Rin was pretty sure she screamed all the way down the steps, but it seemed irrelevant at the time. As she and the guard rushed to Inukezi's side. Somehow she was still hoping, still dreaming that'd he'd be awake. Alive.
But she'd spent enough time with Sesshomaru to recognize a dead body when she saw it. There was a stillness and peace that was never present in a person who was still alive. Also, his eyes were still open.
Staring into the darkening sky.
And there was nothing inside, no intelligence. It was like looking into a mirror, or perhaps a still lake.
He was gone.
She collapsed down next to him, not caring that the blood stained her clothes, not caring about the guard's insistence that they move him, get him back to the house.
But even the guard was sympathetic enough to let Rin have her time to weep.
After all… he'd told her he loved her. And now, she'd never be able to investigate and see if that claim were true. See everything that he -that they-could have been.
At some point, the tears and shrieks turned into a kind of hollow hiccuping.
She felt a strong hand on her shoulder. A nasty part of her coiled, wanted to lash out. It was the guard's fault! No, it was all Toshi's fault! He was the one who knew this would happen, her should have tried harder to save him !
But no. Even as she tried to be angry it came out insincere. She shakily stood, and watched as the guard picked Inukezi up, carrying him as if he were sleeping. He offered her his free hand and she took it after a moment of bitter hesitation.
Inukezi.
She couldn't think straight, couldn't see straight. Tears were blocking her vision and her body suddenly weak and shaky. This couldn't be. Had to be some kind of horrible nightmare right?
And followed the guard silently back to their home. Praying to wake up.
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The Foo-Dog Palace, Day 3 War of Pandemonium, Midnight
Sesshomaru was able to sense Ryuu the moment he arrived.
The battle was wearing down Sesshomaru's armies- rat, tiger, even his own precious Foo-Dog warriors were having a tough time. And no wonder. Only Daiyokai had the kind of stamina to fight for three days in a row. No food, little rest and water. He did what he could to give sections a rest inside the walls, but unfortunately the intensity of the puppets' assault made it impossible for them to rest long.
And of course, no sleep.
Of course yokai were far hardier than humans but that did not mean they were impervious to the calls of hunger and fatigue.
More than once, Sesshomaru had tried forcing Inuyasha inside. But well… it hadn't worked out. She was ridiculously stubborn. So, the only thing he'd been allowed to do was to continue draining her of the miasma every few hours.
By the time midnight came around, Sesshomaru was almost relieved when he finally caught the scent of the dragon yokai.
Relieved, and of course, furious.
Ryuu's tactic of facing Sesshomaru after three day's straight of battle held no honor whatsoever. Facing an enemy who'd already been engaged and was weakened was one of their dirtiest tricks, but of course Sesshomaru was not surprised.
He'd sensed the dragon's cowardice in the throne room that day. His ego. And he knew that Ryuu would never have faced him without Sesshomaru being impeded in some way.
He came riding one of the miasma-horses, it's hide a brilliant blood red. On his chest was the mark of his house( the red claws) and his hair was braided into a long, sinuous black train. At his temples, his silver scales glinted.
And in his right had was a very special sword indeed, A sword smelted with a single purpose.
To bring Sesshomaru and the Foo-Dog tribe to its knees.
Inuyasha and Sesshomaru seemed to sense him at the same time- The Daiyokai felt's his mate's apprehension, anger. Her willingness to streak across the battle field and join him.
Do not, Inuyasha. He is mine.
Sesshomaru quickly grabbed the nearest horse, kicking off its rider with a deft blow and yanking himself into the saddle. Drawing out Bakusaiga wordlessly and whipping it into a frenzy.
Both horses going so fast that Inuyasha could scarcely track them( and was unable to, due to the damn layers of soldiers that still lay between her and Sesshomaru). Nevertheless, the dragon yokai were emboldened now that their leader was among them once more.
Desperate, willing to lay down their lives for the Dragon Lord.
By contrast, Sesshomaru's forces were barely holding on. Desperate in a different way from three straight days of battle.
Yet, both sides were distracted when Sesshomaru and Ryuu finally came together in battle.
The ring of their swords crashed so loudly, the flash of their magic so bright, that those who hadn't been paying attention were temporarily blinded by the force of it. Bakusaiga's electric green versus a strange, sickly, orange light that Inuyasha did not recognize.
But she did recognize the crackle of magic and demonic aura. Oh, she knew that feeling well, and what it meant. Her mate's adrenaline flooded her system, and she did her best to put her walls up so that she could concentrate on her own foes.
Sesshomaru had this. He was good…
Right?
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Sesshomaru saw him through the crackling blaze of green and orange light as their blades collided.
The dragon. His face reading smugness as a trickle of blood slipped down from Sesshomaru's nose.
"Not looking so good, are we little doggy?"
The Daiyokai responded with a low snarl, trying to pull Bakusaiga free from the dragon's blade.
"Your voice is so … strained. I hope Diaozuan gave you a warm welcome." Sesshomaru whispered, noting the blackened and bruised marks on the dragon's throat, as if he'd been burned from the inside. Oh, yes, that was purple and black fire. His mate's fire- he'd recognize it anywhere.
There was a low hissing. Sesshomaru was confused, then alarmed when he noticed his own blade warping, melting. Being absorbed by this strange blade of sickening smell. He yanked it free- the blade still squealing in pain.
Ryuu went for him again, his horse circling Sesshomaru's as he went for a vicious jab. The silver-haired Foo-Dog jumped gracefully into the air, landing with his feet in the saddle.
His blade making a low silver sound as he caught the dragon by surprise, slicing off half of the obnoxious braid. Ryuu snarled, jumping to his feet and standing in the saddle of his own horse.
The two men fought for hours , swaths of both armies scattering away from them as one vicious attack after another landed. Blue, red, orange. Sesshomaru did his best to make sure the majority of the blowback landed on the dragon's own army.
But he was so tired. The miasma was taking its toll at the worst time.
All the while, they were working unconsciously closer to the red wall.
Ryuu's red eyes were fixed on Sesshomaru alone.
The horses underneath them worked into death-lathers from fear and sprinting, their sides coated with foamy sweat. Around them, yokai couldn't help but pause their own petty battles, instead opting to watch the battle between the two great Daiyokai.
After a few hours though there seemed to be an alarming change.
Something was wrong with Bakusaiga. It no longer obeyed its master- no longer shot out those vicious acid attacks that broke both body and spirit. Not only that but it was… horribly bent. Twisted, mangled. Bowing.
Liable to break any minute.
"Do you like her, dog? She was made just for you, and Bakusaiga. And of course, that other useless sword at your hip." Ryuu whispered with a kind of manic glee. However, there was still no hint of fear in Sesshomaru. Only that hateful even yellow stare.
"I made her from the souls of our dearly departed kin. Apparently, they don't like being trapped as a sword for all eternity."
"You disgust me." Sesshomaru said, evenly. He'd been right to be wary of that sword- it was an unnatural thing that begged for death. Destroying all it came in contact with in an attempt to end itself.
Their battle moved to the ground as the horses fell underneath them.
Yokai of both sides scattered out of their way, wolves as well. Dirt, blood, and got knows what else soon covered both Daiyokai from head to foot as they maneuvered over the bodies of their kin, through pools of blood, forests of arrows.
Sesshomaru's head was spinning. He could barely see straight. It was so dark, save for the occasional torch lit on the side of a saddle or in the hand of a yokai. The clanging of Ryuu's sword against his own was starting to jar his nerves, starting to feel like a knife in his temples.
He was doing his best to get towards Inuyasha's damn flowers. They were everywhere by now, pockets of fresh air. That was all he needed. Just a breath of fresh air. Just one!
But every time he got close, Ryuu redirected him. Seeing how much clearer the air was and guessing his intentions.
He'd been breathing poison for days.
An hour passed. A simple swordfight, with the occasional blast of magic or demonic attack from Ryuu. Sesshomaru's lily white skin was blackened, his clothes torn and burned. Blue blood dripped freely from both nostrils now. And though Inuyasha had started screeching, Sesshomaru forced her away.
Not from egoism. From a point of protection. He had to keep her safe from this.
"Let's move this along, shall we?" Ryuu said, appearing agitated. Sesshomaru snarled in surprise and anger when Ryuu's sword laced with his once more, but much lower down, nearly at the handle. The metal started to drip and liquefy. Running down Sesshomaru's hand and wrist and scorching his flesh.
"Ah!"
He dropped the ruined stump of a handle in surprise and pain. His hand left half-clenched in empty air, two claws broken and dripping.
Bakusaiga. His sword. Born from his flesh.
It was nothing but a few lumps of silver puddles now. Already quickly disappearing among the mud and blood of the ground.
Quick as a blur he drew his other sword. Only to have that meet the same fate, and quite a bit faster. Having feasted on Bakusaiga, the orange blade seemed to have grown in strength considerably.
Ryuu's attacks increased in viciousness. Against his will, Sesshomaru was pressed closer and closer to the wall. The bodies were thicker here. The mud deeper; up to his ankles and in some places, his knees.
The stink was unbearable.
"Sesshomaru!" Sesshomaru looked over, dread in his belly.
Of course it was Inuyasha. Of course she was ignoring his pleading. " Here!" She threw her sword towards him, handle over blade.
He was gasping for breath. Purple veins stood out at his temples, the backs of his hands. His complexion greasy, but one couldn't tell underneath the layers of soot and blood. He wasn't even sure he'd be able to catch it if it was thrown.
He didn't have to worry.
"No interference, please. Not even from you." Ryuu snarled, the orange blade catching the silver fang. Sesshomaru watched as it was spun so carefully from his grasp and flung with tremendous force, decapitating several shadowy yokai behind Ryuu. The dragon went in for the kill, and was angered to discover that Sesshomaru blocked him with the backs of his arms.
Even unarmed, the Daiyokai simply wouldn't go down.
Then, something strange happened.
As the last bits of Bakusaiga disappeared from existence, Sesshomaru's arm suddenly…
Well. Flickered, and then disappeared. Leaving the same stump of a left arm as before, severed right below the bicep.
His breath caught in his scratchy throat. Other yokai swarmed Ryuu, his loyal Foo-Dog yokai trying to help their Lord, but they were thrown back by a vicious blast of magic. Some were straight up- disintegrated if they were too close to the blades. Sesshomaru had only survived thanks to his breeding.
He could feel Inuyasha's panic. Her anger as she weaved her way back through, leaping for Ryuu only to be thrown into the wall.
Hard. Crumpling like a rag doll and falling gently to the ground.
Inuyasha!
"Inuyasha!" Sesshomaru's voice ripped from his throat. She was still alive… he could sense it. Hurt, though. And he couldn't tell how badly. His indifference turned to rage as he faced Ryuu. Trying to use his mind trick- alarmed to find he didn't have the strength.
"How… convenient." Ryuu murmured, looking at Sesshomaru's stump and pulling a second blade from his thigh. Sesshomaru squirmed, punched, scratched. Even tried his demon form, but it wouldn't come to him. He was too exhausted.
Ryuu was covered in his own blood by the time he managed to get a good hold on the Lord of the West.
First, he impaled each of the lord's hands-right through the palm and into the red wall below. Then, he pressed close enough to make all of Sesshomaru's kicking useless.
The dragon pinned him high to the wall, a blade on both sides of his neck. It was incredibly difficult- both were slippery with blood and sweat, exhausted. Limbs shaking. Yet when he looked into Sesshomaru's eyes, he still didn't see the one thing he was looking for.
"Why aren't you afraid, god damn it! You dog-bred bastard! You're looking at your own death!" He hissed, and Sesshomaru felt the blades pressing into either side of his neck.
His precious life-blood bubbling out, going down either side of his collarbone. So warm. Such a nice contrast to the coldness of the mud coating his ankles, his body.
You'd think being pinned to the wall via his palms would hurt, but he'd stopped hurting some time ago.
My children. Inuyasha. Diaozuan. I have to save them. I have to. I don't care if I live but I cannot let them die.
Gods, let my voice be strong enough. I … I will kill them all.
Tingling. His blood was tingling. A terrible power was welling up inside him, now that he was cornered, at death's door. Pushing Sesshomaru to his limit- where he truly believed he and everything he loved would be destroyed- had been the greatest mistake of Ryuu's life.
Because now there was no reason to be merciful.
" You are not my death, Ryuu." Sesshomaru whispered, his lips twisted in that vicious snarl. His fangs still beautifully white against blackened skin. His eyes yellow, now leeching blue and red. Then… golden and silver. Bits of sweat-slicked hair lifting in an invisible wind.
Ryuu's confidence wavered for a half-second.
Sure he'd been around angry demons for most of his life. But…
He'd never seen anything like this before.
Dog teeth in a human jaw. Mouth stretched just a tad too far back. Eyes, too large. Great pools that led to hell itself. And he cursed himself a second time that the Lord of the West had put true fear in him again.
It was long enough. Sesshomaru's jaw opened, and he roared into Ryuu's face- leaning in. At first just a challenge… but then, something more. The pitch and tone suddenly seemed to change- as if someone had grabbed Sesshomaru's vocals and were pulling them in a different direction.
Down, and louder. So loud that Ryuu and the other yokai were wincing. Some, screaming in pain as blood dripped from their ears. A pillar of strange white light shone down onto Sesshomaru as he called in the voice of a dragon:
Come.
Ryuu went to decapitate the crazed Foo-Dog- only to find his blades melting against Sesshomaru's flesh. Sesshomaru was actually boiling to the touch, as if there was fire right under his skin. The Daiyokai was officially checked out- his eyes were milky white, and something was bursting out from under the skin of his temples.
Something – well, two things- that glittered like the inside of mussels. Mother of pearl?
Ryuu went to kill him again, only to screech in pain as his own blades scalded his palms. Too hot to even be held. They fell and Ryuu staggered away- only to be grabbed by an arm.
Sesshomaru's left arm. It had- reappeared? Regrown. Beautiful and glittering, covered in thick scales that reflected nearly every color in infinitely perfect patterns. Ryuu gagged, realizing he was being choked. Yelping in pain and fear as they switched positions, the dragon pinned to the red stones now.
A great crack appeared in the wall of the castle as he did so. Both armies pausing, wary as the Lord of the West's strength was made clear.
Ryuu was struggling and gasping as Sesshomaru's eyes became clear once more, but different.
Horrified to see the pupils long, oval. The same yellow as before, but the whites tainted with a thick, mercury silver. Dragon eyes.
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"And why should I help you, Sesshomaru, Lord of the West, the Undying?"
Sesshomaru looked around, disoriented. He was in a beautiful parlor room. It was late afternoon- sunlight filtered through the round windows at a low angle.
Golden dragons and eagles were etched into the ceiling tiles, pillars of thick black wood dotted the room. Glistening and waxed to perfection. On the table, green tea and fresh blood-broth was waiting. Sesshomaru's stomach gurgled just loud enough to be embarrassing, and he coughed to hide the sound.
What ?
He'd just been fighting, and then-
He remembered suddenly, and his heart dropped. Was this death?
"No, silly Foo-Dog. I wouldn't be caught dead in that… I'm sure you wouldn't, either." A voice said softly to him. Female, smooth. A little too cool for his liking. He looked down, seeing his soiled armor.
"I-" He paused, meeting her gaze. She was clearly a dragon- her eyes held every color, and several he'd never seen before and couldn't quite put a name to. Her hair, scales, robes were quite beautiful- a deep black but… in the right light, he thought he could see swirling galaxies. Planets. The faint orange rings of black holes. But he couldn't seem to concentrate quite right. Just when he was sure he'd seen one, it disappeared.
"Mai-Zei." He whispered, and took a knee. She smirked, lifting a cup to her lips.
"A bit quicker than your father was. And so handsome. Now, I repeat myself- why should I help you, Lord Sesshomaru?" She murmured, the faintest smirk on her cherry red lips. The dragon of chaos. The creator of all dragons, the yin to the yang of the universe. The consistent chaos in both evolution, science, nature… the foundation of all life. The one constant- inconsistency.
"Well. Rumor is that you, Youshi and the other's will be rather- bored without me." Sesshomaru said softly after a moment. His one and only card to play. There were other reasons of course- he'd plead and beg if he thought it'd make a difference. But to be honest, she didn't seem the type.
She turned, looking at him in surprise.
He searched her gaze, wary hope evident in his yellow eyes. Just for a moment, the hopeful child.
Please. Save them.
" Youshi. Never knew how to keep his mouth shut." She huffed, and went to the corner of the room, shrugging on something. An outer coat.
He felt hope, again.
She blinked. " Oh? You'd best go back. You're missing the best part." She leaned in, and he was surprised to feel her lips against his forehead, right over the crest mark.
He was gone.
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He was holding Ryuu by the neck. His left arm was back, somehow. Covered in these crazy glittering scales. And his head ached, but he'd long ago transcended pain. Now, he lived in it- that white-hot glaze of pain was a constant.
To Ryuu, he was horrifying. Sesshomaru's hair and skin seemed to have cleansed itself, floating silver in that nonexistent breeze. His eyes that alien silver-and-gold combination, and those horns.
He'd never seen the like before- his own were faintly curled, pointed backwards.
"What are you? What the fuck are you?!" He screamed, confused, terrified. A Foo-Dog with dragon horns? It made no sense.
The ground below them started to roil. As if something living was coming to the surface.
Sesshomaru grinned, showing perfect white fangs.
She's coming.
He was running on adrenaline, now. And that wouldn't last for long.
"A dragon. Unlike you." Sesshomaru murmured. Behind him, something beyond the scope of imagination emerged from the ground. Great chunks rolling off of its back and sides, crushing those underneath. Leaving a great crack in its wake. Something so immensely huge that the faint light of dawn was suddenly blocked out entirely as it stretched.
Both armies were in complete disarray, at this point. Running, screaming. Puppets randomly turning back to dirt.
Faintly, far off in the sky, he could see a pair of eyes that held every color of the spectrum. And several he'd never seen before.
A stream of multicolored fire started raining from the sky.
Sesshomaru. If I may. His filth is my line.
Of course.
Sesshomaru looked behind himself, his arm still pinning Ryuu. " Don't be afraid, Ryuu. A true dragon would never be harmed by the flames of their mother."
Ryuu's expression turned to horror as a great gash seemed to open in the darkness- white, pink, and black around the edges. It filled with a multifaceted light, and he recognized it as a giant mouth.
"No- No please-!"
They were both hit with a pillar of the strange multicolored fire. To Sesshomaru it felt… warm. Like a blanket on a cold day.
And he watched in mild fascination as Ryuu's flesh melted from his bones, as he twisted and screamed, as he suffered as he so deserved.
The last expression on Ryuu's face was utter confusion. He could see the fire engulfing Sesshomaru with his own two eyes. Yet, when he looked down, he could also see and feel the flesh tearing away from his bones.
She made it slow, and Sesshomaru appreciated it.
The flames stopped, and he eyed the skull and bones of Ryuu. Perhaps later he'd find it again, and put it outside the Palace. It'd make a nice decoration. Then, made his way over to Inuyasha.
Sesshomaru carried her up the side of the wall and dug in Tetsaiga. Resting them both on the blade to catch his breath. Their feet dangling in dead air about ten feet from the ground.
The Daiyokai started checking Inuyasha's injuries. Running his hand gently along her spine, feeling for anything broken.
Hm. Miraculously, nothing seemed broken or even fractured. Sure she had a collection of cuts and bruises on her arm and legs, but nothing too deep. A trickle of blood at her temple suggested maybe a slight concussion, but that was it.
And when he leaned in and sniffed her neck he smelled no internal bleeding.
He startled, then, catching a strange smell. Under all the blood dirt and sweat there was a smell his yokai recognized.
A warm, yeasty, low smell. Faint. He cleaned a section of her skin and took another sniff to be sure.
The smell of a pup.
Faint but unmistakable. Probably a moon along? Maybe a moon and a half.
He sat in dumb, stunned silence, listening to the screams below, feeling the waves of heat as Mai-Zei finished what the dragon yokai had started so long ago. Cleaning up the mess her line had become.
Inuyasha's carrying my pup.
Well, not for long. As soon as she was aware of it, she'd probably get rid of it. Best not to get attached.
Still, he couldn't help himself from gathering her close. A growl and then a whimper escaping his throat before he got a hold of himself. Tucking his chin to her neck and curling his claws around her shoulder.
He didn't know how to feel- there had been too many emotions today. There was nothing left.
But he did know that he didn't want to let her leave his arms.
Not yet.
Most of the dragon yokai were melted, or turned into animals- depending on what was in their hearts. Many simply switched genders. But most were transformed into animals-something harmless. Deer. Pigs. Insects. Rabbits.
Sesshomaru's yokai fared better- very few were transformed. Though still a few melted completely… those truly evil at heart. Irredeemable.
It was so hot.
Vaguely, he startled and growled when a dragon walked close beneath them. He had long lavender hair, and pretty teal eyes. He seemed shell-shocked, but still, threw a skin of water up to Sesshomaru.
It was Yuu , Ryuu's former advisor. Her punishment had been simply a switch of gender. Sesshomaru sniffed it suspiciously, but found it clean. He forced it on Inuyasha, who wasn't quite awake enough to protest, thank gods.
He threw it back with gratitude. The world spun. Sesshomaru remembered vaguely throwing up sometime after that, mostly blood. Blood dripped freely from each palm, and he could feel some of his organs trying to escape. He pressed a hand against them, ignoring nausea. Ryuu had slashed him too many times to count.
But that was okay. He'd saved Inuyasha, the babies. He just needed to stay alive long enough for Diaozuan.
Inuyasha, still half-asleep, started petting Sesshomaru's new horns gently with one or two fingers. Irresistibly drawn to their soft glitter in the dark, their smoothness.
They had a beautiful curve- up, then down and back and up again. Like the wave of an ocean.
Dangerously tapered to a fine point at the back. And look! At the bottom of that back curve, a cruel backward-facing fishermen's hook. Appropriately dangerous and beautiful just like their owner.
"Is this a dream?" She whispered, and Sesshomaru made some sort of noise of agreement though he couldn't see them. Only feel their ache in his skull.
He didn't want to think about how everyone would react to them. All he wanted was to enjoy that slight cool breeze that was kicking up after so much heat. And close his eyes for just a moment.
He let his head drop, his cheek pressed against the shining blade of the Testsaiga. Still blissfully cool. His father's fang. It wouldn't be such a bad place to die, but there was so much left to do.
Ignoring Inuyasha's words of fear, her urging for him to stay awake, Sesshomaru slipped away.
When it was over a cool silver dawn breached the sky.
A gigantic black head drifted into his field of vision and a cool female voice interrupted his nap.
Lord Sesshomaru. Shall I give you a lift?
Please.
Inuyasha, who was a little more awake, tried vaguely to fend her off for a moment, "Hey. Hey, get away, weird giant dragon. Don't make me use this!" before getting an explanation from Sesshomaru.
She is here to help. If she wanted us dead, we would be.
Reluctantly, she climbed up just behind one of her horns. Sesshomaru remembered her fur being soft and warm.
They spoke many times of your terrible power, but never of your beauty. Sesshomaru said quietly, looking into one of those amazing eyes.
She chuckled, Flatterer. And Inuyasha's nervousness grew as her chuckle showed layers upon layers of sharp, backward-facing teeth.
Dipping her head into the barrier, she dropped them off right in front of their home. Which was good, because Sesshomaru could barely walk. They both used her long snout as a kind of crutch. Luckily, the guards were able to get them the rest of the way inside. Mai-Zei took her human form and followed after Sesshomaru gave the guards a nod.
Curiously, Sesshomaru was being stubborn about rest. He was also being strangely hostile to the snake healer. Especially when his hands went anywhere near Inuyasha's abdomen.
"Calm down. The hell is wrong with you? He's just bandaging me up!" Inuyasha snarled back, glaring at her mate. Another healer, equally nervous, was busy trying to put all of Sesshomaru's organs and muscles back in place. Smearing a gel that would help his skin grow.
"My lord. You should not travel in this condition. Perhaps you can send one of us instead?" The healer offered, her ears flicking nervously. She was met with a dragon stare- low, even. A stare that didn't require words in order to understand meaning.
"Just do the worst of it. I must leave. I cannot delay, and I cannot send anyone. He needs my demon form." He snarled. Sesshomaru knew he was in terrible condition, but he couldn't let his mate die.
And something deep in him was telling him that would be the case, if he didn't get there soon. The same voice that told him Diaozuan needed his demon form, though for what reason, Sesshomaru did not know.
You fight so hard for everyone but yourself.
Mai-Zei observed, watching as Sesshomaru got to his feet. Only to nearly fall again, caught by his mate.
She watched mildly as they squabbled, as Inuyasha insisted on just a few hours of rest. Maybe, she could go instead?
Shall I do you one more favor?
Sesshomaru looked over at her warily. She wasn't exactly known for giving out stuff for free. She gave him an award winning smile.
And what do you get out of it?
A slight humiliation of your very touchy mate.
She explained with a grin. Sesshomaru thought quickly. Whatever it was, he needed it. Badly.
Fine.
She grabbed Sesshomaru's face, kissing him square on the mouth. Inuyasha was silent for a moment before starting to squalk, "Hey! Hey!"
He felt the miasma leaving him. Not only that, but he was being knit back together. Things stopped bleeding. Muscles stopped showing. And his head began to clear. He pulled away very gently and looked at her with amazement.
She gave him a rather obvious look. "Go save him. Hurry." And he snapped out of the trance. Turning into a ball of light, and disappearing.
Off to the Fox Tribe Palace.
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It was dark. It had been dark for a long time now.
He'd been calling. Finally, he felt his mate drawing near, yet he wondered if perhaps it was already too late.
Sesshomaru. I'm here.
He called again. Feeling his mate's hysteria. Yet strangely, Diaozuan was not afraid. He didn't want to die, but he wasn't necessarily afraid either.
Death might be preferable to this.
He was feeling himself rot. Him, and the kits in his arms, who had been dead three days and some hours.
Feeling that poison moving through his system like black tar and poisoning him. Unravelling him. So hot. He couldn't remember not having a fever. Couldn't remember not smelling whatever was leaking from the stab wound he'd been given.
He could hear scrabbling on the rock that the damn dragon had encased him in. Perfectly round, impossibly thick. Only Sesshomaru's claws and teeth could perhaps save him from this custom made tomb. And even of that he wasn't certain.
Then, the dragging sound of Sesshomaru's teeth. He was figuring it out.
Diaozuan would be happy if he could see his mate, one last time.
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"My Lord, please! Be careful!" One of the fox tribe members called to the Foo-Dog. Blood was dripping from Sesshomaru's jaws as he paused to look at her.
A Foo-Dog with dragon eyes and dragon horns. She'd never seen anything like it.
They'd tried everything to get Diaozuan out of there, of course. But to no avail. Sadao was far too weak to assume his demon form, and none of their tools or flames had worked.
He huffed, going back to the task at hand. Tapping, listening to the thickness with a white ear.
The Fox Tribe Palace was in ruins. A kind of hospital had been constructed from what was left, protected from the elements by tarps, heated by small fires. A few underground rooms were being used as well, the ones that had survived. Everything from the ground up was rubble. The dragons had destroyed everything.
She watched as the giant white dog backed up. Then, sprinted full force. A single paw coming down hard on one corner of the sphere. He had to be careful- too much force and he's accidentally crush Diaozuan. Not enough, and the sphere wouldn't open.
It wouldn't open. Sesshomaru roared in frustration, in fear. Spit and blood spilling from his mouth in equal measure and staining the ground underneath them as well as the side of Diaozuan's spherical tomb. Diaozuan needed him. He was so close, and he couldn't help him !
Sesshomaru took on his human form, clenching his arms into fists. The glitter of the scales on his left arm catching his eye.
He looked at it, thoughtfully for a moment. It wasn't mother-of-pearl. It was something stronger, clearer. Something he'd only ever seen in his mother's extensive jewelry collection. But it was growing right out of his skin. All the way down his fingers too in fact, in the way dragon scales grew.
Gently, he tapped the stone with the back of his two left fingers.
It cracked open like an egg.
The pieces falling down inside and startling Diaozuan, who pushed them aside weakly.
Fresh air! Blue sky. It felt like an age since he'd seen either of those things. The fox took a grateful breath.
He felt a rush of relief. He'd see him again.
Sesshomaru.
He was a dream. That long silver hair glittering like a stream in the sun. Those eyes that warm yellow, panicked now but still so beautiful. The two most precious jewels in the world.
Tears streaming down his face, meeting at his chin. Streaking through blackened dirty skin to show lily white underneath. And… horns? That was new. They glittered like mother of pearl, only a bit clearer.
Diamonds. Of course. If Sesshomaru were ever to have horns, it only made sense they'd be the ones told of in legend.
Sesshomaru climbed in beside his mate, reaching out with shaking arms.
"Hello, beautiful." Diaozuan whispered.
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Side note: Sesshomaru's horns are very similar to Aaravos's horns in the Dragon Prince, if you're wanting a reference.
EatEmUp- See? He'll be fine lol, no worries. But honestly I'm surprised and happy everyone likes Diaozuan so much, considering he's a character I made. Lol… nah, I'm all right. I just got a new job that requires a lotta effort during the day, so I usually don't have a lot of creative juices left when I get home. I still want to finish this though, but updates will probably be erratic, sorry. 😊
Smiles- You can do it! Hahah. Also I make it a point not to pull Macbeth, so I promise the murder is over. For now! Please do tell me what you thought of this chapter though.
DMaduks- Oh my gosh, thank you! It always makes me feel really good when people read ( and like) my stories. It means a lot when you leave reviews and motivates me to keep going. Hope you liked this chapter too!