Okay here is another chapter for you all! To answer a reader's question, Kagome is 18 and ages normally until 18, then she retains her youth even if she ages hundreds of years. In the next five chapters, I'll address Kagome's past and how she came to live with Kaede. I haven't fleshed out this story completely yet.
Maiden of the Sword
Ch. 3
Sesshoumaru bounded from tree to tree, tracking Kagome's scent. She'd taken off so quickly; luckily, she hadn't thought to hide her scent again. Sesshoumaru hid his own scent and took off. After an hour or so, he came to a clearing where the half-demon had settled. The strike of a fist against wood alerted him to her whereabouts. Kagome's knuckles were bloody, uncovered of any bandages, and she was panting. Kagome leaned back against the massive tree trunk. She gazed at the sun, shrouded by clouds.
"Stupid Kikyo," she pouted with a mumble.
Sesshoumaru eyed the tree trunk. Kagome's blows had broken through the outer bark and sent layers of wood shards toward the ground.
"Your comrades don't seem to like you," he said stepping out.
Kagome yelped sharply, caught off guard. She glared at the unwelcome demon.
"Is there a point to your little observation?" Kagome's ears flickered in irritation.
Sesshoumaru frowned, "I understand their sentiment well."
"Whatever, I wasn't created for your enjoyment," Kagome bit back.
"I don't understand the purpose for your creation in general, half-breed."
Kagome's cheeks reddened and puffed at the insult. She pushed herself up from against the tree trunk.
"You know, I didn't ask you to follow me and insert yourself in my problems!"
"Kagome, help!"
Kagome looked to see a ball of orange fur flying toward her. She instinctively held out her hands, recognizing the mass. She cradled the kit.
"Hey Shippo, what's wrong?" Kagome said softly.
"Kagome, it's my dad! That thunder dragon came back and Papa got hurt. I'm afraid he'll be back soon."
Sesshoumaru watched the pair curiously as Kagome cooed the young boy, trying to calm him.
"Okay Shippo, where's your Papa? I'll check out his wounds," Kagome agreed.
Shippo jumped from her arms and ran a couple feet, "This way!"
"Surely someone else can help the boy's father. You're needed back at the shrine," Sesshoumaru reminded her.
Kagome turned back to him with a glare, "How about you go back? I don't even know why you bothered coming here."
"Is that your friend?" Shippo asked shyly.
"No, he's nobody important."
Sesshoumaru growled at the jab, "I am Prince Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands. I've been given the unfortunate task of traveling with one of Kaede's priestesses."
Sesshoumaru moved smoothly to Kagome, venom lacing his words, "I cannot resume my own travelling if you insist on running off without completing Monk Iruka's ritual."
Kagome ignored him and scooped up Shippo. She bolted off again. Sesshoumaru growled and followed them. Shippo peered over Kagome's shoulder to watch Sesshoumaru.
"He's kind of scary, Kagome," Shippo commented.
Kagome glanced back at the brooding prince, "Don't worry about him. What happened to your dad?"
"Those dragons have been terrorizing our village. We have mostly kids like me and a lot of them haven't even unlocked their magic yet. I used my fox magic to hide some people, but I'm not strong enough to fight off any of the thunder dragons. Lately they've been coming into the village and stealing our food and other goods. Papa fought one off, but he got hurt."
Kagome halted at the village entrance and made her way to Shippo's home. His father, Eiyuu, lied in his cot, nursing a gouge in his leg. His emerald eyes lit up when he saw the priestess. Kagome smiled.
"Looks like you've had your hands full, Eiyuu."
The older fox demon laughed lightly and propped himself up by his elbows. Kagome rushed to his side.
"Oh no, no don't move. Let me help," Kagome said gently.
Kagome lied him back down, tucking an amber lock behind his elfish ears. Shippo sat at his father's side, biting his lower lip. Sesshoumaru stood at the entrance of the hut, arms folded in contempt.
"Who is he Kagome, a suitor perhaps?" Eiyuu whispered playfully.
"Gross, no way. He's just a pest."
Eiyuu chuckled. Kagome's hands began to glow a pale pink as she healed the deep cuts and torn ligaments along his leg and foot. Eiyuu tugged on her dog ears.
"I don't see these often; what's the special occasion?"
Kagome frowned and pulled her head away. Eiyuu noticed.
"It's nothing. I lost my bandana," she mumbled.
Kagome looked over at Shippo.
"Shippo, can you get me some bulrush? Do you have some here?"
Shippo scurried to a pile of jars in the corner, "I think we still have some from the last time you were here. Got it!"
Kagome poured a small amount of water in a shallow bowl and took the bulrush from Shippo.
"Good, now make a paste like I taught you. It will help with your Papa's discomfort."
Shippo ground the medicine and mixed it with the water. Kagome applied the paste dutifully and wrapped the man's leg.
"Kagome, you are so kind, always caring for Shippo and I. If I were just a little younger, I would take you for my wife," Eiyuu murmured wistfully.
Kagome laughed lightly, pink spreading across her cheeks, "You old flirt; this medicine must make you delusional."
A soft smile remained fixed on his face.
"Yes," he admitted quietly, "It must be this medicine."
A scream ran out and Kagome peeked through the hut's window. Shippo sniffed the air lightly.
"Is it him, Shippo?" Kagome asked softly.
Shippo nodded, moving closer to his father. Kagome walked over and ruffled the boy's hair.
"Don't worry, Sesshoumaru and I will take care of them," Kagome turned to Sesshoumaru, "How about it, Prince? Ready to show that amazing power of yours?"
Sesshoumaru didn't even look at her; his gazed remained on the approaching dragon.
"This village is not my concern. Do not involve me in their matters."
Kagome fumed. She pushed pass the dog demon, "Typical, then get out of my way, ass."
Kagome saw the dragon approach. His serpentine body plowed over massive trees, leveling the forest with each step. Kagome concentrated and spread out her own aura, bubbling each hut in a lilac barrier. The dragon snarled, sending an energy blast her way. It knocked Kagome back. She hit the hut and grabbed at her chest.
'Wow, he's strong! I can't get hit with many of those.'
Kagome formed her own bow and arrow and aimed it at the dragon.
"I'm giving you one chance to turn back and leave these people alone," Kagome shouted.
The beast spoke, "Woman-child, do you think you can harm me? I am Ryuko, strongest in this land. For hundreds of years none, have defeated me. You think you will fare differently, half-demon?"
Kagome released the arrow. It electrified the air as it punctured Ryuko in the side. The dragon hissed when the arrow connected.
"So you're a priestess? You have one of the few powers that can pierce my skin, but I'll make sure that doesn't happen again."
Ryuko sent a barrage of energy blasts at Kagome, each one more lethal than the last. Kagome was put on the defense, barely able to defect, much less shoot another arrow, and it would take so many arrows to bring someone of Ryuko's size down.
Ryuko fired a dangerously enormous blast of demonic energy from his mouth. Kagome dodged the attack, but only barely. She heard the shattering of wood; the blast cut through her barrier completely. She rolled a few feet and looked to see what the blast hit once the blinding light had ebbed away. Shippo's hut was gone, dissipated by the blast and the remnants were obscured by the billowing smoke. Kagome choked back a scream.
"Shippo! Eiyuu, please answer me!" Kagome called.
She staggered toward the wreckage. She saw a figure standing and she could make out two more sitting. Sesshoumaru had drawn his Tokijin. His arm was singed and smoking.
'He must have blocked the attack with his sword, but cut it pretty close.'
Kagome ran to Shippo's side. He wheezed a little, but he was alive. Eiyuu pushed some rubble off.
"You're both alive! I'm so relieved," Kagome whispered.
"Girl, now is not the time for pleasantries. Come, let's end this," Sesshoumaru said, taking command.
Kagome ran to the dog demon's side.
"What should I do?" she asked softly.
Sesshoumaru turned to her. He was surprised, but didn't show it. "I was expecting a fight from you."
"Well I don't want to see my friends die," Kagome snapped. Her voice lowered, "So what do I need to do?"
"Distract him. You'll need all your energy for this so drop your barriers."
"But that leaves the people here vulnerable!"
Sesshoumaru gripped his sword tighter and frowned, "His blasts are powerful enough to go through them. All you do is weaken yourself."
Kagome regarded him with stern derision, but sighed in acquiescence. She drew the energy back to herself, feeling a surge of power.
"Ah, that feels good! Okay Sesshoumaru, let's do this," the priestess said.
Ryuko whipped his tail at the girl and sent her through several huts. Ryuko laughed, turning back to Sesshoumaru.
"I'm finished playing with your woman. Perhaps you will prove to be a worthy opponent."
Sesshoumaru eyed his tail and smirked. Sesshoumaru glowed gold. He raised his sword and slammed it down, sending shockwaves to Ryuko. The ground under his reptilian feet shook and a blast of energy erupted underneath. While Ryuko focused on the first attack, Sesshoumaru powered up and charged the dragon. He sliced upward and connected with the beast's mouth. Ryuko howled as Sesshoumaru cut away one of his fangs.
"You're dead, dog!" Ryuko raged, gargling his own blood.
He lifted his tail to strike again, but he couldn't swing it. Ryuko looked. Kagome had a grip on his tail, pulling with all her strength. Ryuko shot another energy blast her way, but Kagome darted out the way and ran for the discarded fang.
"Little bitch," Ryuko hissed.
The sting of a poison whip pulled him away from Kagome.
"I am your opponent. Do not ignore me," Sesshoumaru warned.
The prince slammed his sword against the dragon's body but neither Tokijin nor his whip could penetrate the armor-like skin. Ryuko bellowed another laugh.
"My skin is harder than stone. I am impenetrable fools!"
"We'll see about that!"
Kagome held his massive fang, encased in her own spiritual energy. She charged at the beast. Ryuko's eye's widened in realization. He prepared himself for a final blast. Sesshoumaru wrapped his whip around the dragon's mouth, blocking the blast. Ryuko twisted, trying to shake the whip away, but it was too late.
Kagome drove the dragon's fang through its thick chest, right into the heart. Ryuko's movements slowed. His red eyes dulled and he fell back. The dragon hardened to stone, broken in the crater he had created. Kagome collapsed. Shippo ran to her.
"You two did it!"
Eiyuu limped over and bowed, "You have our deepest gratitude Kagome, Prince Sesshoumaru."
Kagome smiled at Sesshoumaru for the first time, "Yes thank you, Prince Sesshoumaru. I wouldn't have been victorious without your help."
"Hn."
Kagome laughed a little, "I guess that means you're welcome."
Kagome stood slowly, assessing the village, "I'll do a quick sweep to help the wounded and tomorrow I'll help rebuild."
Kagome looked exhausted. Sesshoumaru would never say it aloud, but the girl had surprised him. She had been fighting or tending to the wounded all day. Not many had such a reserve of energy to last so long. Now, as Kagome left her final patient, the day's events had caught up with her. Each step felt so arduous. Kagome said her farewells and all but crept out the entrance gates. Sesshoumaru huffed, walking dangerously close to the girl.
"What are you doing, Sesshoumaru?"
Sesshoumaru lifted her up bridal style, "You've wasted enough time; it's nearly nightfall."
"Put me down! I can walk!"
He took to the air ignoring Kagome's pleas, insisting his form of traveling was faster. Just outside Kaede's shrine, Sesshoumaru lowered the two, dropping Kagome unceremoniously.
Kagome's butt hid the hard soil. She stood, rubbing it and scowling at Sesshoumaru. Her anger edged away, however, when she caught sight of his burned hand. Sesshoumaru noticed her change in demeanor.
"What?" he barked.
Kagome ignored his gruff tone and reached from his hand. The softness in her touch surprised him, but he didn't pull away.
Kagome looked and recognized the previous night's burn still marring his skin. She felt a twinge of guilt drift to her. She ran her hand over his in a soothing display, allowing her energy to lick across his wound with each touch. She ran her thumb over the healed skin, inspecting her work. She spoke softly.
"Thank you for today. You protected Shippo and his father when you could have simply dodged the attack, evening hurting yourself in the process."
Sesshoumaru scoffed and jerked his hand away, "That measly attack could never have harmed me."
Kagome just smiled, "Yes, well thank you anyway. I appreciate you protecting them."
Sesshoumaru didn't speak, uncomfortable with Kagome's kindness. Kagome shook her head amused.
"Don't get the wrong idea! I still don't like you!"
"I abhor you," Sesshoumaru shot back coolly.
Kagome smirked and began walking to her hut, "Glad we're on the same page, your highness."
Sesshoumaru watched her leave, feeling a mix of intrigue and loathing.
Kagome glanced back with a grin, "You better get to bed, prince. We're rebuilding tomorrow. It would be nice if his highness actually earned his keep instead of simply eating up all our food."
Sesshoumaru growled. No, there was nothing intriguing about her, just her loathsome personality.