Title: Tides Against Time
Rating: M (Language, Violence, and Adult Content)
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the Little Mermaid. All rights should go to Inuyasha Inc. and Disney.
Music: The song I have selected for this chapter is: "Flotsam and Jetsam (Score) – The Little Mermaid OST" I love to listen to music on YouTube while I read to add to the atmosphere. You are welcome to listen along with my music selection if you want. It is not required. When you see these marks (***) that means to begin to play the selected song. When you see (xxx) this means to stop playing the music. It is important to pay attention to these marking as there is more than one song for this chapter. I do not have credit for these recordings or channels but I think it adds to the story.
Tides Against Time: Urasue
(*** Flotsam and Jetsam (Score) – The Little Mermaid OST ***)
Kagome had stayed up all night in the hidden cove by herself. Not being able to see well she wanted to stay awake in case danger came. All through the night she could hear noises moving about outside. It was terrifying. At one point she thought she had heard something towards the back but nothing ever came and attache her. She was laying on the rock in the middle of the hidden cove curled up in a fetal position. She had cried herself out and her throat was now soar and her nose was stuffy. Her eyes were puffy and red and had little black rings hanging under them from exhaustion and distress. Seeing the cove lighten up a little from the rising sun she eats some of the remaining kelp leaves she had grabbed. It was then she saw something reflecting from on the small holes in the coves walls. Squinting her eyes she looks deeper into the dark hole to see two reflective yellow eyes with red pupils looking back at her. Seeing that their cover was blown the eyes slowly begin to come out of the hole towards her. Two long green colored eels slip out of the hole and begin to swim lackadaisically in circles around her. They were about 5 feet in length each and had pointy yellowed teeth pocking out of their jaws
"Poor girl," said the one swimming to her left. He was the prettier of the two with no scars and a perfect spinal fin running down his back. "Such a sad thing indeed."
"Yes… brother. She has a very serious predicament. Such a pity" said the one coming up from her right. He was not as pretty as his brother. His spinal fin only came up to his neck and some of the quills in the fin were missing and his head was shaped oblong.
"Yes… if only there was something we could do to help her…" said the pretty eel.
"Ah! But there is something brother…" said the ugly one as he swam up to his brothers side. They were both now floating in front of Kagome.
"Who.. who are you? What do you want?" asked Kagome nervously.
"Don't be scared" said the pretty eel as he swam up close to her face making Kagome back up higher on the rock.
"We are the Thunder Brothers. I am Manten." said the ugly eel as he swam up behind her rubbing his tail up her back.
"Yes, and I am Hiten." said the pretty following his brother coming up the other side giving her goose bumps.
"We represent someone who can help you." said Manten.
"Someone who can make all your dreams come true…" said Hiten.
"Just imagine" the brothers said together.
"You are your land dweller… " said Hiten.
"Together… forever," they both said together dreamily.
"I don't understand… how do you know of my demon?" Kagome questioned. She did not have a good feeling about these two.
"My brother and I saw you and another mermaid swimming up to the demon's castle the other day." said Manten.
"Yes… and from what we accidently overheard last night while hiding in this cove we came to the understanding that your father has forbidden you to ever seeing this demon again. Is that correct?" asked Hiten.
"Yyy… yes. That is… correct. So… who is this person you speak of?" asked Kagome.
"Urasue… has great powers and can do many things…" said Maten with a mystical gleam in his eyes.
"Urasue… the Sea Witch? No! I couldn't! I have heard of this Sea Witch. Her magic is evil get out of here! Leave me alone!" said Kagome as she shooed them away.
"Whatever you say… we were only trying to help." said Hiten as he an his brother began making their way towards the hole they came from above her.
"Poor girl, Urasue was probably her last hope…" said Maten as they went into their hiding hole.
"Agreed my dear Manten." said Hiten.
Kagome just sat there on her rock contemplating everything the Thunder Brother eels just told her. She had heard of the Sea Witch's power. She had heard terrible rumors of her using her magic to manipulate her clients to do her bidding. She always, always got the better end of the bargain but her magic was very, very powerful. She had never heard of her power not working. Maybe she could go and see what she could offer?
"Wait! Don't go!" shouted Kagome up at the eels.
"Yes?" the eels said together as they stuck their heads out of their hiding place.
"If I go with you… will she allow me to just ask her questions? No deals… yet." Asked Kagome.
"But of course little mermaid!" said Hiten.
"That's what she lives for, to help lost souls in need." said Manten.
"Th.. then I will go with you… but only to ask my questions!" Kagome made sure to clearify.
"Then it's settled. Follow us… we will lead the way." said Hiten.
Kagome cautiously followed the eel brothers out of the cove into the open water of the sea. The sun had just risen over the horizon and the water was slowly growing brighter. They made their way out past the sandbars, through the kelp forest and began to go deeper to the sea floor. Kagome looked around her and saw whalebones in the distance. Some of its skin still clung to its bones making a perfect hiding place. As they went through its open mouth Kagome saw what appeared to be sickly sea plant life clinging to its walls. As she swam some of them snagged on her tail and she had to untangle them to keep up with the eels. As she came through the belly of the whale she saw a large vase with smoke coming out of in the middle of the room and a dark figure with its back to her sorting through glass bottles and jars on shelves made from rocks and bones. The dark figure had long grey hair that had a blue band wrapped around its head. She could tell the figure was an older woman by the state of her wrinkled hands taking hold of the jars.
"Lady Urasue… we have brought you someone in need of your help." said Hiten as he swam up to her side.
"Ah yes, come in you poor soul…" Urasue said as she turned around.
She had large red eyes and her face was wrinkled with age. Her lips were painted red and bellow her waist she had the body of an octopus. Her legs, waist and breasts were dark blue and she had a grey shawl over her arms. Her six legs and two arms were grabbing bottles from all over and bringing them up to her eyes so she could see what was in them. Taking one over to the vase she throws it in making a puff of purple smoke rise up into the water.
"How is it I may be of service to you?" Urasue asked. "No wait! Let me look at your hand."
Kagome then cautiously swims over to Urasue and allows her to read the lines on her hands.
"I see… very interesting indeed." Urasue said as she then returned to her wall of ingredients. "You wish to be one with a demon. Is that not correct?"
Kagome just stared at the Sea Witch in disbelief. How on earth did she get that from reading her hand? Shaking herself out of stock she swims over to her side.
"Yes… that is correct. Your friends here said you might be able to help me and I wanted to come and ask you a few questions… that is if that's alright." Kagome said nervously while ringing her hands.
"Well, angel fish… the only solution to your problem is to become a land dweller yourself." Urasue said as if this was obvious. "Then you and your demon can be together just like you dreamed."
"Yyyy... you can do that?" asked Kagome disbelieving. "Hhh... how?"
"But of course my dear sweet girl! Its what I do everyday! I help poor unfortunate souls like yourself change their fates when there is no one else to turn to. I can do anything with a little bit of magic." Urasue said as she turned back around to look at her.
"Its true my magic is a little unconventional but you will be highly satisfied with your results. I can make you a potion that will allow you to become a land dweller for 1 week. Got it? That is 7 days." Urasue finished as she swam over to her vase and threw another jar into it causing another puff of purple smoke to rise up from it.
"What must I do if I choose to make this happen?" asked Kagome swimming away from the smelly smoky water to the other side of the vase.
"Well, dear if you wish to become a land dweller you must be willing to pay the price." said Urasue swimming up closer to Kagome and bringing her back to look into the vase. When she did Kagome saw Sesshomaru's reflection in the potion and her heart ached in longing to see him.
"What is it that you want? I don't have anything of value to give you?" asked Kagome.
"What I want for payment is… half… of your soul." Urasue said.
"Half of my soul?! What will half of my soul do to me? Why do you want it?" asked Kagome anxiously.
"You will be just fine with only a part of your soul. You will just not have as much energy as you do now and I need half of your soul to make me youthful again. Unlike you I do not live as long as you Merfolk do. I will give you three days to think it over, after that our deal is over and I raise the price." Urasue said swimming back over to her potion to stir it.
"I will think it over. Thank you." Kagome said as she began swimming out of the whale carcass to return home.
Once she was out of sight Manten asked, "Do you think she will make the deal?"
"If the girl is as desperate as she appears she'll be back in three days time. I guarantee it," said Urasue. "Now go and keep your eyes on her. I want to know everything."
"Yes, Lady Urasue." the Thunder Brothers said together before going after Kagome.
Urasue then swam over to her mirror on the wall and looked at herself. If she didn't consume another soul in a few days she would turn to dust. Kagome just had to give her part of her soul and she would live a little longer! Taking one last look at herself in disgust she returned to her wall of potions and began preparing for Kagome's return.
Kagome swam back through the Kelp forest and past the sandbars. She was almost home when she heard her sister calling her name.
"Kagome! There you are! I went to mother's cove but you had already left! I wasn't sure if you had made it through the night or not." Kikyo said as she embraced her sister in her arms.
"I'm sorry to have worried you sister. I just needed a little bit more time to myself before returning home." Kagome said returning her sister's embrace.
"I'm also sorry to have snapped at you. I was angry and you didn't deserve that." Kagome apologize.
"I understand. I too am upset at our situation. Now come on, lets get back to the cove before everyone begins to worry." said Kikyo as she began swimming back towards the cove.
Kagome took one last glace towards Urasue's lair before going after her sister. She didn't want to tell her sister about her deal just yet. She had three days to decide her fate. It was a big decision to make. She just prayed to the gods she would make the right one.
(End of Chapter 8)
(Will Kagome make the deal with Urasue? Will changing her fate make all of her dreams come true? Would she survive living with only half of her soul? Only time will tell. Be sure to follow along to find out! Please write a review to let me know what you think! Thanks again.)