A/N Number 1: I'm really really sorry for all the delays, but with school and a few problems that have been poking their ugly little heads in my life, I have had little or no time. I'll try my best to make updates faster.
A/N Number 2: Yes, I've noticed Sesshomaru is a tid bit out of character but he's showing emotion in this story, something the man doesn't do very often.
Disclaimer : I do not own Inuyasha.
Constellation of Blood: Go On And Scream
"Her name was Mab, a westerner brought to Japan by her father. She was an exquisite creature of unnatural beauty, which didn't surprise my brother at all." Kagura nodded impatiently as she walked quietly by Nigi's side through the lavish garden behind his grand palace. "It wasn't long until a relationship began between my brother and Mab. He was different back then, mind you. He wasn't always this cold and unemotional. However, when that change was made into the man you know now, it literally drove dear Mab mad. Within the week, her love for Sesshomaru and the light it brought to her face, was erased from her life, which she so miserably ended by the cliffside near the palace." Kagura lowered her head in a silent prayer. It was tragic. No woman should have to suffer because of a man. Nigi wrapped a clawed finger underneath her chin and lifted her eyes into his view. "Does that clear things up for you?"
"Yes. Thank you Nigi." He smiled gently and leaned in for a kiss upon her cheek, only to be rudely interrupted by a servant. The anger on Nigi's face was clear for a second and then wiped away to clean smug. He bowed respectfully and followed his servant back into the palace. Kagura watched them until they disappeared into the shadow of the main hall before continuing her course through the garden. In all honesty, she loved it. It was peaceful and beautiful, all in the same breathless view. At every angle were lucious trees hovering over in the sunlight, exotic flowers spreading their petals to reveal the ambrosial scents, sparkling ponds covered in the glitter of a foreign dance between the sun and the water. It was a dream come true.
Upon walking on her intended route, Kagura discovered the most interesting looking tree. She would admit that the past few days had grown colder in welcome of autumn but the forestry should not have been turning colors quite yet. But here was a tree, brimming with the orange, yellow, and red bursts that was associated with the fall weather. The leaves were spilling over with color but it seemed that the poor plants were barely hanging on to the branches. Kagura advanced towards the shrub, her arm outstretched to touch the dainty leaves. She knew that autumn brought death to the green leaves, but they seemed almost velvety and alive to the naked eye. The wind sorceress gasped as a single leaf shuttered underneath her touch. She squinted her crimson eyes to get a closer look and graced the leaf again. This time, the leaf fluttered when she touched it. And as if the leaf began its own chain reaction, every leaf on the tree spread their wings and took off in unison as a sea of apricot, ruby, and amber around Kagura. Butterflies. Hundreds upon hundreds of Monarch butterflies swarmed around the wind demon, each one sending its own soft wave of goodbye on her cheek. She smiled and threw her arms up. Never had she felt so free and alive. She became lost in an ancient dance that only few have ever experienced and even fewer have ever witnessed. It's a time where nature forgets that you moved in on its turf and embraces you with the same beauty that you can only find deep within a person. The smiled never dropped from Kagura's lips, even as the grand creatures of Mother Earth faded into the horizon.
She enveloped herself in her kimono for warmth and gave a heavy sigh. If only she could live like those butterflies. Behind her was a barren tree, torn from the beauty of the butterflies because of her curiosity. She mourned the loss of such a simple treasure. Her eyes drifted back to the bare branches of the now thin tree and between the skeletal limbs was a perplexed Sesshomaru staring right back at her, his smoky locks following the same path as the wind. His face was his usual, his mouth in a stern frown. But something, something Kagura just couldn't place her finger on, was proof that he hadn't wanted to be seen by her. As if, he was watching some historic scene taking place and did not want to be disturbed. But he had been found out. And now the watching was useless. He didn't seem mad, just...out of place. Like he didn't belong in the presence of a such a miracle. Kagura opened her mouth to speak, yet nothing came out. She wanted to ask him of Mab so badly but knew it wasn't her place to question him. Had he loved her? If so, than why had he broken her heart like that? So many questions. The two demons stood there, inflamed scarlet orbs posing war against stinging honeyed irises in a heated gaze. Finally, Kagura found the courage to speak.
"Sesshomaru...I..." He simply turned away from her, leaving the demoness in the frigid autumn wind.
True evil never dies. Or at least that it what they say. And in reality, evil can't deminish. There is always something there to give root to evil : hatred, ignorance, envy, the list can go on. And whether Sesshomaru truly realized this or not, is unknown. But he had just laid the seeds of destruction to flourish and destroy the wind the comforted him.
Southern Lands
Beside a river, near a town, a young woman kneels down to fetch her daily jug of water. It would serve as dinner and as a means of keeping herself clean. A wind blows by, chilling her skin. She pulls her cloak tightly around her shoulders. Winter would be harsh this year. But that is not what keeps her skin in an icy state. She had thought she had heard an atrocious snicker behind her in the woods. But she shakes it off, thinking that it's just her imagination.
"Excuse me young maiden, I was wondering if you could spare a room for the night. You see, I was attacked by demons earlier and I find it very difficult to get back to my own village without looking upon death." The young woman turns around, her breath catching in her throat. The resonant voice belonged to a man no older than she with dark, almost dread-lock like, hair. Her eyes traveled up the body that could've been meant for a prince if not so badly injured. His eyes were shadowed over. She nodded slowly, making sure to keep her fear under control.
"You do look badly hurt. Here, take my overcoat as a means of warmth until I can get you to my hut." She shook the thick material off her own shoulders and walked towards the crouching man. "By the way, I shall need a name to address you by." He turned his back towards her so that she may have easier access to his shoulders. A grin spreads across his face as her innocent eyes fall upon the giant spider shaped scar on his back.
"Naraku." He stands at his full height, the cuts and bruises affecting him none whatsoever, and makes his way to the terrified woman. She had heard of him just a few days before. A monk had been telling the village children the story of the malicious demon and all the harm he had done. But he was supposed to have been defeated. The half demon that the monk and his companions had traveled with assured everyone that the evil Naraku was nothing more than dead. She squeezes her eyes shut as he nears her, a large palm hovering over her head. The river remained calm, except for the horrific scream the pierced through the clouds and into the depths of heaven, where her innocence was grieved.
Western Lands
Kagura's ears flickered towards the shrill yelp. It reminded her of something, but what? She shook her head. It was none of her concern. It was probably just the death of human trying to defeat a worthless demon. Such stupid creatures humans were. Which brought her to another question : Why did Sesshomaru travel with the human child? This was just one among many questions that had been bugging the wind demon for some time. There were so many mysteries about Sesshomaru and Kagura hated mysteries. She had no patience for them. She had remained in the garden long after Sesshomaru's disappearing act.
Essentially, she had wanted to wander around the remaining parts of the garden she hadn't seen since the demon lord. But aggravation consumed the best of her being and she soon found herself sitting on a stone bench, resting her head in her palm. It wasn't the most comfortable bench, and it wasn't all the pretty. It was designed with the basics of Greek architecture, only minimized, with intricate carvings of pillars and geometric shapes. And it disgusted Kagura to be seated on such a pathetic piece of work. But her rear was better off on a cheap chair rather than the dirty ground. She bit her lip and furrowed her brow. Damn Sesshomaru.
"You shouldn't do that to such a pretty face." Nigi. Of course. Why would the great Sesshomaru give her a compliment?
"Hello Nigi." She had thought she had lost him earlier to his servant. How wrong she was, but oh how deeply she wished she was right. It was well into evening by now. She could've gone all day without seeing him once more.
"We missed you at lunch, my dear. You shouldn't skip meals like that." She wasn't stupid. She didn't go to lunch for a reason. She wanted to stay away from any type of confrontation between Sesshomaru and herself.
"I don't believe you about Mab. I don't think she committed suicide like you say." And it was the truth, too. She hadn't been sucked in to the tragic love story of beauty and the beast. She just couldn't believe that Sesshomaru was capable of loving, or, if he had loved, that he would just let her go and kill herself. He likes to get what he wants and doesn't like losing it to something greater than he – in this case, death. Kagura stood up and walked briskly back to her room. Between the long corridors and the simple gestures to the guards, she began to ask herself why she didn't trust Nigi. Was it because Sesshomaru didn't trust him as well? She glanced up in time to see the mighty prince leaned up against her bedroom door, his arm wrapped around his own waist. Kagura stopped in mid step, ready to begin an interrogation.
"You are wise not to believe Nigi." He never looked up at her, but it was meant as a compliment nonetheless.
"And why is that?" He simply shrugged, knowing the exact reason but never saying it. He pushed himself off the door and casually walked by Kagura, pausing for a moment beside her.
"Because it's a lie." And that was all. That was all that needed to be said. Kagura understood completely without having to ask another question. She would save the rest of the questioning for a later time. She waited until she heard her neighbor close his door before entering her room. She immediately slid out of her kimono and draped it over a cushion for one of the hand maidens to pick up the next morning. In one swift movement, she covered her nude form with her nightgown and proceeded to walk over to the bed.
"I have a message, Lady Kagura." Kagura jerked around to the woman saying her voice. She did not recognize her and she never forgot a face.
"Who are you?" Her eyes were dangerous slits of fire, awaiting an attack that never came.
"I have a message, Lady Kagura."
"From whom?" The woman stepped forward into the light of the moon, giving Kagura a clear view of her form. She was pale and a trail of blood trickled down her neck and falling to the floor, creating a sickening droplet sound.
"Lord Naraku." Kagura's ruby eyes widened in horror. It couldn't be. She was mistaken. It just couldn't..."He says that he hasn't forgotten about your betrayal. And that your heart will once again beat within his grip."