Maiden
Ch. 9
Kagome tightened her grip on her bow. The room was thick with tension and then Asaka struck. He charged Natsuo, claws raised. Sesshoumaru stepped in front of the princess, cracking his own poison whip at Asaka. Asaka hissed as the whip connected with his neck and jumped back. Inutaisho sprinted past the snake demon.
"I can smell Asaka's comrades approaching. I'll take care of them. I'll trust you two to handle Asaka," Inutaisho called, running from the castle.
Sesshoumaru unsheathed his sword. Asaka grinned.
"You're not playing around, Dog Demon. Very well; let me get serious."
Asaka began to expand, ripping his clothes. His scales darkened to a red. Arms and legs melded together with his torso and lengthened to a tail. Asaka released a scream and fully transformed to his snake form. Asaka swung his tail, slapping Kagome outside. Sesshoumaru grabbed Natsuo and jumped outside. He pointed to a nearby tree.
"Wait over there. I can't defeat him and focus on protecting you," Sesshoumaru instructed.
Natsuo nodded. She ran behind the tree, peeking out at the scene. Sesshoumaru darted to Kagome as Asaku slunk outside.
"Are you hurt?" Sesshoumaru murmured, staring ahead.
Kagome's hands glowed pink, healing her side where the tail struck her. She shook her head.
"We should have an advantage. Asaka is larger, but he has decreased mobility without arms and legs."
Kagome smirked, "Only an amateur relies on arms and legs to win a fight. It's obvious he doesn't need them, but that's fine. I'll kick his ass anyway."
Kagome's bow transformed. It grew thicker, taking the form of a staff. Kagome infused her energy in the bow, "Okay, cover me!"
Kagome ran at the snake demon, dodging his tail as it struck the Earth, leaving craters. Kagome ran up the tail and lunged for Asaka's head. She slammed her bow into his side; Asaka screamed. Asaka opened his mouth and shot out a poisonious miasma ball at her. Sesshoumaru grabbed Kagome midair and twisted her away. He slashed Asaka's nostril and flung his own snake blood in the demon's eye. The half demon threw a smoke bomb and encapsulated the area in heavy smoke. Sesshoumaru tucked Kagome's head in his robes, retreating.
"Don't breathe in the miasma, it's pretty potent," Sesshoumaru warned.
Kagome coughed sharply, holding tightly to his robes. Sesshoumaru jumped back and landed behind a broad tree trunk.
"Thank you," Kagome wheezed, "He's so fast and that poison is a problem. Just a whiff has me dizzy. I needed the smoke bomb just to breathe a little easier."
"If I can leave him immobile, can you purify him?" Sesshoumaru whispered. He watched Asaka swing wildly at the air, still blinded by the smoke and blood.
Kagome bit her lip, "Maybe, I have a plan."
The quake in her voice rose the skepticism in Sesshoumaru, "Please tell me this plan is a good one."
"...I have a plan."
"Great."
Kagome whipped her head to Sesshoumaru with a scowl, "Well, what's your plan, oh great prince?"
"My plan was to follow your plan," Sesshoumaru answered smugly.
"Then stop complaining. I need you to transform and hold Asaka off until I store enough energy and I'll need to ride you."
Sesshoumaru smirked, "Hardly the time for your lewd comments."
"You know that's not what I meant; just transform!" Kagome yelled, smacking his arm.
"Where are you mutts? Come out so I can kill you!" Asaka bellowed.
With a chuckle, Sesshoumaru sheathed his sword and set it aside. Billows of steam emitted from his body as he expanded. White fur covered the demon; claws extended on hands turned into paws and Sesshoumaru released a howl. Kagome fell back in awe. The man beside her had grown to a size that dwarfed both the trees and the castle around them. Sesshoumaru's blue eyes bored into Kagome's a moment and he motioned to his back. Kagome jumped up to a tree branch and used the branch as her launching pad to latch onto his side. Kagome grabbed a fist full of fur and pulled herself up. Kagome crawled up and settled herself on top of the beast.
"Ok, get as close of you can." Kagome spoke, steadying her bow and arrow.
Sesshoumaru flexed his claws and leapt at Asaka. The dog demon dug his claws into Asaka's side and the two toppled over. Asaka twisted his body around Sesshoumaru's abdomen and squeezed. Sesshoumaru growled and sunk his teeth into the snake. The poison excreting from his mouth began to melt the demon. Panicked, Asaka sank his own fangs into Sesshoumaru's shoulder. The beast pulled back and attempted to swing Asaka away. Kagome scrambled up to Sesshoumaru's neck.
"Are you alright? I think I have enough energy!"
Sesshoumaru collasped, pinning Asaka down. Kagome pinpointed Asaka's melded flesh and exposed skin from Sesshoumaru's attack. Kagome surrounded her body in her own spiritual power and jumped toward the wound. She gripped Asaka's tail and purified the serpent. Purified skin whitened and hardened as Kagome's powers worked its way from tail to head. Asaka hissed and uncoiled from Sesshoumaru, darting to Kagome. The miko erected a barrier, focusing on her task. Sesshoumaru swiped Asaka away and tore his teeth into his neck. Asaka released a few gasps as his blood spilled into Sesshoumaru's mouth and slumped over. Sesshoumaru dropped him; Asaka's lifeless body hung in the air like a calcite sculpture, then crashed and crumbled. Sesshoumaru reverted back, holding his shoulder.
"Son! Sesshoumaru!"
Inutaisho landed in front of his pup. He hesitated to touch Sesshoumaru's wound, blistered by the poison. Sesshoumaru fought a whimper, growling low. Natsuo ran from her hiding place.
"Are you all alright?" Natsuo called, reaching for Sesshoumaru.
Sesshoumaru snapped his teeth at her, his eyes flashing red. Kagome pushed Natsuo aside gently.
"Let me. He's in pain," Kagome said, kneeling slowly in front of Sesshoumaru.
He growled, but didn't make a move when Kagome placed her hands on his shoulder. She drew the poison out in a steady stream of miasma. When all the poison had been stripped from his body, Sesshoumaru's tense body relaxed and his eyes returned to their golden state.
"You all did it! You won!" Natsuo exclaimed. She clasped Kagome's hand, "I can't thank you enough Kagome. I'll never forget this."
Kagome smiled, "Of course, Natsuo. I'm just glad it worked. We need to get Sesshoumaru some rest though. He's not looking good."
Sesshoumaru stood, ignoring the shooting pain from his chest, "Ridiculous, I'm fine. Now that you've finished playing hero, we can be on our way."
Inutaisho walked past his son toward the castle again, "If you won't do it for yourself, take a rest for your old man's sake."
Kagome and Natsuo followed the lord and begrudgingly Sesshoumaru walked behind the three. Natsuo and Kagome rolled out a mat for the young prince. Kagome patted the mat and motioned to the prince.
"Okay, Sesshoumaru, undress," Kagome instructed.
"Excuse me?" Sesshoumaru uttered slowly. His eyebrow raised ever so slightly.
"Kagome, how scandalous!" Natsuo giggled.
Kagome ignored her and grabbed a small bucket of water and washcloth. She sat on her knees, wringing the water out the rag. Her lips fell into a fine line, glaring at Sesshoumaru with a huff, "I need to check your wounds. Take your clothes off."
Sesshoumaru took a seat on the mat, crisscrossing his legs, "I do not require your assistance, girl."
"Take your clothes off!" Kagome cried, straddling his waist.
Sesshoumaru grabbed her wrists as she tried to remove his outer kimono.
Lord Inutaisho laughed at the two pups, "Just allow Kagome to treat you!"
"I've patched up a lot of guys. It's not like you have something I haven't seen before," the miko urged.
"I assure you, you've never seen a specimen like myself before now," Sesshoumaru sniffed.
Kagome rolled her eyes and attempted to remove Sesshoumaru's clothes, "Quit fighting! Your wound could get infected."
"Remove your hands from my person. This is a violation!" Sesshoumaru groaned.
Each tug at his shirt, every grind on his manhood drove Sesshoumaru further into madness. The last thing he wanted was for Kagome to smell his arousal or worse his father. Sesshoumaru flung Kagome off his body. She hit the wood floor hard. Inutaisho pulled the girl up.
"What is your problem!" Kagome growled, rubbing her wrist.
"Sesshoumaru, be careful! You're not the only one hurt from Asaka's attacks," Lord Inutaisho reprimanded.
Sesshoumaru seethed, "She was on me like a bitch in heat."
The room grew quiet.
"What did you call me?" Kagome asked, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Are you not a female dog?" Sesshoumaru asked feigning ignorance. He took off his kimono and waited for Kagome expectantly.
At least he acquiesced to her command. Kagome glared harder, "You and I both know that isn't what you meant. Whatever, after I heal you, you and your little friend better stay away from me."
Inutaisho rubbed his temples, chuckling, and turned to Natsuo, "Natsuo you shouldn't have any more issues with Asaka's men. Just to be safe, I'll send some men discreetly to your aid. Once Sesshoumaru is rested, we will depart."
Natsuo's eyes glistened and she wiped the tears away, "I can't thank you all enough. You risked so much helping me, but what will I tell Asaka's people? What if they don't believe he was an imposter?"
Inutaisho smiled, "I'll sent a letter corroborating such. You may not know because your land is made of humans, but this is more common than you know. You'll be safe."
Natsuo returned the smile, "Thank you, Lord Inutaisho . My land is struggling a little, but I'll be less hasty in marrying my way out of trouble. We'll get through this."
Natsuo waved goodbye to the pair. Kagome waved back with a grin, running after Sesshoumaru and Inutaisho as they continued along the dirt road toward the Western Lands. Inutaisho sniffed the air lightly.
"We're close to the border. Allow me to go ahead and scout for trouble. Sesshoumaru, you know the way. Stay on the trail and I'll catch up." Inutaisho said.
Sesshoumaru nodded.
Inutaisho grinned, "And Sesshoumaru? Try to be good."
Kagome giggled as Inutaisho took flight, transforming into a dog demon figure of smoke.
Sesshoumaru continued his wordless walk. Kagome trailed behind and before long, she couldn't contain herself in the silence.
"Sesshoumaru, do you want to get married?"
Sesshoumaru's eyes cut to the woman beside him. Suspicion flared up within the dog demon. He had done his best to keep his conversation with Kagome short, especially after the kimono incident. Kagome waited on his answer before a slight pout appeared.
"Well do you?" She asked again.
"What are you going on about?" Sesshoumaru snapped.
Kagome chewed on her lip, "I was just thinking about Natsuo. She was ready to marry someone she didn't love, just to protect her people. It's pretty honorable, but sad too. I mean I don't have riches like royalty, but I have choice, which is far more precious."
Sesshoumaru didn't speak for a moment, choosing his words carefully, "It is a luxury most cannot afford. I don't know of anyone who married for love."
"Even Lord Inutaisho and your mother?" Kagome gasped.
A low rumble escaped from the prince's mouth, akin to a bitter chuckle.
"As I stated, no one."
Kagome walked beside him, listening to the leaves crunch under her feet, "My parents loved each other. I really think they did."
Sesshoumaru didn't respond, but kept pace with Kagome. He didn't snort or interrupt her so Kagome felt comfortable enough to continue.
"My mother was a miko in Tomioka. She met my father, Tatsuo, after he'd been injured in a battle."
"Tatsuo? The phantom dog general?" Sesshoumaru questioned.
Kagome nodded, "You knew of him?"
"My father did. They sparred in their younger days; your father was a formidable fighter. Now I understand where your strength comes from."
Kagome blushed. That was the first compliment Sesshoumaru had ever really given her.
Kagome smiled, hugging herself lightly, "Thank you, but that's not entirely true. When I was younger my mother was the first person to teach me healing techniques. People think it's the demon blood that makes me strong, but it was my mother's human heart."
"Human heart," Sesshoumaru repeated.
Sesshoumau's thoughts ran to his brother and he scowled. Sesshoumaru picked up his pace, jerking Kagome ahead, "Let's go. We've wasted enough time here."
I am excited to get to this part of the story because we meet Sesshoumaru's mother, Inuyasha and Inuyasha's mother. We will also see how Kagome handles court life and girls fawning over Sesshoumaru. Kagome may find her own suitors too! If you have any fun scenarios or ideas, let me know! Stay tuned.