--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Weird Little Love Story

Ch. 21 Death

By Sesshy's Girl 00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Death. The very word used to make me feel weak. Now however I would be testing my newfound confidence against it. I would have to enter death and open the gates; at least that was the plan. For now all I could do was wait for tomorrow and keep myself busy.

I spent the rest of my day with Rei and Rin in the hot springs that were under the shrine. It would be good to relax and spend some quality time with them. After all Rin and Rei were important in my life. They were like my little sisters and best friends.

When we reached the room where the springs were, Rin and I changed eagerly but Rei stayed by the door. She looked around uncertainly at the room and us, keeping her arms crossed around her waist. I watched her shift her feet uneasy several times while I was changing.

I was sympathetic to what she was going through. I had the feeling that she was overwhelmed and uncertain about her place here. This world was strange and much different from what she was used to.

I walked over to her and took her hand in my own. "Come sister; join us. You will like it."

That was all the persuasion Rei needed to follow me. She carefully took one of the white bathing kimonos from the stack and began to change. "Why are you going to death?" Rei asked me bluntly.

"Because I'm doing it for Sesshomaru. I want to help him." I told her.

"Do you realize what you are going to face?"

"Yes, I do sister."

The look she gave me said that she was concerned about my upcoming trip into death but she was trying to understand. I could not expect more then that. The differences were growing between us. It was impossible for us to understand what the other was thinking, let alone have the same thoughts about something. That's what happens when an A.T. Field separates two beings.

I smiled and held my hand out to her. Rei accepted with a small smile of her own and I helped her into the pool. Rei, Rin and I sighed and relaxed, content in the warm bubbling water. "Give me your arm." I instructed Rei.

I didn't know when Rei had been injured because it had happened while she was in our world and she refused to speak about it. All I knew for sure was that something sharp had left a deep gash in her lower right arm. It wasn't serious but it appeared to be quite painful.

Rei held her arm out to me reluctantly and I began to unwrap the bandages that covered the wound. She winced as I stuck it under water and it began to bleed when she lifted it out. Rei starred at the blood with a look of disgust. "I hate blood. It reminds me of, of death . . ."

"Did you die too?" Rin asked.

Rei nodded silently and sunk herself as far as possible into the water. Her eyes looked away as if she were afraid to face us. It appeared that her death still bothered her. It was most likely even more vivid and painful for her than me.

I decided that it was best if I changed the subject now before both Rei and Rin were upset further. To my surprise Rin beat me to it. "It's okay to be sad. Miss Rei and Rin both died too.

Rei smiled and I felt some of the tension leave the room. Rei and I relax while Rin began to make bubbles in the water.

-----------------------------------------

I used my ability to manipulate my body to shorten my hair until it was above my shoulders. If I was going into death it would be windy and it would be easier if my hair were out of my way. I could feel Rei's eyes turn to look at me from where she was sitting in the corner. My hair appeared to be the subject of her scrutiny. I couldn't be sure but I believed that it was short enough to make us identical once again.

"Don't worry. I will be fine."

"I never said I was concerned."

"You never had to. I could tell."

Rei had been staying unusually close to me and quiet all day. I smiled at her reassuringly and held out my hand. "If it would help you feel more at ease you can come with me."

Rei glanced away and the muscles in her hands tightened. "No. I will stay here." She said softly.

I nodded. "I understand. I will see you when I return."

I turned back to the mirror and straightened my clothes one last time. I could tell that I was too tense. I took several deep breaths and relaxed my body. Despite my efforts my hands were still stiff and shaking.

I breathed deeply and closed my eyes, sending my mind from my body to the land of death. The icy wind rushed past me as I entered. A shiver ran up my spine. It was so cold. I closed my eyes once more and reached out for Sesshomaru. "Sesshomaru come." I whispered.

For an instant I felt the wind shift and then I sensed Sesshomaru standing beside me. I opened my eyes and he was there; smiling kindly at me. I threw my arms around his neck and embraced him tightly before I could even think. I felt his arm wrap itself around my back holding me against his warm body. "I've missed you." He whispered.

"I know, Sesshomaru."

We had spoken almost everyday since I left but nothing compared to being in each other's presence.

I tried to remember exactly how this moment felt so that I would have it forever. I never wanted to forget how good this felt.

Finally it was I who let go and we turned to face the gate, still keeping our arms around the other. "Are you ready?"

"No. Let's get this over with."

I dug into my obi and drew out the bell I'd been given. I pressed it into Sesshomaru's hand. "It will help you complete your task."

The tension lightened momentarily in Sesshomaru's face. "Thank you. Stay safe."

Sesshomaru kissed me lightly on the head as his arm tightened its grip on me. "I will." I promised.

I nodded slightly to wish Sesshomaru luck and approached the gates. "What do you want?" Boomed the voices of Gozu and Mezu.

"I wish to open the gates!" I called back to them.

There was a moment when I wasn't sure if I was about to be granted permission or sliced in two. Then a whisper ran though the wind, Devil's Child. After it had passed Gozu and Mezu move aside allowing me to approach.

I walked up to the gate and placed my hand against it. I focused my A.T. field through my hands and sent it out in a wide arch. With a rumble the gate began to part. The wind began to increase almost instantly and I was glad I had the foresight to shorten my hair. The gap grew wider and wider until a human could easily pass. I continued to press outward against it until the gate was wide open, the whole way. With the gate open the wind became so fierce that I would have been sucked in if not for my angels blood and A.T. Field holding me in place.

I set my stance so that I would be able to hold the gate in place. The wind tugged relentlessly at my kimono making me feel like I was falling though the sky.

Sesshomaru walked past me the bell tied to his waist and the Tenseiga in hand. I smiled as I watched him go. He was going to be all right. I could feel it.

I stood silently in the doorway, letting the wind tug merciless at me for a long time. Keeping the gates open was as hard as I had expected. The gates were extremely heavy and I could feel their weight pressing back against me. They wanted to close because their job was to prevent the living from entering.

I sighed as the numbness crawled a little farther up my arms. I had no idea how long I could keep this up unit my whole body gave out but I felt like I could handle it for quite a while. I didn't want to be for forever though. I would end up like Gozu and Mezu if I did that.

Sesshomaru finally reappeared after what felt like several hours. He face was weary but smiling slightly in triumph. I grinned back at him. Once Sesshomaru was beyond me I stepped back and set the gates free.

There was a resounding crash as the gate closed once more and then silence descended. I flinched slightly at the sound and Sesshomaru turned to look back at me with concern on his face. I smiled back at him and hurried to his side. "Did everything go okay?"

Sesshomaru nodded and pulled me close. "I don't think I'll be doing that again though. If you see the person who gave you the bell, you should thank them for both of us."

I gave his hand a squeeze. "I will."

I had to stop myself before I said anything more. There was only one thing left to do, say goodbye. I didn't want to part from Sesshomaru again, not so soon. Judging by how tightly Sesshomaru was holding me back he didn't want to go either.

"Can we stay here a little longer?"

I smiled in relief. Sesshomaru really had read my mind perfectly. "Sure."

We walked off in silence reveling in the closeness of the other one.

For the next several hours whispered nonsense and laughed. We were so tense that it was refreshing to not do anything stressful.

Then it was time to talk business, the fight with Naraku. It was decided that we should start this spring when the snow began to melt, in order to counter Naraku's offensive.

I was trying to stay calm about it. After all this would be full scale, all out. Still I knew that if this failed we would be significantly weakened and Naraku would have the upper hand. It was my solemn vow that this would not be the case. We would win.

After that we reluctantly parted once more and I returned to my body.

Rin, Rei and Atsuko were waiting for me when I opened my eyes. All three of them smiled in relief when they saw me awaken from the trance like state I had assumed while my spirit had been in death. "Miss Rei is awake!" Rin cheered happily.

I yawned feeling stiff and tired despite the fact I had not moved fro sometime. "How long have I been away?"

"Most of the day." Atsuko replied, "You just missed dinner."

My stomach rumbled as if to confirm this fact. Rei nudged a tray of food towards me. "Eat. You must be hungry."

"Thank-you."

I lifted the chopsticks and dug into the bowl of steamed rice voraciously. I was even hungrier then I had realized.

Rei, Rin and Atsuko stayed with me while I ate, filling me in on what had happened during my absence. There wasn't much news for me to catch up on. Things were quiet in this remote area, especially in the dead of winter.

After that we relaxed, talking quietly over our plans for tomorrow. Rei was going to try her hand at scrollwork, Rin was going to help out in the kitchens and Atsuko and I were going to continue going through the tools and artifacts stored in the back rooms.

I could tell right then that I would be plenty busy and there would be little chance that I would have time to think about other things, Sesshomaru in particular. I missed him greatly and seeing him today had opened that pain in my heart even wider. I didn't want to think what would happen if I had nothing to keep me from focusing on the pain.

We woke early and ate breakfast together. Then it was off to our respective tasks for the day.

Things followed a similar pattern for the next several weeks. I spent much of my time with Atsuko, Rei and Rin molding my self into that of a proper priestess and staying focused on things other then my longing to see Sesshomaru.

During this time the weather had slowly warmed and the snow melted back into water. Now it was warmer and a hint of spring hung in the air despite the chill that still remained.

I had been following progress on both sides and I could tell what was coming without a word being spoken. The time for the battle would be here very soon. Knowing this I was both nervous and excited at the same time. I was worried because I knew the battle would be hard but I was eager to see Sesshomaru, which would happen after the battle was over.

That was, of course under the assumption that we were both still alive after that. Death was always a possibility in any situation. I however refused to believe that we would die. It just couldn't happen. We were too strong and we had promised the other that we would live.

The next morning when Sesshomaru came to see me I was only half awake. He on the other hand seemed wide-awake and not very pleased, although I sensed that his unhappiness was not due to anything I had done. It took me a moment to realize what he wanted but when I did I felt a cold sense of dread seize me.

Naraku was on his way and the battle was going to begin soon. It was time to make final preparations. "We will see each other soon." I promised him before I broke off the connection.

"I know."

The next week following that was filled with a flurry of activity as everyone struggled to make final preparations. We were not exempt, even at the shrine. The other priests and priestesses were making ready to lend Atsuko and I their spiritual powers. Atsuko and I were making ready for our parts as well. I needed to decide the best way to attack Naraku and cause the most damage, while Atsuko was merely concerned with being ready

Then an eerie silence took hold. Both sides were ready and waiting for the other before they made their move. I watched both sides with my blind eyes, observing them with equal intensity.

It was Naraku who broke the peace and attacked first. He sent his men in a massive wave at the Westernlands barrier. The time had come to take up my position.

Before Atsuko and I were allowed to sit at the seats of the head priestess we had to bathe in the sacred spring and don the robes. They where heavy and extremely large on me and Atsuko seemed to have a similar reaction. After we were fully dressed the attendants combed our hair back and secured it with a piece of leather.

Then we were let into the room where the ceremonial seats were held. We ascended the stairs to the low platform calmly and took our seats.

I felt odd sitting there looking down on the people below. I felt like I was the one who was small and insignificant. There was also a sense of responsibility towards them. It was my duty to protect and defend them from harm.

I forced myself to relax and placed my arms in my lap. Focusing my mind, I sent my self out after the others. I could see them approaching the gates of Naraku's Palace with Sesshomaru and Inu Yasha in the lead. I continued silently beyond them into Naraku's castle itself.

Naraku sat just inside the door waiting for them, like a spider for his prey. He knew they were coming and he was ready. My job was to mess with his plan and I would do that with relish. I reached out and touched him forcing sync. Naraku revolted and tried to force me out but he couldn't stop me. "Hello, it has been a while."

" . . . Rei . . ." Came his answer.

"Yes?"

"So I see my poison didn't kill you after all but you're not with the others. Why? Is it possible the almighty one lost her eyes and had to stay behind?"

"It's true, I lost my eyesight but I have other ways of seeing so if I truly wanted I could be there with them. However I thought it might be more advantageous to stay behind and use my powers differently. Now I have a question for you. How did you fare against my poison?"

"I held up fine. It hardly affected me."

I could feel that Naraku was lying to me. It had made him as sick as I was. Good. I had affected him with my poison. At least that left me one small comfort to make up for the time I had spent sick and recovering.

I took a breath a turned myself back to the task at hand. I reached out my hand and touched Naraku's mind. I stretched out my senses and felt for the individual personalities that formed him. At first nothing came to me but slowly a single word began to form in my mind, "Oni Gumo." I said out loud.

Like a magic spell it seemed to have awakened the individualities of the others and their names began to come to me in rapid succession. I pronounced them all and like a flood they rushed through me; their names scorching my tongue and lips. Naraku shut his mind off abruptly and I was thrown out. It was like having a door slammed in my face. Slowly I eased myself back into my body and knelt forward. My mouth felt hot and burnt. I took several deep breaths trying to calm my senses down. "Priestess, are you okay?" Asked one of the attendants.

"Yes. I'm fine but I could use some water."

After I had drank my glass of water I went back in. Naraku's mind was much easier to enter than before. I was glad for this because I was in a hurry to be done. I quickly found where I had been and I picked up where I left off.

As I worked I felt the instability grow and Naraku's powers weaken. Several times Naraku tried to stop me but he couldn't. I was too well protected this time by my A.T. Field. I could feel him coming to pieces around me and mad about it.

Speed was also a factor. I wanted to hurry because I had a second task to complete. I needed to keep my promise and free Kagura and Kanna from Naraku's grasp. To do that I needed to find what he used to control them.

It took me some time to figure out what Naraku had done to them; he had hid his secret well.

What Naraku had done was remove their hearts from their bodies during creation. He had absorbed the hearts into him himself, giving him the ability to summon them at will and inflict pain on the owner. It was cruel indeed. Kagura and Kanna did not deserve to be taken advantage of that way. No one should dominate the heart of another.

Once I knew what he had done it became easy to remove the hearts from Naraku's control. I could not free them yet, so I did the next best thing. I took them under my control and hid them securely were they would not be harmed before I could hand them over to the one they truly belonged to.

--

Kagura felt a pair of arms wrap around her. She tried to move but was unable to. "Don't worry. I won't hurt you." Said a soft voice in her ear.

It was Rei. She was doing this. "Let me go. I must serve Naraku."

"It is that really what you want?" She asked.

"No, you know that I want to be free."

"Then close your eyes and you can. I have come to keep my promise."

Kagura hesitated for a moment but decided to trust her. A good sleep would feel wonderful, she knew and Rei had sworn to return for her. Kagura relaxed and closed her eyes.

----------

Kagura and Kanna suddenly froze and their eyes went blank. A black void appeared beneath them and they sank down within it. Naraku watched in horror as his two best minions were taken from him. "Rei! What did you do?" He demanded.

Rei chuckled softly. " I relieved them of their servitude to you. Don't try to squeeze their hearts they can't feel them anymore."

"Why?"

"You've hurt them enough. Let them rest. Unless you're too scared to handle things with out them." Rei returned mockingly.

"Fine. I'll get them back later."

"No you won't."

"Well, aren't you so self assured."

"If you haven't noticed their hearts are in my hands. I can make them do what I want."

"I thought you weren't into that kind of stuff."

"I'm not."

"Then why."

"Because when this is over I'll set them free."

"You certainly are the little rebel."

"You'd be surprised. Not that long ago I was someone's puppet myself. You'd think I was a totally different person. I have my freedom now, but it cost me dearly."

"So that's why you stubbornly refuse to work for me."

"Exactly."

We're not so different." Said Naraku with a smirk.

I knew what Naraku was trying to do. Make me mad and mess with my head. I however decided to turn the table on him. "True, we both have a thing for mass destruction and chaos. Did you know I once destroyed the population of an entire planet because of the wish of one of my friends?"

"Funny you don't seem like the type."

"Don't believe everything you see."

I was feeling more assure about this battle now then I had when it had began. My work against Naraku had gone well and I had successfully liberated Kagura and Kanna. There wasn't much left more me to but sit back and watch, making sure Naraku didn't reverse what I had done to him.

Victory was all up to Sesshomaru, Inu Yasha and those with them now.

Somewhere nearby an explosion rocked the shrine. Even from my position mostly out of my body I could feel and hear it. I quickly returned to my body to find out what had happened. "What's going on?" I demanded.

"One of the attendants has come after you." Replied the voice of one of the child helpers.

"Tell everyone to stand down. I don't want any more casualties. I will let her come and see me." I ordered.

The word went out and within moments the sound of fighting had ceased. There was a long deafening silence and then footsteps were heard outside and the door opened. A young woman, about the same age as myself, entered. She had a sacred jewel shard imbedded in her chest and she gave off a similar feeling to the one that I got from Kohaku. A soul tied to this world when it should have passed on. "You must be the high priestess. I see you wisely ordered the shrine maidens to stand down." She said.

"I wanted to see you myself since you seem to have such an interest in seeing me."

"You should know I'm here to kill you. Does that change anything?"

"No not at all.

"Good. That will make this simple."

"Why? What do you want so badly that you would kill for it?"

"Life."

"Life? You must mean your own. Am I correct?"

"How, how did you know?"

"You told me yourself."

"But I didn't say a word."

"You didn't have to. I could sense that you had died but where forcibly brought back by the sacred jewel shard in your chest."

"Yes I was. About a year ago a band of demons attack my village slaughtering everyone, including me. After the battle Naraku used his jewel shards to revive several other villagers and myself. He promised us that if we worked for him for a little while we would all be given living bodies and be free to go."

"He hasn't given you what he promised, did he?"

"No. When our time was up we went to Naraku and asked him to give us our bodies but he said he wanted more work."

"If you continue to serve Naraku you will never get what you want. You will spend the rest of your days soaking your hands in innocent blood. Is that what you want?"

"No."

"I can give you a living body, right now. All you have to do is trust me and yourself."

"Now? Is it that easy?"

"Yes, but I should warn you that it won't be pleasant. You'll have to overcome your pain and fear if you wish to live again. You still want to do this?"

"Yes, of course. Anything to be fee of Naraku!"

"Very well then."

I took a deep breath and reached out to her mind. For the first time since instrumentality I broke someone else's A.T. field. She liquefied into LCL and sank to the floor. I had the maids remove the sacred jewel. I reached out and became one with her. "What's going on? What's wrong with my body."

"Shhhh. It's okay. I turned your body to liquid. Now in order to regain it you must imagine your body as you want it." I explained.

I felt her quiet down considerably once she understood what was going on. That was better. I was worried that she would over react and she would be unable to recreate her body. Now that she was calmer it would be much easier for her.

I directed her gently through the process from LCL to human body. When it was over she was exhausted and fell asleep almost instantly. I directed the maids to take her to a quiet room and let her sleep.

I was relieved as I watched her leave the room. She was free of a terrible curse that should never have been hers to begin with. I was glad I had been able to do that for her.

Once more free of distractions I turned my attention back to the battle at hand. Naraku had an advantage over his opponents, even with all the work I had done. There had to be something more I could do, I decided. I would not let Naraku win.

I began searching around in Naraku's mind feeling for something that I could do to weaken Naraku. I found what I was looking for after several minutes of looking around.

There was something distinctive missing from Naraku's mind, humanity and kindness. The only thing there was demon's anger combined with the worst of Oni Gumo. There were no rules, no morals, no nothing. To put it simply, Naraku was pure evil.

When I noticed this I was completely stunned. I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed it before; it was so obvious.

After a few moments to think over it, I realized that it must be there somewhere so what was it?

I made it my mission to find out. Now.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Author's Notes:

Sesshy here all. I know I'm trying something new. Let me know if you like it. Kay?

First of all I feel I owe a huge thank you to everyone who has reviewed and stayed with me. You guys are the best! Thanks!

I hope you all enjoyed the pervious chapter and I'm sorry it took so long for me to update. School has been a pain since it began.

I promise you that I won't abandon this fic. It's almost done and I refuse to let it go before it's completed! Besides I've been writting this thing off and on for four years now. I want it done!

Please Review, they are highly appriciated. I am addicted to them and it's so easy. Just clock on the bluish/purple 'Go' button below. Go ahead make it short and cheesy or a flamer if you must, just review.

I don't own Eva or Inu Yasha! 'Nuf said.

If you want to reach me you may pm me or find me of yahoo instant messager as darkeangel00.

I've got a couple of questions for you guys this week that I would appriciate if you answered:

1 Is there anything I haven't done that you would like me to do?

2 Is there something that I left confusing or that you don't understand?

3 Would you be willing to read this again if i went back, made some changes and edited out mistakes in the near future?

4 Should I keep going or should I end it were I currently intend it to?

And last but not least: the teaser:

After I was relaxed, I closed my eyes again, although it wasn't necessary, and went back to the site of the battle.It was over now and I wanted, no needed to know what happened. When I reached it I found the area in ruins and not a soul to be found.