I could feel it; the instability of my youki. It was like having red hot lava swarming inside of you, pushing against organs and cooking you from the inside out. I panted, turning myself onto my left side, my arms clutching my stomach. My youki would flare wildly at random points in time and then disappear as if it was never there. The pain of it all was excruciating and I didn't know how much more I could take.
Another flare of my youki and the ground began to tremble. Apparently, it was calling out to the earth. For what reason, I did not know. I just wanted to be saved. I wanted Lord Sesshomaru. A scream pierced through the air, filled with pain. It took me a moment to realize that it was me. I was screaming. I was succumbing to the pain. I was dying.
I didn't want to, but the tears fell anyway. I'd never be able to see my friend again. And Lord Inutaisho's hugs; I'd never get those again. I'd never again hear his boisterous laughter or his taunts directed at his son. I'd no longer be at the receiving end of Lord Sesshomaru's glare. I would no longer hear his voice.
On the upside, I'd be free from Mother and Ryonji. I wouldn't have to mate with Takken, either. I'd never have to set foot inside the Northern Lands ever again. I'd rather die than do those things. But Lord Inutaisho and Sesshomaru would miss me. They'd be hurt that I gave in so easily. But was it all worth it? Was it worth going back to Mother?
Another scream tore its way from my throat, thick puddles of blood following. It was tearing me apart. I was killing myself. I rolled over onto my right side. I couldn't stand to see the blood—my blood—beneath me. It only provided proof that I wasn't going to make it. Seriously, how could I die this way? I had so much left to do; to say. Of course, I always knew that I'd die someday, but I didn't think today would be it. I wasn't ready. Hell, I'd never be ready.
Shudders wracked my pale, limp body. I was so cold and yet on the inside, I was burning. I just wanted to be held right now. I wanted someone to take the pain away. I would've given anything to have Father next to me, stroking my hair and telling me that it'd all be okay. More screams coursed through the cell, bouncing off the walls and causing my ears to ring unpleasantly. I just wanted it to end.
I felt myself slipping. I couldn't hold on anymore. I felt numb all over. I was dying; for real this time. I coughed. It was weak. Blood oozed from my lips. Why me? What have I done wrong? What have I done to deserve this? More coughs and more blood. There was so much blood.
The cell door opened and multiple footsteps could be heard. I wasn't sure just how many demons there were. Damn spider demons and their multitude of legs!
"The time is nigh," the demon rasped, a hairy appendage stroking the side of my face. Had I enough energy, I would have kicked his nasty ass! "Soon you will be dead and we will rule in our rightful place."
I wanted to scream and lash out. I wanted to rip this asshole to pieces. But more importantly, I wanted to live. I just wanted to live.
"Heh," I wheezed, coughing up more blood. It hurt to breathe, but I refused to go down without a fight. "You're…an idiot…"
"Ha! It is you that is an idiot. You were captured and killed by us! We are considered inferior and yet a Lady stood no chance against us! Soon we will be INVINCIBLE!" The evil laughter made me realize it was the same demon from before. You know, the crazy one. "Any last words, wench?"
"Yeah." I forced myself onto my back to look the youkai in the eye…s. Seriously, he had like four of them. How had I not noticed beforehand? I took a shuddering breath, one that felt like my last. "Fuck…you…"
The ground began to tremble once more, but this time it wasn't from me. There was another youki present. One so powerful that it had me shaking. I wasn't afraid of the demon releasing the energy, but my instincts were. It was only natural to fear those more powerful and this demon was at the top.
"What the…?" the demon exclaimed, looking around the cell in absolute fear. I wanted to laugh. "What is going on?!"
"They're…here… You…will…die." Another shuddering breath. "They won't…let you…live…"
"But how? Everything was going according to plan! It was flawless! There weren't any places for error! What could have gone wrong?"
"You're…an…idiot…" I repeated.
"N-No! I won't believe it! I—" The back wall was blown to pieces, cutting off the spider's rant. Judging from the youki, the newcomer was very, very angry. And judging by the amount of anger rolling off of the youkai in waves, I knew anyone that got in the way would be slaughtered. "I-It's y-you! P-Please, d-d-don't hurt me! I'll do whatever you want. J-Just please—" In a flash of light, the youkai was nothing more than a pile of ashes.
"Hn. Pathetic," the newcomer spoke. A shaky smile spread across my lips. I knew he'd come for me. I just wished it was sooner. But as Father always said, "It's better for help to come after you truly needed it, than not at all." Father should have been a prophet. "Ayame." Clawed fingers stroked my cheek tenderly. I hadn't even heard him move.
"Y-You…c-came…" I breathed, struggling to contain my tremors. "I…I thought…" I started to cough, blood spewing from my mouth. God, I hoped I didn't get any on him. That would have been most embarrassing.
"Do not speak. Save your energy."
I felt myself being hoisted bridal-style into strong arms. Looking up into golden eyes, I realized I'd zoned out again. My mind was all over the place and I couldn't focus on one single thing. I guessed that was what happened when someone was dying.
"L-Lo…L-Lor… L—"
"This Sesshomaru told you to refrain from speaking," Sesshomaru growled, tightening his grip on me. "You will obey!"
I almost laughed. He was desperate and worried. For once in his life, Sesshomaru didn't know what to do. It made me want to laugh, but I knew it would be painful and I wasn't about to go through that again. It already hurt to breathe and I was doing a hell of a lot of that; I didn't need any more pain.
"I am…dying…" I whispered, my eyes welling with tears. Speaking it aloud made it so much more real. "I won't…make it… P-Please… P-Please…" Silent tears made their way down my cheeks. I was leaving my best friend and surrogate father behind. If I had my way, I'd overcome the venom and stay with them. But obviously, fate had other plans.
"No, you will not die," he hissed, his golden eyes narrowed. "This Sesshomaru will not allow you to die."
I laughed then. It was raspy and weak, but it was a laugh nonetheless. How silly we were to believe that he'd be able to save me; that his words meant anything. I knew what I was feeling and I knew what it meant.
Oh, fates. I thought to myself, my eyes closing. How cruel you are.
