CHAPTER 7
POWER STRUGGLE
The miko rushed headlong into the early evening air unmindful of the direction she's going. She didn't care. Tears ran in streams from her eyes making it hard to see. She wiped it off with the heel of her hands. The tears don't seem to want to stop. She felt so lost and confused. She felt branches whipping her face when her flight took a little low the tree line but she doesn't care. The pain felt good. The miko stumblingly descended the forest floor landing on hard packed dirt. She curled her body in a ball like an animal in the throes of death; the pain and loneliness in her heart piercing in throbs. Her screams of pain echoed in the night air, all manner of forest creatures taking flight from this strange being who invaded and broke the peace and silence.
"Inuyasha! Inuyasha!" Kagome raked her clawed fingers at the earth as if trying to open its depths to bring back the hanyou dragged by his infernal beloved in hell. "Why? Why?" Fresh tears came mingling with the loam and sullying her hands and face.
The fight with Naraku ended in victory, it took blood, sweat and tears to bring the hated hanyou down.
Kagome and Sango were crying and embracing a dazed Kohaku relieved that the long and dragged out fight was finally over. Sesshoumaru stood over them after wielding the Tensaiga to resurrect the boy. Kohaku's Shikon shard was the only remaining piece to complete the jewel so Naraku intensified his attack to get to the final shard to defeat them, the Shard hunters and their allies gathered around Kohaku while Kagome surreptitiously purified the last and only shard. They have grudgingly agreed to give it to Naraku while trying to make the battle look real. As soon as Naraku absorbed the last shard it will purify the remaining darkness in the jewel.
The boy fell.
The shard torn from his tender back.
As life bled out from him his sister ran to him with a cry. The taiji-ya caught her brother before he fell where both sibling slumped on the muddy ground.
The abomination named Naraku, with avarice glowing on his face, completed the sphere and a brilliant light streamed from its depths, blinding, pulsing in dark intensity. Naraku's gloating cackle was cut short as the dark hue of the sphere quickly turned into its pure color. Kagome reached out for the sphere where it sped to her hand and hovered, with the sphere in her hand the Miko turned it to Naraku and threw a bolt of pure purified power to their nemesis. His howl of pain sounded like the death throes of a wounded animal.
When the light abated nothing was left of the evil hanyou save a crater to mark where he met his end.
The shikon hunters took a moment to register that they have done the impossible: defeat Naraku. Instead of whoops of joy tears fell from weary eyes for the battle took everything they had. The stoic taiyoukai, their ally, strode to the fallen boy. Sesshoumaru unsheathed the Sword of Heaven and severed the underworld's minions from parting the boy's soul. The blade sang a piercing song and with a glow the boy's life was restored to his only and remaining family.
Suddenly Inuyasha was snatched by Kikyo and her soul collectors. The startled and struggling hanyou was dragged down from a great wound from the earth with the woman he promised to spend eternity in hell with.
Her friend was gone. She didn't even get to say goodbye.
Gone. Gone.
He's gone.
Why? WHY?
Kagome's tears turned into boiling anger. Hating Kikyo for being the selfish parody of a human being that she had become. She was angry that she didn't even do anything to stop Kikyo. Everyone was too shocked at the rapid pace of event that transpired. When she found herself disappearing like a ghost all she could manage was a panicked 'No!' and before her eyes her friends and son ran to her with fear in their eyes. Shippo tried to jump into her arms but he sailed past her phantom form.
She growled fiercely as her youki/miko aura swirled and intensified and red bled from her eyes. She felt the presence of a strong youkai approaching her location the youkai/miko snarled a challenge. The bearer of the strong youkai turned out to be Sesshoumaru who snarled a challenge of his own.
Both taiyoukai faced each other. Eyes bled red, claws curled and ready but the Western Lord looked seemingly relaxed in his stance whereas Kagome was poised to lunge.
"Miko, cease! Control yourself!" The demon lord pulsed his youki to assert his dominance as the strongest. It was met with a resounding pulse from the miko.
"You are losing control. It will consume and defeat you. Desist!" Another pulse, stronger this time. The woman was pushed on her knees by the flare but she persisted.
Sesshoumaru intensified the pulse, the wave thrashing the leaves of the trees as if by strong winds. Puny youkai were struck weak when his aura flared and knowing that they would not even bear to withstand his aura let alone his strength they always fled from his presence. But this woman had dared challenge him and retaliated!
Inuyoukai's grew into their power as they mature. By the time they have reached their first century they are strong enough to control their aura and transformations. But this woman had been given this power without guidance and now this negligence could tear apart her mind, body and soul.
"Focus on my voice, miko." He has to get through to her. She looked like Inuyasha when he was overcome by his youkai. The miko being a human is now vulnerable to the same effects as his brother had been. The rage and bloodlust would make her want to go on a killing rampage until her strength is exhausted or she is struck down.
Kagome felt lost inside her emotions. She felt intense anger and deep sorrow. She has never felt this so strong an emotion wherein she was so out of control. This is not from her. This isn't me! She can hear herself growling. Something is pulling her under in her mind and like a swimmer battling a strong current she can feel her strength ebbing. She would like to stop fighting the pull.
Sesshoumaru's voice was centering her focus so she allowed it to guide her out of the maelstrom. The force of his aura is paralyzing her movements and a part of her was glad for it acted like an anchor keeping her from being pulled under.
"Kagome, you must curl your youki inside you. Do not let it reign over you." Sesshoumaru did not let up his youki to incapacitate the miko until she can control herself.
"I don't ….know ….how…." there's a pounding in her head and her muscles are failing her. "Sess…Sesshouma…" With a cry the miko fell to the ground unconscious.
Sesshoumaru hurried over at the woman. He stopped a few feet away from her and waited until her aura returned to normal. The purple aura settled into the body of the woman as if water absorbed by sponge. He was relieved when he could hear the beat of her heart. He knelt on one knee by her side and gently caressed her cheeks.
Miko or taiyoukai this woman has always intrigued him. Sesshoumaru threw a glance at the miko across from him. He belatedly thought that calling her miko is a contradiction. He doesn't know his aversion of calling her by her name. In his way he is acknowledging her title as a protector of the jewel and his respect for her immense power. Not many people can command his respect. Respect comes in many forms for Sesshoumaru and one does not have to be powerful or influential to command that.
Rin has his overwhelming respect as well as his protection and love. Yes, love. She gives love to him unconditionally whether he reciprocates or not. She looked past his fierce nature and accepted him for who and what he is. She is fearless like this woman Kagome. The taiyoukai has long ago made peace with himself about his feelings for his daughter. He has literally gone to hell and back to retrieve her soul from the underworld. Life without Rin would eventually kill him inside.
But what is it with Kagome that draws him like moth to a flame? She is troublesome and in the short span of time she has managed to ruffle his well-ordered life. He doesn't like it. Inside him he feels the rebellion of being dragged into these situations but is helpless to fight it. But he cannot stand by and not help her.
She is a danger to herself.
In a world teeming with powerful beings such as youkais peace must be kept and maintained. Chaos restored. Laws imposed. Insubordination is quickly quelled. Rebellion is met with death.
A being who cannot control their power is equally met with severe punishment: death.
If she cannot control her power she will be judged and executed by the Four Cardinals.
Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and sighed.
As the head cardinal it falls into his unfortunate duty of performing her execution. The daiyoukai wonders if he will feel pain in his heart if such thing occurred.
He looked at the woman once more.
The Taiyoukai gathered the fallen miko in his arms and took the woman back in the fortress.
~}O{~