Maiden of the Sword
Ch. 7
Kagome froze in her movement, still cradling the injured Sesshoumaru.
'Natsuo? He thinks I'm the princess?'
"I don't understand! What is the meaning of all of this?" She cried out feebly.
The figure didn't answer and released another arrow. Kagome erected a barrier, yelping at the yellow energy that crackled against her fingertips as the arrow connected. The arrow purified and disintegrated.
"You're not the princess. Who are you?"
Kagome brought down her barrier, "I should be asking you that! You're the one attacking people!"
The figure step forward and Kagome could make out his facial features. The attacker had a humanoid appearance, but he looked to be some sort of lizard demon, judging from his tail and pale green skin. Sesshoumaru sat up and pulled the arrows from his back. He fought a hiss as the arrows' tips tore his flesh. Poison began to drip from his claws, promising pain to the intruder.
"I am Newut, sent to kill Princess Natsuo. Girl, since you are not my target, leave and I shall spare your life."
"Fat chance, I'm not letting you hurt anyone else," Kagome fired back.
Newut grinned, "Very well, then you will die too."
Newut charged at Kagome, moving faster than she anticipated. His claws lengthened, determined to wrap themselves around the half demon's throat, when he was flung to the side. Newut rolled to his side, cradling his chest. He looked down to see four claw marks on his chest, seeping with poison. Sesshoumaru flexed his claws, ready for another attack.
Newut rubbed his chest again, "I actually forgot about you, dog demon. No matter, that poison in your system will kill you before I need to do anything."
"Hey, asshole! I'm your opponent!" Kagome cried, delivering a swift kick to Newut's stomach.
Infusing miko energy into her hands and feet, Kagome sent a flurry of punches at the lizard demon, sending him back outside.
"Stay here, Sesshoumaru! I'll handle this guy," Kagome shouted, running after Newut.
Sesshoumaru grit his teeth, drawing his sword, "Don't tell me what to do. That nuisance is mine."
He trailed after the woman, ignoring the stinging sensation in his back. Kagome stopped in a clearing, sniffing the air slightly; Newut was nowhere to be found.
"This guy is such a snake! I can't even sense him," Kagome complained.
Sesshoumaru's ears twitched, "Indeed, he's quite the elusive one."
A gargled scream rang out from inside the inn. The two demons ran inside, winding around the corner to Natsuo's bedroom.
"Natsuo, are you alright? What was that?" Kagome called out.
Inside the room, Natsuo cowered in the corner, splattered in the foreign purple ooze of Newut's blood. Inutaisho stood over the corpse of the would-be assassin. He sheathed his sword once more, staring at the demon with a slight grimace.
"Lord Inutaisho, you got him!" Kagome said with a smile.
"I killed one, but I'm confident another will arrive to finish the job of killing Natsuo," Inutaisho turned to Sesshoumaru, smelling the poison in his blood, "Son, you were injured?That's odd for you."
Sesshoumaru leaned against the door frame. It was harder than before to catch his breath and his body was growing more and more heavy.
"He attacked me while I was...preoccupied," Sesshoumaru murmured, eyeing Kagome sourly.
Kagome heard the accusation in his voice and turned sharply to the demon, "Hey, thanks for helping me, but I never asked you to-"
Sesshoumaru coughed roughly, dropping to his knees. His throat burned and his fingers shook as he struggled to stand. Kagome rushed to his side. Natsuo bit her lip, inching toward the two. Inutaisho pushed past her and inspected Sesshoumaru's back.
"Something's wrong; let's get him back to his bed," the Lord said.
Kagome nodded, turning to Natsuo, "Princess, get me some clean water and please hurry!"
Natsuo ran out without a word. Kagome reached for Sesshoumaru, only to have him swipe his hand away.
"I don't need your coddling. It's only a flesh wound," Sesshoumaru explained, though his breathing was even more haggard.
The priestess frowned and resisted the urge to hit him or say a biting remark.
'Is he really going to be this prideful?' She thought.
With Inutaisho's help, Kagome guided Sesshoumaru back on his cot with a little more than grumbling on his part.
"Listen, I know the arrows may just be flesh wounds, but they were still dipped in a nasty poison so stop being so proud and let me take a look," instructed Kagome.
Sesshoumaru lied down and sent the strongest glare he could to the woman, but it was hard with his vision blurring. He sighed, giving Kagome a slight nod of consent. He loosened his yukata and rolled over. Kagome's fingers trailed over the three marks before her hands began to glow a soft pink. Sesshoumaru hissed at first, uncomfortable with the miko energy. He grew used to the overlapping waves of warm energy. Kagome watched him curiously. The prince's face had gone from one contorted in pain to a hazy half-smile. His muscles had relaxed considerably as more poison was drawn out. Natsuo ran back in with gauze and water, biting her lip as Kagome cleaned the wound. Kagome secured the gauze over Sesshoumaru's wounds and turned him over.
"I'm sorry, Kagome."
Kagome waved her away, "It wasn't your fault. You were in danger too."
"No," Natsuo whispered, "It is. I knew you would be attacked."
Kagome paused, narrowing her eyes at the princess, "What do you mean?"
Natsuo wrung her fingers, avoiding the woman's sharp gaze, "When the innkeepers told my guards of a woman who resembled myself, I had to come see. After talking to you, I thought we looked similar enough that if we wore the same outfit and makeup, you could pass for me."
Inutaisho frowned, "Natsuo, what you've done is a serious offense. Your treachery caused my son injury and Kagome is under my protection as well. Any harm to befall either one of them is on your hands."
Natsuo droppped to her knees, bowing before the Lord, "Please forgive me. I didn't think I had a choice. Our land was hit by a drought last year that we are still struggling to recover from today. People were starving, unable to farm enough to eat, much less sell. To help my village, I agreed to marry a noble from a nearby land to receive additional land. It wasn't until after our agreement that I realized my husband to be owed money to some awful people. Once we wed, the aid we receive should be enough to help my people and generate enough revenue to pay the debts, but these men want the money now."
Kagome shook her head, "That's stupid! Why attack you if it's money they want?"
Natsuo sighed, "They don't care about the agreement. They want the money from Asaka, my husband to be and he has refused to pay anything. They would kill me if it means hurting him."
A growl erupted from Sesshoumaru as he propped himself up. An involuntary shiver ran down Natsuo's spine once her gaze fell on Sesshoumaru's.
"And what of Kagome? You were willing to kill her just to prolong your life? Pathetic and not thought out. Surely you realize that once word spread that you were still alive, the assassins would return," Sesshoumaru spat.
"I know!" Natsuo exclaimed. She reeled in her voice and turned to Kagome, her eyes pleading, "I knew that. The only reason I decided to go through with the plan was because you said you were a trained miko. I thought even if you couldn't fight them, the prince or lord would and it could buy me some time. I'm sorry. I didn't want to cause any harm; I'd just grown so desperate."
"Why wouldn't you simply ask Lord Inutaisho for help? I know he would have done something," Kagome urged.
Natsuo shook her head, "It is dangerous to involve a Lord in a political dispute with another land. It's not that I thought he would not help. Asking another land for aid makes you look vulnerable and leaves your kingdom open to be taken."
Kagome pondered the princess's words, "When is your wedding?"
"In three days time."
"So after three days, you would be under the protection of Asaka? You would be safer?"
Natsuo nodded emphatically, "I think so, yes."
Though the princess wasn't exactly forthcoming, Kagome understood the desperation of one in her predicament. She couldn't fault the woman for wanting to live. Saving the world was top priority, but surely she had a little more time to do that. Kagome glanced at Sesshoumaru's sour face and smirked. Ticking him off was just an added bonus.
"Alright I'll do it."
"We don't have time for dress up, girl. We need to be on our way," Sesshoumaru pushed, folding his arms.
"It's only three days. It's certainly worth it if I can help Natsuo and I think I could pass for the princess," Kagome reasoned, looking to Inutaisho for validation.
Sesshoumaru groaned, "You have the social grace of a toad. No one would believe you're royalty."
Kagome cocked her hands on her hips, "Excuse me?"
"Your silly ears work fine. I said you have the social grace of a toad on your best day; you're a klutz."
"And you're a bodyguard completely inept at guarding bodies, including your own. Or have you already forgotten about your wound? You should revel in the opportunity to get back at the people who hurt you!" Kagome fired back.
Kagome stood, inspecting the other woman closely for differences, " Yeah, I can do this! I just need to take a bath and freshen up a little."
Sesshoumaru snorted, "That is your plan? I've seen you after a bath; you look like a drowned rat. Freshening up as you put it will not suffice. Bear in mind, you're imitating a princess."
"Oh shut up, jerk! Can I stay just a few more days, Lord Inutaisho?"
The older man rubbed his temples. He casted another hard look at Natsuo before his eyes softened on Kagome, "I should have known this trip wasn't going to be as smooth as I envisioned. Very well, Kagome. I'll trust your judgement in this matter."
Kagome grinned, "Thank you, you won't regret it!"
Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes. His father was too soft. Kagome turned once more to him "Come on, you trust me right?"
"Not in the slightest," Sesshoumaru sniffed.
Kagome smirked, joking, "Smart man."
The prince scoffed, "You're hopeless. I shouldn't even be surprised."
Sesshoumaru walked out the room, ignoring the bit of pain that still shot up and down his back. Kagome followed him outside. She rubbed his back and Sesshoumaru stiffened, then relaxed at her light touch.
"What is it, girl? Have you come to your senses regarding this princess nonsense?"
"I thought Natsuo was your friend. How could you be against helping her?" Kagome asked.
"She is a liar and I abhor liars. How can you stand up for a woman whose dishonesty could have had you killed?" Sesshoumaru retorted.
Kagome fell silent, gazing at the stars that twinkled overhead.
"I'm not going to judge her. People have always judged me and they didn't even know me. I understand why she did what she did. Desperation does that."
Sesshoumaru watched the young woman out the corner of his eye. He couldn't quite understand the girl next to him, but slowly he was beginning to admire her stubborn streak. At least there was never a dull moment with her. Sesshoumaru caught Kagome watching him.
"What is it?"
"Thank you for saving me, Prince Sesshoumaru. I never got the time to thank you properly," She said sweetly.
Kagome placed her hand on his shoulder. A blush appeared at her soft display. Sesshoumaru blamed the butterflies in his stomach on his weakened state. He jerked his shoulder away, "It was obviously a nicety I've wasted on you."
Kagome yawned, turning back toward the inn. It wasn't worth the fight, not with a fight already ahead of them.
"I better head to bed. Who knows when those guys will come back. Get some rest, Sesshoumaru."
Sesshoumaru didn't respond, but nodded in acknowledgment. A wicked thought crossed her mind and Kagome stood on her tiptoes. Sesshoumaru turned to the odd woman.
"What the hell are you up to?"
Unperturbed, Kagome grazed her lips feather soft against his neck, "Good night, Prince Sesshoumaru."
Sesshoumaru froze; Kagome stepped back. A red stain crept up his face before he whipped away from the priestess. Kagome turned heel toward the inn, rushing away so Sesshoumaru couldn't hear her giggling.
If he wanted to tease her, she could do the same.
Another chapter down. By the way, I have not forgotten about Kagome's backstory and will explain more about her parent soon, perhaps in the next chapter. Please review and let me know how you're liking the story!