Chapter 26
Shura could hear her father's footsteps echo lightly down the hall as he left, but his destination remained a mystery. For the moment though, there were other things to worry about. Letting out a heavy sigh the demoness tenderly unbound the scraps of fabric that had once been her garments and let them fall lifelessly to the floor. Then even more carefully she removed the wrappings from her body and face. These two drifted to the ground coming to rest amongst the pieces of her kimono, leaving only the dragoncrested crystal pendent adorning her. As Shura approached the basin she was careful to avert her gaze from the waters surface. She didn't want to see the symbol of her defeat to Naraku etched across her face. The pain it brought was enough of a reminder. Easing herself into the water up to her shoulders, the demoness's golden stare trailed to the swirls of crimson that seemed to dance alongside the waters gentle currents. At first glance her wounds had seemed mild enough. But now, as she watched the water gradually darken, Shura realized that despite the power she inherited, her lack of experience and timid nature was a more then adequate countermeasure.
Drawing in a breath the demoness sank her face beneath the surface. It was all she could do to try and blot out the despairing emotions that had started to build inside her insecure human heart. Fortune had been kind to her this time, but that didn't guarantee anything in the future. What if a demon of her father's caliber chose to attack her home? How could she possibly hope to protect those she cared for?
A pulse from around her neck roused the demoness from her thoughts. Partially opening her eyes, Shura's golden stare fell to the crystal still tied around her neck. Even through the murky water she could see the object's soft multi-colored glow as it too seemed to dance with the gentle currents. Reaching out the demoness clasped the pendent in her hand and as she did the warm voice of its bestower echoed in her ears.
"Do not despair my friend, for you will discover your inner strength with time and patience," Matyeo's soft, flowing words came with the characteristic air of wisdom common to royal dragons "In the meantime I hope this return favor will aid in the process." Shura felt the crystal throb with power and in the next instant a warm, flowing magic surged through her palm. From there the aura spread quickly down her arm and thereafter to the rest of her body. The process wasn't painful until it reached her injured eye. Caught by surprise when a stabbing jolt erupted across her face, the demoness hollered out, forcefully expelling her breath beneath the water and thereafter compelling her to surface with a tremendous gasp.
For a minute all Shura could do was sit there breathing deeply, indulging her body with the oxygen it craved. When she finally did regain her bearings, Shura realized her wounds were no longer painful. In fact, they weren't there at all. But what was most astonishing was the restoration of her left eye. Though not quite as sharp as it had been, for all intensive purposes her sight had been returned to a state of usefulness.
Still enveloped in the euphoria of the moment, Shura pulled herself out of the basin and wrapped her body in the nearest towel. Then she took another and carefully wiped away the stray droplets that still clung to her skin. She even took the time to comb out her hair and tail. Just the fact that she could do it was incentive enough. When it came time for dressing however, Shura found herself with a problem. Her garments from before were no longer decent to wear. For the moment she would have to make due with her mothers, at least until she could tailor herself a new outfit. As the demoness prepared to head to Mia's room she noticed something out of the corner of her eye. Lying neatly folded on a bench by the door was a clean, white kimono with a note that read
Shura, something I was saving for you,
love mom.
When Shura knelt down and inspected the outfit closer, she was amazed by its elegance. The fabric was white as snow, with the exception of the far right side, which was decorated with an emerald green pattern that curled like the tendrils of a vine. Shura was also quick to notice another feature that only a well-trained eye would be able to see. Sown painstakingly over every inch of the fabric where transparent dragon scales. Ukuri was no doubt the donor for most, but also woven into the fabric were the elegant crests of her most respected dragon lord.
Cooing in awe, Shura pulled the Kimono over her shoulders. For the amount of protection it would offer, the garment weighted practically nothing, and its movements were as free as the atmosphere itself. When Shura finished dressing she quietly peeked her head out the door. She had to be cautious, for if her mother found her out of bed, there would most definitely be unfavorable consequences. Shura strained to hear as voices echoed from down the hall. She recognized most of them as belonging Inuyasha's group, but there was no trace of her mother. Letting out a gentle sigh Shura crept carefully into the hall. She had barely made it a few steps before her demon paws betrayed her. One tiny squeak of the floorboards was all it took.
"Shura!" Mia's voice sounded loudly "Get back to bed this instant!" caught in a moment of surprise, Shura turned on her heels with an extra spring and started to dash in the opposite direction. She would have made it too, if she hadn't plowed strait into Inuyasha, who had come up behind her.
"And just to make sure you do as your told, your mother sent me to tuck you in," the half demon snorted. Though his face reflected annoyance, and his voice sarcasm, Shura could also see the concern hidden deep in her uncle's eyes. The demoness took a few steps backwards.
"But... I'm fi.." no use. Despite her protests Inuyasha remained stubborn as ever.
"No buts! Now lets go!" her uncle commanded as he gripped her wrist in a clawed hand. Inuyasha stopped short however when he felt the resistance of finely toned muscle in his palm. Glancing over in surprise, the half demon pulled Shura's wrist forward and with the other hand pulled up the sleeve of her kimono. His eyes came to rest on pale skin striped with red. There was no trace of any of her previous injuries, not even bruises remained. Releasing her arm Inuyasha then stared closely at his niece's face. Though her silver bangs now draped where bandages had once been, Inuyasha could see both iris's golden flicker through the strands.
"Wha…" the half demon muttered as he took a step backwards "what happened to you?" Before Shura could reply Kagome and the others, attracted by the commotion, came out into the hall to express greetings and concerns of there own. Once again Shura found herself trying to form an explanation concerning her quick recovery, and once again she was interrupted, this time by her mother. Lack of sleep and Shura's disobedience had put her in a foul mood, but unlike her daughter, she had the subtly of a hurricane.
"What is all this noise?" Mia demanded as she stormed through a doorway into view. The instant her sight fell on Shura, however, the innkeeper's cold eyes softened and a true expression of maternal care shone on her face.
"Oh my dear Shura, you really are a stubborn one aren't you," Mia crooned as she walked over to her daughter. Shura gave a weak smile as the innkeeper placed a gentle hand on her left cheek.
"Of course," Shura replied softly as she lifted her hand and rested it on Mia's "I take after you." her mother returned a smile. She was about to inquire about her daughter's miraculous recovery but a shimmer from around Shura's neck answered her question.
"Your healing complements of Matyeo I take it?" Mia couldn't resist teasing. Shura gave a little smirk in return.
"Just a return favor he owed me." the demoness assured her. Though even with her casual manner there was still a spark of skepticism lingering in Mia's eyes.
"Well you'll just have to thank him the next time he visits," the innkeeper replied as she gave her daughter a gentle pat on the shoulder "Now come, after such a tough battle you must be starved." Shura followed her mother's lead and very soon, she and all the others had made there way inside a room where they could eat. Once inside the demoness was greeted by Ukuri who sprang happily into her arms. Then after several moments of cooing, nose rubbing and happy snuffling, the dragon kit finally settled down as he nestled Shura in his coils. With Ukuri still clinging to her, Shura took a seat at the table across from Inuyasha. Moments later, Mia entered with food, which she promptly served. Despite her hunger, Shura kept herself composed as she ate. Though she did pile up as many dishes as Shippo and Inuyasha, her manners helped to compensate for her gluttony