A pain sharper than a rapier seared through Kagome's stomach. It took every ounce of will power that she had not to cry out at the agony it caused. It couldn't be true she told herself, the children must be lying or this whole scene was a set up for a practical joke at her expense? It wasn't funny in the least.
She became aware that the children watched her as she watched them with a sharp assessing gaze, and despite what she'd been thinking, the doubts and incredulity that had occupied her mind previously, she instinctively sensed that Himeko was not lying and was in fact telling the truth.
It didn't help the situation any at all when her mind and senses confirmed the truth. Yuki's aura and scents had disappeared from among their midst, she must have left shortly after her father. She could only hope that Sesshomaru found out about this before it was too late.
With that thoughts in mind, although it provided her with little assurance she focused on her family. Sesshomaru's angry words and accusations played over and over inside her head like the incessant drumming of a marching band, and her heart was the recipient of its terrible vibrations.
The sensations raw filled her up with dread. She was hurting angry, and her daughter's disappearance only added to the problems causing them to fester and grow like a pungent sore, so that when she finally addressed her children it was with abruptness and discontent.
"Go inside now all of you!" Kagome hissed through clenched teeth. "How disappointing…You should have all known better?"
She knew that her voice was harsh, her tone heavy, one that rose with each syllable that she repeated, and it was an attitude rarely used on them. But at the moment she just could not find the strength to care.
All the same, she couldn't help sinking down onto the arm of the sofa nearest to her. Her legs were definitely not strong enough to support her at the moment. She probably looked pale, as white as a sheet, but somehow she had to find the will to force her frozen form and features into strength.
As the children turned to go, Aiko and Taizo stopped; the two were closest as siblings.
"Mother," Taizo said. "I am sorry, and I know that the others feel as I do…We tried to stop her and it sounded like she had agreed..?"
The rest of the words died on his lips as his mother's pain came tumbling from her eyes and down her cheeks. The moment would be forever stamped onto their hearts; it would be the second time that they would see her cry, and all in one day.
"Here," Aiko said holding out a handkerchief. And although the gesture was considerate enough, Kagome knew that she had to hide her real feelings, she could not, would not let them off the hook so easily.
"No thanks," she muttered, almost choking on the words as she could see the gleam of hurt into their eyes.
"Good night," she said abruptly, and turned away from them.
Kagome stared at the night sky lit by a radiant moon still in disbelief now that she was alone, realizing that she could not go after Yuki. Moistening her lips that had become dry from sorrow she took the only course opened to her, she sat. Oh kami, she didn't think that she could handle this alone.
In time the anxiety and swirling inside her head that had made her feel faint subsided. What should she do? The thought echoed inside her brain. On one hand going after her daughter seemed like the most plausible thing to do, however, it had grown increasingly clear that she could not trust her children to always be truthful and mature.
This was no laughing matter, and for the first time in a long time she wishes that her mother was here, or the option of going through the well to see her was still viable. Her mother had always been her best friend, providing her with advice, a shoulder to cry on, and a listening ear when she needed those things.
But she wasn't available. The last time that she'd seen her mother and was able to time travel was over seventy five years ago. No one could help her now except for herself, and as Kagome geared up for what was going to be a difficult and heart rendering time in her life, she heard a thud upstairs.
The thump jolted her back into the present and she raced upstairs and into Akiyoshi's room. Her heart stopped beating briefly caused her to gasp on a gulp for air. He was lying face down on the floor with blood seeping from the side of his head and into the rug by his bedside. Her hands trembled as she fell to the floor and nestled him closer to her bosom.
With the help of his brothers she was able to place him back on the bed and redressed his wounds. It would seem as if he'd needed some water, he was parched and had tried to retrieve the pitcher from the table in his room and fell. He was doing alright, however, his fever had spiked.
It was two hours before dawn, and as Kagome considered on the day with her head resting on Akiyoshi's bed sitting at his bedside, she wanted to cry. Going after Yuki now was definitely out of the question, it was not an option anymore. She had other children that needed her just as much.
It was a bitter pill to swallow but one that she had to take regardless of how complex or hard it was. Her daughter was on her own. She could only pray that she would be okay or that her father discovers the mistake before it was too late. Yuki had no chance once the battle begins.
It was the dead of night and silent like a tomb except for the soft footfalls of the western lord's daughter, as she backtracked to the disbanded camp of her father's army. She was in search of something, a discarded soldier's outfit so that she could blend in.
Among the camp she found a cream colored tunic and put it on, it was a little too big but it would have to do. Yuki was the smallest of Sesshomaru's children at five feet four inches. She favored her mother in form, voluptuous but petite. To her utter delight she founded a warrior's armor and strapped it on as well, and like before it was a little too large for her.
Looking down at herself she was pleased with the efforts and smiled. Her hair she'd made Misora braided earlier so as not to be a hindrance. It was quite long now down to her bottom and thick. She took the red cloth from the bag and tied it around her forehead and hair; it would provide her with some measure of disguise.
Turning to go she thought fire. She could think of no other reason for the flickering light as it was steadily coming towards her. Her heart rate quickened as she tried unsuccessfully to calm herself. How could she be so careless? She thought.
Dropping the empty bag to the ground she sprinted across the landing panicking. She didn't know who it was, but by the darkness coming from the fiend's aura she had to get away and hide. She did not want any unnecessary troubles. But as she ran she could sense that the being was still coming after her, he could sense her just as much as she could sense it.
She halted into her tracks, one hand pressed to her madly beating heart and the other clutching unto the sword. She could see through a breathless haze as the creature caught up with her as she waited. It wasn't long before the creature came to a stop twenty feet away with a torch in hand.
As she looked it over she could tell that it was a male as the loin cloth it wore was bulging with its intent, it made her skin crawl just thinking about such vile things. The creature fumbled with the torch until the fire died and it grew dark again.
Releasing a heavy breath Yuki felt as her pulse began to calm. She knew with certainty that the ogre that stood before her now would rape her repeatedly and kill her when he grew tired of her. It was a fate she would thwart, her destiny lies on the battlefield with her father, and until she gets there she would not die.
He was attempting to straighten up, a feat that was futile anyway because of its hunched backed stature when the half demoness attacked, rushing forward quickly with her blade by her side. The beast reacted swiftly and charged forward swinging his long and muscled arms wildly to maim her.
But it was a matter of timing, she knew. And as his long arms were almost upon her she skidded to a halt and slid beneath his legs digging her blade deep into his groin. For a moment she didn't move, only holding on firmly to the blade buried deep within soft tissues.
The piercing screams that flooded her head with panic and the arm coming down with claws extended washed over her with dread. She barely escaped with her life as the ogre's strong arm came hammering into the dirt an instant before she rolled out of his reach and stood.
She thrust her blade at him and he swung to the left with so much force and caught her sword that vibrated as it cut deeply into his arm and wrenched it free. The half inu demoness faltered to her detriment, as the other arm of the opponent came swinging and slamming into her chest with deadly force pummeling her across the vicinity.
She grunted as she hit the ground rolling for some time until crashing into a tree. She was frightened by the immense pain flowing through her body but kept calm. The demon's heavy footsteps shook the earth as he walked to the spot where she fell. She had only one chance to save herself and she would take it.
Now was not the time for foolish heroics. Her father had told her often enough that smarts and cunning were just as important in a battle. The trick is to decipher when brains was more suitable over brawn. If there ever was a time for brains it would be now, because as she lay wounded with the ogre coming for her, she knew with certainty that she could never hope to overpower her foe with strength. He was much too powerful physically.
Dark bulging eyes stared down on her as the ogre perused her form satisfied. A long tongue curled around thick lips as he licked them salivating at his conquest. She winced inside as she could tell what it was thinking by its body language.
She stared unable to tear her gaze away as the creature removed his loincloth and the proof of his heat stood erected. She had never seen the male organ before and was surprised at how large it was.
"Pretty," the creature mumbled as he bent and pulled her by the legs to him and licked the side of her face.
She closed her eyes willing herself not to react until it was time.
But now with the offensive odor of his musk and breath thick in her nostrils, the reality of the situation was terrifying. The creature distracted as he continued to lick her face and neck, she charged her hands with her spiritual powers and brought it to his shoulders holding on firmly.
His screams of horror were excruciating to her sensitive ears and she flinched as the steady but increasing energies poured inside him. She never let go, never took her eyes away until poof, and only the small particles of ash floating away with the breeze remained as proof that he was once among the living.
Shaken she sat up, the dawn was fast approaching and she was in pain. Regardless of that fact she would proceed. Placing her hand over her chest she felt around for broken ribs, there was none, only the stab of pain that she felt whenever she moved was present.
She got up and glanced into the sky one more time, the moon was big and round and strangely enough it provided her with some semblance of peace. She smiled and took the first steps towards her father's camp.
Sesshomaru looked over the horizon and down into the valley, staring in earnest into the darkness. His thoughts were confusing at best. For how could he feel his daughter's emotions so vividly from this distance? He usually senses a faint disturbance in their bonds when separated by great distances.
His feet lifted off the ground to take flight, to assuage his query as the nagging on his conscience continued; only to still as the voice of one of his general said.
"My lord it is time."
Whatever had seized him, that impetuous feeling to leave camp suddenly vanished?
His feet touched ground once more but the thoughts of his daughter still lingered. He had to go, the time was at hand. A war was in the making and he had to focus on that. Soon enough he would be reunited with his mate and children.
Kagome's mind was constantly on her daughter as she fed Akiyoshi the fever reducing tea. If only Shippo was here, she thought, he was dependable and brave, but sadly he wouldn't be back for another week. He had his own life as an adult and from time to time he would leave.
"Don't worry mother, father will bring Yuki back safely."
He could barely speak but he knew that his mother was most worried for him, Yuki and their father. She looked at him with sad eyes and nodded.
"I am sure that he will."
And as she said those words something stabbed at her heart, she gasped loudly spilling the tea. Something was wrong and terribly so.
Please review ~