Enchanted Orbs

Chapter 30 Across the Well

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Aishi managed another dodge of one of her weapons then stilled completely. A disk sliced into his arm, and he felt something burning at his chest. But it wouldn't matter soon.

Kagome was extremely confused as to why he stopped dodging her attacks. Knowing that someone as proud as he would not admit defeat so easily, she scanned his appearance to try to figure out what he was planning.

'What? He has no feet!' Kagome mentally shrieked.

Where his feet and calves had been, nothing but flames remained, and the flames were moving up his body rather quickly.

'He's changing.' Kagome established as the fire met his waist.

Now she was put into a dilemma. It would be dishonorable to attack him when he's so vulnerable, but she wasn't sure if she could keep him trapped as pure flame. Her attacks stilled but changed.

Knowing the disks would inflict no damage to fire, she changed it to purity. She brought her spheres into a tighter fence around him as his transformation completed.

Two silver holes remained in place for his eyes, and a black crescent formed an eerie smile. Otherwise, nothing but a youkai-shaped pillar of fire remained.

Aishi released a blast of his youki to distract the girl and her attacks. Kagome only saw an explosion in her cage. Flames licked through her cage, but her spheres stayed mostly intact.

He managed to destroy a few of them, and mentally gave the girl credit for staying fairly focused. But there where several directly in front of him that he had destroyed. 'That was enough to put an end to this game.' He smirked as he flew towards her, escaping his prison.

Seeing the shock of fire soaring towards her, Kagome quickly threw up a shield to protect herself. The force of Aishi's impact to her shield sent her falling to the ground, but she maintained her protection.

Acting out of habit she curled slightly on impact, allowing herself to roll. It made for a less painful meeting with the ground, and made for a nice counter-attack. She gathered her energy around her, and released it as she pushed the barrier away from her when she rocked back toward her front.

It worked. Aishi, still outside her shield attempting to break it, was sent flying backwards with the released shield. The barrier shattered as Aishi collided with a tree. Flames scattered into the leaves of the canopy, but a crouching figure was seen on a branch.

Aishi casually jumped down and walked a few steps towards her. "You should just give up now, girl. You cannot harm fire." A scratchy rendition of Aishi's voice splayed across all ears.

"Physically no, but your fire is still powered by your demonic energy which means my miko power should do just fine to deter you." Kagome spoke.

She stood up straight with her head held high, waiting for his next attack. But a voice interrupted their scrimmage.

"Aishi, as long as you don't kill her, she can heal herself." Sesshoumaru's voice stopped them in their tracks.

Kagome huffed when she realized what he said. He thought Aishi would defeat her; irritation filled her.

Sesshoumaru almost smirked when he felt her aura spike. He had intentionally antagonized her; he had not done that since their spars in his dojo. He almost missed... 'No.' He cut off where his thoughts were going and continued.

"Kagome, you will heal him if you burn him. I will not allow any delays in my time."

She had a hard time containing herself. The urge to roll her eyes was so great, but she had another focus right now.

Aishi lunged at her. Kagome ducked out of immediate danger, and she slashed her hand, glowing pink, across his torso.

He stumbled back; there was a hole in the flames over his chest. It was healing, but very slowly. He glared at the girl, but smiled when he saw that he was successful as well.

Kagome felt an intense heat on her back, and smelled something burning. She turned her head to look behind her, and a flash of orange past her vision where black should have been. She realized in horror that her hair was on flair.

"Ah, put it out, put it out." She screamed as she started beating at her hair to douse the flames. Nothing worked. She stopped, dropped, and rolled as she was taught in school, but even that did not put an end to the flames.

Aishi started walking towards her. Kagome realized she left herself vulnerable and immediately erected a barrier to protect her struggles with her hair.

The flames where not spreading, not crawling up toward her scalp; they remained torching the tips of her locks, but Kagome did not see this in her panic.

The general began to laugh hysterically at her trauma. Hearing his laughter, Kagome's head snapped up to glare at him.

"You think this is funny?" But she was answered only with laughter. Even Shouron and Sesshoumaru were having troubles holding their silence at her frantic, flapping attempts to suffocate the flames.

But Aishi's laughter stopped when a shield surrounded him. He was lifted off the ground, and the barrier encased him on all sides. He was trapped in a giant pink bubble.

"There, I win." She said quickly then ran over to Shouron. "Put it out, please." She asked frantically.

Shouron looked over to his lord.

"The duel is not over." Sesshoumaru answered with his ever-present monotone, but his eyes twinkled his amusement to those close to him.

Kagome huffed. "Unless he can break that, which is highly unlikely as emotional as I am right now, its over."

"Aishi has control over the flames in your hair, the duel continues." Sesshoumaru countered.

Kagome's eyes widened in realization, but it made sense now, why she couldn't put it out no matter her attempts, why Shouron wouldn't help her, and Aishi's hysterical laughter.

Blue eyes narrowed. The shield holding the first general became smaller. "Still laughing Aishi?" She asked.

The flames in her hair flared and became hotter.

Sesshoumaru nodded to his second general, and Shouron took control over Aishi's fire and ended it.

With a flick of his fingers, the taiyoukai released his acid whip at Aishi's prison. It took two cracks because of Kagome's intense emotions, but with his speed, no one noticed the two lashes as more than one except him.

Aishi's flames appeared weaker for a second because of a shortage of oxygen due to his prison until he reverted back into his humanoid form.

Kagome's hair still smoked a bit, but upon inspection, she realized only a region about an inch from the bottom was ruined.

Both combatants looked to Sesshoumaru.

"Draw." The lord said as the final outcome. "You were both capable of ending the other's life from your positions, but the other would have ended yours as well. This will not happen again." He ended with a finality that none dare argue with.

"No, my lord." Kagome bowed slightly.

"As you wish, my lord." Aishi kept the tension from his voice long enough to answer.

Now that the duel was over, Shouron finally was able to release his laughter. He was amused by Kagome's 'fire dance' and Aishi's partial defeat. Neither participant was happy, but they would get over it. 'It might just take until Kagome's hair grows back out.' He thought, which only made him laugh harder.

Mokuso was stock still, shocked into a stupor. She was amazed at the talent Sesshoumaru held under him; even the human was extremely powerful. She looked to the laughing youkai beside her and wondered at his strength. She questioned his intelligence because of his maniacal laughter, but she had no doubt that he was strong if Sesshoumaru allowed him to be his general.

None had noticed Sesshoumaru disappear into the brush until he came back out with Jaken squawking on about some nonsense Rin did to him while he was away.

"Ack! What is Inuyasha's wench doing here?" Kagome turned and glared at the little green youkai.

But her scathing comment was cut short when a little girl stepped out from behind Sesshoumaru's leg. Big brown eyes looked over at Kagome with curiosity, and the miko couldn't help but break out in a warm smile directed at her.

Rin cautiously walked towards the smiling woman; she looked back at her protector, and he nodded slightly. A brilliant smile flashed across her face, and she ran the rest of the distance to Kagome.

Kagome kneeled down, bringing herself closer to the mysterious girl. To say that she was surprised that Sesshoumaru had a little human girl under his protection was nothing short of a shock, but she easily covered it. "Hello, my name is Kagome. What is your name, sweetie?"

"Rin!" She nodded enthusiastically as she spoke. The half-ponytail on the side of her head bobbed with every nod, and the miko couldn't help but laugh gently at the cute child.

"Its nice to meet you, too, Rin." She giggled as Rin hugged her.

"You will be keeping Rin while I am away. I am sure you will protect her with your life." Sesshoumaru spoke with a forced tone.

Kagome's eyes shot to Sesshoumaru, gold eyes narrowed on her. "I thought I was to fight for you?" She questioned calmly, not wanting to offend the little girl beside her.

"My generals and I are perfectly capable without you, and I will not leave my ward unprotected." He answered her calm tone.

Shouron watched on with interest. His lord had taken up the habit of explaining his actions. This was not something he did; something had changed. He was just not sure what, yet.

Kagome's eyes fell to the ground. She wasn't sure why, but his comments stung. "I thank you, my lord, for your trust." She answered dejectedly.

'Guilt? This Sesshoumaru does not feel guilty.' He tried to convince himself, but a clench in his chest at her defeated tone did spark something. But he would not change his mind, his decision had been made.

"If I may suggest, my lord." Shouron spoke up. Sesshoumaru nodded, and he continued. "Perhaps, Kagome could take Rin to her village. She would be safe there would she not?" He looked over to Kagome.

"Yes. My family would take care of her." She spoke evenly but did not get her hopes up. She knew Sesshoumaru was not one to change his mind easily.

Sesshoumaru thought on this for a moment. He still did not want Kagome involved in this, but if Rin stayed in Kagome's village, he would be able to find out more about it. He would be able to satisfy a curiosity of his. But he was still hesitant.

"She would be safe there?" Sesshoumaru questioned in a flat tone that covered his curiosity.

"Absolutely, there are few dangers in my village compared to this side of the well." Kagome had trouble keeping the hope out of her voice.

"And she would be able to pass through the barrier?" He continued.

"I think I can make her something that would allow her through." Kagome answered.

Sesshoumaru nodded.

A huge smile lit Kagome's face, but when she looked down at the little girl, it vanished. Rin looked a bit troubled.

Kagome knelt by the girl again. "Rin, would you like to go with me to meet my family? I have a little brother that's only a few years older than you. I'm sure you two would be great friends."

Rin perked up a little at her suggestion, but then she looked back at her lord. "Is Lord Sesshoumaru coming with us?" She looked back at Kagome with big, sad, brown eyes.

'Wow, Sesshoumaru's got his hands full.' Kagome thought as she tried to resist the eyes of the little girl. But it was futile, nobody could resist Rin.

She sighed, and looked at Sesshoumaru. She could almost see him smirking at her, but she knew she must be hallucinating. "If you promise no harm will come to anyone, no matter what they try to do, I think I can make you something, too." She said as if she was exhausted.

Sesshoumaru was not about to promise that he would not defend himself, so he kept his silence.

Kagome realized what she just asked. "I will take you, my lord, but realize that no one there has the power to harm someone as strong as you. If you do try to hurt my family or friends, I will stop you." She said in a cheerful voice so as not to alert Rin of the threat her words carried. She took the little girl's hand and began walking towards the well.

Sesshoumaru felt his ire rising at her threat, but began to follow them to the well; the two generals looked at each other in surprise at the girl's bold words.

The well was not far from where they were, so everyone of his generals saw Kagome make a glowing pink bracelet for the little girl from her power.

Kagome turned to Sesshoumaru and smirked; he raised an eyebrow in question. "Would my lord enjoy a pink bracelet, also, or perhaps you would enjoy a more masculine color?" Kagome giggled at the irritation that splayed across his irises.

Instead a yellowish gold, chain-like necklace, that matched his obi, wrapped around his neck. Sesshoumaru casually brought up both arms to pull his hair out from under the link.

"Alright, I guess we're all set." She smiled and took up Rin's hand again. "I hope this works." She mumbled under her breath. If this method worked, she could bring Shippo, Sango, and Miroku over any time she wanted. She thought about those implications... 'Ok, so maybe not Miroku.' She giggled as she saw her mother slapping the ever-amorous monk across the face and calling him 'lude.'

The two near Kagome watched as she flitted in and out of her own thoughts. Rin tugging on her hands pulled her back to reality. "Kagome?"

Kagome smiled down at the little girl and lifted her to sit on the edge of the well, and she followed in actions.

"I'm fine, Rin. Hold on tight now. Sesshoumaru, you may want to wait a few seconds, otherwise you will probably land on top of us."

His eyes widened as her words registered. 'Landed? Perhaps they are in danger.' But the girls were gone before he could catch them, disappearing into a twirl of magic.

He waited a moment before jumping in behind them. Sesshoumaru felt as though he was swimming as the sparkles of the time void caught him.

When it was done, he looked up to see a roof above the well; jumping out effortlessly, he saw Kagome and Rin also standing within the structure that housed the well.

Kagome's face reflected her nervousness as she began to explain. "I have not been completely open with you about this side of the well, Lord Sesshoumaru, and I think it best if I explain some things before we leave here. I didn't want to say this in front of the others, forgive me for stalling this briefing." She hoped her formal demeanor would pacify him enough to listen to her fully.

He nodded.

"First of all, this isn't only a village. It is the same world in which you reside; only I live five centuries later." She paused for him to digest this somewhat, and she continued. "I am not sure if youkai have survived to my time or not. I have never sensed any, so if there are some that remain they stay well hidden. Much has changed, my lord. There are very few things that will harm her here with my mother to keep her out of trouble, so please do not attack anything. I assure you it is safe here." Her eyes pleaded with him to accept her words.

Sesshoumaru was hesitant, but he nodded slightly in response. A breath-taking smile flushed Kagome's features, and his breath caught for a split second.

He had noticed before now that she was an attractive female for her race, but in this instance he was reminded of the fact rather sharply. He immediately tried to fall back on his anger at her actions, but the image of teary blue eyes filled with emotion approaching him slowly before he felt the press of her lips to his was the only thing that came to mind.

Sesshoumaru violently cast the image aside and turned to Kagome who looked at him with concern at his brief absence.

He said nothing, and she smiled slightly with a small nod and turned to open the door to the wellhouse.

"If you can guard your senses, you may want to do so, my lord. Inuyasha almost fainted when he was a hanyou, and I'm sure your senses are much more acute." She warned before sliding the door open.

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A/N: yes, yes I know, its shorter than normal, but I didn't intend to take Sess into the future. Then I couldn't see him allowing Rin to go to a place before he "checked it out." So I wasn't prepared for this little 'excursion.' I was planning to head directly into the scouting sessions evil grin Yes, yes, the strategery (that was intentional!) of more battle tactics is coming up, but unfortunately they have been stalled for a week. I'll update again soon! I hope you liked. Not too much going on here, though, more plot advancement next week, I promise.