The Western Lord snarled, his patience at a frayed edge given the ordeal he just went through. He had no tolerance for fools.
"Interrupt this One again, captain – and you'll receive fifty lashes. Dismissed."
Captain Kiba's face went rigid, but he bowed low before storming off in the direction of the castle following behind the prisoner and her entourage.
"I see the feisty beast gave you a bit of a love bite, how sweet."
'And of course, when one fool leaves – another follows in his wake.' thought Sesshomaru, pinching the bridge of his nose between two claws.
The general walked towards him, eyeing the mark on Sesshomaru's neck. It had already stopped bleeding, but the indent of her teeth remained. He focused his youki to the spot to increase healing. It would be gone within an hour or two.
"I thought we agreed we were killing her."
"As I had just told the captain, the situation has changed."
"At least let me rip her filthy tongue out. Can't have her pulling that same trick on us again."
Sesshomaru was inclined to agree, but he needed her for questioning. Instead, he said, "She is under the protection of the West until further notice. Ensure the troops know," he started to leave, silver hair and pelt streaming behind him in his haste.
Tadashi whistled low, "Bold decision pup. Not the choice I would have made – you're going to have some angry people in your claws soon enough." He followed behind, "What do you mean to do with her in the meantime?"
"She's to be placed in the dungeon, bound and gagged. Place a guard outside, no one goes in or out until I decide what to do next."
They had reached the gates which were raised fully. Lines of soldiers awaiting their next orders greeted them silently as well as Itazura, who bowed low to his lord.
"Lord Sesshomaru, what do you require?" asked his advisor.
"Send someone to survey the damage. Have them give an estimated timeline for repairs and cost. This One also requires a list of the dead and how many were injured. Ensure the infirmary has all the supplies they need. Have the report sitting on this One's desk by nightfall."
The kitsune nodded, scribbling notes into a small green ledger with a piece of charcoal; both of which he pulled from his sleeve, "It will be done."
"General, have the troops start clearing out debris, look for any injured and ensure they receive proper care. Send word to the remaining sentry towers to keep a look out for any more suspicious activity. No one enters or leaves the basin without this One's approval."
"Yes Sir," nodded the general, all hints of his playful demeanor gone.
Sesshomaru began towards the castle, looking forward to the quiet his private rooms provided. He needed to analyze the situation with a clearer mind and understand the predicament he now found himself. A nice long soak with some sake was certainly in order.
"My Lord, one more thing," Itazura trailed behind, eyes concerned and tails carried low,
"What would you like me to tell the other cardinal lords?"
Sesshomaru sighed, he had forgotten about the other lords currently residing within the castle. He still had another three weeks of discussions to suffer through and there was no way to cover up the destruction of the city.
"Tell them the truth. The West was attacked, the threat has been taken care of, no need to give details. Tell them we will resume discussions tomorrow afternoon."
"Yes, Lord Sesshomaru."
"Have one of the servants ensure the baths are prepared for this One immediately."
"Of course, my lord."
Sesshomaru stood and looked across the western basin, then up to the skies.
'This is not what I meant when I prayed for more excitement,' he chided the Kamis, resigned to the increased paperwork which was sure to grace his desk. It seemed to him that every silent prayer that was received was somehow twisted into an unrecognizable shape which always ended with him having to do more paperwork.
The late afternoon sun hung low behind him, casting long shadows throughout the valley. The black clouds had all disappeared as soon as Kagome was knocked unconscious leaving a sky burnished in motley hues of pink, purple, and orange. Humidity began to clamor against his skin. The moist air making everything sticky and uncomfortable as the summer heat momentarily returned in full force. Soon it would be dark and the cool mountain breeze would glide across the valley; bringing with it a much-appreciated break from the heat.
Sesshomaru took a deep breath – then soundlessly resigned himself to his overwhelming responsibilities which were his birth right.
~oOo~
The Demon Jeweler had been watching the entire scene within the western basin unfold with barely reigned fury. The moth he had possessed to be his eyes exploded among the wreckage of the marketplace with a small burst of power as he watched the siren carried through the gates.
'She had him! He was in her grasp and she had him!'
He slammed his fist against the dock which caused a bright yellow and green tea set to clatter helplessly against one another. He had spent the better part of the afternoon lounging on the dock, enjoying the scenery and the warm summer sun on his wings. But after he received the call from his servant, he wasted no time employing the magic that let him see exactly what was happening in the west.
The Demon Jeweler yelled in frustration across the lake; a flock of birds scattered from the trees they were roosted in.
'Why does this keep happening? Why is nothing going as it should?!'
He swiped at the tea set sending shards of porcelain flying across the water.
The Demon Jeweler went over the fight once more and what it meant for future plans. His orange eyes grew thoughtful as the rage slowly left him.
'No…this is good. The plan can still be salvaged, I just need to make some – redirections.'
He twisted the antler ring.
"I'm here milord."
"Talk to your contact within the fortress. Tell them that everything is going to be changing rapidly and to remain flexible. They'll receive the plans later tonight."
"Consider it done."
He turned the ring counterclockwise.
"Patient…I just need to be – patient."
~oOo~
A/N: Holy smokes that was a long chapter! Lots of action, lots of things happening and coming to a head. Let me know what you think! What you liked, didn't like, anything! I love to hear your thoughts.
3FF