Mizoshi blinked away tears as the harsh wind whipped through her unbound dark hair. She had been flying for miles, and her dread had increased with each and every one.
Naraku is getting further and further away. There is no getting back to him.
Indeed, there wouldn't be. Mizoshi's blurry eyes swept over the wide landscape of emerald trees below. Hiding within them, demons certainly lurked. She would be torn asunder if she ever dared try to find him again. Not that it would do any good, for he would most assuredly throw her out once more if she ever dared approach him. If she were lucky, that is.
Happy thoughts! I must be happy. I am free, aren't I?
And she was. The skies had cleared from murky and poisonous to clear and crisp. Clouds no longer obscured the azure atmosphere that now surrounded her in all directions. Proudly, the daytime sky had revealed itself; and for a sliver of a second, Mizoshi was lost in its blue beauty.
I had nearly forgotten the blue skies under the vapors of toxic miasma. Would I have forgotten completely had I been allowed to spend the entire winter there?
"Girl!" a feminine voice screeched. "Aren't you listening to me?"
Mizoshi blinked and turned to look into the burning scarlet eyes of the angry demoness.
"No, I didn't realize you were speaking," Mizoshi replied lamely.
"Figures," the bitter woman hissed. "I don't know why Naraku didn't keep you. Clearly, you ears open only for him."
Mixoshi knew that tone. Wisely, she chose to close her mouth. Kagura was heading into a full-scale rant, and interrupting her might mean her "accidental" fall.
"Why? Why were you given freedom? You still want him. You still want to be his mistress. I can see that in your pathetic weeping eyes. You would be perfectly happy spending the rest of your days with him. Then, why are you leaving? Why? Why not me?" she nearly shouted.
Defeated, she closed her eyes. There was little point in arguing.
So, this explained why the wind sorceress was so resentfully hateful. Mizoshi couldn't very well deny the fact that she wanted to remain with the incarnation's own captor. At her silence, the demoness emitted a huff of absolute contempt.
"It's useless talking to you, I see. Well, soon enough, you will be returned to continue on with your sad little life. If you can survive, that is. You will no longer be a pampered plaything anymore, I can assure you."
Mizoshi refused to open her eyes, but she was obliged to when the feather jerked to a halt.
"Oh," Kagura breathed, her voice taking on an eager quality. It was if she had never been cross at all. "We'll touch down here. It's near enough to your destination."
Snapping open her eyes, Mizoshi witnessed the earth coming up faster and faster to meet them.
Were they going to crash?
All of a sudden, the feather itself disappeared. But, in reality, it hadn't. The plume had merely shrunk back to its former self.
Whilst the wind witch landed gracefully on her knees, Mizoshi took an undignified stumble to the ground. The contents she held her arms scattered. With a heavy sigh, she picked up slightly crumpled paintings, the package that held her formal kimono, and set out to discover where the plums had rolled. The first two were easy to spot, but the third was resting against a pair of legs that were sheathed in white hakama. At once, her heart froze in her chest.
This can't be…
Snapping her head up, Mizoshi found herself gazing into two extremely hostile golden eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but not a sound came out. She had seen this youkai only once before, and that was when he had been hurtling her former lover to the dirt.
This was Sesshoumaru.
Mercifully, his hardened gaze switched from her to the wind witch.
"Kagura. You're here," he said mildly.
"So I am," she preened. "I saw you from above and couldn't resist coming down here."
"And who is that?" a raucous voice broke in.
A miniature demon scurried to the front of Sesshoumaru, as if protecting him from the invader. The demon was green-scaled with a long beak-like mouth. His eyes were of a harsh yellow hue and exceedingly round. This particular youkai wore a rather drab brown kimono with a curved, jet-black hat.
He could be a servant.
"Jaken, be silent," the dog youkai commanded.
Immediately, Jaken quieted, those slitted pupils still glaring at Mizoshi.
"This is the infamous wench I've told you so much about. Her name is Mizoshi," Kagura sniffed.
"I don't care to know its name," Sesshoumaru drawled.
She paled.
Its? Not her? It's like I'm not even a person.
"So, this is the girl that Naraku bedded with," the light youkai continued.
Heat rushed to Mizoshi's cheeks. She wanted to strike him.
"Unfortunately, yes. Another hanyou. Although, she's worse than most. Her father was merely a half-demon, making her little more than a quarter demon herself. Such dirty blood."
"And are you to dispose of her?"
She hated the sound of his voice. So arrogant. So sure. So dangerous. Her eyes flicked over to where the dog youkai's sword was kept.
He could kill me in less than two seconds.
But for once, dismay entered Kagura's scarlet orbs. "Oh, no. Naraku gave strict orders not to harm her--"
The entire company was hushed when a droning buzz filled the air. When Mizoshi looked up, she saw at least two-dozen saimyoushou flying together. They were watching them. Spying on them. Strangely, this gave her much comfort.
He does care.
Somewhat.
"I see," Sesshoumaru responded curtly.
"I am to take her to the next village. She's my responsibility," the wind witch said acidly. There was no mistaking the disgust she felt for this task.
"Let me take her."
Mizoshi's heart plummeted to her feet.
What does he mean?
"I'm sorry?" Even Kagura seemed perplexed.
"The next human village isn't that far off; only around five miles or so. Let me act as escort."
The wind witch was flustered to say the least. "I don't know if…"
"He can't protect her all the time. I'll still be around. Let them watch me if they so desire." He gestured to the venom wasps. "Besides, he threw away his possession. Naraku should have no further claim."
The saimyoushou buzzed ominously. They regarded Sesshoumaru suspiciously. Beneath the surface, Mizoshi sensed they were communicating something only Kagura could interpret.
"Fine," the incarnation said at last. "I suppose there's no harm…as long as you do not attack."
"You care for its life?"
An inferno was raging underneath her flesh. They spoke around her head like she were a piece of property. Not even a person. It took her considerable self-control not to shoot pure flame out of her eye sockets. Naraku was right. There would be times when self-restraint needed to be exercised. Though that one specific lesson had been harsh, it had been entirely necessary.
Especially in matters such as these when I am being treated in the manner of an old bracelet…
"No," the wind witch's voice rang out. "What do I care for the mongrel? If it wasn't for Naraku, she wouldn't have survived."
"How unfortunate." Sesshoumaru looked down at Mizoshi as if she were a rat.
Firmly, she clenched her teeth together.
Don't get angry. You'll make it worse.
"I suppose she is out of my hands." Kagura's tone was now cheerful. "Take good care of the wench until she gets to her new home. Otherwise, Naraku will have my head."
"Why would I be concerned about that?" The mockery could be heard in his words.
"Why wouldn't you?" she literally purred in answer.
Wide-eyed, Mizoshi watched the two full demons watch each other. A flirtatious glimmer had entered Kagura's blood-red orbs. Deviously, she sidled up closer to Sesshoumaru. The dog youkai's face was almost unreadable, but amusement twitched his pale lips all the same.
A game. They're playing a game of attraction. Or at least Kagura thinks she is. Is this an attempted clandestine affair? Or is Sesshoumaru simply feigning brief interest?
Mizoshi still lay crumpled up in the very spot where she had been tossed to from the feather's harsh descent. She had not moved a muscle for fear of invoking the dog lord's wrath. However, here amongst the twigs, she had a good vantage point of the light youkai. She had not seen him so near before.
He's was admittedly handsome though. That much was certain. Mizoshi could see why Kagura fawned after him.
But so ruthless. He's as cruel as Naraku, but in a different fashion.
Suddenly, the sensual spell broke. Sesshoumaru shifted to his other foot, and Kagura snapped her fan shut.
"This is where I return to my master's castle. You will take the girl, then?"
"Oh, yes. I wish to learn more about it. I want to learn how such an insignificant being managed to ensnare the great Naraku's perverse attentions."
Shivering, Mizoshi trained her eyes on the pebbles below to avert Sesshoumaru's calculating stare.
Don't leave me with him. Please, Kagura. Don't…
But, there was to be no choice in the situation. Kagura had released her feather from the confines of her smoky tresses, and it was now currently drifting down towards the earth. A mere instant later, it had elongated into the huge plume. Gracefully, the wind witch climbed on; her longing eyes still fastened on Sesshoumaru.
"I hope on the next occasion we meet it will be more interesting… and more intimate" The incarnation sent Mizoshi a parting glance of scorn.
The dog youkai simply stood there as Kagura rose up once more into the air--and that was that.
My last lifeline to the castle is broken. I'm alone now. With him
Will he abduct me now?
The light youkai continued staring up at the sky. Mizoshi took this opportunity to reclaim the plum that had landed next to the great youkai's foot.
I will need them to eat. I will expect no favors from this Sesshoumaru.
This, of course, did not escape notice.
"Stand up, half-breed," he ordered in an icy timbre. "I'm not going to carry you."
Jaken, the little demon toad she had nearly forgotten in the flurry of activity, folded his arms across his chest and emitted a puff of indignation to show he agreed wholeheartedly with his master.
Dragging herself up to her feet, Mizoshi cautiously sized up her temporary traveling companions.
I'm lucky if I survive the trip. Why does he wish to accompany me anyway?
Turning around, she searched for the winged saimyoushou, but they were purposefully keeping their distance. Or, they had disappeared.
I'm isolated from everything I knew. Once again, I will have to make a new life. However, this time, it will be on my own.
Despair threatening to crush her in its jaws once more; Mizoshi hastily scurried after the white-haired youaki.
Keep walking. It won't devour me as long as I keep walking…
As promised, here is Sesshoumaru. I hope I captured him right. (I can always write Naraku so well, but Sesshoumaru escapes me for some reason.) He will appear in the next chapter, and then in one or two chaps after that. "Hakama" means pants or trousers in case any were wondering. Well, it's almost time for college! Still, I will update as often as I can. My entire attention is focused on this story until I finish it.
someone: Sorry, the Inu gang won't be here. I know this would be the perfect time to introduce them, but I think all the added characters would mess the storyline up.
Sesshy-chansbestpal: Mizoshi's brother will be showing up in the next chapter.
werewolfpixie: lol! Yeah, that's what they should do with her! The funny thing is, I used to like Kikyo. But when I saw her trying to kill Kagome in the manga, that's when I couldn't stand her.
gothic-ember: That's all right. No harm done. And I made you cry? I'm so evil:( (But I'd be really evil if they were kept apart forever.)