To Myself I Turned
Prologue:
A Winding Road
Walking through the unknown woods / The angels fell asleep (that night) / But my steps were firm and strong / (As they were) in the light of day.
I held my eyes straight in the dark / To scare the beasts that cross my way / There'll never be a winding road / That stops my quest and ends my prayers.
I know until the judgment day / When all the seas gone dry / There will never be another one / Who's lonelier than I.
I saw (the) inferno and (the) paradise / I saw the beast and heard its lies / I heard the sirens sing their songs / I still don't know my way.
I wandered as I always did / A sphere of darkness followed me / As I saw a clearing light / That marked the end of all (my journeys)
I know until the judgment day / When all the seas gone dry / There will never be another one / Who's lonelier than I...
~ Komödia Part IV, The Ending, By: Dreams of Sanity
The world moved with certain magics. Death magic, so much sharper than the gentle healing arts, always struck a cord deep within the earth. And sometimes the ripples spanned out for weeks, touching upon everything and nothing.
She had been kneeling besides a small stream when she felt the aftershocks, great beats of power like a thousand hooves thundering over her body all at once. She did not fight as she used to, it was a losing battle. Instead she stayed on her knees and let each echo strike her, flow through her, and out, seeking other paths like water parting around a stone. She swayed with the magic, closing her eyes and silently tasting it.
Only...on its tails, nearly lost in the death magic's sheer destructive force, was a flicker of life, magic more akin to her own. Though vastly different at the same time.
She jumped abruptly to her feet as a new edge of magic crashed into her, through her, and she nearly staggered. It was close, very close. Ringing in her head for long, drawn-out seconds. Its taste was familiar, though she couldn't exactly remember tasting it before.
The power in her wanted to find the source. To see it, explore it. Conquer it if it could be conquered. She turned on her heel, to the east and the forest, forgetting all-together the thirst she had been quenching for the curiosity now rising.
She followed the fading sparks of the magic's path, feeling it in her hands, her eyes, and a hot burning in the pit of her stomach. It did not hide itself, too small to attract most youkai, but that was only illusion. She could feel its hum, its pulse that beat through the ground beneathe her feet. It was strong.
The leaves parted before her steps as she walked calmly through the forest. One fell down towards her head, but hit air that rippled a pale line of pink light. The dry leaf skittered to the side to fall behind her. She didn't even notice.
Closer, she was getting closer. The faint trail was scattering on the wind, but she already knew the direction to go.
I'll just see what it is, make sure it's not dangerous, then leave. I'll...
Oh.
She broke the thick line of trees and stepped into a very small clearing. Surrounded by so many organic colours, the white and warmer red of his kimono screamed out for attention. Though it was slightly warn, it looked, from battle.
Is that...
The creature was propped against a tree, half-buried in a mound of snowy fur. She hesitated once, then stepped quietly, carefully around it. Not sure if there was even a reason to be so timid. But life on her own this last year had taught her a wealth of caution.
It is. Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha's older brother. He looks different.
Of course, he would, it had been how long since she had first and last seen him? That much time was bound to change a person. But it wasn't exactly his appearance, but more, his state of appearance. He looked bad, wounded.
Is he alive?
She knelt down, close near his head and peered into his red-staring eyes. Nothing changed. She reached out a seeking tendril of magic and gasped shortly as something forcefully batted it away.
Alive. He is definitely alive. Just not conscious. Gods, what happened? All that death-magic...was he the target?
She blinked, her eyes widening.
He should be dead.
She stared at him for long moments, then shook her head, stood up.
Doesn't matter. Whatever happened, it doesn't concern me.
She turned to go, but couldn't quite get herself to take those steps. After a few moments of internal struggle, the miko turned back to the fallen youkai lord and stared down at him.
I'll stay for a little while, just to see that nothing happens. Then I'll leave.
TBC...
A short prologue, the next chapter I like very much, which is odd for me...Anyway, anybody interested in reading more of this story, please review! Thanks! ^_^