Chapter 12
Shura came too slowly as the scent of dragon blood drifted across her nose. The aroma was fresh, and very near. The demoness pulled herself into a sitting position and tried hard to focus her mind and senses. The blood she smelled…she recognized it.
Lifting herself out of bed was almost as painful was walking, but Shura managed both and headed down the hallway towards the front of the building. When she passed the kitchen, Mia, Soma and the others inside immediately took notice of her presence.
"Shura what are you doing out of bed?" Mia demanded in surprise as she got to her feet and ran over to where Shura was standing. "You should be resting!" Shura felt Mia's gentle, but insistent tug on her elbow. In her weakened state, the force was almost enough to pull her over. Luckily, Kagome had reached her other side and helped as a support. Shura blinked slowly. Her eyes were tired, almost glazed over.
"Matyeo's here," was her trance like reply. Shura tried to take another step forward, but Mia and Kagome held her back.
"Shura you're to sick to see any patients," her mother spoke out before Kagome had the chance to question who Matyeo was. "I'll just have to send him away." Shura tried once again to move, this time she was much more forceful.
"No he's hurt! I can smell his blood! Mother please I'm the only one that can help!" Mia narrowed her eyes in disapproval, but she could not fight her daughters reasoning, not when another life was at stake. The argument won, Shura was released and she continued forward until she reached the outside. Inuyasha and Sango were already there. They were standing defensively in front of the inn with weapons poised as an enormous, emerald green dragon with blazing yellow eyes and royal blue frills down back and tail emerged from the storm raging above. Inuyasha raised his sword, but he paused when Shura touched a gentle hand to his wrist and forced him to lower his blade.
"Its alright Inuyasha." Her appearance took both him and Sango by surprise.
"Shura! What are you doing out here!" Sango gasped. "Quick get back inside, Inuyasha and I can handle this." As always, Shura's voice was calm and composed.
"They'res no need for that Sango. I know this demon, he's a friend." As she spoke, the massive dragon lord lowered himself to the ground in front of the building. The beast then took careful steps forward until his snout was only a few feet away from Shura's face.
"Greetings Shura." the dragon's deep voice filled the air. Shura flattened her ears and gave a little bow in return.
"Welcome lord Matyeo." The dragon sniffed then gazed at Shura closer.
"You're injured…" the beast crooned, his voice filled with worry.
"Its not a concern." Shura replied trying to wave off his apprehension. "Please come this way, I'll tend to you inside." Shura turned and walked back through the doorway. The dragon's eyes flashed brightly for a second. Then the creature's body converted to an eerie yellow light and started to take a new shape. When the light faded the dragon lord was no longer a serpent beast, but a handsome gentlemen. His skin was pale, his yellow eyes soft and gentle and his ears fin like in appearance. His waist length hair was deep, emerald green, with his bangs shoulder length on the left side and clipped short and curly on the right. His skin was patterned with green makings; half arrow shapes lay directly under the eyes pointing in opposite directions, a diamond mark on his forehead, and an intricate swirl pattern on his hands and forearms. His garments were elegant, as any respected demon lords would be, and its colors mimicked those of his dragon form.
Inuyasha and Sango watched with bewildered expressions as the dragon lord calmly followed after Shura. Miroku, Shippo and Kagome reacted the same as he came into view in the kitchen doorway. To Soma and Mia however, this demon's presence was not an unfamiliar sight.
"Greetings lord Matyeo!" Soma called out as she approached the demon lord just as fondly as one would welcome his own relatives. Matyeo smiled warmly and rested a hand on the child's head as she gave a little bow of respect.
"Hello Soma." Matyeo then turned his gaze to Mia who was standing just inside the kitchen and had also lowered her head. "Mia, as always I am honored you would welcome me into your home, and I thank you again for the care you and your daughter have so generously granted me and my fellow demon kin." Mia gave a gentle return smile and Matyeo continued on down the hallway with Soma in toe.
Inuyasha and Sango rejoined the others who were still gawking in the kitchen. None of them meant to show such obvious disrespect but for the moment their confusion had overridden their manners. Kagome was especially curious. Her senses told her Matyeo was carrying multiple jewel shards. She was half tempted to tell Inuyasha and the others…but Matyeo was a dragon lord. Even with the Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha was sure to get creamed if he tried to fight him flat out, and that was the last thing she wanted. Kagome decided it would be better for her to observe the dragon lord from a distance. Maybe then she could find out exactly where he was keeping the shards, and how many there were. At this point, trying to steal the shards would yield better results then battling for them.
When no one was looking Kagome crept down the hallway, and followed from a distance. When they came to the first set of rooms, Matyeo turned left and Soma right. Kagome tried her best to be absolutely silent as she approached the doorway the dragon lord had entered, but apparently her stealthy sleuthing didn't go unnoticed.
"Kagome" Shura's voice echoed out into the halls and nearly made Kagome jump "if you want to watch that's fine with me. You don't need to sneak around outside." Kagome flushed and cautiously peered around the edge of the doorway. She was so embarrassed; she would have liked to stay there.
"Excuse me," Soma's little voice sounded from behind. Kagome slipped nervously into the room so the child could pass with the items she carried; a bowl of water carefully supported by one arm, and a bunch of clean rags draped over the other. Soma placed the items gently on the floor, and then quickly departed once again to gather the remaining supplies Shura had asked for. All the while Matyeo looked on calmly from where he stood a few feet away from Shura. He may have been a dragon lord, but in this house, he was expected to follow orders. He did make a point to glance reassuringly at Kagome who was sitting stiffly by the wall.
Once everything was prepared Shura asked that Matyeo reveal his wounds. Obediently the demon lord removed his shirt and exposed his torso. Both Shura and Kagome's eyes widened when they saw the deep gashes across Matyeo's chest and shoulders.
"Such terrible wounds!" Kagome heard herself gasp. Shura's voice was much more composed, but just as worried.
"How did you get these injuries Matyeo?" she asked as she beckoned him to the floor. The dragon lord lowered himself down carefully and lay on his back.
"A demon calling himself Naraku stormed into my home and demanded I give him these…" as he spoke Matyeo pulled a small pouch from his belt. The glow inside was unmistakable.
"Those are shards of the Shikon jewel!" Kagome blurted out before she could stop herself. Matyeo gave the pouch a light toss.
"You're a very gifted human to be able to see such things," he remarked in Kagome's direction before he continued, "yes these are indeed shards from the jewel of four souls. I had more, but this demon Naraku proved to be far stronger then any foe I've ever faced." Matyeo closed his hand over the pouch. "I was lucky I managed to save these." Shura let out a low growl and pinched the dragon lord's ear in her fingers.
"Fool! Your lucky to even be alive! How did you manage to get here at all with such wounds?" Matyeo didn't need to answer, only wrap his clawed fingers tighter around the pouch containing the shards. Shura shifted uncomfortably. "You didn't…use one of those shards on yourself…did you?" she asked a high note of agitation in her voice. The dragon lord gave her a reassuring smile.
"No. I only tapped lightly into their essence…" Matyeo's voice trailed off. The faint traces of energy he harnessed from the sacred jewel had given him only enough mild anesthesia to make it safely into Shura's care. Now its effects were ebbing, and taking with them his tolerance for pain.
"Damn that jewel," Shura growled angrily, "its caused nothing but trouble." Her tone caused Kagome to shift uneasily. Something about the hatred in Shura's eyes…it seemed eerily familiar, but Kagome couldn't quite place where she had seen it before.
Matyeo shuddered as Shura gently eased his head into her lap and helped him drink a numbing potion to ease the pain. While the medicine gradually dulled Matyeo's senses, Shura cleaned the cuts on his torso with incredible gentleness. Soon the only task that remained was stitching them closed. Shura glanced down at the floor. Soma had already laid out her needle; the only thing that remained was creating the enchanted thread that would mend the dragon lord's gashes as they were sealed. Shura tilted her head to one side and began to untie her long, silver hair. As it fell loosely across her back, Shura delicately plucked a single long strand in her fingers and muttered a soft incantation. The hair shimmered for a brief moment but quickly grew still as Shura used it to thread her needle.
The entire process was fascinating to watch, but the awe of the moment never reached Kagome; she was to sick with a sudden gripping fear to take much notice of her surroundings. The girl couldn't take her eyes of Shura; the pale skinned demon dressed in white that looked strikingly similar to Inuyasha's half brother Sesshomaru! Kagome had observed the similarities before but never took real notice of them until that moment. With her hair unbound and still, emotionless, yellow eyes, Shura seemed to be Sesshomaru's feminine copy. Kagome felt herself start to shiver. As much as she didn't want to believe the two were related, all the evidence was against her. Who else would Sesshomaru treat with such gentleness then his own demon heir; and Shura did indeed look the part.
"Kagome, are you alright?" Shura asked with concern. Kagome nearly screamed. Though it was Shura who addressed her, she had seen Sesshomaru in her place.
"Yes! Fine!" she squeaked, "Why do you ask?" Shura watched her calmly as she continued stitching.
"You went pale all of a sudden." Kagome fidgeted and quickly got to her feet.
"I…guess I'm more squeamish then I thought…" came her reply. The demoness could see through Kagome's lie, but she didn't bother to question it, not while Matyeo was still under her care. Instead she only nodded her understanding and continued to work while Kagome darted out the door.
"Your daughter actually heals demons!" Sango remarked in surprise as Mia took a seat at the table next to her. The innkeeper nodded and smiled warmly when Kirara bounded into her lap.
"Yes. After the demon trappers were wiped out, many of their captives were in need of treatment." Kirara mewed affectionately and the innkeeper paused to scratch her behind the ears. "As the word of Shura's kindness and skills quickly spread, demon's from all over started to flock here for medical attention." Inuyasha said nothing, but deep down he couldn't help but admire Shura. Not many who helped humans, would do the same for demons, no matter who they were.
"Well that certainly explains why you and Soma are so comfortable around demons." Miroku observed. Soma smiled at him from across the table and Mia nodded.
"I have met my fair share of individuals, some of them nicer then others." the innkeeper's eyes softened. "Many of them are quite taken with Shura," she said with a smile, "The lord Matyeo is especially fond of her." Mia let out a soft sigh full of maternal pride and Soma giggled playfully.
Just then Kagome appeared in the doorway. She had managed to calm herself enough to look presentable, but traces of fear still lingered in her eyes.
"Kagome what's the matter?" Inuyasha asked as the girl walked in slowly and seated herself. Kagome looked down at the floor. She knew what would happen if she announced her suspicions; Mia and her daughter would be interrogated to no end, and that was a stress the family didn't need.
"Nothing…I…uh…" Kagome began as she tried to think of a way to alter the topic of conversation away from her thoughts and feelings. "I just found out that…" Kagome winced suddenly when a small, jagged, object in her pocket pricked her skin. It was the jewel fragment she had gathered from the black vipers forehead. "I found out that Matyeo was carrying jewel shards with him," she finally answered. That got her friends attention.
"Are you serious Kagome? How many?" Inuyasha asked as he started to rise. Kagome shrugged.
"I don't know, I couldn't count." Kagome scratched her head lightly. "Come to think of it I didn't even sense the shards at all until he revealed them."
"He must be a powerful demon to be able to mask the power of the sacred jewel," Sango commented with eyebrows raised in wonder. Inuyasha tapped the ground lightly with his foot.
"Well I don't care how powerful he is. If that dragon lord wants to keep his jewel shards, he'll have to fight for them!"
"If I may…" the sound of Mia clearing her throat in annoyance made the half demon pause. "I don't mean to interrupt, but it seems to me you're acting a little hasty Inuyasha." The half demon scoffed.
"What do you mean?" Mia drummed her fingers lightly on the table.
"What makes you think Matyeo even wants the shards at all."? Inuyasha raised an eyebrow. What Mia was saying didn't seem to make sense …why wouldn't a demon want the fragments? His bewilderment practically stating the question for him, Inuyasha glanced in Mia's direction for clarity. "Matyeo is the ruler of the North lands. He has neither the reason nor the desire to become any more powerful then he already is. If you want the shards, why not just ask for them." the group was intrigued by the innkeeper's suggestion. Surely acquiring jewel fragments couldn't be that easy…could it?
"I suppose…" Inuyasha scratched behind his head
"Its worth a try," Sango added in. Miroku took in a deep breath and got to his feet. If they were going to bargain with a demon lord, they needed to present a non-threatening spokes person. Inuyasha was too quick tempered for the job, Kagome too shaken and Shippo to young. Normally Sango would seem the obvious choice, but in this case sending her might unintentionally provoke his anger seeing as how she was a demon exterminator. That left him as the only capable candidate.
"Allow me," the monk volunteered as he headed towards the door, "I will go and inquire about the shards."