Chickahominy Creek
Chapter 6: Repetition
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
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Kenichi Matsuka scowled at the scene at his feet, attempting to keep a straight face despite the overwhelming tightening of his belly. Matsuka had been manager of the West Tokyo Water Treatment facility for eight years and he had never been faced with a situation like this. His employees were gathered behind him, nervously whispering amongst themselves. One man leaned forward to get a better look, but Matsuka held him back with a stiff arm.
"No one is getting any closer than this," he said, just loud enough for the men to hear. "I don't want anyone to step beyond this railing, is that understood?"
There was a murmur of agreement behind him. One of the men asked if he should contact the police and Matsuka nodded, motioning the man away. When there was room enough, he stepped under the guard rail and leaned over the edge of the number six filter bed. The motors, usually moving steadily with a loud whirring sound were silent. Only a few mummers, dripping water, and the muffled shuffling of feet echoed over the plant.
The manager leaned down, belly flat against the concrete to get a better look at the water, but not close enough to touch the contaminated liquid. It was dark red, darker than the crimson of his working uniform. The liquid practically shivered. It was thicker than the water that should have been running through the long pipes, thick enough that it was almost gelatin in viscosity. The air left a coppery tang in his mouth, as if he had just bit his own tongue.
No, he wouldn't be the one to touch it.
Matsuka pushed away and stood up on unsteady feet. He had only been near it for five minutes or so, but already he felt light-headed. With careful hands, he readjusted a pair of thin wire glasses, pushing them up higher on his nose.
"No one touches anything until the police get here, absolutely no one."
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Kagome gave Sesshoumaru the most intimidating glare she could possibly manage—in her pink bathrobe and fuzzy slippers. "Just eat it, you stubborn excuse for a demon."
Sesshoumaru shoved the plate away, leaving the chopsticks at his side untouched. "And once again miko, I do not eat your food." The demon in question folded his arms and leaned into his chair, back straight with shoulders squared.
She didn't have time for this. Any minute now, two relatively unwelcome guests were about to knock on her door, and she was still in fuzzy slippers and pajamas. She hadn't even had a chance to brush her hair yet and her "guest" was putting up a fight.
Trying to keep herself calm, she thrust the plate back across the table. "Would that be mine specifically, or human food in general?" Sesshoumaru shrugged and something told Kagome that her answer was both. "Inuyasha ate it and didn't die," she muttered sullenly. He was just doing it to spite her.
The demon lord's eyes narrowed. "My brother was not a full demon. He lowered himself by eating such sop." Clawed fingers pinched a piece of egg off the plate. Sesshoumaru examined it for a second before flicking it toward Kagome where it landed in the hem of her robe. "Treat me with more respect miko. The only reason you're still breathing is because I'm not entirely sure what to do with you yet."
"Well, in case you haven't noticed, Sesshoumaru-sama," Kagome said, accenting the honorific, "you aren't exactly in control here to begin with. You can't do anything to me!"
Kagome immediately bit her tongue. Why had she said that? Now was not the time to be arguing with Sesshoumaru. If he didn't want to eat then he could either fend for himself or starve. As a guest in her home, she had though cooking for him was showing common courtesy. She waited for his retort, sure that he would not take her insult.
However, she might as well have shouted at a mountain, because Sesshoumaru didn't remark on her outburst at all. Instead, he pushed the plate away and stood up, moving toward the coffee table where he had set down one of the books from her office earlier. He settled himself neatly amongst the cushions and retrieved the text, placing it on his lap before thumbing through to the bookmarked page.
"I suggest you get dressed miko," he said, not bothering to glance up. "Your guests are due in a couple of hours and I do not want to be kept waiting for your response. I have questions of my own."
He carefully turned over another page, handling her book as if he might break it, but he didn't say another word. Kagome thought about telling him that he could ask whatever he wished before her "guests" arrived, but thought better of it. Sesshoumaru would not likely respond and it would probably be better to reveal all the details at once than have to repeat things, which would undoubtedly be the case.
Kagome removed his plate from the table, shoveling a few swallows of egg herself before throwing the rest away and washing the plate. Due to the silence, she could have been alone in the apartment, but as she cleaned up after breakfast, she could feel Sesshoumaru in the area behind her. He made absolutely no sound and even the book he held did not rustle when his fingers turned the leaves. The lord of the western lands was a powerful demon, and although her miko powers were tingling just beneath the surface, they were not bursting and aching to escape her as they normally would in such a presence.
Which means they don't perceive of him as a threat?
An eerie possibility.
Kagome chose to ignore Sesshoumaru for the time being and instead moved toward her room, closing the door and locking it further behind her. The last thing she needed was a full grown demon poking his head through the door at an unwanted time. Not that Sesshoumaru would so much as consider walking into her room like that—he wasn't Miroku—but she felt more comfortable with the door locked.
Her robe and underwear shed, Kagome flicked on the light in the bathroom and began running the hot water for her shower. When the temperature was to her liking, she ducked beneath the faucet and let the liquid cover her body. The liquid provided comfortable warmth. Perhaps if she stayed under long enough, it would wash everything away—memories, recent events, her emerging power. Everything was a mess. She thought she was over drastic changes in her life, through with demons, mystical powers, things trying to kill her.
It was harder this time. As a girl, she had Inuyasha and her friends. She had companions who cared about her, people she would have given her life for in a heartbeat. Last time she knew what was happening. She had a goal, she had a purpose in the scheme of things, clearly defined—this time she had no clue. She had invited two perfect strangers into her home to discuss a past she had not told to her closest friends, there was a demon who would just as soon help her as slit her throat in her living room, and somehow, she still had to work on her next book in order to pay for the roof over her head.
She felt her throat catch, but her eyes remained dry, choking on tears that wouldn't come. Shivers raced over her skin and she leaned sideways to allow the tiles to take her weight. Somehow, with one hand on the soap rack, she managed to retain her balance on shaky legs. Everything in her wanted to scream and curse the world, beat her fists against the tile until either the wall split or her hands bled from the impact. She wanted to shove so much of her power down "Mr. High and Mighty Demon Bastard's" throat that he turned into a pile of ash at her feet—ashes she would proceed to scatter over a dumpster. However, cries were no easier than tears. Her emotions were stuck in a soundproof chamber hidden in her mind. Inside she was screaming her lungs raw, but no one on the outside could hear. It was stuck, a cold for the heart…
Kagome clung to the rock, squeezing the jagged edges tightly enough to draw blood. It was rare that the group could take a rest from shard hunting and after finding the small spring, Kagome had been relieved—to finally be clean. The water should have relaxed her, she should be able to wash away problems along with the grime and dirt from the road—but it didn't work that way. Now she was clinging to the shore, unable to forget anything. She didn't have time to cry. Shouldn't cry. Not until Naraku was gone, when Miroku was free from his curse and Sango's family avenged. Not until she could put a completed jewel into Inuyasha's hands and tell him it was over, that Kikyou had not died in vain no matter how much those words would wound her heart.
It wasn't as if the water wasn't trying. Tiny waves lapped at her skin like a mother's hands, soothing and patient. But there was no water inside to cleanse her.
"Kagome?"
Kagome started at the voice, turning quickly to face the source. He stood on the opposite bank, his fire-rat kimono making him immediately recognizable in the dim light. From where she stood, his face looked creased with concern, eyes a few shades darker than their normal hew in the dim light but glowing softly, like light distilled through a bottle of aged wine. Those eyes were focused on her, watching her every movement.
She wasn't exactly surprised to know he was there. Both she and Sango had discovered long ago that Inuyasha was never far away when they chose to move away from the camp to bath. After the initial anger had subsided, both women had realized that the hanyou had only their safety in mind and neither had ever noticed eyes wandering toward where they did not belong. More often than not, Inuyasha stayed in a nearby tree, up high enough that he could see nothing but still hear any nearby threats before they became a problem. Typically, he never left harbor of the branches—until now.
Part of her wanted to scream and take out all of her frustration on him, but her mouth wouldn't work. Words could not seem to make it passed her lips.
Inuyasha stood on the bank for another moment, but seeing that she made no move toward him nor any objection to his presence, he began to slowly remove the fire-rat kimono, giving her amble time to stop him if she wanted. Kagome gave him no such signal. Once his kimono was hung safely on a nearby branch, Inuyasha moved toward the water, making his way carefully toward the girl clinging to the rock.
Kagome watched him approach with wary eyes. Despite his careful movements, he moved through the water with purpose, not stopping until he was right in front of her. Thousands of thoughts flashed through Kagome's mind as he came closer. Every nerve in her mind was telling her mouth to move, to say the words that would make him go away. However, something must have misfired because her lips still wouldn't move. Her body shook, but remained rooted to the rocks like a piece of moss, permanent fixture. All she could do was watch with large eyes as Inuyasha moved toward her until he was right in front of her.
A clawed hand reached up and brushed away a lock of dark wet hair. It traced along her forehead, behind her ear, her jaw line. It made its way to her shoulder and then hooked behind her back, drawing her closer to his warmed body until they were standing hip to hip. Another hand found its way under her arm to rest on the small of her back, drawing tiny circles that sent the first tear sliding down her cheek. It wasn't a possessive grip, just a comforting one, a shelter. Her ear collided with his chest as his head came to rest on her hair. She could hear his heart beating, solid and steady—hers was ramming hard against her rib cage, like a tiny bird trying to escape.
"Just cry, Kagome." The words, slightly muffled by her hair, tripped a switch that released the dam. She let one sob escape and before she knew it, her body was heaving with them as tears fell one after another to join the water that pooled around her. It was another drop in a sea of troubles.
She wasn't sure how long they stood there, nor could she have said when Inuyasha had picked her and carried her out of the spring. All she knew was eventually she fell asleep, and that when she awoke, she was wrapped in Inuyasha's kimono and still in his arms, cradled in his lap in the branches of a tree. He was awake when she opened her eyes, watching her protectively and still tracing tiny circles along her back…
Kagome clamped down on her emotions. Inuyasha was not here to cling to anymore, no matter how much she wished him to be. She began to reach for the shampoo when the water suddenly stopped. Kagome stepped back and stared at the showerhead. It sounded like the water couldn't get through. Once, when Souta had been a kid, he had stuffed play-dough into the faucet in the kitchen. When her mother had gone to turn it one, the blocked faucet had sounded like it was choking. It was the same sound, like something was dying. She reached forward to turn off the water when something stung her hand.
She couldn't hold back a scream. It felt like acid eating in to her skin, digging until it got to the bone. She clutched her hand to her chest, wincing reflexively at the pain until she forced her eyes to open. A dark red substance with the consistency of Jell-O was pushing its way through the showerhead and began falling into a clump on the bottom of her shower. There was a cracking sound and with horror, Kagome realized that the showerhead was beginning to crack.
Before she could fully register the thought, it exploded. Red globs spilled to the floor and before Kagome's eyes started to mold into a humanoid figure. A head appeared first, faceless with hollows for eyes, a grinning skull that seemed to laugh at her plight. Then, there came a pair shoulders, arms and a torso.
Kagome didn't want to wait to find out what emerged from the pile on her shower floor. She threw herself to the side and hurled the shower door open, struggling across the bathroom's slippery floor in an effort to make it to her bedroom. Her feet slid on the rug next to the sink. Her body hit the ground and breath escaped her lungs in a whoosh of air. Flailing arms tried to locate the sink to regain her footing, but before she could pull herself up, pain ripped through her ankle. It was one of the worst things she had ever felt. Instinct caused her to look down and she released all her pent-up terror into one scream. A molten hand had her ankle and fire shot up her captured limb at every point of contact. Then, to her horror, the red material moved through her skin, slipping underneath like her skin was nothing more than fine linen. She felt it ripple, moving through like some kind of parasite.
Some part of her mind told her not to panic, but it didn't slow the wild palpitations of her heart as she clawed at the carpet in an attempt to get away. Her muscles felt weaker with each thrust, but despite her struggle, she couldn't get the creature to release her foot. She kicked and bucked, but to no avail.
Finally, she put everything she had left in to one desperate cry: "Sesshoumaru, Sesshoumaru!"
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Sesshoumaru leafed through what the miko called a textbook. Carefully studying each page, paying close attention to every line. It was difficult at first. The language was not what he was used to, it was—modern. Not that it surprised him. After several hundred years, it was to be expected. He still had trouble occasionally when the miko spoke to him. The inflections, vocabulary, and accent were all unfamiliar to him. And it was rude, this new language. It lacked the courtesy and honor that the old one had shown. Product of a new age indeed, he thought.
Despite his dislike for the creatures, however, he had to admire some of the advances they had made. Before his arrival, he would have never thought half of the things he saw in the overly large village were possible. Metal palaces and creatures that breathed fire and smoke like a dragon but were not living—no, buildings and cars, he corrected himself. The advances in warfare were nothing short of miraculous, though it made him uneasy, placing the means of vast destruction in the hands of such creatures. Then there were the advances in medicine and agriculture. The map of the world he had found in one book shocked him to the core. There was so much he wanted to know, so much he needed to learn. It filled him with an unexpected excitement. He wanted to read everything he could, but he had decided to start with the book in his lap, a topic the miko had plenty of books on—history.
The text was a heavy one, and only one part of a large volume. He had it open on his lap, leaning over as if he would miss something. He was just about to turn the page when a strange scent made him look up. There had been a lot of unpleasant smells in town, but this was worse than anything he had encountered in the maze of metal. He recognized the coppery smell of blood, but mixed in was something else, something like rotten eggs.
He carefully closed the book and tried to follow the smell. It didn't take long to rule out the kitchen behind him and there was no way it was coming from outside. He moved toward the room the miko had stayed in the night before, but the stench weakened as he moved toward that door. That only left one possibility, and he was hesitant to investigate the matter. The stench undoubtedly came from the bedroom or the washroom beyond, but with the miko in there, he was hesitant to enter.
Besides, other than as a guide, she is of no concern.
Just as the thought escaped his mind, he heard a scream from the other side of the door and a muffled crash. Old battle instincts had Tokajin out of its scabbard in less than a heartbeat, held in front of him in a defensive stance. All weight shifted to his back foot out of habit, ready to move the second he was needed. His hand reached for the doorknob and twisted it, only to find it locked firmly in place.
"Sesshoumaru, Sesshoumaru!"
He decided to sacrifice the door and in the space of a breath, the barrier was nothing more than splinters as wood imploded into the bedroom to allow the demon lord passage. Fury fueled his blood—nothing would harm that miko until he received the answers he needed, not without taking the matter up with him first. He was glad to have use of his arm again as the claws extended on the hand that did not hold a sword. The door to the washroom was in sight and this time he didn't bother to check whether or not it was locked. He simply tore it to shreds.
The stench that greeted him had him covering his nose with his free hand. It was far stronger inside than out. He could barely see the floor and he backed up slightly as the red substance slumped toward him, creeping over the tiles. Suddenly a tendril shot out, aiming for his sword arm.
Sesshoumaru swung Tokajin out in front of him, gritting his teeth from the impact. Throwing off his attacker, he wasted no time. A quick dive to the left sent him under another tendril. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the miko on the ground, clawing at the floor and hissing in pain. Tokajin cut through the slime with ease and with the miko released, he scooped her up and made a break for the door. The washroom was not a place he wanted to fight in. There was not enough room to effectively use a sword.
His exit took another chunk out of her wall, but he did not think the miko was in any position to care. He tossed her onto the bed and turned just in time to meet another thrust from his assailant. Demon speed got him out of harms way and he vaulted off the wall, blade forward for a counter strike. The familiar blood rush of battle drove him as he tore through another section, a clean slice that brought him back in front of the bed.
"What the hell is that thing?" The miko had regained enough sense to dive to the other side, taking safety behind the large piece of furniture. That was good. She would only be in the way.
Sesshoumaru growled. "Don't distract me, miko. Stay down and don't move. If it comes after you, I'm letting it have its meal. I cannot be bothered with your complaints."
"What do you mean, 'cannot be bothered'? Listen you demonic bastard, you know something and I want to know what. Tell me or…"
"Quiet! Now is not the time!"
He thought she might have said something else, but the severed limb thrashed and buckled and then, shockingly, attached itself to the floor. Sesshoumaru reeled backwards and pushed the miko's head down behind the bed, wide-eyed, as he was attacked again. He felt the appendage pass he shoulder and hissed in pain as he came down hard on his side. He rolled to avoid another attack from a different direction, clutching his shoulder as he came up.
A glance at his sleeve showed that the red substance had sliced through the clothing, leaving a few traces of red and scorch behind. Though the limb had missed its target, a few remaining beads of the substance had fallen onto his skin, burning enough that it caused discomfort for their victim.
Venom! It uses venom!
That did not bode well. His own poisons would neutralize some of it, but a full strike would put him out of commission. And it could regenerate. He could hack at it all day and the situation would only get worse—he welcomed the challenge. Sesshoumaru sheathed his sword and extended both sets of claws. The weapon was useless, but there were always other options.
Another swing from the creature had him moving again, but as he evaded, he allowed his blood to mix with the poison present in his body, feeling as it moved towards his fingertips. He grinned. Now he would get to see who had the strong poison. When he was sure there was enough, he took a swipe and smiled in satisfaction when it reeled back. Green acid from his claws tore through the red, sizzling as it made contact and devouring the limb. It didn't get up.
Suddenly, an explosion from the doorway caught the demon's attention. His eyes narrowed as he caught the two from yesterday. The black-haired man held some kind of weapon in his hand, a piece of metal that he had trained on the red opponent. It was smoking. Sesshoumaru assumed that it was the weapon that had made the explosion.
"Well, this is interesting." The man moved further into the woman, allowing the long-haired woman from yesterday through. His eyes narrowed, following the line of his weapon as if he were searching for something. "Not precisely the welcome I expected, but interesting."
Sesshoumaru growled low in his throat. He didn't want to have to deal with more humans and they entered here at their own risk.
"If you want to live, I suggest you leave."
The man ignored him, keeping his eyes on his target. "You'll get nowhere just slashing at it. Its spirit is located at the core. You need to attack that." He flicked his weapon to the shattered washroom door. "It's in there if you're interested."
At the core? Yes that would make sense, but how… "Human—"Another tentacle dove toward him and Sesshoumaru jumped backwards, taking it out with his right hand at the same time.
"Would you two stop?" The woman, Nightingale, had moved towards the center of the room, thrusting the shamisen she played the day before tucked in her arms. "We have to drive this thing back. I'll get it back into the other room. You two aim for the core!"
Sesshoumaru was about to argue when he felt something around her drop. It was like the air around her visibly shimmered and though there were no windows in the room, there was a light breeze lifting up the ends of his hair. It was impossible, but he could also pick up music, a gentle harmonic chord that grew slowly and swallowed the room. He blinked as a gust flew into his face.
Despite himself, his eyes widened a fraction at what he saw. Brown wings with thin bands of black adorned her back, feather under feather gently folded and flattened. Her scent had changed, and to he shock, he found it was now demonic, not the human he had been almost certain of before. Although he could not see her hands from his vantage point, he knew that the fingers cupping the neck of her instrument had talons. There were also a few feathers in her hair, shots of mocha woven into loose strands of ink. He wouldn't be surprised if there were a few feathered shapes etched into her skin around the eyes as well.
A bird demon. So, there are still demons in this world after all. But how did she manage to hide it? Why couldn't I pick up her scent?
Sesshoumaru had no time for further questions as song suddenly burst from Nightingale's shamisen. The notes flew like a rain of daggers wrapped in a tune the demon lord did not recognize. Is was fast and driving, the tempo running forward to the point where it was almost out of control. He didn't have time to reign in his shock as their opponent staggered back. Seeing his chance, he dove forward, claws at full extension. More explosions resonated behind him and he was aware of some kind of projectile whizzing past his cheek. As soon as he hit the creature, he began tearing at it, using up all his energy to push it back.
The three managed to force the ooze back into the confines of the washroom, but no matter how many times they flew at, it kept coming back. Sesshoumaru panted, but did not relent. He could feel the exertion in his muscles as every fiber complained. Although he was not ready to admit it, he was reaching his limits.
There was a click behind him and he heard Soshiro cursing. "I'm out of rounds. This isn't working!"
"Just keep going. There aren't any more options." The woman also sound fatigued, though her song had not slowed.
Suddenly, "Sesshoumaru, get out of the way!" He stole a glance behind him and saw the miko in the doorway. She had replaced her robe and was now glowing a gentle pink, hair beginning to levitate with the summoning of power. Knowing she would release it whether he wanted her to or not, and having no wish to be purified, Sesshoumaru jumped out of the way just as a rush of pure energy exploded in the washroom.
There was a blast of pink light and Sesshoumaru shielded his eyes. When he was certain it was safe to open them, there was nothing left of the abomination except the shattered remains of the door, broken glass, and strewn remains of furniture. The miko moved up beside him to survey the damage, using the sink for support. "Great, just great," he heard her mutter.
Their two guests also made their way to the bathroom, the man letting out a low whistle as he stared at the remains of the miko's washroom. "This could take awhile to clean up. I hope there's a really good explanation for this. I can't wait to hear it." Behind him, the woman nodded and retreated to the living room. Sesshoumaru followed her a moment later. Yes, it would indeed be an interesting explanation.
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The air in the living room was thick as the four gathered around the living room table. The miko and the bird demon took both chairs. The black cat that had greeted him yesterday morning was seated comfortably next to the miko, tail curled around its body comfortably. One of the miko's hands absently stroked its fur. The female demon had reverted back to her human form, her instrument resting at her feet. It did nothing for the tension. The male human preferred to remain standing and was currently leaning with his long back against the kitchen counter, legs stretched out in front of him. His outward appearance was relaxed, but Sesshoumaru could see his eyes darting between the three other people present. The demon lord also preferred to remain standing. He had taken a space against the back wall where he had a good view of every occupant.
The silence was thick. They would get nothing done if no one spoke. Sesshoumaru fixed his gaze on the bird demon and her dark eyes met his without fear. "There are still demons." The statement hovered over the stillness and the woman to whom the question was addressed nodded simply.
"Yes, there are still demons alive in this world, but not many amongst the humans. Although it's probably obvious at this point, I will confirm that I am a bird demon. Nightingale is more than my stage name, it's the animal version of my demon form." The woman paused, frowning slightly in concentration. "But I think I'm starting at the end of the explanation, if what I have pieced together is correct. I would like to confirm something first before I begin handing out explanations."
She turned to Kagome. "If I am wrong, this is going to sound like an odd question, and I apologize. I realize that your name is Kagome Higurashi, but are you by any chance related to the Miko Kagome who defeated Naraku over five-hundred years ago. I know it is in your book, but I need to know if this is something that you conveniently guessed, ran across somewhere, or something associated with your family. Are you aware that what you have written is true?"
Sesshoumaru could see the miko squirming where she sat like a piece of meat dangled before the jaws of hungry wolves. Her hands, which rested on her lap, clenched and unclenched at intervals. He was sure that if she were to open her fists, he would see tiny crescent marks etched into her skin from the pressure of her nails. He was tempted to answer for her himself, but chose to remain silent. This was her answer, not his, and he only had basic information anyway. There was no point in offering second-hand information when the source was present.
The miko finally let out a shuddering breath, and leaned heavily against the back of her chair. "It's not something associated with my family, per say, although they do know about it. The story in my book looks like a piece of fiction to just about anyone. There are only two people who know the truth behind those pages. I realize that the story is not a work of fiction. I realize it because it is my story. The Miko Kagome was not part of the feudal age. She really was a girl from the twentieth-century. She fell down a well into the feudal era. When she fell through, she found a half-demon boy stuck to a tree." She paused for a moment. Sesshoumaru smelled salt in the air. The miko wasn't crying, but her eyes were moist. She rubbed them. "She found a half-demon boy, and set him free. She found companions and they set out on an impossible quest. I know of this quest because I was there. I am Miko Kagome."
The bird demon stared at her slack-jawed. She looked like she wanted to protest, and her gaze kept swiveling between the woman in front of her and the demon standing against the wall.
"She's not lying," Soshiro said softly, though judging by the scent around him, he too was hesitant to believe the miko's words.
"Her aura has not changed since she sat down. She's nervous, but she's not lying."
The miko looked at him, startled. "How—?"
"I can read your aura," was the simple reply. "I would know if you were lying."
Sesshoumaru wasn't surprised. The explanation made sense. It explained how he was able to find them so easily, and why he was not startled that there were two demons in front of him.
"I do not know your whole story Miss Higurashi because I haven't read your book myself, but I know enough to follow what has been said so far and I know that nothing you have said since we've entered this room is false." The miko gave him a small nod of thanks, some of the tension leaving her body.
With that confirmed, the demoness turned her attention to Sesshoumaru. Her eyes had taken on a glazed look, wide and shocked.
"If she is the Miko Kagome," she said slowly, "Then am I correct in assuming that I have the honor of addressing Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands?"
Sesshoumaru nodded, but left the explanation for his presence with the miko. This was another issue in which he did not have all the information.
The miko didn't hesitate this time, sure that what she said would be accepted. "I am sure that you are aware of the excavation currently underway near my family's shrine. The location would be near Inuyasha's Forest in the feudal age. An old friend of mine from high school is in charge of the investigation and invited me down to the site three days ago. I arrived just a couple of hours prior to the death of the two archaeologists. Hojo had called me saying he had found something that would interest me. When he called, I could not possibly think of a single thing that would attract me to the site, except maybe some nostalgia. However, after I arrived, I was presented with two swords that the team had unearthed—Tetsuaiga and Tenseiga. I have not used my miko abilities since leaving the feudal era, but the moment I touched the metal of those swords, my miko powers have been singing.
"After the deaths were discovered, I went home, planning to never think about the incident again. However, when I came back to my apartment, both swords were sitting on the living room table. I don't know why, or how, but I'm assuming that they were somehow attracted by my powers because when I touched the pommel of Tenseiga, it was like the entire world exploded. There was a blinding flash of light and before I could register anything there was a demon lord standing in my living room."
The miko was smiling slightly and Nightingale was chuckling from her position on the couch. "Poor you," said the demoness. "I can only imagine how he reacted."
"He wasn't very polite. He thought it was some kind of trick. I suppose he thinks differently now."
Sesshoumaru growled. "I would prefer that you spare such comments in my presence."
"You just don't want to admit that you were wrong."
Soshiro cleared his throat. "I'm sure this would make an interesting conversation, but if you two don't mind, I would like to know what Nightingale meant when she said the rest of the explanation. I'm assuming that you have received the prior information that you require."
Nightingale nodded in response. "Yes, more than I expected. You are right in saying that demons still walk these lands
Sesshoumaru-sama, but it would be wrong to say that we live here. Demons were able to exist in this realm until about three-hundred years ago. At that time, belief in demons slowly began to wane, and our numbers began to decrease. Around that time, the world was beginning to open up. Other lands were discovering our tiny island nation. However, as the world widened, so did our options. At that time, a member of the Sidhe came to our lands aboard a ship from Europe. He approached Lord Ashura, Demon Ruler of the South, and made a bargain between his people and the demon race. A few members of the Sidhe had broken off from their people after a war in their home country. In order to obtain shelter, they offered to create an Otherworld in Japan, a world connected to reality by roads that would allow demons their own realm away from the changes taking place. An agreement was made and the Sidhe used the natural energy present in Japan to shape a new world for us and the few humans that did not wish to follow the path the real world was taking by feeding power into areas where lay lines connected."
At the blank look shot at her by Soshiro, Nightingale sighed. "Lay lines are bands of energy that encircle the globe. Magic leaks drains off of them like rivers. If there is a lay line in the area, magic power can be doubled or even tripled. However, if lay lines cross, magic is magnified enormously. When the Sidhe built the roads, they formed the gates at these intersections because they offered stability. The lay lines typically feed off natural elements present in the area: fire, water, earth, air, and ever so often void. So, if you have a lay line that feeds predominately off water energy, magic involving water will have more influence and power."
Soshiro nodded and ran a hand through his dark hair. "Alright, a bit much, but it makes sense. So, this Otherworld is the same as ours except several hundred years behind?"
"It is slightly different," the demoness continued, "but overall, this Otherworld resembles the feudal era of Japan. Three of the four Houses of Lords are still in place—the North, South, and East. The Sidhe also assigned guardians, people to guard the roads to the Otherworld. In order to pass between this world and the next, one of the guardians has to let you through. There are still a few demons wandering the streets of modern Japan, some on business and others just because they enjoy being here. Some of the weaker level demons actually choose to live here as humans, taking to the modern world better than the old."
Sesshoumaru smirked. He knew that what the miko said had to be false. There was no way that mere humans could drive every demon out of Japan. It was impossible.
"So, if you're here, am I to take it that you're one of the 'weaker level demons'?" Soshiro asked from his corner. "From what I saw earlier, I would rethink that if I were you."
"It is true that I am not as strong as many of the demons in the Otherworld, but you are correct in saying I'm not precisely weak either. It just goes without saying that my primary abilities are normally of the non-combative variety." Nightingale pulled her shamisen closer to her and began strumming a few chords absently. "Let's just say that there are times when I prefer to the human world. It offers a freedom the demon realm does not."
"So, the thing we fought was something from the demon realm?" asked Yoshiro.
No, it is not a demon, at least not fully. The conversation continued as Nightingale supplied more information. No, what attacked them was not from this…Otherworld. He had not been sure when he sensed the presence at Haven, but the creature had the same scent it had carried five-hundred years ago, even through the stench that clung to it in the last battle. But that creature was sealed. I helped seal it myself. Apparently not tight enough. Then again, the seal had been broken once before; it wouldn't be a stretch to assume someone broke it again. At the moment, there wasn't much danger, but the creature was still gathering power. It was no where near what he had fought in the Inu Yasha forest before.
The miko said that the swords were found near that area. I wonder if whoever found the swords also found the seal. If she loose…. He shook his head. That was not a possibility he wanted to think about.
There was no other option, he would have to seal it again before it gained enough energy to carry out whatever plan its sick mind had concocted. Under normal circumstances, he could care less about what happened to the human world, but while he was in it, he did not want to be caught up in the creature's energy hunt. There was no doubt that she was taking the soul energy from her victims, hording it. It had taken a direct blow to the core of the energy to defeat the second creature. The second attack was stronger than the first by far, and the third would be—another unpleasant thought. The attack at Haven was done through a human host. The second vessel might have been human once, but she had been able to mold the flesh to use for her own purpose and imbue it with her power. Yes, he had not other option. He would have to seal it.
Of course, sealing the creature would require the Jewel of Four Souls and his only connection to the jewel was the miko. He nearly smirked at the irony—it seemed like he was playing right into fate's hands. If he was right, this would be the second time it would force him to cooperate with a miko. He hated to allow it control, but he would play for a little while, so long as it suited him.
Still, the energy issue bothered him. Why, was she stocking energy? Suddenly, another thought occurred to him. "Is there another way to get into this Otherworld?" he said interrupting the conversation.
There was hushed silence for a moment before Nightingale shook her head. "No, you have to have a guardian open the gate."
No, she wouldn't be able to get one of these guardians to open a gate for her. There had to be another way. "How about force?"
Nightingale pursed her lips in concentration. "I suppose if you overloaded one of the lay lines, it would be possible. But that would take a lot of power. More than anyone could possibly conjure."
Not if they stole it. Pieces were beginning to fall into place. He had no specifics, but he could see the vague outline of a plan. If everything was leading where he suspected, it was more than the human world in danger. If she crossed—fate had just added another weight to the issue.
"It is possible," Sesshoumaru said evenly. "I know what this is, and I think I know what is happening." Honestly, it was suddenly very amazing how repetitive all this sounded. Even his next words had been spoken before, though not by him. "Something that was once sealed has been let loose. Her name is Yulei…"
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AN: Sorry about the long wait. I hope this chapter is worth it and answered a few questions. The next will clear up even more.
Also, thank you so much for the reviews! I have never had so many reviews for so few chapters since I started writing. I love it, they inspire me!
In addition, I would like to extend thanks to Hellspixie18 for looking over these two chapters for me before I submitted them.