Love beyond the Western Lands
Chapter 10: Saved Yet Trapped
Sesshoumaru sat up with a jolt, his arms still around Kikyou. He looked for any signs of injury on Kikyou, but could not find any. He caressed her cheek with his fingers. "I guess I'll check for the Shikon shards," he thought. Lying Kikyou carefully down, and dove under the water, looking for shards.
As he went deeper and deeper, he saw two glints. Picking them both up carefully, he swam back up to the cave where Kikyou lay, but something made his heart sink: The entrance in which they came in was blocked with rubble. They could not get out!
"I'll wait until Kikyou awakes," he thought, swimming up, "then, we'll create a plan to get out together."
When he reached Kikyou, she was already awake. "Oh, Sesshoumaru!" She gasped with relief, running up to him and hugging him. "Thank the gods you're alive!"
Sesshoumaru hugged Kikyou in return. "I retrieved the shards for you!" Sesshoumaru said, handing the two jewel fragments to Kikyou. "Really!" Kikyou exclaimed in happiness. "Arigato gozaimasu! (Thank you very much)"
Sesshoumaru was happy to see Kikyou alive and happy. "Now, if we can just get out of here…" "Why?" Kikyou asked. "Is the entrance blocked?" "Yes," Sesshoumaru said. "Do you think there is another way out?" "Perhaps," Kikyou said, "Lets look."
Kikyou plunged into the freezing water and heard another splash, which told her that Sesshoumaru is right behind her. She swam over to the blocked entrance. "We can blast our way through," Kikyou said (the effect of the potion was still in effect until they were out of the water for 24 hours). Using her Punisher's Anger blast, she tried to blast some of the rubble out. But instead of getting out of the way, it repelled Kikyou off.
"It's probably a spell to keep us trapped," Sesshoumaru said, swimming over to Kikyou. "Yes, it is," Kikyou said. "But that… youkai (She didn't want to say his name for his perverted ways) must have an emergency escape." "You're right," Sesshoumaru said. "And these walls are lined with the symbol of the different elements. Perhaps one of them is a button." "Yes," Kikyou said, "and the symbol of water is a drop of water, so it must be that. If not, it's probably a puzzle."
They swam in the chilly water, running their wet hands over the different icons. Nothing was found, until Kikyou found the symbol of water, jutting out. "Sesshoumaru, I think I found it!" Kikyou yelled, bubbles blobbing through her mouth.
Sesshoumaru swam over to her, until he found something jutting out on the other side as well… "Kikyou?" Sesshoumaru said questioningly. "Why is it that I have found another symbol of water, jutting out also?" "Nani (What)?" Kikyou said, marking her symbol with her sharp nails and swimming over to Sesshoumaru.
Kikyou carefully inspected the second icon. "According to Master Kayo," Kikyou began, "all icons, even ones that look identical, have different properties." Kikyou unsheathed her blade. "Sonic of truth." Her katana glowed green and pulsated. With a swift slash, the green aura relinquished its possession of the katana and spread all around Kikyou and Sesshoumaru.
The two symbols caught the green aura. The symbol found by Kikyou turned red. Sesshoumaru's symbol remained green. "It appears your symbol is the true exit," Kikyou said, sheathing her katana. "Let's press it." "Wait," Sesshoumaru said. "How do you know that it can fool us?" "Master Kayo's spells always speak the truth," Kikyou said with a smile. "Alright." Sesshoumaru pushed the symbol. GRRRRRRRRRNNNNNNNN! The circular bottom groaned and turned. They both swam down as it went deeper and deeper.
When the bottom stopped moving, moonlight beamed through the water. Kikyou felt as if she could not longer breathe underwater. "Our potion spells are wearing off; take a deep breath before continuing! Remember: These waters are poisoned!" Kikyou said quickly before gasping a large breath of air. Sesshoumaru sucked in his breath and continued upwards.
Kikyou kicked her long slender legs, pumping herself upwards. Suddenly, her world was spinning right before her eyes. Her vision began to get blur. She felt she could no longer continue. She felt her lungs were about to giveaway. She continued to hold her breath, with no desire to taste the tainted water. She swam over to a root jutting out from a muddy wall.
Sesshoumaru turned around. Kikyou motioned him to continue. Sesshoumaru did not budge. "I'll be fine," Kikyou thought, sending her telepathic message to Sesshoumaru. "You just hurry," he sent back, swimming up slowly, but looking back a few times.
With her mind going blank, Kikyou lost conscious, floating in the water.
Sesshoumaru leapt out of the water, using his magic to dry himself and change back to his regular kimono. "Kikyou!" Sesshoumaru screamed, and plunged back into the water.
Swimming down as quickly as possible, he saw Kikyou's beautiful purple hair, however, she was sinking lower and lower. "Kikyou!" Sesshoumaru thought frantically. In his armor, he rummaged for a second and pulled out Jaken's breathing potion and gulped it down. Swimming quickly to Kikyou, he noticed many tentacles dragging her down. "No…" He yanked out Toukijin and pointed it at some of the tentacles. With a sharp prod, the tentacles released Kikyou of their bonds.
He gasped. A HUGE tentacle dragged Kikyou further and further. Sesshoumaru's prods didn't make it let go of Kikyou. "Let… go… of… KIKYOU!" He screamed, slashing the tentacle. It withered and disintegrated. Sheathing his Toukijin back, he pulled Kikyou back up to the surface and onto dry grounds. He dried them both with his magic. He placed his hand on Kikyou's neck. "Poisoned waters that take thy air be gone!" Her neck glowing white, the water left Kikyou's body as a tainted soul.
Kikyou felt the dead souls flowing back to her as she opened her eyes. She was out of the pool, and on dry ground. Sitting up, she wondered where Sesshoumaru was as she changed back into her miko outfit. "Sesshoumaru?" Kikyou called out quietly, and stood up. No answer. "Sesshoumaru!" Kikyou called out loudly again. No answer.
Feeling tears burning the back of her eyes, she called out again. "He couldn't have left me," Kikyou thought with hope, "he couldn't have…" "SESSHOUMARU!" Kikyou screamed into the endless field. Tears rolled down her smooth face. "Sesshoumaru…" She choked out crying, slamming her fist on the tree, making it fall down, "Sesshoumaru, you baka…." Sitting down on the tree, Kikyou cried, tears spilling out of her dark eyes.
Suddenly, she felt arms around her and spun around. There was Sesshoumaru, standing there. Kikyou bit her lip. "Y-YOU BIG BAKA!" she screamed at him, slamming her fists on him, tears spilling out of her eyes. "WHY DID YOU DO THAT? YOU HAD ME WORRIED!" Kikyou threw her arms around Sesshoumaru and cried even more onto his shoulder.
Sesshoumaru wrapped her arms around Kikyou, running his fingers through her soft hair. "I'm here now, Dear Kikyou, I'm here."
To be continued…
