by: Del_kaidin and Tiranth.
Chapter 11 - One Who Is Cursed
Weeks had passed and still they searched for the cursed one and Naraku's castle. She was beginning to wonder if she would ever see her own world again. She looked across the fire at her companions. Taka still determined to master the kata. They had started setting camp several hours before sunset to give her time to practice. She knew the pup looked at her as her mother. Looking to her other companion she was surprised to find that there was no anger towards him. They had fought several battles on their journey, and never had he threatened her. After the incident with Goshinki she really didn't think he would. He had set her mind at rest, it wasn't her fault her mother had died. Even if her own sire never accepted her, she knew that now it didn't matter. "Sesshomaru, do you know the double Kata?"
She dropped to the ground across from both Sesshomaru and Leena. Kami was she tired. She felt though that she had at least a bit of the kata perfected. 'Now for the rest of it,' she thought wryly, tossing a dry leaf into the fire. As she stared into the dancing and twisting flames, her eyes slip slowly shut. The last thing she heard was Leena asking Sesshomaru if he knew the double kata.
The silence around the fire was not strained as it had been the first few nights. Now it seemed as though they had settled into an easy acceptance of one another. He still felt the hollow place in his soul Akari had once occupied but he no longer sat in the stunned silence that had gripped him those first days. He almost chuckled when Taka started to fall asleep. Sesshomaru caught the girl as she slipped to the side and lay her gently on the ground. He looked at Leena curiously. "Yes, I do," he cocked an eyebrow at her, "Do you desire practice?"
"Practice? No not practice. But I could use a good stretch. I haven't been able to do that particular kata in a long time. It is getting a bit dark. Tomorrow?" She asked smiling.
She ran, her once auburn hair now dark with mud. The ivory skin hidden by it as well. Why had they touched her? She had begged them not too. Too many memories that were not hers caused an ache. There had been five of them, each with their own horrors that had happened and would happen. Now they resided in her mind. She had been born a telepath, but when she had refused to aid him he had cursed her. Now the gift was amplified to the point of agony. The mere touch of another along her skin and their life from birth to death flooded her mind. She cried out as she fell, her foot tripping on an exposed root. She felt a merciful blackness surround her, she surrendered to it, wishing for death.
The evening breeze brought with it a scent, that had not been there a moment before. Ningen, female and injured. She turned her head and sniffed the air. Turning back to Sesshomaru she saw he too had caught the scent. "I think we may have found the last member of our group." Standing she started towards the scent. She heard him following.
She awoke to the feel of the cold earth beneath her. She tried to stand, and yelped at the sharp pain from her ankle. Sitting up she pulled looked at it, noticing the swelling above her shoes. Hearing someone coming through the woods surrounding her she looked to see a man and woman coming towards her. Both with silver white hair, something was strange about their hands but she couldn't see well due to the darkness. She couldn't run, tears falling from her emerald eyes she yelled. "Don't touch me."
The girl wanted to run, he could see it in her eyes but her ankle was injured, already he could see the swelling. He knelt beside her. "We will not harm you. You have hurt yourself," his voice ever calm as he captured and held her eyes with his own, "Let me look." Reaching out he gently took her injured ankle in his hands.
She snapped awake and found herself alone. Panic siezed her, had they left her? She leapt to her feet, sniffing wildly for her companions scents, eyes darting back and forth. Taka relaxed, they were nearby and there was another with them. Maybe they had found their fifth member. She sat back down to await their return.
As his fingers touched her ankle, she flinched but it was to late. It had started his memories flowing into her mind. Unlike most, where it was a painful chaotic experience, his were calm, ordered and though sad not painful. With wonderment she looked into his golden eyes. "You've suffered such sadness. I'm sorry." Calming herself she let his memories make their track across her mind.
He blinked in surprise. How did she know? He removed the shoe as gently as he could and the sock, then began to examine the swollen joint. It didnt appear to be broken, merely a sprain. If this was indeed their new companion they might not be moving for several days. "How can you know that?" he asked softly.
She bit her lip and looked up into his face. His eyes were kind and shocked at her knowledge. She looked to the woman standing behind him. She knew from her curse that she was the one they searched for. "My name is Ka Akisame I am a telepath. I refused to help Naraku and he cursed me. When I touch someone I am filled with all their memories from birth to death." She met the golden eyes of the man, no youkai she corrected herself who held her.
Silently she had watched the exchange. Their group was complete. Her own telepathy was increased by her status as the Maiden but not to the extent this girls were. "My name is Leena." She said gently. She knew Taka needed to be warned not to touch the girl. "Sesshomaru I am going back to camp to warn Taka." Looking once again at the Akisame she smiled. "Now that we know the nature of your curse we will protect you. I'm just going to let our other companion know." She left.
He felt a sudden surge of anger toward Naraku. So he was the same in every time, manipulative and cruel. Sesshomaru set the Akisame's foot on the ground. His one arm was going to make it difficult to carry her. "Put your arms around my neck, you will have to help me lift you," he said indicating his missing arm. She obeyed and he eventually stood, easily supporting her in one arm, much like a parent would a child. He figured that she already knew his name but he told her anyway. "I am Sesshomaru, the woman before was Leena and you will meet Taka momentarily."
Taka saw Leena enter the ring of firelight and jumped to her feet. "Is it our other memeber?"
Smiling at the pup she nodded. "Naraku cursed her. She is a telepath. He has increased her gift to a point no human, or youkai should have to bear. Do not touch her. She seems to be able to accept Sesshomaru's touch, but I fear there is too much pain in my life for her to handle." At Taka's puzzled angry expression she explained. "The touch of another gives her the person's life memories. Imagine living your life from birth to death in a moment. That is her curse. Her name is Akisame."
At his thought she smiled. "So you are from a different time or place? In your world Naraku was truly defeated? You are correct he is cruel and manipulative." As the entered the campsite she saw the same silver haired girl, Leena and a girl with red hair. Fearing the touch of the girl she clutched tighter to Sesshomaru.
Akisame's grip increased when she saw Taka. To fear another's touch so much, he thought to himself, truly that was a curse. He gave her a reassuring look. "Do not worry, she will do nothing to cause you harm," he whispered in her ear, he couldnt help but think that she smelled like Akari. Shaking the thought away, Sesshomaru bent down and set Akisame gently on the ground. He looked at Taka who had knelt close by but still maintaining a cautious distance. "So you are awake?"
Taka
Taka nodded, "I thought you had left me," she said quietly, then louder to the newest member of their group, "I am Taka. Leena has told me about...do not be afraid, I will not touch you." She was beginning to realize exactly how dangerous this Naraku could be and that they must succeed in destroying him.
She smiled slightly at his thoughts. "Best guard your thoughts Sesshomaru. I thank you for the compliment." Looking at Taka she tried to hold the smile. "Thank you, for understanding. Yet I have a question. I know that you Sesshomaru have no children of your own. Yet from your memories I know that this is your child and grandchild, we are all from different worlds?"
She bit back her chuckle at the warning given to Sesshomaru, and wondered briefly what the question could have been. "Yes, we are all from different worlds. You know of Naraku do you know of Midoriko and the Shikon No Tama?" The girl nodded. "What of Inu Yasha and the miko Kagome?" At that the girl shook her head negatively. "Hmmm... Is it in your world the time of the Shogunate or Meji?"
"Meiji?" She questioined. "I worked in the Shogun's palace at least until I refused to asisst Naraku."
Sesshomaru felt slightly embarrased that she had picked up on his last thought, though as usual the feeling did not surface on his chiseled features. He carefully constructed the walls around his thoughts and sat across the fire from Akisame. Taka gave him a questioning look but he just shook his head at her. They were all from different realities and but for Leena and Taka, who seemed from roughly the same time,from different points in time in each of those realities. He couldnt help but wonder how that would affect their mission. He listened quietly as his female companions spoke, feeling vaguely that he was betraying Akari.
Taka's eyes were again getting heavy but she wanted to carry on the conversation with their newest member. Sesshomaru had gone to the other side of the fire, hiding whatever he was thinking or feeling from all of them. She looked again at Akisame. "What is Naraku in your time? Does he have the Jewel?"
"Naraku? He is Naraku. Evil incarnate. Centuries ago he killed the priestess Kikyou and stole the Shikon No Tama from her. He has plotted and schemed increasing his power to gain control of all Japan." She looked at the three before her. "Is he not the same for each of your worlds?" She scratched at the mud covering her arms.
"Yes, he was the same but for the three of us he is a thing of the past." Noticing the girl scratching she softly asked. "Did you wish to wash off the mud? There is a stream nearby."
"That would be wonderful." She tried to stand. Her ankle gave protest to the weight she tried to place on it. She squeaked and began to fall, preparing herself for the pain of the landing.
Before he knew that he had even reacted he was catching her, preventing her from falling and injuring herself further. Without a word, Sesshomaru had sweapt her up and was carrying her to the stream. He set her down close to the edge. "Call when you are ready to return." With that he walked away so she could have her privacy.
She had stood ready to catch Akisame but Sesshomaru was there before she could blink. As the taiyoukai lifted her and left with the girl, Taka edged over to Leena. She leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "Do you see what I see?" she asked playefully.
"Mhh Hmm. Yep I did." She winked at the girl at her side.
She felt his arms wrap around her keeping her from hitting the ground. Wrapping her arms around the neck of her rescuer she allowed more of his memories to flood her mind. Such an interesting individual, so afraid to show his own heart. When he left her at the stream, she almost called him back. He wasn't ready for what his destiny had shown her. She also knew better than to mention it, destiny had cost him too much. Carefully she removed her mud caked clothes and slipped into the stream. She saw the crystal clear water become clouded with the mud from her, until the slight current had sweapt it along. Finally releaved of the mud she climbed back onto the bank. Looking at her muddy clothes, there was no help for it. Dipping them into the water she removed the mud and put the cold wet clothes back on. Shivering slightly she called, "Sesshomaru? I'm done."
He stepped from the shadows at her call and saw that she was shivering from having washed her clothes. He lifted her once again, her cold arms going around his neck. He felt a wave of satisfaction at feeling her body close to his and quickly supressed it. He was not going to walk that path again, he didnt want another gaping hole in his heart. "You are cold," he stated, feeling quite stupid for stating the obvious. Quickly he returned to the fire so she could dry off. Sesshomaru set her down and retreated again to the other side of the fire. Casting a sidelong glance at his "family." Taka was looking very interested in throwing twings in the fire. "What?"
When Sesshomaru returned with Akisame, Taka made herself busy with the fire, seeing that the girl's clothes were wet and she would need to dry. When he looked at her and asked, "What?" she almost burst into giggles but managed to keep a straight face. "Nothing," she said innocently, thinking that the next time she, Leena and Akisame would have to have a, now what was the word Leena had used, ah yes, 'Girl Talk Session.'
Her normal boistrous nature showing through, she grinned at the Taiyoukai trying to maintain his dignity. She tried desperatly to not notice the glances Akisame was giving him. Taking pity on the poor girl and being the little demon spawned child she was, she looked at Taka. "Taka, there's a village about an hours run from here. Want to practice illusions and get Akisame some clothes?" She slipped a thought to the pup. 'Besides I think these two need to talk, otherwise tomorrow night's girl talk will be borring.'
"That isn't necessary. I...I ... These will dry, and I have no money."
"Don't worry, I always carry this." She held removed a small stone from the pad on her left shoulder. "It's always good enough stakes for a game of chance. And a piece of advise for all of you.... Never gamble with a telepath. You coming Taka?"
Taka leapt up at Leena's suggestion, suddenly forgetting her sleepiness and sore muscles. A run would do her good. She gave Leena a sly glance. "It's no problem Akisame, I could use the stretch and practice anyway." The young youkai followed Leena out of camp, feeling very naughty but also very satisfied.