Chapter Twenty-Nine – Omen
Hollowness daunted his eyes.
Staring into the abyss, his mind was paralyzed in painted white.
Numbed to the core, he remained in this blanked state.
If not, he knew his sanity would break out into pure madness.
How long had he been here?
He did not know.
He knew he should be by her side, but guilt and horror immobilized him from moving.
Unaware of time, his fingertips that were drenched in her blood began to dry.
His silk white haori now forever stained with crimson.
His mind busily wiping away the scent of her blood, pretending the scent did not belong to her.
"Sesshomaru?" a faint voice hushed sorrowfully.
"Sesshomaru…" the voice called out more desperately.
"Kagome will be fine. The 'Mu' scholars are researching for a cure. I am sure they will heal her."
'Kagome,' his mind echoed. As dripping red liquid filled his mind, he was reminded of her body that was covered in wounds. Panic crawled back into his skin. He saw the person in front of him moving her lips, yet what was being said seemed to fade.
"….and Inuyasha is guarding Kura, so you just need to stay by Kagome's side…"
In the hollow depth of his golden eyes, a flicker of emotion stirred beneath.
Rage.
He had forgotten about Kura.
She was the one who inflicted the wounds in the first place.
To keep his sanity, he replaced his guilt with anger.
Inukimi watched her son snap out of his daze and steadily stand to loom above her. His eyes bored into her, yet she did not feel he was looking at her. Blood thirst and hatred burned in his untamed eyes, causing her to flinch. It had been the first time she saw such raw emotions past his usual stoic mask. She could only watch sadly as her son stormed out.
Fear consumed those who saw their feral Lord stained in crimson stalk through the hallways. Having never seen their Lord appear so out of control, no one dared to approach or allow their stare to linger.
His footsteps echoed loudly against the stone walls as he walked down a spiral of stairs. Descending underground, signs of water droplets grew visible for the temperature had dropped. He remained unfazed by the chill for his blood burned through his veins. His footsteps finally halted before prison bars.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Ryou called out in shock. Inuyasha took in his brother's disheveled appearance for the first time. Knowing his brother took Kagome's injury harsher than himself, Inuyasha said, "Sesshomaru, I don't think you should be here."
"Open the prison door," a haunting voice ordered dangerously.
The thick stench of fear began to emit from Ryou. Inuyasha understood Ryou's fear for he also worried that if Sesshomaru interrogated Kura, she would no doubt be tortured.
"I can handle this, Sesshomaru," Inuyasha voiced confidently.
An angered growl vibrated against the dungeon walls. Snapping his fangs, Sesshomaru said, "You have yet to extract the information that will cure her. Whatever method you are using is obviously not working."
"Oi, I got this!" Inuyasha answered in frustration, "Just go-"
Sesshomaru stared down at the idiot that tried to block his path from getting to the traitor. A hand dried with blood flung Inuyasha towards the two guards and ordered, "Get him out."
"Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha growled. Struggling against the guards grip, Inuyasha yelled "You'll never get the cure if you kill Kura," before being dragged out.
A glow of green illuminated the dimmed dungeon. The scent of acid polluted the area. Sesshomaru raised his claw to melt the prison bars himself to get to Kura. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed at the sight of Ryou blocking his path. Sesshomaru threatened, "Move."
Ryou shifted closer to Kura's prison door protectively, "No."
Snap.
Ryou's figure suddenly flew into a stone wall causing rocks to crumble from the impact.
"Ryou!" a female voice cried out in worry. Crimson eyes narrowed towards Kura as if spotting his prey. Just as Sesshomaru was about to sink his claws to rip open the prison door, he saw Ryou struggling to stand before the door again.
"I can't let you in, Milord. You will only harm her," Ryou said. Watching the 'Sho' leader stand to protect the woman he loved reminded Sesshomaru of his failure to protect his. Pain unveiled in his expression as he fisted his claws.
Ryou smashed into the ground as he felt poison eating away the surface of his flesh.
"Ryou! No! Please! Just leave! Please, Ryou," Kura's sobbing voice echoed. She couldn't understand why Ryou was trying to protect her. Why he would risk his life to defy Sesshomaru.
Her heart cried at the sight of her beloved one's expression racked with pain.
Why!?
'Ryou, he loves you very much.' The whisper of the Miko's words reminded her.
"No, it couldn't be," she told herself in despair.
His figure stumbled onto the ground covered with more poison.
"It couldn't be," she repeated in denial.
The cracking of a bone resounded.
"No…" her voice trailed off faintly in doubt.
Ryou felt his skin burning with pain. Warily glancing towards Lord Sesshomaru, he saw crimson eyes gleam with cruelty. Yet his Lord did not look straight at him, but seemed to look through him.
Sesshomaru did not see the 'Sho' leader in front of him.
No, he saw a weak demon unable to protect the one he loved.
He saw himself.
He saw his guilt.
Dazed with such illusions, Sesshomaru raised his claw for a final blow.
Kura's eyes widened in horror and screamed, "STOP! I'LL TELL YOU!"
Ryou's eyes that had been closed to accept his fate, suddenly flashed open in confusion.
"I'LL TELL YOU HOW TO HEAL HER!"
The color of crimson along with the feral taint began to fade away from Sesshomaru's eyes.
"In the Northern Castle, there is a temple that was passed down for generations. That temple regenerate's dark magic and that is where my Father and I create spells and curses. If you destroy the temple, the curse I placed on the Miko will probably disappear."
A clawed hand that held a fist of Ryou's haori released, causing Ryou to collapse onto the hard ground. The dungeon walls grew colder as two remaining figures were left exhausted. A pale hand wrapped around a prison bar that caged her from reaching his side. Tracing the wounds that scattered throughout his body with her eyes, Kura whispered, "You should have left, Ryou."
His eyes widened at the sound of affection she called his name with. Ryou shifted to stare at her and ignored the pain that screamed from the sudden movement. The worry with a hint of warmth appeared across her face. Her brows that would never furrow would always scrunch up for him, like they did now. Her lips left slightly open, making him believe she wished to say so much more but could never find the words to.
"There you are."
The woman he fell in love with…finally appeared before him again. The many years he waited for her, the struggle against fear, the doubt that she would never return to him…gone.
With a burning desire to be near her, he silenced the pain and dragged his body towards the prison bars. She welcomed him with open arms as warmth enveloped around him. Mindful of his injuries, Kura grasped him tightly enough to reveal her yearning.
"I'm sorry," her faint voice whispered into his ear. Tears collided onto the stone floors causing the splatter to send a ripple of echoes. Sobs escaped her lips as a rush of accumulated guilt exploded within her. For doubting his love, she apologized.
"I'm sorry," she repeated sorrowfully, this time apologizing for realizing too late. She would not be able to stay by his side.
A wistful smile tugged on Ryou's lips. His hand passed through the prison bars and tenderly wiped away her tears.
"I have waited many years for this moment, so this moment is enough for me."
Such a beautiful painting, the two reunited lovers painted. Yet dungeon walls and prison bars soon filled the background, leaving the painting with a bittersweet taste.
On the other side of the Western Castle, quick footsteps paced towards the room Kagome was transferred to. Calculation heavily flooded his eyes. It would take a minimum of one hour to travel towards the Northern Castle. Every second mattered, but a part of his calculating character demanded he see her before leaving…as if he doubted she would wake when he returned.
Violently shaking away from his thoughts, he stepped into her room which was quickly followed by regret.
He shouldn't have come.
Blood mixed with the faint scent of death heavily clouded the room.
A stream of crimson liquid continued to seep out from her open wounds.
Taking in shallow breaths, he closed his eyes unable to look at her. But the painful torture did not cease for the image burned inside his mind.
'She won't make it.'
His predictions were never wrong. Only two important people were able to contradict them; his Uncle and her. So he, who prided himself in never mistaking his predictions, hoped she contradicted his calculations this time as well.
Forcing his eyes open, he silenced the fear of her lifeless-like state and neared her. He slowly closed the distance and with a tremble, his warm lips lingered as it pressed upon her cold forehead. His fingers brushed away the cold sweat trailing down the side of her cheek. In the empty room where no one could bare witness, he begged for the first time in his life.
"Wait for me…"
Though he knew she would not respond, it crushed him more than he anticipated to hear silence.
"You must wait for me…" he repeated to make sure his voice reached her.
Not wanting to leave her side, Sesshomaru reluctantly moved towards the balcony. A sphere of power surrounded him covering him in a golden light. Lifted into the air, he sped towards the Northern Castle. The further he traveled the harsher the pull of his heart tugged to return to her side. Any moment could be her final breath, yet he couldn't stay still and watch her leave him. He would not regret leaving her to take the chance to break the curse, even if he returned to a world without her. Desperation pushed his limits to speed across the lands to the point where everything below appeared blurry.
An echo of the time ticking rang in his ears.
Every second that passed by, the image of her bed soaked with blood was spreading wider.
Every minute, her complexion growing paler.
One hour never felt so long.
As the Northern Castle came into view, Sesshomaru noticed several soldiers along with Prince Ryuu scurrying towards the gates. Lowering himself towards the ground, Prince Ryuu immediately bowed in apology, "I have heard of the treason my Father has committed. But I hope you will not doubt me as well, Lord Sesshomaru."
"Not only your Father, but your sister as well," he voiced coldly. Catching Ryuu tense with shock, Sesshomaru quickly demanded, "Where is the temple?"
Ryuu's finger pointed towards a small structure a few feet away. Golden eyes scanned the temple and noticed it was indeed old. The color had faded along with chips of wood falling out. Sesshomaru slid out his Bakusaiga as the sword hummed to life.
"Lord Sesshomaru! The temple is fueled with dark magic! It is very dangerous to destroy!" Ryuu warned. Ignoring the prince, Sesshomaru unleashed the Sōryūha. Mists of white dented the ground streaking towards the temple as a strike of blue energy thundered. Prince Ryuu had to cover his eyes from the bright light, while a shiver of fear ran down his spine from the pure waves of power. The loud collision of the attack on the temple caused all demons and animals close by to flee in bewilderment. As the smoky mist began to fall away, golden eyes narrowed at the sight of a dark barrier covering the temple. He could not waste any more time. About to attack again, Sesshomaru was stopped by the pulse of the Tenseiga.
Pulse.
How?
Pulse.
Returning the Bakusaiga in its sheath, Sesshomaru slowly pulled out the sword that called him.
Pulse.
A black glow vibrated against the Tenseiga's pulse. His grip tightened around the sword before stabbing into the temple's barrier. Suddenly, a smoke of black mist erupted from the hole the Tenseiga had stabbed into. Pushing the sword in deeper, shards of the barrier pierced into his skin. A growl escaped his lips as he dug the Tenseiga a little deeper before slashing the barrier open. The crashing sound of the temple crumbling onto the Northern grounds boomed deafeningly.
Shatter.
Golden eyes widened at the sight of the Tenseiga shattering into a pile of dust.
Bad omen.
It was bad omen for a sword to break.
A sudden sensation of dread surged through his veins.
Her curse had been broken…but did he destroy the temple in time?
He gazed westward as the growing sensation of panic consumed him.
Shards of the barrier visibly stuck out from several areas. Fresh blood flowed down to connect with other streams of blood. Ryuu and his soldiers felt their mouth hang open, shocked that the Western Lord was able to even stand with his wounds. Noticing the Western Lord preparing to leave, Ryuu couldn't comprehend what he was thinking of doing. With such a wound, not even the strongest demon could survive a one hour travel. He would definitely pass out from blood loss. "Milord! You are injured! Please stay a few more minutes so that the healers-" Ryuu tried to persuade, but was ignored. Ryuu and the soldiers who witnessed everything stared at the golden sphere that sped west with astonishment.
"Prince Ryuu!"
Shaking away from his shock, Ryuu spotted a messenger.
"Kura has been imprisoned because she has placed a curse on someone," the messenger reported.
Ryuu's gaze returned to where the Western Lord was last seen and breathed out, "My goodness, Kura. Who in the world did you curse to anger Lord Sesshomaru so?"
Author's Note: My new story "His Milestones" is posted! I hope you check that out and share your thoughts about the first chapter.
Shout out: Happy early birthday Guest Reviewer 'Bluetiful Rose'. I hope that you have the most awesome birthday ever! May you feel loved by all your loved ones on October 15th!
Thank you for reading,
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