By: taiyoukai-kai
Comments: NO REVIEWS!! That upsets me peoples…T.T No more chapters until I get five more reviews…from different people mind you…it's not that much to ask, is it? *sob* Please??
Now, on to more important business. Some people have been curious as to what happened to "Rin", Sesshoumaru's and Kagome's daughter. She's dead. In my opinion since Sesshoumaru is full youkai, and Kagome is a miko, any life created in her by Sesshoumaru would be purified. Therefore, Rin would have lived a very human lifetime. ^.~ Sorry. But that's just what I believe.
Disclaimer: Love him or fear him, I don't own him. And fear his claws…Rowr.
Chapter Three...:
She couldn't move. The metallic bitterness of her own blood flooded her mouth. She stifled a whimper as pain lanced through her wracked body. She couldn't move. She couldn't feel her legs. She couldn't think. How could this have happened? It wasn't supposed to happen like this…
The ever-approaching growl suddenly pierced the red haze muffling her brain. He was coming back.
But she couldn't run anymore. She couldn't hide. She was too tired. Just too tired.
She pleaded with herself, growing desperate to leave. As the growl crept closer, and the tread of measured footsteps was audible, she finally managed to muster enough energy to hoist herself up on her hands.
But it was too late. She didn't have enough time. Not enough energy. It was too late.
Entirely too late.
That was her last thought as the pain took over and her awareness slowly slipped away from her control.
Ambush wasn't his style, but Kokuei was just too dangerous to risk an all out encounter. That was what he kept on telling himself as he looked for her.
He had known she would come back. The lure was too shiny. Defeat. Sesshoumaru grimaced at the word. It was something that the both of them had in agreed on. It was a horrid concept to fathom.
He growled and knelt on the floor, instinct taking over. He would have to find her soon before she either disappeared or bled to death. He needed to know something. Something that had been bothering him for too long.
And if she survived and disappeared? It was too risky. She could lick her wounds and come back. And as much fun as it sounded, it was unacceptable.
He touched a spot of blood that had dripped onto the floor as she had fled. He brought it up to sniff, certain that it was hers.
That was the mistake. The mistake, he thought, as suddenly, memories flooded his mind. Memories that had been long ago been locked away. For entirely too long.
*flashback*
"Sesshoumaru-sama?"
He looked at the girl who knelt at the door. He couldn't see her face, but judging form her garb she was probably another bloody miko. They seemed to exist only to annoy him. He growled.
"What is it that you want?" This time. His voice sounded harsh even to his own ears.
She stayed in her subservient position. "I have been sent in exchange for Keiko-san, my lord."
Keiko? Sesshoumaru vaguely remembered the miko prisoner. "A miko for a miko? How is that a good exchange? You waste my time."
The girl still didn't look up. "The others do not know of this." She finally looked up, and Sesshoumaru looked into the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. "I feel personally responsible for Keiko's safety."
Sesshoumaru couldn't tear his eyes away. She was so young, so innocent. So…untouched. Like a virgin. Her black hair looked as soft as silk, her skin so pearly white, flushed with the blush of youth.
"Keiko…" Sesshoumaru finally tore his eyes from her, and tried to restore a semblance of order back to his jumbled thoughts. But all he could see was the miko's blue gray eyes, so sad, so earnest. Her eyes, too old for a creature so young. And he felt a spike of anger at what she had had to endure to put that sadness and weariness into them.
He felt…protective. As if she was something of worth to him. This…emotion…was too new. Too unwelcome.
"What is your name?"
The girl lowered her head again, and he felt a keen loss her face was no longer visible. "Kagome, my lord."
"Kagome." Sesshoumaru tested the name. Letting it roll of his lips. A pretty name. Entirely suitable.
"Very well. Jaken will make the exchange."
"Thank you."
*end flashback*
Kagome…
Sesshoumaru shuddered. He stared down at the red smear of blood on his fingers.
Kagome.
Her name echoed in his mind.
Kagome.
It was hers.
Now he really didn't have an option. She couldn't be allowed to escape. She, whom he had loved at one time. She, who had forsaken him and his daughter.
He had thought her dead. She was mortal. It defied logic. Yet, as much as it puzzled him, one thing stood out clear in his mind.
He had to find her…
He had to kill her.
Her vision slowly swam back into focus and she cringed as light hit her eyes. She tried to bring her arm to her eyes but she couldn't move.
Alarm quickly colored her awareness and she battled down an almost overwhelming sense of panic and despair.
She tried to call out, but found that she couldn't.
What happened? Where was she? Did Naraku find her?
"Oh good, you're awake." From the corner of her eye, she saw a girl approach.
"Who?" Kokuei managed to force the word past her unfeeling lips. She closed her eyes briefly as she battle down a feeling so powerful that she feared for her sanity.
"Who?" the girl parroted, puzzled. She leaned over, checking the braces that held Kokuei in place. "Oh, sorry. I'm Kochou."
…Butterfly?
The girl laughed. "I know what your probable thinking. My mom likes pretty things. My sister's name is Niji." [Niji = rainbow]
She hustled to the other side of Kokuei's bed and picked up a clipboard. "Well, it looks like Mother already saw to you, so I'll just be on my way."
Kokuei made a sound and Kochou looked up. "Don't move, you'll reopen your injuries."
Kokuei wanted to scream in frustration when Kochou left. She was bound to the bed like a fly in a spider's web, helpless, at the mercy at any stranger that passed by.
How did she get here? She didn't care. In her had, a small dagger she had stolen from the girl as she had bent over her. It didn't matter how she got here or why. Because she wasn't going to here much longer.
Sesshoumaru couldn't wait to get his hands on the damn shadow who kept evading him. Five days! Five days since he wounded her, and yet she remained at large.
No one had ever made him feel this frustrated. Or fulfilled. It had been so long since the last time he had such a hunt or a prey so elusive.
Kagome.
He wanted to slash out at something.
His mate.
Former mate! He never forgot the exact moment the ultimatum had been delivered. Never return. Ever.
Yet, this human, returned. It defied nature. The urge to find her goaded him. The thought of leaving her alone, irked him.
She had to be found.
Sesshoumaru still couldn't believe Kokuei, the elusive shadow was her. Of all people. Kagome.
How could she have changed so much?
She stepped out into the night, her arm wrapped tightly around her waist. She prayed her wound would stay closed until she was clear. The blood would attract too many bloodhounds. All hungry for a piece she was quite unwilling to give. They'll just have to pay for it.
She quickly stumbled away, her eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary. She didn't think she was up to fighting anything larger than a rat, and even that was questionable. Perhaps she could collapse on top of it, as unappealing as the idea was to her.
But fate didn't care. She sensed the presence too late. Her senses were dulled by too many painkillers and…pain. How ironic.
"Kagome." Sesshoumaru hissed. The chances of meeting her, finding her right outside his properties was close to nil. Yet, here she was.
Kagome/Kokuei sighed, her disappointment audible. So close, yet so far. "Let me leave." Sesshoumaru stiffened.
"Leave? You think I will let you leave?! Fool."
Kagome smiled wearily, a knowledge that she couldn't avoid what was coming next evident. "To the death, then?"
Sesshoumaru relaxed, his stance shifting. "To your death."
She gave a small smile, sad in a way. "I suppose."
He exploded forward, his claws extended. His hair whipped out behind him, his speed so great.
She leapt up as he neared her and somersaulted through the air. She landed quietly, but silently cursed when she felt the world spin a bit. Quickly recovering, she vaulted toward the still recovering taiyoukai. Her hand flicked the blade she used to escape toward his heart, but Sesshoumaru easily deflected it.
He waited for her to reach him, and just as she did, she disappeared. Only to reappear at his back. Her hand clenched the small blade like a lifeline, and she slashed downward, her eyes narrowed with dangerous intent.
He leapt away, just barely in time, he noted as he felt the sharp displaced air. He quickly drew Tensaiga out of its scabbard.
"Getting serious, Sesshoumaru?" She laughed. But the joke was her as her scornful laughter soon lapsed into coughs. Her weakened body had caught up to her all too soon.
He took advantage of her weakness, and attacked. He didn't care if it was below him, if it was dishonourable. Nothing mattered except him and her. Now.
Unable to stop coughing, she defended herself as much as she was capable. Nonetheless, she stumbled in her defense and fell to the ground, still coughing.
"Damn it…" she tried to get up, but a fresh bout of body wracking coughs overcame her, and she struggled to breathe. "Damn it! Kill me now. Get it over with!"
Sesshoumaru looked down in disdain at the pathetic figure huddled on the ground, bent twice over. Her body shuddered. He raised his sword up. Yes. Finally. He could go back to the way it was before. He could finally stop thinking of her. Of Kokuei. Of Kagome.
With one last stare, he slashed down, his eyes cold as ice. And for her, once again, awareness vanished and an almost welcoming blackness swept over her, sweeping her away. Making the pain disappear. Perhaps for good.
Woop. The ideas stopped. I cried. I was so stuck. Oh well. Maybe next time. And, YES I know that my action sequences suck popsicles but…I'm sorry.
Also, remember to review, peoples. FIVE reviews…remember…
Over and out. Kai.
