Thanks so much for the reviews, Anandria! I'm going to start responding to reviews at the end of the chapters.
I'd like to thank Kat Morning for the setting of my story, which is based on the alternate universe of her inu fanfic "Blood Ties."
Disclaimer: I do not own Miroku, Sesshomeru, Rin, Tessaiga or any other Inuyasha characters/symbols. They are owned by their author/creator, Rumiko Takahashi.
Chapter 11: Sesshomeru's Promise
Several hours after Sesshomeru left, there was a gentle tapping on the door.
"Rin? What are you doing here?
Rin was holding the same tray she had held before. "You never got a chance to eat the soba noodles before.
Kura could feel some of the tension in her shoulders ease. Even if Rin could offer no more than pity and plain soba noodles, it was comforting for Kura to know she had a friend. "Thank you, Rin-chan.
The endearment sounded awkward to Kura's ears, but Rin smiled tremulously. "It's nothing, I just heated them up in the microwave." Rin avoided the other woman's eyes.
Kura tasted the dish cautiously, then shoveled the noodles into her mouth. Plain, yes, but it was food. Kura couldn't clearly remember the last meal she'd eaten. "I'ss delis'ous," she mumbled through a mouthful.
Rin put a hand over her mouth to hide her smile; her giggle was high-pitched and hollow. "If there's anything you needÉ" she began with false cheer, but her voice cracked. Tears welled up; the light's reflection shivered and danced in her watery eyes. "Kura-chan, I'm so sorry. Sesshomeru-dono said-- he said--
The last of her composure dissolved. She sat down on the edge of the bed and wailed "He said he would have to kill you
Kura's family had never been very physically affectionate, so it was awkward for her to put her arms around Rin. It was Rin who shifted their positions to be more comfortable as she sobbed with her head on the other woman's shoulder. "I know, Rin-chan. It's all right. I know.
Rin pushed herself away so she could look Kura in the face. "Aren't you afraid to die?
"I want to live, but there's nothing to fear from dying. I have a greater fear of the pain that comes before he kills me
"Don't." Rin had stopped crying, and was now being the comforter. "Don't be afraid of that anymore. He promised-- he promised he wouldn't hurt you any more." With her arms around Kura's shoulders, Rin could feel the tensed muscles relaxing. "Kura-chan, I'm so sorry.
"Thank you, Rin-chan." The young woman sniffed loudly and hurried from the room.
Kura closed her eyes, at peace. There was only one more thing she needed to do.
--------------------
Sesshomeru was practicing sword strokes in a large room he had set aside as a martial-arts studio. He was practicing accuracy by slicing through the heads of pins that were jabbed into the wooden practice dummies. Under normal circumstances, Sesshomeru' accuracy could split a hair. Today, his anger was getting the better of him, and he missed the pin two times in a row. He ignored Kura, who had approached slowly and was now leaning on the door frame, watching his sword-practice. After several minutes, he deigned to acknowledge her presence, sheathing his Tesseiga and demanding, "What is it, Senior?
Kura had been mesmerized by the display of martial arts. He was far more graceful than any dancer, although many powerful demons showed similar effortless smooth movement. She ruefully recalled being paired up with a rookie who complained that demons were just ballerinas from hell. Kura was so amazed by the Demon Lord's speed and skill that it took her almost twenty seconds to notice what was wrong: the wooden dummies were still intact. He slashed through them over and over, but there wasn't even a scratch on them. She was wondering about this when Sesshomeru's abrupt question startled her.
"Oh. Sesshomeru-sama, you asked me what happened last night. What hurt me." She took a deep breath and said in a rush, "I fought an old vampire who claimed to be a Nosferatu lord. I was able to pin him down with a spell and escaped by running to your territory.
Sesshomeru approached until he was standing two feet away from her. He could smell her sweat, and also the lingering stench of fresh blood: her wound had not yet reclosed completely. His low voice was almost gentle when he asked, "You expect me to believe that you fought a Nosferatu lord and lived? What proof do you have that he was a lord?
She dropped her eyes. "He was ancient . . . I once fought a vampire who was two hundred years old, but this Nosferatu was older . . . probably more than twice as old. And he commanded at least two other Nosferatu.
Sesshomeru was surprised. "They followed his orders?
"I believe so. I killed two who were defending the Lord. There were at least fifty lower vampires guarding him as well. They must be turning every human they kill. Also, the Lord . . . he said something strange." She closed her eyes and was silent for so long Sesshomeru wondered if she had fallen asleep standing up, but she finally said, "He called himself Naru. He said that . . . when the Gathering comes, he will have ancient power and rule over everyone." She opened her eyes again, and was startled at the effect of her words.
The Demon Lord's aura was crackling with power, as if he was in the midst of battle. His eyes glowed. One clawed hand caught Kura by the throat and lifted her into the air. He didn't choke her, but he pressed her carotid arteries closed with his fingertips.
Kura croaked, "Sesshomeru-sama? . . . why?" Black spots were creeping in from the edge of her vision. Somewhere in her mind, a rational voice explained that the demon was cutting off the supply of oxygen to her brain.
Sesshomeru bared his fangs and whispered, "If you are lying to me, woman . . ." He tossed her through the doorway; she landed heavily in the hall and stared up into his demonic eyes . . . All of the pain and fear of the past twenty-four hours tore through her chest. She pushed herself up into a crouch and leapt at him, clawing at his eyes like a wild creature.
Sesshomeru was so taken aback by the woman's sudden beserker fit that he didn't even block; if not for his battle aura she might have landed the blow. As it was, he received only a small scratch on his left cheek as the aura crackled with energy and threw her the length of the hall; she smashed into a full-length mirror and slumped on the ground beneath it, panting and trembling.
The Demon Lord watched. After two minutes of silence, Kura muttered, "You bastard. The information wasn't for you . . . It was for Rin. To protect her . . ." Kura's shoulders heaved as she began to sob. For a moment, it had seemed so easy to let go of this world. If he had just accepted her information and killed her, it would have been so easy. It was too late now; the moment's peace had been shattered like the mirror she was leaning against.
Sesshomeru touched the scratch on his cheek, and his fingers came away stained with a thin line of blood. It was incredible that a mere human had inflicted a wound, however small, through his battle aura. For that moment, her spirit had blazed with true power from her rage and fear. Sesshomeru, who always fought with cool detachment and despised emotions, stood amazed by this human woman's passion.
Kura put her hands on the floor next to her to push herself to her feet, and winced when shards of glass sliced deep into her flesh. Sesshomeru saw her wince, smelled the metallic scent of her blood. He commanded, "Stop!" Kura froze, terrified, but wouldn't look at the demon.
Slowly, with dignity, Sesshomeru knelt beside the Senior and took her bleeding hands in his own. "Kura?" he said as gently as he could, and felt her stiffen with surprise and suspicion. She risked a glance at his face and her attention was transfixed by his liquid-gold eyes. "Forgive me, Kura, for doubting your gift." The shameful words tasted like bile in his mouth, but he continued, "You don't need to fear me, ever again.
He picked her up with the same care he would have shown Rin, careful to avoid the fragments of the mirror that winked up at him from the floor. He carried her back to his own room. She was dazed with pain and confusion, but she rested her head against his chest, and smelled the musky odor of the demon's sweat. His body was so warm, and she felt so cold . . .
Kura was mostly conscious while Sesshomeru carefully extracted the bits of glass buried in her cuts and bandaged her hands. He also changed the blood-soaked bandage on her side. Her skin was cool and becoming clammy from sweat. She had lost too much blood, and was unable to maintain her body temperature. With infinite gentleness, he slipped under the covers beside her and rolled her onto her right side so that her back was to him. He nested his own body against her back, tucked his right arm under her head as a pillow and used his left arm to hold her close. After a moment, her breathing became deep and regular, and her body warmed.
Sesshomeru tried to remember the last time he held a sleeping woman in his arms besides his foster child. The demon women he had pursued over his lifetime would never spend the night after sex; that would have required trust and intimacy. This was true for most demons: Sesshomeru knew that his own parents had slept in separate bedrooms. And yet . . . his father's second wife, a young human woman, had slept every night in her husband's arms.
Sesshomeru had hated his father for that disgraceful behavior. His father's perverse attraction to humans had been humiliating even before he married that human girl. Sesshomeru had found the stain of having a half-breed brother unforgivable.
"So this is what my father, the fearsome Lord of the West, desired," mused Sesshomeru, "peace and intimacy." It was an unsettling thought; Sesshomeru had never before believed his father weak.
What was terrible, though, was that Sesshomeru suspected the desire for intimacy had been passed down from father to son, and now poisoned his own blood.
Reviews Responses:
Anandria-- Thanks so much for putting up with Fanfic traffic to read my story. You're absolutely right, she put her life in danger, but remember that Kura's not only skilled but, as you noticed, she plans ahead and also thinks on her feet. She would have been fine if she hadn't gone after a Nosferatu Lord.
--Miroku lives on the outskirts of the city, so Kura couldn't have reached him in time.
--You could say she was suicidal when she ran into Sesshy's territory, but I think of it as a choice she made to die as a human rather than to be turned into a monster.
--So far, I'm not planning on including the Shikon no Tama, just because I'm trying to create some mythology of my own. Read on, and you'll learn about the mystical power of the Gathering!
Aelluvia-- Uh, no, I'm a Quaker, not a Sadist. Thanks for asking. Still, thanks for the review.
I'd like to thank Kat Morning for the setting of my story, which is based on the alternate universe of her inu fanfic "Blood Ties."
Disclaimer: I do not own Miroku, Sesshomeru, Rin, Tessaiga or any other Inuyasha characters/symbols. They are owned by their author/creator, Rumiko Takahashi.
Chapter 11: Sesshomeru's Promise
Several hours after Sesshomeru left, there was a gentle tapping on the door.
"Rin? What are you doing here?
Rin was holding the same tray she had held before. "You never got a chance to eat the soba noodles before.
Kura could feel some of the tension in her shoulders ease. Even if Rin could offer no more than pity and plain soba noodles, it was comforting for Kura to know she had a friend. "Thank you, Rin-chan.
The endearment sounded awkward to Kura's ears, but Rin smiled tremulously. "It's nothing, I just heated them up in the microwave." Rin avoided the other woman's eyes.
Kura tasted the dish cautiously, then shoveled the noodles into her mouth. Plain, yes, but it was food. Kura couldn't clearly remember the last meal she'd eaten. "I'ss delis'ous," she mumbled through a mouthful.
Rin put a hand over her mouth to hide her smile; her giggle was high-pitched and hollow. "If there's anything you needÉ" she began with false cheer, but her voice cracked. Tears welled up; the light's reflection shivered and danced in her watery eyes. "Kura-chan, I'm so sorry. Sesshomeru-dono said-- he said--
The last of her composure dissolved. She sat down on the edge of the bed and wailed "He said he would have to kill you
Kura's family had never been very physically affectionate, so it was awkward for her to put her arms around Rin. It was Rin who shifted their positions to be more comfortable as she sobbed with her head on the other woman's shoulder. "I know, Rin-chan. It's all right. I know.
Rin pushed herself away so she could look Kura in the face. "Aren't you afraid to die?
"I want to live, but there's nothing to fear from dying. I have a greater fear of the pain that comes before he kills me
"Don't." Rin had stopped crying, and was now being the comforter. "Don't be afraid of that anymore. He promised-- he promised he wouldn't hurt you any more." With her arms around Kura's shoulders, Rin could feel the tensed muscles relaxing. "Kura-chan, I'm so sorry.
"Thank you, Rin-chan." The young woman sniffed loudly and hurried from the room.
Kura closed her eyes, at peace. There was only one more thing she needed to do.
--------------------
Sesshomeru was practicing sword strokes in a large room he had set aside as a martial-arts studio. He was practicing accuracy by slicing through the heads of pins that were jabbed into the wooden practice dummies. Under normal circumstances, Sesshomeru' accuracy could split a hair. Today, his anger was getting the better of him, and he missed the pin two times in a row. He ignored Kura, who had approached slowly and was now leaning on the door frame, watching his sword-practice. After several minutes, he deigned to acknowledge her presence, sheathing his Tesseiga and demanding, "What is it, Senior?
Kura had been mesmerized by the display of martial arts. He was far more graceful than any dancer, although many powerful demons showed similar effortless smooth movement. She ruefully recalled being paired up with a rookie who complained that demons were just ballerinas from hell. Kura was so amazed by the Demon Lord's speed and skill that it took her almost twenty seconds to notice what was wrong: the wooden dummies were still intact. He slashed through them over and over, but there wasn't even a scratch on them. She was wondering about this when Sesshomeru's abrupt question startled her.
"Oh. Sesshomeru-sama, you asked me what happened last night. What hurt me." She took a deep breath and said in a rush, "I fought an old vampire who claimed to be a Nosferatu lord. I was able to pin him down with a spell and escaped by running to your territory.
Sesshomeru approached until he was standing two feet away from her. He could smell her sweat, and also the lingering stench of fresh blood: her wound had not yet reclosed completely. His low voice was almost gentle when he asked, "You expect me to believe that you fought a Nosferatu lord and lived? What proof do you have that he was a lord?
She dropped her eyes. "He was ancient . . . I once fought a vampire who was two hundred years old, but this Nosferatu was older . . . probably more than twice as old. And he commanded at least two other Nosferatu.
Sesshomeru was surprised. "They followed his orders?
"I believe so. I killed two who were defending the Lord. There were at least fifty lower vampires guarding him as well. They must be turning every human they kill. Also, the Lord . . . he said something strange." She closed her eyes and was silent for so long Sesshomeru wondered if she had fallen asleep standing up, but she finally said, "He called himself Naru. He said that . . . when the Gathering comes, he will have ancient power and rule over everyone." She opened her eyes again, and was startled at the effect of her words.
The Demon Lord's aura was crackling with power, as if he was in the midst of battle. His eyes glowed. One clawed hand caught Kura by the throat and lifted her into the air. He didn't choke her, but he pressed her carotid arteries closed with his fingertips.
Kura croaked, "Sesshomeru-sama? . . . why?" Black spots were creeping in from the edge of her vision. Somewhere in her mind, a rational voice explained that the demon was cutting off the supply of oxygen to her brain.
Sesshomeru bared his fangs and whispered, "If you are lying to me, woman . . ." He tossed her through the doorway; she landed heavily in the hall and stared up into his demonic eyes . . . All of the pain and fear of the past twenty-four hours tore through her chest. She pushed herself up into a crouch and leapt at him, clawing at his eyes like a wild creature.
Sesshomeru was so taken aback by the woman's sudden beserker fit that he didn't even block; if not for his battle aura she might have landed the blow. As it was, he received only a small scratch on his left cheek as the aura crackled with energy and threw her the length of the hall; she smashed into a full-length mirror and slumped on the ground beneath it, panting and trembling.
The Demon Lord watched. After two minutes of silence, Kura muttered, "You bastard. The information wasn't for you . . . It was for Rin. To protect her . . ." Kura's shoulders heaved as she began to sob. For a moment, it had seemed so easy to let go of this world. If he had just accepted her information and killed her, it would have been so easy. It was too late now; the moment's peace had been shattered like the mirror she was leaning against.
Sesshomeru touched the scratch on his cheek, and his fingers came away stained with a thin line of blood. It was incredible that a mere human had inflicted a wound, however small, through his battle aura. For that moment, her spirit had blazed with true power from her rage and fear. Sesshomeru, who always fought with cool detachment and despised emotions, stood amazed by this human woman's passion.
Kura put her hands on the floor next to her to push herself to her feet, and winced when shards of glass sliced deep into her flesh. Sesshomeru saw her wince, smelled the metallic scent of her blood. He commanded, "Stop!" Kura froze, terrified, but wouldn't look at the demon.
Slowly, with dignity, Sesshomeru knelt beside the Senior and took her bleeding hands in his own. "Kura?" he said as gently as he could, and felt her stiffen with surprise and suspicion. She risked a glance at his face and her attention was transfixed by his liquid-gold eyes. "Forgive me, Kura, for doubting your gift." The shameful words tasted like bile in his mouth, but he continued, "You don't need to fear me, ever again.
He picked her up with the same care he would have shown Rin, careful to avoid the fragments of the mirror that winked up at him from the floor. He carried her back to his own room. She was dazed with pain and confusion, but she rested her head against his chest, and smelled the musky odor of the demon's sweat. His body was so warm, and she felt so cold . . .
Kura was mostly conscious while Sesshomeru carefully extracted the bits of glass buried in her cuts and bandaged her hands. He also changed the blood-soaked bandage on her side. Her skin was cool and becoming clammy from sweat. She had lost too much blood, and was unable to maintain her body temperature. With infinite gentleness, he slipped under the covers beside her and rolled her onto her right side so that her back was to him. He nested his own body against her back, tucked his right arm under her head as a pillow and used his left arm to hold her close. After a moment, her breathing became deep and regular, and her body warmed.
Sesshomeru tried to remember the last time he held a sleeping woman in his arms besides his foster child. The demon women he had pursued over his lifetime would never spend the night after sex; that would have required trust and intimacy. This was true for most demons: Sesshomeru knew that his own parents had slept in separate bedrooms. And yet . . . his father's second wife, a young human woman, had slept every night in her husband's arms.
Sesshomeru had hated his father for that disgraceful behavior. His father's perverse attraction to humans had been humiliating even before he married that human girl. Sesshomeru had found the stain of having a half-breed brother unforgivable.
"So this is what my father, the fearsome Lord of the West, desired," mused Sesshomeru, "peace and intimacy." It was an unsettling thought; Sesshomeru had never before believed his father weak.
What was terrible, though, was that Sesshomeru suspected the desire for intimacy had been passed down from father to son, and now poisoned his own blood.
Reviews Responses:
Anandria-- Thanks so much for putting up with Fanfic traffic to read my story. You're absolutely right, she put her life in danger, but remember that Kura's not only skilled but, as you noticed, she plans ahead and also thinks on her feet. She would have been fine if she hadn't gone after a Nosferatu Lord.
--Miroku lives on the outskirts of the city, so Kura couldn't have reached him in time.
--You could say she was suicidal when she ran into Sesshy's territory, but I think of it as a choice she made to die as a human rather than to be turned into a monster.
--So far, I'm not planning on including the Shikon no Tama, just because I'm trying to create some mythology of my own. Read on, and you'll learn about the mystical power of the Gathering!
Aelluvia-- Uh, no, I'm a Quaker, not a Sadist. Thanks for asking. Still, thanks for the review.