Jackie: LOL, you guys crack me up. It's under category "Romance" with "Sesshomaru" and "other" listed as the primary characters. It would be fairly difficult to write a SesshomaruXoc romance if I permanently killed off Sesshomaru wouldn't it?
Chapter 11;
She fell to the ground threw herself over his body. Her mourning was interrupted by Tensaiga's pulse. She looked at the sword. Sesshomaru had told her he was sometimes compelled by the sword, but this was the first time she believed it. It was calling her, bidding her to grasp its hilt. She placed her hand on it and drew it.
She gasped in pain and shock as waves of energy pulsed through her. She felt pressure pushing on the stone embedded in her chest from the inside. So much pressure built that she could not breathe. It built and built until the stone shot out of her and shattered. She fell to her knees gasping for air. She had barely caught her breath when the sword pulsed again. She looked at Sesshomaru and she could see them; the messengers of the netherworld.
She sliced threw them and watched as the whole in Sesshomaru's body filled and his left arm regenerated. Breath filled him, and he opened his eyes. He sat up slowly, and then looked down at his chest. No expression hit his face. Methodically, his hands went to the place where there should have hole in him… Wait… HAND-S-?
He did not have time to consider it. Miyoiki dropped the sword and launched herself into his arms. She cried as she said, "My lord, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so happy you're alright."
Sesshomaru pushed her back and looked for the stone. Miyoiki gasped and looked away. That's right; you aren't supposed to touch him. She looked down at her hands as though they were dirty horrible things that had betrayed her.
Sesshomaru was more interested in Miyoiki's sternum. The stone was gone without so much as a mark. He almost smiled, not that Miyoiki noticed. She was too busy thinking about being so abruptly and roughly pushed away from him. Sesshomaru stood and said, "We have to go help the others."
"Of course, my lord," She said, and chastised herself. Now was not the time to think on such things as her growing attraction to the lord or his apparent rejection of her.
He took off and expected Miyoiki to follow him in flight, but he looked bellow and saw her struggling to keep up on foot. Had she spent her power? He landed in front of her and looked her up and down. She didn't look tired.
Miyoiki stopped in her tracks as Sesshomaru touched down in front of her. She shivered as his cold gaze swept over her in its usual analytical fashion. She fought the urge to cover herself with her arms, something about his eyes made her feel so exposed.
"Are you injured?" He asked, "Why are you not flying?"
"Oh that," Miyoiki started, "Um, I don't know how, my lord. I just got these wings today."
Sesshomaru didn't need to hear any more. He scooped her up bridal-style and took off again. He didn't ask her about how she had managed to fly while she was chasing him. Everything she had done, she hadn't actually done by her will but by Naraku's.
They touched down as a powerful blue and gold whirlwind of demonic energy decimated two bewildered incarnations while the third one fled as usual. Sesshomaru watched in amazement as Inuyasha's Backlash Wave won the battle hands down. How is it that he continues to grow so much in power?
The group turned and stared at Sesshomaru. It was Kagome that broke the silence with a squeal of delight, "How romantic! Your love must have broken the spell, right?"
Miyoiki, who had her arms folded to keep from returning the bridal embrace, blushed fifty different colors of red. Sesshomaru took note of several important details. For the second time Miyoiki refused to hold him, she was blushing and therefore ashamed, and he really didn't want to put her down. She felt natural, tucked in his arms like this. This was how it should be, and he would make it so… When they were alone, that is. This Sesshomaru always got what he wanted.
He set her down and said, "I carried her because speed was a necessity. Just as Inuyasha has often carried you."
Inuyasha knew exactly what his brother was really saying. I carried her because I had to, but yeah, I enjoyed it. Inuyasha sniffed at Kagome and grumped, "Geese Kagome, it was obvious to me. You always think everyone is in love with everyone else, sheesh. I carry ya all the time. It doesn't mean I love ya."
"Inuyasha," Kagome said sweetly….
"No wait!" Inuyasha pleaded, "Can't a guy help out his bro-"
"SIT BOY!" Kagome shouted and stalked off.
Sesshomaru said an internal 'thank you' to Inuyasha. Miyoiki had left the conversation, and was looking through her… cocoon… She still couldn't believe it. She wasn't human, she wasn't a demon, she was a metamorph, and from what Lord Sesshomaru had said, she was the only one. Where did that give her to go in this world?
Inuyasha stopped Kagome and they continued to bicker, while Sango tried to stop the argument. Sesshomaru was trying very hard not to be interested in what Miyoiki was doing, but Miroku was VERY interested. He took a step towards her with a lecherous smile, and Sesshomaru growled darkly. Miroku, instead of looking chastised, smiled at the demon lord and gave him a nod. Sesshomaru noted that he had just been given away to yet another person, and gave the monk a bonus point for cunning.
Sesshomaru turned to Miyoiki who was half inside her cocoon, rummaging for something. She pulled out with her sword and her bracer in hand and a few shreds of ruined garments. She groaned and let the shreds drop to the ground. I never ruined this many garments at the shrine. She turned to Sesshomaru and asked, "Where are Rin and the others, my lord?"
"They are safe," Sesshomaru answered plainly.
"Oh yeah!" Kagome added, "We had them hide away in a cave near here."
Miyoiki bowed to the band of strangers, remembering that when she had cracked out of her cocoon they were fighting by her lord's side. She looked at Kagome and said, "Thank you then, for doing my job in my absence. Thank you for protecting Rin and staying by my lord's side."
"Oh, it was nothing," Kagome cheeped.
"Yes, really, don't bother yourself with another thought on it," Sango added.
"Hey, it's our pleasure when Naraku's involved," Inuyasha said.
"How are you feeling?" Miroku asked, "This all must have been very frightening for you."
Miyoiki gave Miroku a look that could have iced hell. Was he serious? She felt like saying "Oh besides going through the most complete sense of pain I have ever experienced when I made this cocoon, finding out that everything I was and believed in was a lie, and…She glanced at Sesshomaru. For the first time in my life finding myself repulsive, I'm fine." All that came out was a grated, "I'm fine."
Sesshomaru heard the strain in her voice, and made note of it for later. Miroku sealed his lips; apparently he could tell when he'd hit a nerve. One more point for him in Sesshomaru's book.
She turned stiffly and asked, "Where is this cave? I must check on Rin."
"Go to the river, follow it north to a waterfall," Sango answered, "Behind the fall is the cave."
"Understood," was her simple reply.
Inuyasha grumped and said, "What's her problem?"
"Inuyasha!" Kagome groaned.
"Well, let's get Shippo," He said and everyone walked after Miyoiki.
Sesshomaru picked up his armor on the way, carrying it with his new left arm. Along the way Kagome leaned close to Inuyasha and said, "This is weird. We're all following Sesshomaru, but even weirder, he is walking behind Miyoiki."
"We are NOT following him," Inuyasha growled, "We're going to pick up Shippo!"
"You're missing the point!" Kagome groaned.
"No, I'm not," Inuyasha said, "Look you weren't exactly wrong about the whole Sesshomaru, Miyoiki situation, but he hasn't told her yet, so drop it!"
Kagome blinked and looked at Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru… In love? She blinked again and asked, "Um, exactly how did he end up with two arms again?"
The whole party stopped. Inuyasha gasped and yelled, "Hey, what's the deal? How'd you get your arm back?"
Sesshomaru glanced back over his shoulder and said, "Nothing gets past you, Inuyasha. I assume it returned when Miyoiki resurrected me with the Tensaiga."
Miyoiki flinched and stopped. She decided to answer before they asked, "He is correct. The sword prompted me to draw it. When I used it on my lord, that was the result."
"You used it on-" Inuyasha's jaw dropped open.
"But that would mean," Kagome started.
"That I killed him," Miyoiki said coldly, but she cast Sesshomaru a glance on the verge of tears that gave her away.
"No more questions," Sesshomaru growled back at Inuyasha and his group.
The rest of the trek was made in silence.
……………
Jackie: All better?