Fantasy pt. II
Kagome's automatic response when faced with a giant, snarling dog demon heading straight for her was a built-in instinct to throw up both hands. Reiki sputtered, before shining bright- spilling forth as a strong, glowing shield.
"Get back!" She yelled, hoping Innocence, Rin and Fantasy would find cover.
Repression did not respond as Instinct had done, however. Instead of crashing spittle coated teeth against the barrier to force his way through, the inuyoukai landed on all fours and sharply swiped his paw at her left side. With the shield above- he easily knocked Kagome off her feet, causing the miko to gasp, landing hard on her back. The glinting shield broke.
Rolling to one side, Kagome's eyes widened as large jaws chose that moment to close in on her. Scrambling back, Kagome grit her teeth, summoning more power to her hands just as a whip of green light shot out- wrapping around Repression's muzzle. With a yank, his jaws were snapped shut.
Gaping, Kagome swung her attention to the Sesshoumaru standing a little ways away, keeping a firm grip on the other end of the poison whip. The soft pink crest on one shoulder caught her eye.
Despite knowing it, she couldn't speak his name out loud.
"Sesshoumaru," she said instead, voice thin.
Love glanced at her. "Go. You are in the way," he uttered.
He sounds exactly like regular Sesshoumaru, she mused, picking herself up shakily. Repression made a noise of outrage, yanking his head left and right, wrestling on the ground and tossing his body sharply to the side to try and throw Love off or break free.
More whips of green light swung out, wrapping around the inuyoukai's four legs. Vanity, Lust, Sadness and Happiness held their respective whips, expressions slightly varied but all firm and grim.
"He is right, Kagome. You need to leave," Lust nodded, glancing at Fantasy. "Both of you."
Biting her lip, Fantasy grasped Kagome's hand.
With wide eyes, Kagome allowed herself to be tugged a few steps away until she dug her heel in. "Why are you trying to capture me?!" She burst, yelling at the large, struggling dog demon. "I'm just trying to leave! You should be happy!"
Repression snarled, thick fumes of purple gas leaking out from the corners of his mouth, hissing like steam. He continued to fight against his binds, legs straining and muscles trembling with exertion. With a yank from the emotions, he fell with a heavy thud that shook the earth, snarling and scrambling to try and get up, kicking up dirt.
Innocence transformed, standing much smaller than his elders forms but large enough to carry two mikos nonetheless. Fantasy tugged Kagome back again and climbed on, no longer looking heavily pregnant.
"It's useless Kagome, I don't think he operates on logic," she muttered darkly. "Let's hurry to Happiness's mansion. Though...I haven't actually visited it before so I'm not sure on its exact whereabouts."
Hands trembling with frustration, Kagome glared at nothing in particular. If she stayed, the emotions were at risk of being locked up just like Sadness. Turning, she climbed up onto Innocence's back, holding on around her double's waist. Glancing back at the others, something squeezed her heart.
Sadness met her gaze, warmth softening his cold, apathetic expression. He inclined his head slightly, eyes tired but reverent.
"Head South West and you will find my mansion," Happiness called. "Rin, you should guide them."
Blinking, Kagome noticed Rin hadn't run away and reached down to help her up. "You don't mind us taking her?"
"She cannot leave my domain so do not try taking her past the border," he said, smiling amiably. "Go now."
Nodding, Innocence launched into a run, bounding away quickly. Kagome steadied Rin before her, looking at the shrinking figures of the emotions she'd come to know.
I'll see you again if I can help it. In the real world.
Lust sent her a fleeting smirk but her attention strayed to Love's determined expression, focused on the task at hand. Repression started outright thrashing, causing the emotions to jolt and try to hold him down.
'This one cannot fly for too long with so many of you,' Innocence rumbled, hurrying towards some far off trees.
"It's alright, just keep heading South West," Kagome patted his flank. "We shouldn't risk air travel in case Repression breaks free. Rin, we're heading the right way, aren't we?"
"Mhm! We might be able to make it there in a few hours."
"A few hours?" Fantasy's voice strained.
Lips thinning, Kagome hugged Rin a little. If only to try and make herself feel better. They'd likely shared the same thought; Repression would likely catch up by then.
"I don't understand why he'd rather lock me away than let me go," Kagome murmured.
"Because you're a threat to order even from the outside, far as he's concerned."
Glancing at the back of Fantasy's head, dark brows pulled together. "He said something similar to me before but also mentioned detaining me would be temporary- which is starting to sound like a big fat lie."
Fantasy didn't look at her, fingers curling in silver fur. "...I need to tell you about my birth," she murmured. "About everything. I...wasn't going to say. But if this is my last chance to, I feel like there's some stuff you should know."
Kagome fell silent and thoughtful, straining her hearing while Fantasy exhaled.
"It kind of started in the tomb," she mumbled. "Though I wasn't fully realised until later."
Between one moment and the next, brown shoes, white socks and bare legs with creamy pale skin appeared, a scrap of blue material covering the thighs. Following that, a dark long-sleeved… thing materialised, clinging to the torso of a young human woman. Dark hair spilled down shoulders to mid-back in a maddening tumble. Fly away bangs settled around her kind face, ears rounded. Lashes fluttered, ensnaring blue eyes blinking open. Fantasy had no idea where or who she was. She'd been born as a stand in, necessary to examine Kagome's form and not much else.
Intelligence looked up sharply from where he'd been consulting scrolls, bent over his desk as per usual. "What- how are you here?" He demanded sharply.
"I...I don't know," Fantasy looked around what she assumed to be a study, the walls were packed high with shelves of scrolls, cabinets crammed full.
A little green imp hurried over to the handsome looking demon's desk, handing him a scroll. Breaking the seal, Intelligence speed read, golden eyes flying over the contents. "Ah, I see. We're looking at Inuyasha's wench right now while in the tomb."
"How dare she pull Tetsusaiga free!" Wrath appeared behind him from the shadows of the room, snarling and baring sharp teeth. Fantasy shrunk back slightly, bumping into a sturdy chest.
"She has the scent of a miko but carries no weapons," stated Discipline. Molten gold seemed to give off their own light in the darkness of the room, the flicker of nearby candles playing wisps of warm orange over his regal jawline. "She is untrained and therefore no threat."
"No, while you are correct about the training, she has an air about her. An aura of energy that hints at power," Intelligence hummed, gliding down from the desk and walking to Fantasy. Seizing her chin, the various identical demons inspected her. Instinct roared somewhere nearby, the sound echoing into Fantasy's bones, her breath hitching.
"What are you?" He said quietly, the others keenly observing.
Fantasy had no answer. She only knew as much as Sesshoumaru did about the woman whose skin she wore.
"Whatever she is, this is an interesting turn of events."
Intelligence turned, surprise flashing over his face, "you. You should not be here. There is no cause for your presence right now," he stated firmly.
Lust pushed off from a shelf, circling around the group in an almost predatory manner. He barely paid them any heed, watching the young woman with half-lidded eyes. "Indeed," he hummed. "And yet here I am. Do not fuss, she is most definitely not our type and this is likely a passing fancy," he chuckled in deep, rich tones, stopping beside Fantasy and causing her to turn slightly in his direction. Hot breath danced over her ear.
"Hn. I suppose," Intelligence uttered, returning to his scrolls by retaking his seat at the desk.
Lust stared down at Kagome's double, tipping his head slightly to the side. Thin lips parted, eyes searching. "I do not think we have ever seen a human with blue eyes before. Usually when looking into the eyes of men we kill, they are brown. Why then, do you possess them…" he quietly trailed off.
"It does not matter," Wrath snarled. "She must die! We have been slighted by a mere mortal."
The other emotions gave 'hn's' of agreement. Lust sighed and stepping back.
Before Fantasy could reply, she, as a fanciful thought, was let go as Sesshoumaru within the real world let acid rain down upon Kagome. He then focused entirely on fighting Inuyasha. Fading out of sight, Fantasy lost all sense of self- before popping back into existence a moment later, standing in Intelligence's study once more.
The Sesshoumaru behind the desk started and narrowed golden eyes, quickly accepting the scroll from a flustered Jaken and reading it. "Inuyasha's wench survived our attack. How?"
He thought for a moment, looking her over. Fantasy frowned, hands curling into fists. "Why are you just staring at me?" She snapped, eyes widening slightly a moment later. Where had that attitude come from?
Intelligence frowned, writing something down on a scroll and handing it back to Jaken. "This one understands now. Father's fang protected you. How sweet," he sneered.
From the sidelines, Wrath snarled, heat rippling around him. The very walls trembled and shook- Fantasy fading out of notice once more as Instinct roared louder- the fight accelerating into something new that would shake the foundations of Sesshoumaru's world and pride forever.
The next time Fantasy had life breathed into her, she stumbled onto a tatami mat, glancing around. Unbeknownst to her at the time, she'd materialised in Discipline's domain out of thin air.
Facing her across the mat stood Discipline, scars marring the left side of his face. He stood one-armed after their last encounter. With the use of a fake human arm, he held Tetsusaiga as though he had every right to.
"You again," he frowned. Neither of them noted Lust leaning against one of the training posts. His attraction lay at a simmer, something never to be acknowledged and a side effect of seeing a passionate woman protect her own. That was how Sesshoumaru would justify it, at least.
Fantasy looked down at the bow and arrow in her hands, blinking in confusion. Somehow, she knew to notch her bow and aim the arrow straight at him.
"You're defending Inuyasha right now," he mused, swinging the hilt of Tetsusaiga around in his hand. "This one underestimated you once, it will not happen again."
Acting as Sesshoumaru's fantasy, she was helpless to resist when he appeared before her and struck deadly claws through her chest. His grim imaginings of Kagome's death were abruptly cut off however as the real Kagome shot at him.
Forced to jump aside, Fantasy felt herself be let go into nothingness, choking from the fatal wound.
It wasn't until the real Kagome fired another arrow- shattering his shoulder armour to pieces, that Fantasy reappeared. Coming face to face with Instinct this time, Fantasy's breath caught, looking up at the feral inuyoukai that seemed to blend into the shadows. Even as crimson eyes glowed fiercely, his lips peeling back to deliver an answering attack, a skitter of interest gleamed within his inhuman gaze.
From the sidelines, Vanity smirked. "Nicely done, miko."
Encounters came and went, a little more of Kagome built into Fantasy's character the more Sesshoumaru saw the fierce little miko. She'd certainly gained his attention by breaking his armour and nearly piercing him in the face with an arrow that he'd caught between sharp claws. A hellcat, he thought her. Anger and passion lighting up deep blue eyes, protective instincts strong as she flung herself in front of Inuyasha's unconscious body.
"Stay away, stupid!" Kagome had snarled.
He'd killed people for less. And yet he'd felt no such inclination anymore, instead explaining that his fool of a brother would need the sword if he lost control of his demon blood again. Sesshoumaru's only explanation for not being insulted by Kagome's tongue was the addition to Rin in his pack. Some part of him now understood Kagome's protectiveness over the Hanyou. The need to shield those considered important with your own life. Such loyalty unconsciously worked its way into the pattern that made up the skin quilt of Fantasy.
After saving a paralysed Kagome from Mukotsu however, it happened.
Rin had been tucked away in her bed at the demon inn, Jaken guarding her. In his own room situated on the second floor, Sesshoumaru nursed a cup of saké. They'd been on the road, searching for Naraku as per the norm in those days.
Unlike the norm, he'd seen fit to stop at a demon village to sleep for the night. He did not know why, but the comfort was available so he'd taken the opportunity. Lounging in a reclined position, he listened while the celebrations of a mating pair took place outside below his balcony. A sort of ceremony to mark the momentous occasion. The alcohol rendered the proud lord more relaxed than usual, allowing his thoughts to stray.
Soon enough Kagome's eyes came to mind.
Just like that, Fantasy materialised, standing before Lust.
His environment changed, realm bleeding away so that it reflected Sesshoumaru's current quarters. Fantasy quietly realised that the real Sesshoumaru was imagining Kagome Higurashi standing before him, lights outside bathing the shoji screens red or blue and catching in her dark hair, the silence deafening.
Lust stared at her with half-lidded eyes, offering his hand palm up. Fantasy understood what he wanted.
Sesshoumaru did not desire sweetness and kisses that night. He'd witnessed Kagome's bizarre undergarments via a rouge breeze once or twice and slid them down Fantasy's thighs. He unwrapped her bindings within his imagination- Sesshoumaru's hand wrapping around his cock and beginning to stroke the second Lust sank inside Fantasy's slick folds. The motion was what he wanted. The bounce of Kagome's body, her wanton expression, the mewling cries, scrape of blunt nails.
The two within his mind finished mere seconds before him, Sesshoumaru giving a short, harsh groan, panting wildly.
Lust's breath mingled with her own, the Kagome clone catching her breath and curling into his heat. "This one does not believe we have been formally acquainted," Lust purred in her ear. "I am Lust."
She caught her breath, lips thinning. "I'm…" she trailed off. Kagome? No, that didn't sound quite right.
He seemed to catch on to her reluctance, chuckling quietly and smoothing a hand through her hair. "Hn, I see. In that case, I name you Fantasy," he said quietly.
"Fantasy?" She'd repeated softly, holding onto him tight and fearing she'd fade away again. "I'd have rather named myself but I guess that suits me."
Lust hummed, inhaling her scent while the real Sesshoumaru cleaned himself up and retired to sleep. He sought to dismiss her from his mind via platitudes and excuses. It was the mating ceremony, the atmosphere, the alcohol's fault. He was not attracted to or interested in Kagom-... Inuyasha's miko.
Yet the proof lay in the morning when Fantasy awoke within her own, albeit small house. She never faded from notice again after that night.
Time matched on, with the final battle arriving not long after Sesshoumaru had gained his arm back, Bakusaiga resting proudly at his hip.
Fantasy flickered and grunted, finding herself laying on the ground a moment later. Sesshoumaru had lain eyes on the fallen miko in the real world, laying within the depths of Naraku's hellish death trap. For a moment, Sesshoumaru's heart had clenched. He did not care. No. He did not care if the miko died. Nonetheless, he knelt beside Kagome, noting the wound on her arm caused by a slash of claws. The scent of his brother.
Fantasy started upon feeling a palm rest on her cheek.
Sesshoumaru imagined touching the woman, flirting with the idea. Lithe fingers moved to curl within soft dark hair- before hearing a noise and turning to defend the real Kagome from demons.
Fantasy cracked her eyes open, glimpsing the pale pink crest of the emotion that was leaning over her before he retreated.
Or at least, attempted to. Fantasy grasped his trailing sleeve, "who are you? I don't think I've seen you around before."
"No one of consequence as far as our host is concerned," Love uttered.
The silks were tugged free- and she was left on her stomach. With the addition of Love, it struck her as interesting when she spied another emotion lingering on the outskirts. His expression was blank, crest lilac. Having been spotted, his eyes widened slightly and the Sesshoumaru clone retreated from sight. Fantasy was left baffled but soon joined by Happiness when the real Kagome stirred awake.
The years in between Kagome's unexpected disappearance back into her 'own time,' were relatively dull for Fantasy.
It was during that time, when Love kept skittering around the edges of her peripheral vision, that another emotion rose to new heights in terms of power. An upstart little punk by the name of Repression. Before him, Sesshoumaru had tempered himself with Discipline. Repression felt different.
Her house, which had been doing its own thing on a little plot of land- was soon unearthed by the rude, unfeeling demon, suspending it far above Happinesses realm within the clouds.
When Kagome finally returned to the village though, arguably that was when the real problems started.
Fantasy had gotten used to being utilised mainly for Sesshoumaru's downtime, during his daydreams or raunchy sexual fantasies. She got to be good friends with Sloth, lover to Lust. Things changed. Sesshoumaru started paying more attention to the real miko, giving Fantasy more knowledge, talent and adaptability. Kagome was a miko of the future. Powerful, knowledgable according to the textbooks he'd glimpsed. She seemed to grow, training her miko powers and helping the village. Fantasy knew all this because Sesshoumaru knew and watched and learned.
"Stupid. Stupid Inuyasha!"
Sesshoumaru had stopped walking through the forest, on route to one of his habitual visits to Rin. Ear's pricking, he moved aside some bushes, peering into a clearing. Salt wafted through the air.
Kagome stood, fists pummeling a random tree as she sobbed, shoulders shaking. The couple had likely had another argument. About what, he did not know. Sesshoumaru saw fit to repress his interest in the couple's life. If he had his way, the useless desire for the miko would be snuffed out entirely.
Thick, ceaseless tears ran down Kagome's cheeks, causing them to plume with red blotches. Her sniffles sounded pathetic to his pointed ears yet tugged on the undernourished heart in his chest. And, despite wanting to cease feeling- Fantasy found herself the subject of another daydream. One where Sesshoumaru walked over to the miko, took her in his arms, and then flew away with her despite any protests.
The stand in for Sesshoumaru within his mind took the form of Love.
Fantasy's eyes widened, holding onto him while she was carried away. He smelled wonderful. Felt soft and inviting, secure and reliable. She near melted in his arms- until Inuyasha burst her bubble.
"Look I said I was sorry!" The real Inuyasha was yapping, having caught up to Kagome.
Sesshoumaru stared from his position in the bushes. Shifting, he slid his heel back. He'd unconsciously taken a step forward.
"You're such a jerk," Kagome was mumbling, scrubbing at her eyes. "'Sorry' isn't going to make this better. Never compare me to Kikyo again. Got it? Not ever," she grit out, voice wobbling. "I get that she was important to you and you can't forget her but don't bring her up like that."
From where he stood, Sesshoumaru's eyes widened a touch. And just like that, Fantasy was blessed and cursed with insecurities.
"It's like I can't bring her up at all without you getting weird about it!" Inuyasha snapped.
"Gee I wonder why!" Kagome growled, expression falling when Inuyasha flinched, ears pressing down against his skull.
Exhaling, the miko stepped closer, pressing herself against his front and wrapping her arms around him. "Just forget it. Let's go back home," her quiet mumble reached Sesshoumaru's ears.
Inuyasha held Kagome close, drinking in her fragrance. "...Yeah."
A sharp, stabbing pain shot through Sesshoumaru's chest. Golden eyes narrowed. Turning on his heel, silver hair fanned out as he strode away.
Abruptly, with the recesses of his mind, Fantasy felt herself be ripped away from Love's embrace. Crying out, she gasped- Envy grasping her body and tugging hard. Fantasy's form split in two, a second Kagome looking around, disorientated and frightened. Fantasy looked at her double with horrified eyes- reaching out to her just as Envy spirited her away.
Repression held Fantasy back, and soon a silver cage locked tight and her splendid mansion. Fantasy learned from Vanity that her twin had been given to Sesshoumaru's mental fabrication of Inuyasha. They lived together within Envy's land, who would look upon them daily.
"So, do you get it now?" Fantasy murmured.
"I think so. It's...like he's never believed we'd be anything. Somethings always got in the way," Kagome watched the scenery change to their left, the lush greenery giving way to a bizarre land of what appeared to be outside flooring. The surface seemed to be slightly raised, mats indicating an outside dojo or training facility of some sort. Inwardly, she silently reeled from the information overload. All those times they'd seen each other and the Daiyoukai had been feeling so much. She'd never suspected a thing.
Fantasy patted Innocence's side, asking him to skid to a stop. Hooking her leg over, she hopped off, searching around a certain maple tree. Moving aside some bushes, Fantasy smiled. "Thought so," she muttered, lifting out a large bow and quiver of arrows.
"How did you know they'd be there?" Kagome blinked.
"I visit Discipline sometimes. Occasionally he hunts for us in Happinesses realm and leaves his arrows here around the border."
Sliding off Innocence's back, Kagome rested her hand on his head, petting and scratching behind his fluffy ears. Innocence made a huffing, crooning noise, leaning into her touch. "Cool, so we're fighting Repression now instead of running away? Because honestly, I'm all about that plan."
Fantasy notched the bow, heel-dragging back over the earth and back arching as she fired into the air. A faint pink aura glowed around the arrow while sailed far into Discipline's domain. "Not so much," Fantasy glanced at her. "We're splitting up."