Chapter 11: Ketsuekiken and Reikonken
(The BloodSword and SoulBlade)
Kagome had come back from her bath in a good mood, and was a bit concerned when she realized that Sugimi was not in a good mood. He was pacing and occasionally growling and very obviously upset, and with a sigh she finally pulled him off for a bit of privacy.
Taking him back down the path she'd followed earlier, she kept going until she reached the tree-line, then found them a nice, grassy little clearing. Pulling him down beside her, she caught and held his eyes with her own worried ones.
"Okay, now do you mind telling me what has you so upset? I really hate seeing you like this, itoshii."
Sugimi felt put on the spot by her question, and he pondered what he should tell her. He really didn't want to say anything about what the problem was - after all, if his pup had pulled his head out of his ass since the last time Myoga had seen him and gotten over Kagome, he saw no point in her even knowing what the pup had said.
He sighed. Reaching out, he pulled her into his side and leaned into her, just desiring her touch. It calmed him like nothing else could.
"There were some complications that I was talking about with Myoga while you were gone. Nothing for you to worry about. I'll be alright."
She pulled away slightly and looked up at his face, not sure whether to believe him or not. With a soft smile, she let it go after a long moment, because he did indeed look calmer.
Sugimi looked down at her as she met his gaze, and suddenly he needed to feel her, needed to taste her. Leaning down slowly, he closed his eyes and met her lips in a passionate kiss that quickly went out of control.
As she tilted her head to give him a better angle to deepen the kiss, his pulse pounded out the rhythm of his heart and his need and he pushed her back until she was lying on her back in the soft grass, with him hovering over her. Tearing his mouth from hers after several minutes, both desperately needing air; he growled approvingly as she raised her chin and bared her throat to him and he pounced on the tender flesh. Flicking his tongue out and tasting her, he bit down just hard enough to leave a red mark before suckling her skin, hard.
Kagome was drowning in desire, and she didn't want to stop. The moment that he bit her on the neck her arousal surged and she squirmed beneath him, almost sobbing. She'd had no idea her neck was so sensitive... it felt wonderful, and she suddenly felt a need to touch him as he was touching her.
Pulling apart the neckline of his suikan, she slipped her hand around his armor plates, trying to tear it off, not caring if she got bruised. She needed to feel his flesh as much as she needed to breathe. The moment her hands made contact with the heated skin of his chest, however, they stilled and her mind went blank in shock.
Her lover had decided that since she was tearing his clothes away from him and going after his chest, that he'd return the favor... before she knew what had hit her, he had the top of her priestess robes open and her bra pushed away. As his mouth closed over one rosy nipple she tensed at the feel of such a thing and cried out. Mind no longer able to function, she arched her back like a strung bow and gasped out his name as he switched breasts, totally unprepared for what he was doing to her.
She felt like she was drugged - her mind was hazy and spinning and the only thing that made sense was his mouth and hands on her. As he licked and suckled at her he molded the neglected breast with a passionate hand, growling out his desire for her loudly. Kagome whimpered and moaned beneath him and her passionate cries sent heat flooding through his veins, surging all his desire straight to his groin. Grinding his hips into hers, he purred as he felt her sharp intake of breath and the shudder that ran through her body.
He was well pleased with her response to him - she would be as fiery a lover as she was a woman, and he was suddenly uncertain whether he'd be able to keep his timetable as regards to his mating. He just may end up taking her sooner than he had planned, but with an almost fatalistic shrug he decided that it didn't matter. He'd hold on as long as he could.
Pulling away from her slightly he leaned his forehead into the valley between her breasts and tried to regain control of his breathing and libido, then after a few minutes sat up, gently pulling her robes closed over her chest. He had to smile as he caught sight of her face - her eyes were still hazy, and she was flushed a becoming cranberry color with pleasure. She looked gorgeous.
As the fog clouding her mind cleared, she looked over at a grinning Sugimi. He looked entirely too smug, but she didn't have the strength to call him on it - after all, she admitted to herself, he really was that good. She had a feeling that she'd be lusting after him just as much a thousand years from now as she was at this moment - and kami, was she lusting after him right now.
Reaching out a hand, he helped pull her up, and smiling at her, asked, "Tell me, love... do you feel up to a little sparring session? I need to work out a little of this tension you've put into me."
She nodded dazedly. "Since you've also left me a bit on the tense side, I'll go along with that idea."
-zZz-
When they got back up to the top and were standing in front of Totosai's house, Kagome drew her sword and waited for Sugimi to draw his. As soon as the ring of a blade leaving the sheath hit the air, Totosai was sitting on the ground to the side and Myoga was taking up space on his shoulder. Totosai looked eager, and Kagome rolled her eyes with amusement.
As he caught sight of her sword, he frowned, and calling her over, asked to see it. She went to hand it to him, but he shook his head and put his hands behind his back. "No, you hold on to her, Lady Kagome. She's a miko blade, so it wouldn't be too comfortable for me to hold her - I just want to talk to her for a moment, that's all."
Kagome's brow climbed into her bangs and she held the sword out, waiting politely for the swordsmith to finish his 'conversation'. She glanced at Sugimi, shrugging her shoulders, and he shook his head with a grin.
When the old swordsmith moved away and sat back down, Kagome asked, "So what did the sword tell you, Totosai?"
"Well, she introduced herself and I introduced myself, that's pretty much all." As Kagome burst out laughing, he gave her a defensive look. "Hey, swords are usually pretty polite, you know. Well, all of them are that I've ever met, except Sou'unga. Now that was one rude sword. Good thing the whelp and Sesshoumaru finally managed to get their acts together long enough to send it back to hell."
Kagome's brow furrowed for a moment at that. "Hey, that reminds me, Totosai. Where did Saia go? I haven't seen him since the battle."
"Oh, he's around somewhere. Probably napping. He always was lazy."
Sugimi laughed. "So that old youkai is still finding ways to get out of doing anything, is he? I should have known."
Kagome shrugged. "Oh. Well, I'm glad he's okay. Hey, so what is my sword's name, anyway?"
He scratched the back of his head and squinted at her. "Reikonken - the Soul Blade." Another ringing sound came from the sword Kagome was now looking at curiously. "She says she's waited a long time to meet you."
"Huh." Kagome ran a hand along the blade, enjoying the gentle, bell-like ring the blade gave off. Kisho sent out the thought that he had waited a long time, too.
"Well, Kagome, shall we? I still have all that tension to get rid of, you know."
Totosai sniffed the air and then looked over at his Master with a confused frown. "That's not the kind of tension that can be relieved by a sword, Master. At least, not a metal one. Did your time spent in the afterlife make you forget what to do with a female?"
At Sugimi's affronted and incredulous expression Kagome collapsed to the ground, hysterical with laughter. She kept laughing as Totosai leapt up and started running... with an extremely annoyed Northern Lord in hot pursuit.
So much for a sparring session. Looked like Sugimi would be taking his tension out in another way this time. She sheathed her sword, somehow sure that the blade was also laughing.
-zZz-
Kikyou walked behind the rest of the group, bringing up the rear as Inuyasha walked ahead, determined to stay some distance from her. Since that day several weeks ago that her mate and the others had gotten into that argument, things had been strained for all of them, but especially for her and Inuyasha.
She'd dragged him off into the forest and eventually he'd calmed down - but then decided he wanted her. Although her heart wasn't in it she hadn't really fought him - but she wished she had. She felt like a damn substitute for who was really on his mind - Kagome, and it made her feel dirty. That was the first time she'd hated sex.
She had finally admitted that though she wished the girl was dead, she believed that she was still alive. She had wondered at the time why her soul had not returned to her at Kagome's death - well, if she wasn't dead, that would explain that. And, she could also admit, she was afraid.
After everything that had happened, she knew that things with the hanyou she was mated to would never be the same - she'd never be able to fully trust him with her heart again - but she did love him and she was really worried. She knew that the girl also loved him, and she feared that with a long enough amount of time Inuyasha would be able to break her down and convince her to mate him, too.
And Kikyou knew she'd never be able to live with that.
She couldn't say she hated the girl, not really. It wasn't like she'd even done anything and in fact, if she hadn't been brought back in time, Inuyasha would still be pinned to the tree and she herself would still be dead. She had nothing personal against her, the only reason she'd been so bitchy before was because she had come between herself and Inuyasha. She wouldn't mind seeing the girl happy - just not with her hanyou.
She sighed and looked up. Sooner or later they'd find her, of that she had no doubts... and then she'd lose the love of her life to Kagome - again.
Inuyasha walked at the head of the group, watching as the road they were on passed in front of a handsome shiro - it looked like the place had been newly refurbished, and decided he'd have Miroku ask the guards at the gates if they'd seen Kagome or had any other information. It was worth a try. He was becoming annoyed - they'd been tracking rumors of this elusive miko for weeks now, and he desperately needed to find her.
"Oi, Miroku. Why don't you go talk to the guards up there at the gates - we'll all wait here. See if they know anything." He moved off the side of the road and leaned against a tree there, folding his hands into his sleeves.
Miroku merely nodded his head, and followed by Sango, continued on down the road. He soon had the guards in discussion.
Kikyou stopped and silently sat down on the grass under another tree, content to wait. It was nice to sit for a while - ever since they'd heard that very first rumor Inuyasha had been like a man possessed and had pushed everyone even harder than he had over the shards - which really was ironic.
After about a half-hour Sango and Miroku began walking back, and Inuyasha could clearly feel the excitement in their auras. Even Shippo looked like he was ready to jump out of his skin, and Inuyasha's chest tightened with anticipation - as Kikyou swallowed the dread in her heart.
"Well?!"
Miroku smiled. Inuyasha wasn't going to like this - but he and Sango were quite happy with the information they'd received.
"She was here. Do you remember the first rumor we heard of her, that said she'd been rescued by the Northern Lord during a battle? That is the palace of the Northern Lord."
Inuyasha breathed in deeply, then asked, "And where is she now?"
"Well, according to the guards the Lady miko, whose name is indeed Kagome, and the Northern Lord left nigh on a week ago - heading for Totosai's place."
Inuyasha wheeled around and began walking back in the direction of the old swordsmith's mountain. "Let's go, everyone. I'm not waitin' around and if you all don't hurry, I'll leave you behind and catch up again after I find her."
Sango hollered up at him. "Listen, Inuyasha. You didn't hear the rest of the story. You really should know what you're getting into instead of rushing in blindly like you usually do."
Inuyasha stopped, but didn't turn. "Well? What's so important? We know where Kagome is, we know that it's really her. What else do we need to know?"
"The fact that she's being courted by the Northern Lord."
Inuyasha felt his whole body freeze as rage swept through him.
-zZz-
Finally, the sixth day arrived and true to his word, just after sunrise Totosai finished his Lord's new sword. Upon waking from his normal light doze, Sugimi prepared for the day.
Shaking his hair out and running his claws through the length of it, he finally gathered it back into his usual topknot. He grinned - his hair was one of the things that his Kagome was fascinated with - she could barely keep her fingers out of it. Every night she would pull it out of its high knot and run her hands through it for hours if he gave her half the chance.
With a shake of his head he sighed and set aside those thoughts for another time. Totosai was waiting to introduce him to his new sword - and he was very eager to try it out. He had already decided that they would spend one more day here, giving him time to test the sword and learn what it was capable of.
As he approached the entrance, Kagome came out and smiled at him. Moving over to a small bench, she sat down and prepared to spend the day watching Sugimi play with his new toy... he may not have said it, but that's what he'd be doing, really.
Totosai wobbled out of his house, mallet over one shoulder and new sword over the other. Moving to stand in front of Sugimi, he leaned his mallet up against his side and then took hold of the sword and handed it to his Lord with a formal bow.
"This is Ketsuekiken - the Blood Sword, my Lord. He will serve you well."
Sugimi took the sword, immediately grabbing it by the hilt and the blade, and let it's keen edge slice his hand. As Kagome gasped, the sword growled and then the blood from his hand was sucked up into it, turning the blade red. After a few moments he let go of the blade and showed his hand to a concerned Kagome. The wound was already sealed, but Ketsuekiken's blade stayed red - it didn't change back.
Totosai caught his master's eye. "If you are positive that Lady Kagome will be your mate I can have Myoga take a bit of her blood and that, too, can be given to your sword - it will make sure that any attack released by it is rendered harmless to her."
Sugimi looked at Myoga. "Do it."
Kagome looked at him indignantly. "Hey, wait a minute! Don't I get any say in this? It's my blood, after all."
He glanced at her evenly. "No."
"Fine." She held out her arm to an eager Myoga, staring at the ground with a pouty look on her face, then folded both arms across her chest when he was done. "Arrogant jerk." She mumbled a few other pithy words under her breath.
Sugimi merely held out the sword for the flea and waited for him to finish. "This is for your safety, Kagome. You will submit. There is a time and a place for independence, and this is not it." He turned a bright gaze on Myoga, then. "And as for you, flea, this is the last time you will have access to my intended's blood, do you understand? Don't think she's there for a free meal for you. Keep that little beak off, or else."
Myoga nodded frantically and finished with his task, hopping quickly away from his Lord and the now humming sword. As he moved past Kagome, a ringing sound came from her blade, and Totosai told her to draw it and hold it out towards Sugimi and Ketsuekiken.
He scratched his head, then turned his buggy eyes on his Master at the look Sugimi shot him. "Don't look at me funny, t'ain't my idea. It's the swords - they're the ones demanding to meet."
Kagome frowned and looked at Sugimi, not moving 'til he nodded, then drew her own blade. The moment she had it out, tip to tip with his sword, they both began to glow - Reikonken the same cobalt blue she'd been glowing the day Kagome had picked her and Ketsuekiken the red of fresh blood. Auras swirling around each other, the two began to throb, and Sugimi glanced back at Totosai.
"What the hell's going on, old man?"
"They're talking - and even I can't figure out what they're saying. Don't panic though - for some reason, they get along just fine. Weird, if you ask me. Who woulda thought a miko blade and a youkai blade would like each other?"
He continued to watch as the swords separate auras twined around each other, stroking each other almost lovingly for a few moments, and then began to fade. Finally, it seemed as if they were done, and a rather stunned Kagome sheathed her sword and went to sit back down out of the way.
Sugimi lifted his sword close to his face and looked it over from the end of the hilt to the tip of the blade, and nodded, pleased with the way it looked.
The hilt was pristine, a virginal white enamel that had the kanji of it's name embedded into it in blood red. The bladeguard was highly polished steel and had an etched pattern cut into it. The blade itself was also blood red, with the same cross-grain design of the bladeguard running the length of the blade, in the same highly polished steel color.
"So... Ketsuekiken." As Sugimi said its name it thrummed at him.
"Tell me, my new friend - what are you capable of?"