I found myself staring into vast nothingness. Oh wow, I haven't seen this before. There wasn't anything to take interest in. I was just floating in an empty black space. I didn't mind the emptiness, loneliness wasn't a foreign concept. I waited for a bit, and found that there was a slight ringing. The more I focused on it, the clearer the sound became. I managed to find the general direction of where the sound was coming from. When I turned to face it, a blinding light kept me from seeing what was making the ringing. My arm instinctively covered my eyes as they adjusted to the sudden onslaught of light. When they did, I tried to see what was causing the sound, but found that it disappeared. I decided to get closer since inanimate objects can't move without an outside force influencing them.
My feet landed on what seemed like a floor, it was completely transparent, but it supported my weight. I walked over to where I believe the strange object was, and saw that it hadn't disappeared, but had been replaced. There was a hand sticking out, as though it was reaching for me to pull it free. After short contemplation, I reached out to take it. When I held the hand, it held mine back. I used my other hand to grab it and pulled. Slowly, a human figure crept out of the transparent floor. I guess "transparent" isn't the word I should use to describe the floor since I couldn't see what I was pulling out it. When I finally pulled the figure out of the floor, I could see that it was a woman. She was laying on the ground, while I was catching my breath, as her somewhat ethereal shape started to take solid features. I watched as her body started to become animated. As she started to get onto her feet, light gold shoulder length hair with streaks of orange flowed behind her. Her eyes seemed to give of a red glow as her ears formed a upward point that no human could have. A plain white dress formed on her as she stared at me. I stared back at her, finding that she bore an uncanny resemblance to someone I knew. Who was it?
"You have freed me."
"Who are you?"
"You will see in due time."
"Hey, this is my dream. If I want answers, you'll give me answers."
"This is no dream, young one. You will realize this soon."
I was agitated. Nothing made sense in real life, and now nothing was making sense in my dreams. I'm starting to think that I somehow slipped into a coma. Before I could ask the ethereal woman to just give me the facts instead of telling me to wait, the white background started to fade to black. I heard a crackling behind me, and turned to see what it was. I was confused when I saw nothing, and even more confused when I found that the woman disappeared when I turned back to face her. I scratched my head, trying to come up with a feasible conclusion, but froze when the crackling returned. There was something foreboding about it. I turned to face the sound again after my curiosity got the best of me, and regretted my decision to not live in ignorance. I stumbled backward as a large, oily root thing seemed to grow from the ground. It's resemblance to the bone armor that Naraku would eventually grow glued my feet to where I stood. Since the first thing I thought of when I saw it was Naraku, I'm going to assume it's a bad thing. When I saw that the thing was starting to branch out toward me, I found where all my adrenalin was being stored. No matter how much I tried to juke the damn thing, it veered right back to me. It was as though it was locked on. I looked back for a second and saw that it was catching up. Dream or no dream, this was scary. I don't like the thought of being chased, and that is exactly what's happening right now. When I faced forward to see where I was going, even though I was essentially running in a plain, I could see a faint glow. When I was close enough, I could make it out to be that same flower. I stopped dead in my tracks. I would not run in that direction. I refused to. I turned around just in time to see an arm reaching for my face.
My eyes shot open as my body gasped from shock. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as my eyes stared at Sesshomaru. He was holding my wrists and was growling at me. I felt my face go pale, and my entire body freeze over. "What the hell just happened?" I felt a shiver run down my back as I tried to understand what I had just gone through.
"You were in the garden." He told me.
"What?" I was confused. I had to exercise controlled breathing to help relax my body and mind. I had been so tense that I got a cramp in my right arm. Sesshomaru slowly let go of my wrists. I placed the back of my left hand on my forehead to see if I had a fever.
In the garden, doing what?
I stared at Sesshomaru and he just stared back. I shook my head, to get a feel for reality. I must have not verbally asked the question.
"What was I doing?"
"…"
His silence gave it away.
"I was near that flower, wasn't I?"
He nodded. That would explain its guest appearance in my dream at the end… I looked around to see where I was. We most certainly were not in a garden.
"You ran when I came." He said.
So I was running from him? And he was the hand at the end. When I stopped, and turned around, he must have caught me. But why would I only see his hand? If I was running from him the entire time, why didn't I see a person's figure? Why did I see that…thing?
"I- I'm sorry." I said a short while later before bowing. I remained in the position until I felt him pull me back up.
"Do not bow."
I looked into his golden eyes, but those eyes told me nothing. I continued to stare into them until I turned away, my cheeks burning from the blush that I knew was showing. He walked me back to my room as I found my mind jumping from the electricity that ran through it. When we arrived at my room, I walked in. I looked at its surroundings and found myself uncomfortable. I sat on the bed and continued to look around.
"Go to sleep." He told me.
I gave him no reply.
"What is wrong?" Sesshomaru asked, in his commanding, cold voice once again.
I looked at him slowly. My blush was long gone.
"I can't sleep." I admitted.
"Why is that?"
"Like you don't know." I said.
I could have sworn I saw him sigh. He sat across from me. We just sat there in complete, awkward, silence. I knew I was tired, but I refused to sleep. I was worried. I felt like going to sleep was equivalent to agreeing to the terms before me. How does one go to sleep knowing that they will one day wake up different? I took a deep breath, trying to convince myself that I was just psyching myself out. Nothing bad is going to happen. I'm going to wake up tomorrow and laugh at all of this. I tried to smile to reassure myself further, but ended up giving a small, pathetic, and insecure laugh. Sesshomaru just stared at me. I waited for my eyes to droop and for my mind to shut down from overexertion. I went back to the void, but there was no absolutely nothing this time, and the place was white. I felt at peace. Nothing hindered me. I closed my eyes, and thought of nothing for the first time in some time.
I woke up the next morning calmly. I looked around and noticed that Sesshomaru was not in the room. It would have been weird if he had watched me sleep the entire night. I found that he had left his chest armor in his place at my bedside. He always wore it. I got up and stretched. I was immediately taken and bathed. It was interesting, and awkward, letting others bathe me. I looked at my legs as they poured water over my head. WOAH, why are they not brown? I looked at my arms. They were peach colored as well. HOW THE HELL DID I NOT NOTICE THIS? Well, then again, my darker skin would have caused a commotion. I didn't think about it further since it proved to not be a hindering change.
They put me in a light pink kimono, and put me back in my room. I looked at where I had put Sesshomaru's armor. Was he being nice to me because of the chance of me being one of those demons? Most likely; if I were a demon, that took me off his list of things to hate. I sat on my bed, tracing the outlines of the armor as inspection. Could this thing regenerate? I mean, I could have sworn that I read that somewhere... My attention left the armor when a maid entered, and told me that Sesshomaru would like to see me at the gate. I took the armor with me. Once we got to the gate, I noticed that the group was assembled. I approached them alone. When I saw that Sesshomaru was wearing the same chest armor, I felt my heart sink. He had multiple ones.
He seemed to notice my lack of spirit, but didn't say a thing. We departed into the woods, and about an hour in, we took a break. I sat with Rin, listening to her recounts of the few days we had spent in the manor. She sure does talk a lot. I actually started to tune her out and listen to my thoughts. I kept my gaze on Rin in order to not give her the wrong impression. It worked on my teachers in school, so there was no doubt that it would work on the little girl. I kind of felt bad for doing it to her, but it's not like I do it to people I hate. I'm just giving her the Kazumi Specialty. I was knocked out of my professional gaze when Sesshomaru told me to follow him. I had no problem doing what he asked this time. Rin was starting to catch on. I guess the Kazumi Special isn't effective when it comes to one-on-one conversations. Sesshomaru took me to a spot about three minutes away from where we were taking break.
"Do you still have the armor?" He asked.
I nodded my head. I didn't realize that I hadn't put it down. I gave it to him. He touched my shoulders, sending shock throughout my body. He moved my kimono. My eyes widened, and I looked down. My face was burning again. I waited for something to happen, and it did. He put the armor on me, and then readjusted my kimono. It looked as though nothing was under it.
"Keep it." He instructed me.
"Are you su-"
"Do not question me." he said as he walked back toward the rest of the group.
I stood there, intrigued by his actions. Was he sucking up to me? No way, he's probably teasing. I followed behind him.
Once we returned to the rest of the party, we continued onward. Where was the tree again? I already forgot his name again. How sad.
Well, maybe you should put in some effort to remember and memorize this stuff! It's going to save your life! [Conscience]
'Oh shut up! I'll remember when I need to!' [Me]
You shouldn't resort to that! Rewatching the anime when you get home would help you the most! [Conscience]
'What, so I can refresh my memory on things that may have passed already? NO.' [Me]
It'll help somehow! I bet you don't even remember when Sesshomaru gets his arm back. [Conscience]
'You can't test me you idiot. We know the same amount of knowledge. He was fighting that guy was missing half of his head. He used the full meindo zengetsu on him, and killed him. He also used it on InuYasha, and that's how Tessaiga got the move. I remember, you stupid.' [Me]
Okay, okay, that was pretty stupid, but there are some things that we don't remember, and that's why we need to brush up on some s- [Conscience]
'End of discussion! I'm the physical being, and I chose what we do. Now stop talking to yourself!' [Me]
I stopped talking to myself. I walked for a bit before I started right back up again.
'So since I'm in a different time and country, is it legal to kill?' [Me]
They do it already and don't get in trouble. Go ahead, rape and pillage.[Myself]
'Nah, I wouldn't actually do that. There are some things my moral won't let me do.' [Me]
'Hey guys!'[Conscience]
'Shut up!' [Me]
'sup? [I]
'Nothing much.' [Me]
Isn't it weird that you literally talk to Myself, and I? [Myself]
Stop thinking so much. [I]
'I'm special. I'm not gonna conform to society in my head! Let me be!' [Me]
Just saying… [Myself]
Then stop talking. [I]
No. Who do you think you are? [Myself]
'Don't start fighting again! I don't want a headache.' [Me]
"Are you okay?" Rin asked, taking me out of the conversation in my head.
"Yes, I'm fine. Why do you ask?" I asked.
"Jaken-san has been talking about you." Rin snitched. I glared at the frog, but turned, smiling at Rin.
"What did he say?" I asked her.
She held her tongue. "Lord Sesshomaru instructed me to not use those words."
Oh, so he likes cursing about people in front of children. I understand. I looked at the toad. The thing tried to hide behind Ah-Un, stupid thing. He should have hid in the grass. There he would have camouflaged. Before I went over to deal with him, I noticed that he had a rather large bump on his head. I looked at Sesshomaru, who didn't seem to be paying attention as he led us forward. I let it go. Sesshomaru was enough punishment for the toad.
'Sorry bought that.' [Me]
No probs. [I]
What's up with Sesshomaru? He's acting, not too cold. [Myslef]
Don't worry about it. [I]
Don't worry, about a thing… 'Cause EVERY LITTLE THING'S, GONNA BE ALRIGHT! [Myself]
My attention drifted away from the voices in my head as they repeated the only phrase they knew from the song. I watched as Sesshomaru slowly came to a stop.
"Jaken, Rin, stay here with Ah-Un."
I filtered out Jaken's squeaks of subtle protest and focused on Sesshomaru as he nodded at me to keep following. I kept my distance from him as continued forward. Not soon after he reduced the group size to two, the amount of trees that filled the area started to dwindle. The space between trees increased until it seemed to become a uniform distance between every tree. I remember this place with relative ease. I had no idea that the demon tree was so close. When I heard the tree talk, I took an instinctive step backwards. I got jumpscared by a tree, that's not something I get to say often. I assumed that Sesshomaru would have given me some sort of signal to tell me when we were near the old demon. Boy was I wrong. As I got my guts back together, I could feel the tree's gaze as it inspected me. When I finally found the specific tree we were looking for, I noticed that it was speaking with Sesshomaru. Well then! I didn't want to be a part of their conversation anyway. I'm just here because a certain dog dragged me out.
"Do you know of your brother's whereabouts?" the tree asked loud enough for me to hear. Sesshomaru glared at the tree, irritated by the question. "You wonder about his demonic side."
"I am sure you know about it."
"It surprises me that you have a woman accompanying you. It surprises me even more that she remains calm." The tree said, putting the main conversation to the side.
"Desensitization can happen to anyone." I replied.
"She is definitely not the conventional woman."
"Unfortunately." Sesshomaru commented.
"Maybe next time, you won't tote me off as though I'm a spoil of war." I replied with as little spite as I could manage.
"I am sure she will bring some vigor to your life." The tree stated.
"You avoid the topic at hand." Sesshomaru said, bringing up the tree's almost complete disregard of the subject.
"Your company should be able to tell you." The tree said in a voice filled with wisdom and aged by time.
"What makes you say that?" I asked.
"Though you are young, I can see a gleam in your eyes that holds understanding far beyond the ordinary, perhaps your eyes perceive further than my own."
I remained silent as Sesshomaru's gaze fell upon me. This tree was pretty smart.
"You have a good eye for detail then." I said in reply.
"If you wouldn't mind." The tree said, edging me on to be the one to explain.
"… Your father's blood is very strong, you know. Whenever InuYasha is critically wounded, the demon blood within him overrides his humanity and purges him of his humane characteristics. He becomes a demon, but the type with no conscience. He slaughters like a mad animal. Tessaiga was given to him to help control the demon blood passed to him, even though it is mixed. While he wields it, he remains as he is: when he doesn't, the beast can break free. It makes me wonder what would happen if you were ever mortally injured."
Sesshomaru growled at this.
"I would suggest you go see for yourself. It is much easier to believe once one has seen." The tree said.
Sesshomaru was going to take his advice. He wanted to see this with his own eyes, to see the extent of InuYasha's power that was hidden from him from him. I know I'm usually one to jump at the chance to watch in first person, but I didn't want to go this. This was an episode I didn't want to watch.
Sesshomaru turned and headed back the way we came. I went with him, but when we started to pass the camp, I slowed down incredibly, testing him to see if he would actually force me to go with him. I found that it to be a bad idea very quick. He did not hesitate to grab my arm and essentially pull at it until I walked at his pace. If I dared to slow down again, I had a feeling that my arm would be pulled right out of its socket. No matter how many times I said "ow" and no matter how many times I attempted to pry away his grip, he didn't let go or slow down. Why did he want me to go with him so badly?
