Yep! It's me again back with Chapter Three. I know you haven't waited this long this one and probably makes you happy. Just to refresh your memory Instrumentality has ended and Rei and her angel brethren have gotten in a fight. She black out and that was the end. Well now it's time to continue with the story!
In case any of you where wondering Inu Yasha and Evangelion belong to their respective creators But any original characters and the events of this story belongs to me got that!
Leans down and pats Sesshomaru whose got a collar and leash on him. "Well okay Sesshy is mine and mine alone!"
Sesshomaru; "Hump! psycho human girls . . ."
Well, with out further adieu. On with the show. . .
Add on for the Revised Version:
I went back and reread this chapter recently and discovered several glaring errors in my writing. Obviously I tried to write this one too fast and didn't take enough time editing it. So I decided to go back and revise it. Here it is the revised chapter three!
Added on for the second revision( 11/27/05):
Yes, I know! I've revised this again! Hey I went back and reread this and descided it needed a few changes. I promise this is the last time I do this.(I really, really, really need to dig in onto chapter 5 . . . .)
Ch. 3 An Angel Sent Adrift
Part A: Perfect Angel
Slowly my senses began to return to me. Among the first things I became aware of was that I was lying on the ground my face pressed uncomfortably against the dirt. I felt woozy, weak and my head was throbbing painfully. Wherever I was it was cold and dark as well, probably sometime in the middle of the night. I opened my eyes cautiously to look around. I was lying on the floor of an ancient forest somewhere with the giant shadows of ancient trees looming all around me. Above me I could see a cloudless crystalline night sky glimmering. My head was pounding and I didn't want to even begin thinking about where I had woken up at. I was about to close my eyes and try to sleep for a little while when I heard a footstep somewhere behind me. Quickly I turned toward its source. Hidden in the shadow of a nearby clump of trees was a handsome young man with narrow golden eyes dressed in traditional Japanese noble robes. He was watching me and I got the uncomfortable feeling he wasn't just waiting for a pleasant talk. "Well, well, well. You're finally awake. You know, you're a strange creature, a strange one indeed, miss red eyes blue hair." He said in perfect Japanese.
I wasn't sure if this was real or an illusion but at least I knew they spoke the same language I did here. This fact was only slightly comforting because I still didn't know where exactly I was. I tried to stand but quickly leaned that my legs were too weak to support me. Reluctantly I gave up and remained where I was. Form there it didn't take me long to realize what had gotten me this undesired attention from this strange man, my AT field. It was regenerating around me and was almost completely repaired. "What manner of being are you?" He demanded "How are you able to support even part of that barrier of yours even while unconscious and how do you explain the strange coloring of your eyes and hair? Come do tell Naraku." He said.
I gave Naraku a blank stare. Something about his eyes and the expression with which he looked at me told me not to trust this man. He was giving me the creeps, a rare feat indeed. No one had ever made me feel this way so soon after I'd first met them. There was just something about his eyes and the aura he gave off that seemed to scream danger and stay away, to me. I kept one eye on him as I reached out and gingerly touched my partially regenerated AT field to assure myself it was there. The hexagonal pattern appeared in the air. "Its back . . ." I murmured in surprise.
Naraku cackled in an amused manner and then smirked at me "I can assure you we have all the time in the world. You won't be going any where, I given you a taste of my paralysis gas."
Before I could answer him a wolfish growl in the background got both of our attention. To me it met nothing at all but it seemed to greatly disturb Naraku. He looked around, visibility upset by the sound. Suddenly he grabbed me and leapt up to the treetops. Running on them like solid ground Naraku proceeded to fly over the ground at godlike speeds. Behind us a white haired, white clothed angelic figure appeared. To me he seemed like an angel of some kind but Naraku on the other hand wasn't so happy. He began to speed up, obviously not wishing a confrontation with the man. It was futile though. The man was fast on his feet and Naraku had to carry me not that it took much strength to do that mind you. Naraku paused at the edge of a tree line near a river. The next thing I knew I could feel my stomach lurch in my throat as Naraku sent me sailing into river.
With a splash I hit the water. All around me the water rose up. My whole body felt limp and heavy like I was a rag doll. I couldn't find the will to move. It was quiet here and I felt a strange sense of peace. I felt like I could float on forever in peaceful bliss. My lungs desperate cry for air brought me back to reality. I needed to get to the surface. Using all my strength I pulled myself upwards until I broke the water line sputtering and gasping for breath. Air, I had air. Slowly I made my way to the nearest bank. Once there I leaned against a tree and watched to see what had happened. The water seemed to have done me good, my head felt remarkably clearer. Above me I saw the man draw a large fierce sword and aim it at Naraku who just cackled, "Sesshomaru, do you really think a sword forged from the fang of my son will defeat me?"
"We'll see Naraku. I have it on good authority your not as invincible as you make yourself out to be." The man replied.
Naraku and Sesshomaru lashed out at each other and a brilliant light obscured my view. I cringed and adverted my eyes. One of them screamed in agony and then all was quiet. As Sesshomaru crossed the river over me a few moments later a warm dark liquid dripped on to my face. I raised hand to see what it was. It was easy to identify even in the darkness, blood. I knew who had screamed now, Sesshomaru. I didn't know why but something compelled me to go after him. Quietly I turned on my heals and hurried off into the woods.
Soon I was hopelessly lost and the man in white was the last thing from my mind. I wandered aimlessly having no idea where to go. I was only concerned with one thing, I knew I had to get away from Naraku, he was bad news. Unexpectedly I stumbled into a clearing, which was filled with flowers and tall grass. For several minutes I stumbled around its edge wondering where to go from here. Not far from where I was I came across the young man in white who saved me from Naraku. He was lying hidden in some bushes. On first sight it was obvious something was wrong. Sesshomaru looked sick, real sick. In the moon light I could see beads of sweat on his otherwise flawless face. The left shoulder of his white robes was now blood colored and he was using his right arm to try to stem the bleeding. The rest of that arm was long gone I realized. He looked like a delicate angel who'd been shunned and discarded by his brethren lying there with his eyes closed. Not the angels that I knew but one of the angles from the holy book that Commander Ikari had read to me from every Sunday morning.
I felt strange nameless emotions towards him as my hand inadvertently reached out toward him. I stopped myself but there was something in me that cried out to help him. There wasn't much I could do for him but I determined to do what I could. I spread my wings and approached him warily. I gently placed my hand on the crescent moon shaped mark his forehead, saying "Sleep." As softly and soothingly as I could.
He protested but I told him that he would be safe and to just relax. He hesitated but I felt him submit and sink into sleep. I then went deep into his mind and called forth his AT field into physical being. It wasn't as strong as mine or the angels but I figured it would suffice to keep him safe for the time being. Besides I owed him for helping me escape Naraku. I opened my eyes and stood up. It was time I got out of there. I didn't want any unexpected company catching me. I look back at him one last time. I knew he probably wouldn't remember me but he would remember seeing an angel. For some reason angels using their wings had that effect on people.
A figure clad in white approached him. She was as pale as moon light and had short blue hair that danced in the wind. Her eyes were the color of blood and on her back where wings. One was large and blacker than the night it's self. The other, small and misshapen was colored a soft brown. She leaned over him and placed her hand on his forehead. "Sleep" said a soft voice in the back of his mind.
"No, I can't. If I do Naraku may find me." He protested.
"Rest easy, for you shall be safe here." The voice repeated gently.
She was an angel Sesshomaru decided and the voice must be her own. He knew he could rest easy with her looking out for him. Sesshomaru felt his eyes becoming heavier and his mind drifting off to rest. With a smile he submitted to the voice and closed his eyes.
Sesshomaru woke slowly. He felt strangely calm and refreshed like a great burden had been lifted from his chest. He felt so good that he just sat there in the early morning sunlight and enjoyed it for several minutes. At last his thoughts turned to the mysterious apparition who he had seen. Who was she? She might have been a demon but she there was nothing demon like about her. She might have been human but her looks spoke of an otherworldly origin. That left only one possibility; she must an angel. She wasn't a bad one he believed because she had had a sad ethereal glow around her. Sure neither of her wings were pure white but she didn't seem tainted at all, she appeared innocent and silent. Her eyes were the only contradictory thing though. They weren't bloodthirsty or evil at all though rather they were the portal for her sadness. If anything she was sent just to protect him.
"I met an angel" He murmured to himself.
He smiled. He had seen an angel and she had told him it was okay.
Knowing Naraku was nearby I determined to distract him. I went off back into the woods taking as many meandering out of the way paths I could. I was soon once again totally disoriented and confused. I sighed in discontent as I looked around at the surrounding forest, this would never do. I climbed the tallest tree I could find to get a look around. There wasn't much to see, because almost everything was hidden in darkness. Far in the distance though, I could make out a large river and a small town beyond it. I wasn't sure if this was the same river I had recently been thrown into or another one. I didn't want to take chances and decided to keep clear of it.
For now though I had another problem. I was dead tired and not because of Naraku's paralysis gas, that had worn off some time ago. It was because of all the running and physical exertion I'd done since I was here. I found a sturdy branch and curled up for sleep. I soon found this a very difficult task. Every time I was about to nod off I began to lose my balance and nearly fell off. It was beginning to get annoyed and not sure what to do. After several failed experiments I figured out how to use my AT field as an anchor to keep me in place and I soon was fast asleep.
The next morning dawned cold, wet and grey; which was perfect for me because not many people would travel on a day like today. I climbed to the top of the tree to double check the position of the river and then headed off away from it. It wasn't long before I became aware of an unwelcome presence. It came in the form of a female figure riding a large white feather. She showed up in the sky not long after I had set off for the day. At first I wasn't sure what to make of her but after she passed over me for the second time it became apparent that I was the one she was looking for. I figured that that meant she was one of Naraku's underlings. So he thought he could capture me. Let him try. I wasn't going to make it easy. I took a meandering path away from the area the woman was searching. Unfortunately the path I chose was crowded and overgrown making it was hard work and slow going. By noon I was already feeling tired and I still had several hours of walking a head of me. I found a secluded shaded area and rested for a short time before continuing on.
I spotted the woman again not long after. She appeared to still be looking for me but was far away for now. As the afternoon progressed she slowly got closer and closer to me. It was apparent that it wouldn't be long until she spotted me so I raised my AT field to maximum and continued on. I was hiding near the edge of a clearing when it happened. She spotted me as she passed by. At first she seemed surprised to see me. I could understand why. I must look like a mess after my time spent in the woods. Her surprise quickly evaporated and she wasted no time in getting down to business. She raised her fan and sent three blades of light at me. All three hit my AT field and dissipated. She blinked in confusion at my invulnerability. Slowly her feather lowered itself to the ground. She stepped off and the feather shrank to the size of a normal one allowing her to place it in her short hair. "So, you're not as weak as my master led me to believe." She said.
"No I think you'll find I'm not." I replied calmly. "Tell me one thing why does your mater want from me?"
"He is most fascinated by your barrier." She said.
"I see."
"So will you come quietly?" She demanded.
"Never." I replied icily.
"Very well then. Prepare yourself."
She raised her fan and another wave of attacks flew at me. They hit my AT field and dissipated harmlessly. She growled and tried again with the same result. I was unimpressed. If this is all she was capable of I would be fine. She couldn't touch me with that attack. To my relief the woman pulled the feather from her hair and with a swirl of wind rose to the sky. She turned away from the sun and flew off into the distance. I was secretly relived by this turn of events because I didn't want to hurt anyone, especially if they were someone I'd never met before. After I had watched her disappear over the horizon I slipped back into the woods and continued on my way.
Shortly before sunset I arrived on the banks of a river. Its deep muddy waters rushed swiftly by making passage by any mode except bridge or flight nearly impossible. I was about to try the latter when I spotted a bridge not far down the river. A bridge was much easier then trying to fly so I made my way for it. As I approached I saw two figures standing on it. On was the young woman from before the other was a small child who had white hair and was dressed all in white. They spotted me moments after I saw them. We stared at each other for s few moments before the young woman from before called out, "Why don't you come up here and join us?"
I wasn't sure about the child but I knew the woman couldn't touch me so I felt fairly safe. I continued my way to the bridge in silence. "So," said the young woman when I reached the end of the bridge "I'll give you one more opportunity to come quietly or my sister here will have to force you.
I stepped slowly out onto the bridge. It was creaky, wobbly and swayed dangerously beneath my feet. About halfway between them and myself I stopped and stared at them. In particular I took a good look at the child that the woman who'd said would stop me. She looked like she was barely seven years old and was very slight of built. Her hair was white and her eyes where an emotionless golden yellow. Clutched in her small hands was a mirror that glinted in the evening sunlight. She looked harmless and incapable of impeding me. "My response is the same. I am not going."
"Kanna, you heard her." The woman replied.
The girl stepped toward me holding the mirror out before her. About half way between her sister and me she stopped suddenly and stared silently at me. Slowly she raised the mirror towards me, "Look into the mirror, give your soul." She said softly.
Almost instantly I could feel my soul being forcibly sucked out of my body. I bit my lip and threw myself against it. I used every ounce of force I could muster to keep it from winning. In one instant I felt it crack then next thing I knew everything rose up around me as the plank I was standing on gave way. Just before I hit the water I expanded my AT field and rose to the air. I floated there watching them to see what they would do. The woman pulled out her feather and leapt on top. She raised her fan and came after me. I dodged her first attack and took off as fast as I could. She followed closely behind in hot pursuit. She seemed to have wizened up, as she didn't attempt to use the same attack as before. Instead she opted for an attack of a different type, summoning strong wind to keep me from going far. While I could not physically feel the winds I could feel the resistance against my AT field. However, she couldn't touch me, or so I thought, so I wasn't worried. Suddenly all the winds shifted so that they were blowing directly at me and something hit me in the neck. The winds almost instantly died and I pulled the thing from my neck. I could feel my warm blood trickle from the wound. I looked down; it was a tiny spear like thing. It was shorter then my fingers but looked razor sharp. I could feel the numbness spreading from the wound down my arm and across my chest. I knew what it was, a poisoned dart. I looked at my attacker and she smiled. "Sleep well." She said in a falsely sweet voice.
I backed away from her but I could feel my AT field weakening already. She just smiled and watched as I made a last ditch effort to put some distance between her and myself. Unexpectedly my AT field flickered and gave out. Everything rose up then went black.
Kagura pulled the girl's unconscious form from the river and then returned to the bridge where Kanna was waiting. Kanna however was too interested in her mirror to notice her sister's return. "What's so interesting?" Kagura demanded.
"My mirror, it's bleeding. . ." murmured Kanna's soft voice.
Kagura leaned closer to get a good look at her sister's mirror. Blood was issuing from the cracks in the mirror the girl had created. As the sister's watched it the blood formed a picture. It was the girl. She was bleeding from several deep cuts all over her body and there were tears running down her face. Kagura shook her head. "Forget it and hop on Kanna." She snapped.
Part B: Imperfect AngelI awoke slowly, registering one thing at a time. Among the first was that I was wet and cold and secondly that I was lying on the floor of a tami mat covered room. Groggily I opened my eyes. I was in a small room decorated in the traditional Japanese style. It was cold and damp with the night chill but my only protection was a thin blanket in the far corner of the room. Silently I was thankful for even that at this moment. My plug suit may have kept me mostly dry but it only served to increase the cold of the room. I gently picked up the blanket and wrapped it over my head and shoulders like a hood and cape. Slowly I began to thaw and I turned my attention to the door. I was curious about where I was and brave enough to find out. I grabbed the door and tugged with all my might but the door wouldn't budge. It was as if it was held closed by some invisible force. Clearly someone didn't want me to leave. Unexpectedly I heard someone coughing behind me.
I turned to see where it had come from and was greeted by the sight of another door. I tried to open it but it was held fast but a catch. I felt around the door's edge and quickly found it and opened the door as my makeshift hood felt away from my face. I've never been sure who was more surprised the occupant on the other side or myself. For what seemed like the longest time Sesshomaru's golden eyes stared into my own. Although neither of our faces showed emotion we both couldn't speak, each of us remaining transfixed at the sight of the other. Finally it was Sesshomaru who broke the silence with a barely audible mumble of, "You not so special after all."
"What?" I stammered in reply.
"I said you shouldn't try to open that door. It's sealed shut by Naraku and no physical force will budge it now."
I stared at Sesshomaru trying to comprehend what he was saying. We were stuck in here? Not if I had any thing to say about it. I walked over to the door in Sesshomaru's half and pulled at it with all my might but it wouldn't budge either. I lost my footing and fell backwards. Behind me I heard soft laughter come from Sesshomaru. I whirled around and stared at him for a moment. I was certain now. I had noticed he looked bad back when I had found him in the woods and nothing had changed. Sesshomaru looked bad; no he had gotten worse since I'd first seen him that evening. I blinked in confusion as I wondered what could cause that. Poison, it was the only answer I could come up with that seemed logical. Beside me Sesshomaru seized his shoulder and groaned in pain. The spasm passed quickly and he relaxed again. After that Sesshomaru seemed disinclined to speak to me going as far as to turn his head away from me. For a long time we sat in silence finally Sesshomaru's voice broke the silence. "Can't you go somewhere else? I detest being in human company."
Disliked human company? I had never heard of someone who dislike being around others all the time. Even the most reclusive people needed human company and secretly craved it. If he wanted to be left alone however that was his choice. Ordinarily I would have complied with this order though but this time there was a problem. "No. I cannot leave."
There was no place for me to go. I was stuck here with him. Sesshomaru groaned, "Oh, yeah. I forgot you're just a human, a weakling."
Weakling? Ha. I was anything but. I just happened to be retrained by something. However that didn't matter. I could tell this man like so many others thought I was a human when in reality I wasn't. I guess my looks were more confusing than I had thought. Commander Ikari had forbidden me from talking about what I really was long ago and I didn't feel like starting by bothering to correct him. Gradually my eyes fell back on Sesshomaru one again. By his word, hair, markings and eyes I figured out he wasn't human but still the question wouldn't go away, "What was he?" In silence I watched Sesshomaru ragged breathing. A second wave of pain rolled through his body causing him to cry out. I could tell the poison was going deeper. My limited experience told me he needed to see a doctor to get an antidote but there was no one nearby.
I sat there dumb founded. What should I do? I was no doctor but it wasn't like there was one near by. A third wave of pain so strong Sesshomaru convulsed slightly and cried out even louder than before solved my dilemma. I had to do what I could for him or he might be in real trouble soon.
I knelt down next to Sesshomaru and placed one pale hand on the moon shaped mark on his forehead. Sesshomaru was warm, too warm. He was running a fever. Sesshomaru groaned as he made a feeble attempt to remove my hand with his right one, "Get your hand off me human! We demons do not allow your kind to touch us!"
My arms fell helplessly to my sides as I blinked in confusion. Sesshomaru was vexing me. He was suffering from severe poisoning and he wouldn't let me touch him because I was human. This meant he wasn't so different than other people I had encountered before. He was prejudiced against humanity; which pretty much sealed the fact in my mind that he wasn't one at all. What baffled me was his willingness to remain in pain if no one he would let help him was around. I shook her head, this was barely computing. The best I figured he was like Asuka, too much pride to admit when he was vulnerable. A fourth wave of pain even stronger than the three proceeding ones reminded me what I needed to do.
I reached foreword in an attempt to see what I could do but he pulled a knife from his sleeve. Sesshomaru tried to strike out at me with it but before he could I stopped it the only way I knew how. I reached foreword and gabbed it with my hand. I bit my lip as I felt the blade slice through my skin. Blood boiled up around the edges and trickled down my arm. Sesshomaru gasped and went pale. His mouth hung open in surprise. I guess he wasn't expecting me to do that. I got the spare blanket and sliced it into strips of cloth. Gingerly I removed the knife and then my plug suit arm. Then I began wrapping the cloth strip around my hand and put pressure on it until the bleeding stopped. I could easily heal my hand if I had wanted but I had decided to conserve energy for more important things. Sesshomaru had been watching me quietly the whole time. When I was assured that my hand was okay I went and knelt back next to him. He acted indifferent but I caught him looking at my hand as I tried to convince him to let me look at his injuries. Sesshomaru made several demands for me to leave him alone but I tried to convince him his declining health was more important than his ego. Eventually he ran out of energy to fight back with. After much debate and bargaining he finally relinquished his position and consented to me taking care of his wounds.
I slowly began to remove he top half of his robes. I was surprised to see how handsome and muscular he was underneath. His body was quite possibly perfect. Tall, lean and muscular with out being muscle bound. Then my eyes fell on his mangled left stump of a shoulder all that remained of his left arm. Sesshomaru had not said a word but the expression of pain was easily read. I sat quietly for a moment, considering what the best way to remove the poison. Logic told me it had already worked its way into his blood stream. A plan formed in my mind. It was based on something I had learned from my cousins. It was time to put my plan to put my theory to work. Opening up a small compartment in my plug suit's left arm I removed a small knife. Ritsuko had put it there incase of emergencies, and from the way she explained it to me it was like a mini progressive knife. It looked like it was time for it to fulfill its purpose, saving a life. Taking the knife in my hand I made several deeper cuts in Sesshomaru's battered shoulder. Sesshomaru cried out and his right arm flew to his shoulder. Even more blood and hopefully some poison began to flow out. I placed my hand on his shoulder and winced as the feed back made my shoulder burn. Reality faded out to be replaced by a new scene. I was standing in a brightly-lighted room. Sesshomaru sat to my left writing something on a scroll. A young inu youkai man entered looking frantic. "I'm sorry my lord, but Lady Haruna is getting worse. The healers say she won't live till sundown"
Sesshomaru snarled angrily and pushed passed the man and hurried from the room. I followed, curious to see where he went. He led me to a darkened sick room. A young woman lay on a pallet in the middle. Her breathing was raspy and I could tell she was fading.
Sesshomaru knelt down next to her taking her form against him. "Hold on Haruna. The medicine will be here soon. Please, promise me you won't give up . . ."
His voice cracked and Sesshomaru had to wipe the tears from his eyes. The woman coughed weakly. "Shh. I'll be okay . . .promise . . .promise me no more tears." Her raspy voice pleaded.
Neither one of them spoke after that. They sat there in virtual silence. The only sounds were the sniffling and nose blowing by Sesshomaru and the woman wheezing and coughing. I was seeing one of Sesshomaru's memories. Evidently this was a painful one. Suddenly my left should exploded into pain. Blood ran down my arm. My knees gave out and I sank to the floor cringing in pain. The scene slowly faded out and I was returned to reality. I drew my hand back as I slumped against the wall. My shoulder throbbed painfully like it had been ripped up. I reluctantly let go of my shoulder and looked at my hand. I expected it to be blood covered but it wasn't. There was nothing on it. This was all part of the cost of healing, pain. The healer had to experience the pain of the injury of the one who was hurt. Still it wasn't very pleasant. The pain began to subside and I sat up to survey my work. A sickly dark green substance was burning a hole in the floor not far from where Sesshomaru lay. That was good. I had managed to remove some of the poison. Hopefully it was enough. Finally I took his left sleeve and cut it off then wrapped it tightly around his shoulder. Once I was finished I covered him with both blankets and made him as comfortable as I could.
I watched Sesshomau's breathing slowly even out as he fell asleep. While he was awake I had almost began to kick myself for ever daring to compare him to one of the angels of the holy book. I was sure that had the demon been able to move he would have killed me for touching him. Now that he was asleep he once again looked like an angel to me. I wasn't sure what to think of him. Was he a devil as he appeared to be while awake or was he an angel, lost, lonely and hurt as he appeared now. I wasn't sure.
I knew one thing though. He was much nicer and easier to deal with. Maybe I was being to optimistic but he didn't seem to be a totally bad person, he just kept himself wrapped up in a cold impersonal violent outer shell. He had to have at least a small shred of humanity buried deep in there other wise he wouldn't have been upset when I stopped his knife. Part of me wanted to read his mind and find out what his story was but I figured it was a bad idea.
I didn't sleep very well the rest of the night. I spent most of it trying to repair my plug suit hand by melding the connections back together with my A.T. field and keeping one eye on Sesshomaru; wiping the beads of sweat from Sesshomaru's face or putting some water in his mouth. It was tedious work but it kept my mind active and from wandering into boredom. Occasionally while I worked I talked to myself to break the silence. Sometimes I spoke about the angels, other times about myself and what I thought of me and world, the others and about our powers. I don't know why I did it but help me to put my thoughts into spoken words after keeping them locked up inside me for so long.
Sometime during the early morning hours just before dawn I must have dozed off because sun rise woke me up early. I felt groggy and slow to wake but it became impossible to sleep more. When I looked around I found to my surprise and relief that nothing had changed. Oddly Naraku hadn't shown up. He had seemed so interested in them to me and yet he left them alone all this time. As if to answer my question the door opened behind me and Naraku entered. "Sleep well?" He inquired in a sickly sweet voice.
Sesshomaru's voice snapped back, "Course not. How could I with the poison you put into my system!"
Sesshomaru groaned and became silent. I glanced over hesitantly; I hadn't known Sesshomaru was awake. Although he had confirmed one thing for me; Naraku had poisoned him. "Of course, how stupid of me to forget. My apologies young lord." Naraku said sarcastically interrupting my thoughts.
He grinned evilly as he turned and looked at me. "And what about you my little red eyed blue haired doll. Enjoying your time here?"
I felt a burst of anger welling up inside me but I managed to control it. I looked Naraku straight in the eyes and said, "I am not a doll."
Naraku smacked me across the face. "Learn some respect." he snarled.
I backed away from Naraku rubbing my sore cheek wishing my mouth had stayed quiet. When had I gotten so brave? Meanwhile Naraku turned his attention back to Sesshomaru. He grabbed him by the wrist forcing him to his feet. "Come. We have many things to discuss."
"Like what? I don't recall having any business with you."
"The key to the Westernlands."
"Why do you want that?"
"Why? Because the blasted spell your father put on it defend the Westernlands keeping me from affecting them."
"My father wanted that and I won't betray his dying wish."
"Oh, sorry. I forgot your honor as a youkai lord won't allow you to tell me that. We'll see what you say after we go talk it over for a little while."
Naraku turned and began walk out with Sesshomaru leaving me sitting silently where I was. He suddenly stopped what he was doing and turned back to look at me. He eyes where so cold it took all my strength not to flinch or shy away from it. "You should come as well my dear we also have much to discuss."
Naraku looked at Sesshomaru for a minute and then turned back to me. This time I was able to meet his gaze with my own icy one. I hoped he wasn't able to see how badly he was scared me. Naraku seemed not to care; he was too busy looking at Sesshomaru. "I guess the poor guy could use looking after as well. I wonder; would you do it? As you are or would you prefer something more suitable?"
Naraku turned to face me and I became conscious that Naraku was staring at me while I was still in my skin tight pug suit. I was vaguely aware that I should be blushing with embarrassment but I was unaffected. I had been in the open around people in nothing but my plug suit so many times that I had long since lost any feelings of embarrassment I should have felt. "Yes."
Naraku smiled evilly at me and motioned that I was to follow him. I rose to my feet and walked silently behind him down the hallway. At a door that was some ways away from where Sesshomaru had I had been kept Naraku stopped and entered inside. The pale white haired expressionless demon girl stood before a low table in the center of the room holding her mirror. Naraku addressed her in an almost touched manner, "Kanna did you set this up for me?"
"Yes." The girl replied."
"How sweet, thank you, Kanna. Why don't you go spy on that annoying hanyou for me? You are dismissed Kanna."
After the girl left Naraku placed Sesshomaru on one side of the small table and then motioned that I was to sit beside him. Then he sat himself dramatically at the other side opposite to us. Naraku and Sesshomaru began by arguing loudly back and forth for a long while. Most of the topics they discussed were foreign subjects to me so I mostly kept my mouth silent and listened. Eventually I figured Sesshomaru's injury needed looked at seeing as it hadn't been checked in hours. As I leaned over to begin changing Sesshomaru's bandages he snarled in my ear; "I don't need you help human!"
I sighed knowing he was stubborn, not making this easy and continued working. Suddenly Sesshomaru's hand shot up and seized me by the throat. "I said no!" He snarled.
I gasped for breath as I tried to pry Sesshomaru's powerful hand from my neck. He was too strong though and I was beginning to feel weak light headed.
"I thought I told you not to touch me." Roared Sesshomau in my ear.
Naraku's interrupted loudly cackling at us from the other side of the room, "Let the girl do it Sesshomaru; unlike me she's harmless."
Sesshomaru snarled and dropped me to the floor. I backed away from him feeling the sores from his fingers on my neck. I felt like an idiot. I'd known Sesshomaru really didn't like me touching him but I hadn't expected him to react so strongly or to be feeling so much better after less than a day. I didn't know what he was but he was obviously quite powerful. Wait a minute. Sesshomaru had called himself a demon and Naraku had also used that word. A demon? What where those? I had never heard of a demon before. I had long figured out that I wasn't in Tokyo III anymore but I still didn't know where I had woken up. Could it be that I was in a completely different world altogether? It made sense, somewhat at least.
Out of the corner of her eye I watched Naraku draw a small paper scroll from his sleeve. He carefully untied the leather cord around it and unrolled it on the table. Sesshomaru and I leaned over to see what it was. On the paper was a hand drawn map of Japan. Some of the places and land marks I easily recognized from my history lessons at school but others looked totally foreign to me. Then I spotted it; there was one area with nothing on it but the words: Western lands domain of the inu youkai. So that's what Naraku wanted, the westernland which from what I'd gathered Sesshomaru was the lord of. Naraku placed his pointer finger on the westernland and spoke, "See that Sesshomaru. You shall tell me what I want to know."
"No. I already told you I will not betray my land to a good for nothing half demon!"
I could practically see the fire of hell leaping up behind Naraku as he rose to his feet "Oh," Sneered Naraku "You think you're better than me do you, mutt?"
"Yes I do."
Naraku smacked Sesshomaru on the side of the face. "You baka. You think you are mighty but you are nothing compared to me!"
Sesshomaru growled at Naraku bearing his ferocious white fangs. I foreseeing what was about to happen tried to hold him down but Sesshomaru was too strong. With his right arm he pushed me off him and rose to his feet. With a flash he drew one of his two swords from its sheath. Naraku seemed unimpressed by this, so much so he started to laugh again. "Aw, how cute; the little wolf cub is going to try to stop me." Naraku jeered.
Sesshomaru responded in an arrogant, confident voice, "Not just try. He will."
Naraku laughed again Sesshomaru though seemed dead serious. He raised his sword and charged Naraku. Naraku dodged the blade and trust his hand through the youkai's stomach. Sesshomaru doubled over and fell to the ground. Naraku licked the blood on his fingers then stared down at the fallen youkai. "Mmmmmmmmmm. Your blood's tasty."
I covered my mouth a looked away as I struggled no to vomit. I had never been the squeamish type but there was something sickening about the way Naraku was enjoying this. After I had gotten control of my stomach I turned look a Sesshomaru. Mentally I was tiring to decide what I should do right now. I should help Sesshomaru or not. On one hand he was now badly hurt but on the other he had directly told me not to help him. I gingerly fingered one of the sore bumps on my neck caused by his hand. I shook her head for being a so soft and rose to attend to Sesshomaru but Naraku stopped me. "Stay. Let the young lord suffer for his arrogance."
I returned to the corner where I had been and sat back down. I rubbed the soars on my neck while I watched as Sesshomaru tried to raise himself from the floor. He propped himself up on his right arm but as he tried to bring his knees up under him he lost control and landed on his back. I watched his chest heave in and out as Sesshomaru tried to catch his breath. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Naraku whipped out a small knife and stab the map where the Westernland was. He then stood and walked out the door. A few moments later Kagura reappeared. She motioned for me to pick up Sesshomaru and follow her. I put his right arm around my neck and put mine around his waist. I slowly rose to my feet. Sesshomaru was heavier than he looked and it took all of my energy along with several rests to reach the room where Kagura was leading us. When she opened the door I could see that it was the same room Naraku had put them in the night before. I groaned, things had not been going my way. I set Sesshomaru down on one of the pallets and began examining his new wound as she heard Kagura shut the door. On a whim I tried to open the door again but with no luck. I returned to Sesshomaru. His now unconscious body was bleeding profusely on to the floor. I was so tired I barely remembered moping the blood up or wrapping the injury. I only recalled closing my eyes.
The next thing I knew someone was shaking my shoulder. I opened one eye to see Kagura staring at me. "Oh, good you up." Kagura remarked.
I could feel something soft under me and blushed slightly when I realized my head and hand had been resting on Sesshomaru's chest and fluff while I had slept. Kagura seemed not to care though as she handed me a small package saying, "Put this on. I'll return shortly to escort you to Naraku." Kagura turned and left.
I unwrapped the package to find a lovely light pink kimono covered with red sakura within. I gently stroked the soft fabric as I admired it. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I think I would have loved it had it not come from Naraku. I found a dark corner and quickly donned the new clothing. As she promised Kagura returned a short time later, and led me downed the hall to see Naraku. After a short walk she stopped ahead of me at one of the many doors in this place. She opened the door to an average sized dinning room. The smell of hot food floated from the opening. My stomach growled; it had been so long since I had tasted real food and I was starved. Hesitantly I looked into the room to see what was inside. The only source of lighting was some small candles and a table in the center of the room was laden with a feast unlike I had ever seen before. My stomach growled even louder at the sight of it all. Seated at the far end was non-other than Naraku himself dressed in what I was sure was his finest robes. "Welcome. Would you please be so kind as to take a seat and join me?" He said pleasantly.
I quickly sat in one of the places across from Naraku. He turned to his food but I sat where I was watching Naraku wondering what his next move would be. After several moments he noticed I wasn't eating and he nodded toward the sake and food as if telling me to take some. My hunger overcame my logic and I took some from a couple of the dishes to eat but as I had never really liked sake or any other alcoholic beverage I took nothing to drink. I noticed that Naraku seemed in no hurry to eat as he had barely eaten anything himself. I tentatively began to eat as Naraku continued to watch me. When he thought I wasn't eating enough he tried to offer me several dishes. I shook my head no at each one. "What's the matter?" He inquired.
"You have not eaten yet and I do no wish to deprive you of your food."
"Nonsense my dear this is all for you take as much as you want."
I looked confusedly at Naraku. Why had he prepared all this for me? What was he trying to do, impress me? Well it wasn't working. However I was hungry and my stomach got the better of me and I took some more to eat. After I had eaten my fill Naraku tried to hand me a glass of sake. I shook her head no at the offer, "No thank you."
"Is the sake not of you liking?"
I felt bad turning him down but I didn't drink alcohol. "I don't want any." I replied in an almost apologetic voice.
"I see. You missing out you know. This sake you see here before you is the best in the world."
I stared at him blankly unmoved by his description. I wasn't interested at all. When Naraku saw that he was boring me he tried to change the subject. "I see. Well, will you tell me what you name is?"
It looked like it was time for a question and answer session with Naraku. I knew right away where this was leading but I wasn't worried. I had a few tricks of my own up my sleeves for him. "Rei Ayanami."
"What?"
"Rei Ayanami is my name."
"Oh, I see. It's a lovely name."
"Thank you."
"Where are you from?"
This was a tricky one to answer. Of course I knew where I was from. The problem was, where my home was in relation to this place was was unknown to me. I was pretty sure that it was far away from here. "Somewhere very far away from here."
"Does this place have a name?"
"Earth but you would not understand."
"Why not?"
"Because I do not."
"Why don't you understand where you came from?"
"I know where I'm from but I don't know how I got here."
"What else can you tell me about yourself?"
"Only what I know."
"Is there anything you can't tell me?"
I smiled to myself at this question. I had no intention of saying anything about my secrets to Naraku. Fortunately I had the perfect alibi not to. What I couldn't tell him if I obeyed the orders of Commander was almost everything about me. I had promised myself that I wouldn't follow what the commander had said again but I decided it was time to do it one last time. It would be for my sake and my sake alone that I did it though. "Yes."
"Why?"
"Commander Ikari told me not to." I said in a cocky self absorbed childish voice reminiscent of the first.
"Who is this Ikari?"
"A human man."
"Why do you obey him?"
"I always have."
"Then you trust the one you call Ikari?"
This was another one that was a more difficult question for me to answer. Did I trust the commander to keep me safe as long as my intended purpose was secure? Yes. To care about me beyond what he intended to use me for? No really, however I thought it was better for me to stick to the former. "Yes."
"Where is he now?"
"Back where came from."
"Then he has no power over you now."
I nodded in the affirmative. Naraku actually looked annoyed to me by this point. This could get either interesting or dangerous and I was hoping it wasn't the later. "I've grown bored of all this idol talk. Let us discuss something else. Would that be agreeable?"
"Yes."
"Tell me about your AT field. How do you generate it? How does it work?"
"I can't tell you."
"Is it because Ikari told you?"
"Yes."
Naraku looked outwardly calm at my reply but I caught a glimpse of hatred in them before he turned away to face the door. Naraku clapped his hands and a young human boy entered the room. Naraku placed his hand on the boy's shoulder as he addressed him "Kohaku, go fetch some of my special spiced tea I believe our guest would find that more agreeable than my sake."
"Yes, Master Naraku." The boy said.
The boy turned and exited the room and presently retuned with a cup and a teapot filled with fresh hot tea. The boy set them down before me and returned to his mater's side. "That is all Kohaku, you may go." Naraku instructed.
I quietly pored myself some tea as Naraku enjoyed his sake. I serenely bowed over the cup and slowly brought it to me lips. I inhaled its pleasant herbal aroma and then I sipped some. It was slightly bitter but refreshing and was to my liking. In front of me I heard something clatter. I set the glass down and glanced up at Naraku. He looked to be near the point of rage now and was slowly coming toward me. What was Naraku doing? I wondered.
I shrank back in the corner as Naraku tried to seize me. Unable to reach me from where he was Naraku came slowly closer and closer pinning me against the wall with his body. He reached out his hand again and I forced him to the ground with my A.T. field. He snarled at me and in one swift movement pinned my wrist against the wall. With one hand he held my arm in placed while with the other he pulled something from his sleeve. It was what looked to be fragments of a jewel. He pressed three of them in my wrist but I managed to force him back before he could do more. He staggered back away from me but this time he was grinning wickedly. "Don't worry my dear. It will be all right soon." He said softly.
At first I was unconvinced but too soon I noticed their poisonous effects. Naraku struck me and I landed against the wall. I sat there helpless, unable to move wondering what he would do next. I never found out through because at that moment Kagura came in, "Master the inu lord has escaped!" She exclaimed.
Naraku rushed out and Kagura closed the door. That was the last thing I remember because at that moment I passed out.
Kagura leaned over and looked at the girl. It was too late, she was too far gone. She may be able to fight but it wouldn't be long until Naraku's poison's had full control over her. Kagura stood and left the room. Quietly she slipped out of the palace and entered into the surrounding woods. She walked until she came to a small boat in a nearby river. The girl was lost but Sesshomaru wasn't. She glanced into the boat to see he was okay then cut the ropes. Using her mastery of wind she summoned the favorable ones to guide the boat down the river. He would soon be in the safety of his vassal Jaken and the human Rin, she knew, for her spies told her they weren't far down river from here.
When Naraku discovered that he could find no trace of Sesshomaru. He returned to the room where he had left his captive. She sat silently on the floor in a senseless stupor. He knelt down before her and raised her eyes to meet his. This time her fiery soul was gone to be replaced an unfocused glazed soulless look. Good this was what he had expected. "Rei?" He said in her ear.
"Yes, Master Naraku?" She replied softly.
"It's time to get up now. I have a mission for you."
"What do you desire?"
"I want you to find my missing inu lord for me."
"Of course, master Naraku."
In the next Chapter:
We're taking a little interlude to check in with the rest of the Eva characters. Featuring the return of Kaji and Misato and maybe, just maybe, the red oni will walk once again . . .
Until then, Later!