The Bone Eater's Well
Chapter Six
Kagome flinched as the wind whipped against her and her teeth grit together when small pieces of rubble bit into her bare legs as she pressed further South. She could feel the violent demonic auras swarming in the distance causing her own to flare wildly beneath the surface of her skin.
Choking back a grunt, Kagome tugged the straps of the satchel closer to her. I have to keep going. She held the bow in her left hand and brought her other hand up to block the wind from her face as the sounds of a battle rang in her ears. Thunder clamored above, causing the fine hairs on her arm to rise. Dread twisted in her gut.
Please, don't let me be too late!
Kagome skidded to a halt as she broke through the tree line. Metal clanged together as the sight before her stole her breath. The tree line broke to reveal a gorge where several demons fought in an all out brawl. Two opposing armies faced each other, sizable forces nearly matching in size. Monstrous sized serpentine like demons scathingly fought with jagged claws against the blades of more humanoid demons.
The one army was lined in bare skin beneath gray breastplates and purple hakamas held together by a darker shade of sash. The second army closest to her was garbed in black kimonos and hakamas. These look like Takeshi's clothing. So it was a uniform! She thought, eyeing the attire of the battling armies.
Her blue eyes drawled over a few demons deep in the gorge clashing claws with claws, blades to blades. She gasped seeing the familiar faces of the companions of the Inu Lord drawing the battle line further into the opposing force of serpentine like demons. They seemed equal in strength, neither side budging with a clear line being drawn between the armies.
"They have to be here." She trailed off, searching desperately for Inutaisho and his oldest son.
Her attention was drawn to a rather large gust of purple wind swirling around a humanoid figure transforming. His dark human body contorted and split into the body of a purple wingless dragon. His gray fangs opened into a booming roar and from the opposite side of the gorge, she could see a white form equally transforming, gusts of magenta wind churning.
Heart thudding in her chest, she reminisced on the day she and Inuyasha entered the Black Pearl. Sesshomaru! That has to be him!
Out of the magenta winds stood a tall and proud white dog, jowls opened dripping green acid, and red eyes glaring into the dragon. His growl even at his distance had her hair standing on end and her body shook in fear. He was stunning in this form and she admired the strength behind his muscles as he crouched.
The battling forces pressed tight together, swelling as each side fought ferociously. Various battle roars rang over the field, but none were as loud as the white mass of Sesshomaru as he jumped at the dragon demon. Their bodies collided, the ground massively quaking. Kagome barely managed to stand as the Earth shook.
The dragon army began with renewed vigor to press the army behind the Dog as the claws of the large purple dragon drew first blood on the dog demon. Sesshomaru's luscious white coat became drenched in red with the claw digging into his left shoulder blade. His responding snarl had Kagome's chest heaving.
Kagome's feet began running on their own accord and her body leapt forward to enter the gorge. She skidded down a bit, lips curling into a grimace and she reached back into the quiver to pluck an arrow.
As she sprinted down, once on even ground, she raised her bow aligning the arrow. She screamed, "Get back!"
Her fingers nimbly let the arrow flow, covered in a brilliant shade of pink, towards the dragon army. It hissed, the demonic auras separating from her reiki. Screams pierced her ears as her arrow purified a line of dragons along the front of the line. The fighting paused at the newcomer, her energy bubbling into a smoldering pot of anger.
Kagome notched another arrow easily as she continued sprinting past the surprised faces of the Inu demons. She released it, energy lighting the night sky in a flash.
"Miko!"
Kagome stopped, turning to catch the surprised face of Captain Takeshi. He dropped in front of her several meters away, armor bloodied and worn. He didn't seem happy with her sudden appearance, his features twisting into a scowl, but she couldn't find it in herself to care as she caught Sesshomaru's body colliding again into the dragon knocking it back several feet. She readied a third arrow.
"Turn back, miko." Takeshi growled, wiping blood off his chin as his blade pierced the body of another man.
"No way." Kagome launched the arrow in a whisk as it sizzled the youki around her easily.
Kagome frowned as a few demons barely managed to dodge her arrow. I hope Inutaisho's men don't think I'm aiming for them. Judging on their unconcealed surprise and concern, she guessed they perhaps didn't know what to make of her presence. Not that they really should.
She barked at him, unwilling to stop for long as she began sprinting again towards the transformed demons. "Tell your men to get out of my way unless they want to be purified too!"
"You don't command this army!" He yelled back, snarling at her as he twirled his sword, black hakamas drenched in blood.
Kagome dipped under his swipe as he tried to grab her as she passed him, a fourth arrow ready to be launched.
"If they want to live, they'll move." Kagome released the arrow and dodged a small group of men.
The resounding growl was expected, but Kagome continued on determined to reach her destination. She squealed though as a rather large humanoid man dropped in front of her, his sickly grey face pinching into smirk.
"So the rumors are true." It gargled, uneven fangs clinking together. "The Great Dog General does consort with your kind."
She bristled, the arrow pointed at the dragon. "What does that even mean?"
The man laughed, a heavy sword swinging up to rest on his shoulder plate. It's green vexed eyes studying her as she edged back to give herself some space as the fighting around her resumed.
"So he does play with several human women," his mouth parted as his long gray serpentine tongue rolled out. "How entertaining."
"Gross!" Kagome gagged, the string of her bow tight as she kept her center balance. "And he isn't playing with me!"
"Perhaps I shall take you in his place then." The large demon leapt at her.
His sword swung down and she threw herself to the side, landing harshly in the dirt to dodge his attack. She rolled onto her back, picking up her bow to take aim again, but the demon was quick. He began swinging his blade back up again when it was halted by Takeshi's blade.
Takeshi's eyes glittered as he looked over his shoulder at her. Kagome froze, gulping her anxiety down. Adrenaline pumped loudly in her ears and she scrambled back to sit up.
"Get moving, miko." He growled, black ponytail fanning as he heaved his weight forward to crash into the larger demon.
She skittered up. Moving quickly, she launched a few more arrows to clear away some scattered dragon demons. Fixated on the battling transformed beings, she weaved through several battling foes to come across the red headed demon from her first encounter with Sesshomaru in this era.
The redhead was struggling to move, his body practically paralyzed on the ground with a deep gash through his armor. His gold trimmed spear laid several feet away discarded. A disgusting demon was slithering up, three claws raised to strike. Kagome launched herself over a corpse, feet finding purchase on a rough patch of dirt.
"Get away from him!" She yelled, hand coming up in time to enforce a large pink barrier.
The demon's claws raked against the barrier, but it held firm and Kagome pushed back, feet digging into the dirt as she stood over the redheads' lithe form. Grunting, she brought her hand up with Takeshi's bow to reinforce the barrier as the demon clawed with his other hand at it.
"W-what are you doing?" The redhead gasped, eyes squeezing shut in pain.
"I'm protecting you, idiot." Kagome gritted her teeth and she glared daggers at the green dragon.
It hissed, spit dripping from its deformed mouth.
"I told you," Kagome grunted, using her strength to press onwards. Kagome took a step forward. And then she took another. The demon's eyes widened as she pressed her advantage as more of her reiki sprung to life under her hands. "To get back!"
Digging into their core, she drew a blast of reiki power into her hands and she purified the challenging dragon demon. It's lower jaw dropped to the ground as her power disintegrated its warped body. It sizzled and she whipped around to crouch next to the red head's prone body.
Hands searching over his body, she grabbed at his black breastplate trying to yank it free. He grunted, claws encircling her small wrist.
"Stop that!" He growled.
Kagome frowned, grabbing at his arm to tug him up.
"What are you doing?" He howled as she forced him into a seated position.
"Moving you away from the fight! Now are you going to cooperate with me or not?!" Kagome shoved her shoulder under his armpit.
The orange eyed demon hissed and she dragged his arm over her shoulders. Tucking herself into his shoulder, Kagome glanced at his pained face.
"On the count of three, we're going to stand. Got it?" She shook him when he failed to verbally respond.
When he nodded, teeth clenched together, she counted. "One." She paused "Two."
Then she jerked up using the strength in her burning thighs to bring him up with her. He growled, claws clutching at his pierced side as blood gushed out of his open wound.
"That wasn't three." The redhead barked angrily.
Kagome chuckled sourly as she dragged him away from the front lines. His body was sagging heavily into hers and considering his much larger frame, she struggled to bear his weight. Teeth grinding, she fought to maintain an even breath as another man approached. He took the redhead from her with ease.
She thanked him glancing at his matching black attire lined in honeycombs. However, she couldn't wait long enough to etch who he was. She darted off, mission in mind, to the battling demons. Just hold on a little longer, Sesshomaru.
Jumping over a pile of rubble, she approached the battling duo with tense shoulders. Finding a perch high enough, she climbed up to get a better view of the dog and the dragon. Sesshomaru was hurt badly from what she could see, eye flickering over his bleeding shoulder and the gash along his chest. The dragon was equally hurt, his long purple body covered in deep gashes and gouge marks lining his small arms.
Why does he look so familiar?
Kagome frowned, drawing an arrow. Taking aim, she released it in time to separate the duo. Sesshomaru, perhaps sensing the massive amount of Holy power, leapt back from the dragon as it the pink arrow whizzed by.
His red eyes settled on her petite stature, and she straightened up under his scrutiny. Even in his dog form, he was intimidating and Kagome fought to keep her chin raised.
The dragon demon coiled its long body to face her, the purple hair lining his back matted in his blood. She studied the purple dragon as its mouth snapped shut, dipping down so a mask could be seen.
"Ryukotsusei?" She whispered upon seeing the face on the mask contort into a smirk.
The mask lips moved, booming into the gorge. "Ah, is this the little ningen Inutaisho has claimed to bear his second child?"
Kagome flinched. Does he think I'm Izayoi? What's up with everyone thinking that I am? Her fingers became sweaty and anger had her shaking. "Shut up, you- you ugly snake!"
The dragon laughed, head tilting up into the dark sky as it raised itself. Its head dropped back down and she could make out the blue of its eyes. Wasn't Ryukotsusei's red?
"You dare compare the mighty son of Ryukotsusei to a snake? Do you wish to die so soon, ningen?" It laughed, blue lips curling upwards. "Then so be it!"
This is Ryukotsusei's son? Kagome sucked on the back of her teeth in anticipation. That explains it, but then where is Ryukotsusei and Inutaisho? Fear sweltered in her chest as she quickly sought out the Inu Lord's demon aura, but her attention was diverted back to the situation at hand as the heir of Ryukotsusei collected his aura.
Its dragon mouth parted, releasing a flash of yellow demonic energy. The massive ball flared past its jaws as Sesshomaru's jaws enclosed around the arm of the dragon. The ball was spinning towards her and she felt a bead of sweat trickle down her spine.
Come on, she thought, aiming her arrow. Gathering as much of her reiki as she could to the tip of the arrow, she released the arrow. "Hit your mark!"
Her reiki blasted from the arrow as it collided with the demonic energy ball. The energies collided in a blinding light. She raised her arm to cover her eyes as the energy fought one another before dissipating in a ray of pink and blue. The air became stifling hot and she panted at the sight. Sweat trickled down her neck as she caught sight of the battling demons. That was a close one!
Quick to grab the last of her arrows, she drew it again, this time taking aim at the mask upon the dragon's head. The dragon howled as it struggled to fight against the jaws of Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru's saliva dripped green acid separating the flesh of the dragon arm from its bone. His jaws jerked, ripping the arm of the heir of Ryukotsusei off. The dragon's head swayed in a pained howl. Sesshomaru stepped back, dropping the disintegrating flesh onto the ground.
When the mask came in sight again, she called out. "This is for their honor!"
Her arrow flew quick and the reiki blasted forth in a blinding show of pink. The arrow hit the mask, causing it the crackle and shatter. The dragon sputtered and its remaining arm flared wildly.
"How is this happening?" As the mask began to fall away, the mouth made one last warning. "My father will avenge me!"
The body dropped into a heap in the gorge. Dirt kicked up and she shielded her face. Once it began settling, Kagome took notice of the silence in the gorge. She breathed a sigh of relief as Sesshomaru stood over the decaying dragon body, his jowls open to drool acid over the remainder of it.
Knees quaking, she slid down to her knees. Adrenaline no longer holding her together, she sighed and laughed to herself, wiping a dirtied sleeve over her face. Phew, I'm so glad that worked!
When the sounds of the battle grew into a deathly silence, she stopped to look into the white face of the dog. Tensing, she sucked in a breath of air and leaned back as his massive head dipped down to sniff her. His muzzle brushed her clothes and her hair fluttered around as the hot air caressed her skin. Holding her breath, she froze.
She felt like prey.
She felt like she was staring into the heated eyes of a killer, and she knew he was one. He was named Killing Perfection for a reason, and Kagome registered how important it was to follow her instincts in this moment. Ones that were screaming at her to freeze.
Holding as still as she could, she let Sesshomaru scent her. Her hands clutched the soil on either side of her and she closed her eyes to avoid staring into his red ones lest she wished to offend him even more. It was a long moment before his breath left in a snort, her hair flinging back from the pressure.
Only then did she open her eyes and they locked onto his unintentionally. Her heart hammered and adrenaline had rushed into the pit of her stomach. Realizing her mistake, she fluttered her attention to his massive mane. Magenta winds swirled around him and she released her lungs in a whoosh.
"Miko," she twisted around, knees scraping the dirt as she angled herself to see the newcomer.
Inutaisho stood proud, his armor gleaming in the lightning sky and his hand around the fang of Tessaiga. Behind him stood the Captain, who was holding up the redhead she saved earlier in her endeavors.
"Inutaisho-" She started, hand clasping around Takeshi's bow as she stood up.
"You disobeyed my command."
Kagome's brow pitched together and she threw her arms to her side violently. "Excuse you?"
She marched up to his stupid, handsome face and bared blunt teeth at him. She jabbed a finger at his chest with a snarl and craned her head up at the Demon Lord.
"Where have you been?" She jabbed him again, her nail scraping the metal of the breastplate and chest heaving in anger. "We could have used your help!"
The Great Dog General dared to look amused and her anger boiled.
"I was unaware I was to fight my son's battles." He answered, his head cocked to the side curiously.
"He's hurt!" Her hands fisted at her side as she stood toe to toe to him. "You're his father! You should have been here fighting with him!"
"I did not need my father, ningen." The cool, tremor of Sesshomaru's human voice stroked her ears, and Kagome faced the humanoid man indignantly.
Eyeing the blood marking his white kimono, she sniffed. She tilted her head comically at him as she studied his narrowed golden eyes and the smooth magenta marking on his cheeks which were dotted with flecks of blood.
"Could have fooled me." She murmured, bringing her attention back to the amused Dog General.
"Regardless of your disobedience, I see you have proven to fare well in the favor of the Western Lands, miko." Inutaisho drew, moving towards his Captain and the growing crowd of his soldiers. "Though you lack tact, you have proven to be an asset in my son's battle. You are welcome to my shiro to enjoy the spoils of his victory."
Kagome huffed, folding her arms over her chest. She had to come up with something, anything to stay close to the well. Her mind ran rampant. What if it worked while she was away? What if she were to miss her opportunity to go back home? Judging based on how adamant he seemed with his decision, she guessed he wouldn't take no as a polite answer. She'd have to be more resourceful than that.
Maybe he'd listen to some sort of reason.
"I came to repay my supposed debt. I think I'm good, thank you."
Inutaisho's smirk was not settling and she pouted as his mouth parted with a retort befitting someone as arrogant as he seemed to be. "You have indebted my son to you, but your debt to me has yet to be paid, little miko."
"But you have your blade back! I don't have anything to repay you for!" Kagome shouted, her foot stamping on the ground.
His chuckle had her spine snapping straight. "You have rendered an heirloom useless to this youkai's lineage. You're debt to me has yet to be repaid. Come."
"But what about my friends? What if they come-"
Kagome's failed attempt to avoid departing with the demon lord was useless as his bellowing laughter had ceased the mild chattering of the soldiers approaching.
"Your companions have not come for you in weeks, miko. You will not be missed in the woods for a few more days."
Kagome's heart sank and she sighed, defeatedly. They couldn't come for me anyway. Besides, glancing at her soiled clothing, she chewed her lip. It might be nice to properly clean and to eat an actual meal.
Dejectedly, she wrapped her arms around herself again. "What about my belongings?"
Inutaisho was a strong willed man and once he had made up his mind on something, it seemed as though it would take Hell and high water to change it. His fanged smirk had her stomach knotting as his oldest son approached his side. The duo looked handsome- rugged and regal. A deadly combination.
"Your belongings will be easy to collect. Come, miko, as a guest of this Daiyoukai."
Kagome huffed, arms flailing. "As if I have a choice."
"Miko," Inutaisho called while taking the initiative to stalk forward, "There is always a choice, but it's a matter of what is the right choice."
A.N: I know some reviews had questioned why I address certain circumstance the way that I do. I just want to address these simply here, but do keep in mind I write everything in ways that will always be explained in later chapters. Keeps the reading more entertaining as things unfold further. So if you have questions on some things, please be patient! All things generally are answered in due time!
In the Feudal Era of Japan historically, women were low on the totem pole. It was male centered and I address youkai culture as such because it suits the timeline better. Plus it makes Kagome as stand out more as a dominating personality (more than she already is). Now I put Kagome questioning if Inutaisho thinks she is an omega because I want to play on her insecurities that she shows in the original series. She's never one to place herself above others and she's very humble while also being generally like most teenage/young women, insecure and vulnerable to people's perceptions of her.
This gives me a beautiful opportunity for character growth and to bud a relationship between our characters.
Now the real question is who would you all rather her end up with- Inutaisho or Sesshomaru?
Let me know what you think!
Happy reading!
