Meeting
A few days later found Suriel rested and mostly healed. The village had once again begun reconstruction and most of the work was finished. In fact, the village had been rebuilt much faster than usual as Suriel had lent her considerable strength. "Just a little more to the left if you could Lady Suriel." Suriel grinned at the young man on the ground and moved the log more to the left. He nodded and she secured the log down. As she jumped down lightly to the ground a few of the other men and boys climbed up to finish the roof of the last building.
Suriel accepted the water gourd from Sanosuke with a grateful smile. She took a drink and then cupped her hands together to get some water to splash on her face as he poured it for her. "That's the last building isn't it, Sano?"
"Yes, construction's gone much faster than usual. We have you to thank Suriel. You've done so much for us already. Still, and meaning no offense Lady, but you aren't like most of the demons here."
Suriel assessed him for a moment with clear emerald eyes, "No? You are sure to get some rabble wherever you go you must realize. Do you mean to tell me that there aren't any like I around here?"
"Precious few, Lady Suriel. Demons and the like don't mix with humans very often around here."
"Well, there's the difference then. In the South we had many friendships with the humans of the jungle…or at the very least we reached an understanding with those that disagreed with us. Some of my attendants growing up were humans. I was quite fond of Kotori before she passed when I was a child. She taught me many things and I never truly got the chance to repay her."
Sanosuke was quiet for a time as he digested the life that this very decidedly odd demoness had lived thus far, "I'm sure your attendant was glad to have met you. Perhaps you could think of it like this Lady, while you may never be able repay her you have done much for us that we will never be able to repay." Suriel just shook her head gently.
"You offered me a place to stay when I was injured and the whole village has been nothing but kind to me since. You've already repaid me plenty." Sanosuke just lifted a hand behind his head and scratched his head in an embarrassed fashion.
"Still, you've done plenty today. Take the rest of the day off, won't you?"
She smiled again, "If you insis—"
Her sentence was interrupted by a young woman's shout, "Lady Suriel! It's Koto! He just fainted and we don't know what to do! Will you come?" With a parting rueful smile and wave she left Sanosuke and followed after the young woman.
"Bring me to him, Yuumei. I will do what I can."
The woman nodded and pulled open the door to her house. Her adopted son (for it was she who had adopted both Mariko and Koto when their mother was slain) was laying on a futon in the middle of the floor. Suriel knelt by the boy and placed a clawed hand on his forehead. Her emerald eyes narrowed slightly. He shifted slightly in his sleep and cried out lightly. She moved her hand to the pulse in his throat and felt for that for a few seconds before she sat back. Yuumei was watching her with a worried mother's countenance. She smiled reassuringly to her. "Koto has a fever right now. He may be suffering from a type of poisoning from the demons…it's a late on set but it should be curable. I'll just need to go to the lake to pick some of the herbs and flowers there. Perhaps Mariko can come with me? In the meantime if you would get some water and keep him cool that would help."
Yuumei nodded gratefully and Mariko emerged from the shadows from where she had been watching the whole scene which Suriel had been aware of. Suriel got to her feet and after making sure that Mariko was following she exited the building. They walked down the street and stopped for only a moment for Suri to grab her sword before they left the village's outer edges and crossed out of the barrier that had so far managed to keep the village unmolested.
Mariko was silent for a few paces but then stopped in the middle of the path and she spoke, "Lady Suriel, do you think you can save Koto?" The little girl's fists were clenched tightly at her sides and she was keeping her gaze fixed firmly on the ground before her. Suriel appraised her silently for a few seconds but then her heart softened at the sight of the child and she walked back and knelt in front of her.
She rested one hand on the girl's bony shoulder and spoke softly, "Mariko, you know that I will do what I can for him. Why do you ask this?"
The girl's eyes began to pool with water and her lip trembled but she stubbornly resisted against tears. "I…well… Koto. He's my only family, you see. I dun… don't…want anything to happen to him." Suriel carefully wiped away the tears that were falling from crystalline blue eyes and then pulled the child into a hug. Mariko clung to her newfound friend and began to weep. Suriel carefully ran her hands through the child's hair and murmured reassurances.
Eventually, the tears slowed and then stopped and after giving Mariko one last hug Suriel stood, "I'll do my best, Mariko. There is nothing worse than losing your family." She turned slightly as she spoke so she wasn't looking directly at the young child and her hands clenched once again as the pain speared deep. Her eyes darkened at the memories that rose to the surface. Being trapped in the darkness she wasn't prepared for the human girl to surprise her. Mariko stepped close to the dog demon and gently rested a hand on her clenched fists and then slowly intertwined her fingers through Suriel's.
"You lost them-your mum and dad?" Suriel turned ancient eyes towards the child and wordlessly nodded. The girl nodded and seemed lost in thought for a while but then she impulsively reached forward and embraced the dog, "We're your new family then. Just like you protected us, we will protect you, Lady Suriel."
The darkness receded from emerald depths and Suriel slightly smiled down at the girl and ran one hand affectionately through her tangled brown hair, "Who is 'we'?"
Mariko grinned in childish delight, "The whole village! We can be your new family can't we?" Suri's smile grew and she nodded. Then the two turned and continued their walk to the lake.
"Jaken, stay with Rin." This was said in a calm voice that brooked no arguments.
The small green imp nodded his head emphatically, "Of course, Lord Sesshomaru, but where are you going?"
"That is none of your concern. Ah-Un will stay as well." The two-headed beast nodded his head and then walked away to graze under some nearby trees. As he reached the tree-line a small shadow slipped off his back and ran towards the dog demon and the imp.
"Lord Sesshomaru, will you be gone for long?" The girl asked as she bent down near her Lord and began to pick the many brightly colored flowers that grew along the lake's banks. She attempted to give some to her green companion who waved them away irritably. She frowned slightly but then gathered up the fallen flowers. She looked to Sesshomaru for his answer.
"No, I won't be. Rin, Jaken will see to your supper." With that the Lord turned and was gone swiftly disappearing in the forest. 'This scent…can it be Naraku?'
"Good-bye my lord! Jaken, come on let's find some food." The girl bent down and started to rummage through the tall grass while the imp muttered to himself and walked away deeper into the forest.
"So, the small white flowers will help reduce fever while the roots of the tall grass stalk will help with poisoning?" Mariko asked as she bounded along behind Suriel.
"That's correct Mariko. In addition, the red flower's leaves can be crushed to make a tea that will ease pain." As they got closer to the lake Suriel slowed and then inhaled deeply. There was a demon scent strong on the wind. She took a few paces closer to the edge of the forest and then held out an arm to block Mariko from running forward into the meadow, "Stay here, Mariko. I will call to you when it's safe." Suriel eased into the clearing and scanned the scene before her.
Three things caught her attention at once. One was a small girl child (not belonging to the village which she was quickly beginning to see as her own) that was gathering up bunches of flowers. The second was a small green imp asleep under the shade of a nearby oak tree. The third was a reasonably strong demon hunting the child. The demon apparently brushed against something as he stalked ever closer because the child turned and dropped the flowers in fright while screaming out, "Lord Sesshomaru! Jaken!"
Ignoring the nearby green imp's sudden start to wakefulness Suriel surged forward her claws already beginning to glow blue-black. The whip of blue-black energy cracked towards the demon and caught it on its shoulder. As the demon turned around it pushed the child to the ground and hissed out a breath, "You aren't the dog daiyokai. Do you really think that I need fear you?"
Emerald eyes narrowed and flashed amber and then the blue-black whip again snapped towards the demon and this time it incinerated him where he stood. Suriel walked the rest of the way forward towards where the child had fallen. Suriel knelt down and carefully swept the black bangs from the girl's forehead. She let out a small groan but then she opened her eyes, "Lord Sesshomaru thank—oh…you are not my lord."
Ignoring the new name she carefully helped the child sit up, "No. You may call me Suriel. Are you okay?"
The girl nodded her head emphatically, "I'm fine. My name is Rin."
"It's nice to meet you, Rin. Are you here alone?"
"No, I'm with Ah-Un and Jaken. They protect me. I should have been paying attention though. I was just trying to find some supper…" She gestured back towards the fallen flowers, berries, and roots that she'd been gathering before she had been attacked.
"So, where is this Jaken of yours?" Suriel asked as she surveyed the clearing. Her question was soon answered.
"Rin, you stupid girl! What are you doing now? Who is this?" The green imp of before was suddenly in front of both of them hopping around and flailing both his arms and staff around in anger. Suriel's eyes narrowed slightly as Rin cringed behind her at the imp's outburst. The dog demon raised a hand and thwacked the imp across the head.
"That's enough." At the no-arguments-allowed tone the kappa demon fell silent as he looked up at a demoness of similar appearance to Lord Sesshomaru. He gulped but grabbed his staff tighter anyway.
"How dare you hit me? Fear the wrath of the staff of two heads!" He raised the staff but as he did so Rin jumped in front of Suriel with her arms held out. Suriel went to grab the child to protect her from the staff but before she could do so a well-aimed rock took out the green imp. He fell forward onto his face and Suriel bit back a smile. She schooled her features though and turned scolding eyes towards Mariko who was walking closer another rock held in hand—just in case.
"I thought I told you to wait for my call, Mariko."
"Family protects family, Lady." The child said stubbornly.
Suriel just shook her head at the comment while smiling. However, her features turned frosty as she moved to pin the imp who was just getting to his feet nursing a bump on his head with her gaze, "Let's get something straight, imp. You are no match for me and you nearly harmed the children with that ridiculous staff. You try anything like that again and it will be your last act. Are we clear?" The imp gulped and nodded wordlessly.
Suriel turned back and watched as the two girls stared at each other not saying anything. The dog demon shook her head again this time as another smile crossed her features, "Come now, you two. It shouldn't be so hard to get acquainted. Rin, this is my friend Mariko. Mariko, this is Rin."
The two shuffled their feet for a moment or two before Rin broke the silence. "You want to pick flowers?" Rin asked as she smiled at Mariko. Mariko smiled back and then the two were gathering flowers. Suriel watched the acquaintanceship grow from silent work, to a few quiet remarks (that's a pretty flower! Oh, look at these ones!), and then finally to laughing and playing. Suriel smiled once more and then began to gather the herbs that she needed for the sick Koto. She kept the children in her sight but eventually they began to wander further and further away. Suriel was just bending to grab a red flower when she heard two small thumps. Instantly forgetting the red flower she rose and walked towards where the two children had fallen in a ring of familiar blue flowers. For a moment, memories resurfaced but she grimly pushed them back in order to check on the kids.
She knelt and carefully felt both foreheads. Judging from the way their eyes were rapidly moving beneath their lids, they were asleep and dreaming. Suriel cocked her head to the side at the odd phenomenon and then looked once more at the blue flowers surrounding her in a ring. Carefully picking one she brought it to her nose and inhaled. Emerald eyes narrowed thoughtfully and she threw the flower away. Gently picking up both of the small girls she moved them away from the sleep inducing flowers. "Jaken, come here."
The green imp obeyed, although reluctantly, and came to stand by the children. "What's wrong with them?"
"They've been knocked unconscious. I need you to go into the forest and bring a vine with white flowers. It will help them wake." The imp stared haughtily at the demon and she growled lowly, "Now, imp!" Jaken obeyed slightly running away from her.
Once again she knelt down in front of the children and carefully checked their temperatures and pulses again. Just as she was pulling her hand back from Rin's forehead she stiffened and slowly stood and turned around. Another demon had entered the clearing. She took in the long silver-white hair and golden eyes before her eyes traveled down to see a billowing furry pelt and armor similar to her father's. His look was completed by two swords at his waist. She refused to admit that he was absolutely breathtaking. Still, she could tell that he was powerful but perhaps a bit arrogant as well. The male moved closer to the children and her emerald eyes narrowed as she moved to block him, "Back off. This village is mine."
For a moment the male's eyes narrowed and he spoke quietly, "I have no need for humans or their villages." He took another step towards the children. Suriel instantly growled a warning. Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow, "Interesting…you think to challenge me." It was at this point that the imp emerged from the forest and after seeing Sesshomaru he quickly dropped the vine by the children and ran toward him.
"My lord, you've returned!"
Ignoring the imp Sesshomaru once more moved forward towards the now twitching children. The vine was doing its work and awakening them. Suriel outright snarled, "I thought I told you to stay away from them."
The daiyokai stopped and surveyed the demoness before him, "You are a dog demon. How did you come upon this land?"
Suriel smiled ruthlessly, "How I came upon this land is none of your concern. Now leave here."
It was at this that the imp began to flail about in anger. His fists waved comically in the air as he bounced around in fury, "Impudent wench! Don't you know who you are speaking to? The great Lord Sesshomaru!"
Suriel raised her head causing her hair to cascade down her back in a thick black wave, "The name means nothing to me. Now, I'll ask this just once more. Leave here." Sesshomaru took a step towards the unconscious Mariko and once again an angry rumble rose from Suriel while her eyes flashed amber. "The child is mine." As soon as Sesshomaru began to move again she stepped toward him and drew her sword. This time it was he that growled lowly. Emerald eyes narrowed as she met the now sparking golden orbs of the Lord before her.
Jaken chose this moment to speak once more, "Sesshomaru saved that girl from death, impudent wench." He quickly ran between both dog demons and towards the place where the children were now stirring. He poked Rin sharply in the side, "Rin! Wake up you stupid girl!" It was as both Rin and Mariko were stirring and beginning to sit up that both Sesshomaru and Suriel's eyes narrowed. In a flash Suriel had reached the children and quickly picked both them and the imp up. Just as quickly she has spirited back across the clearing and towards the dog demon that a moment before she'd been ready to battle. He was the lesser of the two evils she reasoned to herself after thinking about what the imp had said. If he cared for Rin then it stood to reason that he would protect her. She turned towards the trees where many points of lights marked the places of a horde of demons gathering. In the distance smoke rose in an acrid cloud and when the wind shifted Suriel could both hear and scent the cries and blood that thickened the air.
She began to shake with barely contained anger as a weaker scent drifted through the scents of the villagers whom she was sure now lay dead among the debris of their village. Suriel deposited the children in front of a boulder and then placed the imp in front of them, "Guard them, imp. If you fail your life is mine." Jaken gulped and grasped his staff closer to him. From there she moved to stand at the male dog demon's side. She looked at his face and ignoring the slight butterflies in her stomach (this was neither the time nor the place) spoke quietly, "This does not have to be your battle. Take the children away from here. Please."
Sesshomaru glanced at her with golden eyes, "I cannot allow something like this on my territory. These demons question my strength."
She shook her head angrily at the demon's apparent ego, "This battle is meant for me. Those that are coming will strike at me through my weaknesses, in this case the child." Suriel's eyes flicked towards Mariko who was now sitting up sleepily. She spoke the next bit practically, "It will be worse for me if I have to worry about multiple people." Sesshomaru watched as she stiffened when the wind again blew towards her, pushing back black hair to highlight the sunburst on her forehead, but bringing with it a scent (apparently well-known to the female dog demon) that had the female's eyes widening.
Suriel gasped slightly as a familiar panther demon emerged into the clearing wiping bloody hands on his tunic, "So glad to see that you are alive, dear Suri. Did you miss me?"
Her eyes clouded with confusion and but then hardened as once again the wind brought answers, "Raziel…or should I say Naraku. You bastard! Come and fight me yourself!" Sesshomaru stiffened as a familiar mocking laughter echoed around the clearing shadowed by the buzz of the saimyosho.
"I am here for an experiment only. I have no need to show myself to a weak puppy like you, Suriel—princess of the south." Sesshomaru eyes widened as he took in the young female daiyokai before him. How did that half-demon manage to know more about her than he—the great Lord Sesshomaru?
"Suriel, dear Suri, you should know that you can't be absent-minded in battle. It could get you killed. After all your last lapse got me killed." Suriel shook her head at the barbed comment and blinked rapidly filling eyes at the pain. She shook her head. The panther demon laughed and abruptly switched topics as his emerald eyes swept over towards Sesshomaru, "Who is this, Suriel? Have you replaced me so fast? Still, I'm sure that he can't protect you as well as me. Let's test it shall we?" He snapped his fingers and instantly the demons emerged from among the trees. Suriel tightened her hand on her sword while glancing at the dog demon at her side.
"Please, take the children from here. I can stop them," she looked back at the panther demon and swallowed but then continued calmly, "I can stop them all." Raziel's eyes glinted with amusement and he laughed again.
Sesshomaru looked between the female and the panther appraisingly but then shook his head, "No. These demons question my power. They will die today."
Suriel opened her mouth to argue but then her eyes lit with understanding and she nodded grimly, "Fine. Let's make it quick then." As the approaching horde drew closer Suriel unsheathed her sword and raised it in the air. She eyed the oncoming demons and snarled, "No closer. You will not come a step closer." A swiftly moving wind began to spiral around the female and pushed back midnight hair exposing eyes that glinted pure amber-gold as the emerald receded and she once again snarled. Her sword bit through the air and behind her a black phoenix spread dark wings in flight blue flames flashing from its talons even as similar flames erupted and spiraled around Suriel.
Sesshomaru watched as the female unleashed a surprising amount of power and his golden eyes widened in slight surprise. Despite that he turned his attention back towards the oncoming mass of demons and narrowed his eyes even as a slight growl emerged from his throat. This time it was Suriel who turned to watch as the male dog demon, Sesshomaru she recalled, raised his sword and then swiftly moved it into a horizontal position. Her eyes widened in awe as the power surging around the dog increased seven-fold and his blade turned blue. The power moved from sword tip to air and a dragon twined behind the dog while blue lightning crackled around his form. Such power…
Although the two had never fought before their attacks when they came were simultaneous.
"Phoenix Swipe."
"Dragon Strike."
The black phoenix took wing and flew straight into the hovering saimyosho decimating them to ash before it spiraled up and then dove into the dragon's electric attacks to merge the two powers. That attack when it struck eliminated the majority of the remaining demons, save for the strongest.
Sesshomaru was once again slightly surprised as he felt her power merge easily with his own increasing the dragon strike's attack. However, Suriel saw neither her first attack nor the merged attack that followed; instead she had shaken away her fears and launched herself forward through the remaining demons. Her blue-black whip spiraled around her slashing several demons converging on her to bits but already she was moving forward, her claws lengthening and glowing blue-black. The next demon she took on landed a blow to her shoulder which, while making her narrow her eyes in pain, didn't slow her for long. She stepped around the headless body and returned her sword to its sheath as she moved forward to her true enemy.
In the space cleared of bodies that she had made she faced Raziel. Her eyes narrowed and she abruptly sent her whip spiraling towards him. He dodged as she has expected but she was already leaping forward to punch towards him. He blocked and returned the punch. She caught the blow on her cheek and flew back a few yards before she landed on her feet. She wiped the blood from her mouth and faced him, "I guess Naraku made this puppet look extremely life-like. For a moment it was almost like fighting the real thing." The cat in front of her grinned again. Her eyes narrowed at the shadow slinking towards her along the ground and then she leaped high into the air to avoid the black explosion. She landed again a few yards away from the newly formed crater her eyes now showing the slightest trace of confusion, "That's impossible."
Suriel felt hands close around her arms and bring her back against a strong body, "No, not impossible. You see Suriel, Naraku has a habit of bringing things back that shouldn't be here. I'm not a replica of your departed Raziel. I am Raziel."
"No!" It was a cry of anguish and Suriel struggled to free herself from her captor. Again the almost insane laughter bubbled from the cat as he wrapped his arms around her in a pseudo-hug. Suriel shook her head from side to side as she struggled against so familiar a strength. His scent washed over her and she felt her heart leapt even as the deep sorrow broke against her like a wave. He was alive! But he was also so very very wrong. Raziel wouldn't become this. He couldn't.
"What power he's gifted me with, Suri, far more than I ever would have had as your protector. Just think an entire village slaughtered in just a few minutes and all by my hand. It was quite fun listening to their screams." Raziel brought one hand up from around her waist and wrapped it around her throat tilting her head to the side. He brought his lips close to her ear, "You want to know a secret, Suriel? They all screamed your name as they died."
Throughout his monologue her struggling had not ceased but as he said the last she abruptly stilled. Her trembling which had started as soon as she threw the first punch eased. "You bastard. Naraku may have brought back his body but you are not Raziel." She growled lowly and swiftly freed one of her arms and just as quickly elbowed him in the stomach. His breath whooshed out at the impact and then she was dropping to the ground and swiping his legs out from underneath him. He fell to the ground. She stood over him and abruptly unsheathed her sword and pointed it at his throat, "He would not do the things you've done. Your hands are bathed in blood of the innocent. Raziel would not do these things."
The panther demon grinned manically once more, "You think if you do not see me as Raziel that it will be so easy to kill me? Well, go right ahead and try Suri." He even tilted his head back more to expose his throat, "However much you wish to deny it though I am him: your protector, your friend, and your love." Tears were freely falling down Suriel's cheeks now and her sword arm was trembling. Still, she raised her sword up and then brought it down.
The tip of the sword barely pricked his throat before she cried out and threw her sword away before falling to her knees. The panther grinned and swiftly palmed his dagger and leapt towards her; seizing the dog's moment of weakness for what it was—a brief lapse of concentration that wouldn't last long. However, three things happened in rapid succession. A swiftly moving white blur rammed into the stunned dog demon pushing her away and to the ground, a sword parried the dagger blow, and a voice spoke, "You've remained on my territory long enough. It's time for you to die."
The panther grinned even as the sword plunged through his chest. Sesshomaru ignored the anguished cry of the female slowly getting to her feet beside him and pulled the sword out and sheathed it before lifting the panther up by the collar of his tunic. Raziel once again began to laugh manically, "You are so predictable, Sesshomaru. This is exactly what Naraku said you would do. Now, who is protecting the children?"
Sesshomaru's eyes widened and Suriel gasped. Her eyes quickly moved over to see the children huddling by the boulder with the small imp demon planted on the rock facing away from them and towards the small battalion of demons that had crept from the other side of the clearing waving his staff around wildly while it spewed forth flames.
"He wins." The panther said before he quickly threw several needles towards the children. Little Mariko seeing the danger pushed Rin to the ground and quickly knelt over her exposing her back. Sesshomaru dropped the panther to the ground but Suriel was already moving. As she approached she quickly realized there would be no time to parry so she did the next logical thing and dropped to the ground in front of the children her arms coming around to pull them towards her and to safety. She winced slightly as she felt the needles bury themselves into the shoulder that was already bleeding but then her eyes widened as she felt something foreign enter her bloodstream. She pushed the children away from her.
"Lady Suriel! Are you okay?" Suriel didn't answer but instead sat trembling on the ground. The panther had since moved towards the trees.
"He predicted she would do that too. Let's see what you can do Suriel." She whipped her head around and snarled as her eyes widened and her mouth began to elongate. She glared at the panther demon. He grinned once more and then raised his hand in farewell before he melted into the forest's shadows and disappeared. Her emerald eyes phased amber gold and moved passed that to red with the smallest circle of amber encircling it. Her trembling increased as she fought against the change. She moved her gaze towards Sesshomaru as she began to shake. Her fists were clenched and blood dripped steadily through her fingers as claws bit deep into her palms.
"Sesshomaru…get the…children to safety. I…this isn't…I can't control it." Her snarling increased and then sickly black purple flames erupted around her and when they cleared an enraged black dog demon stood in Suriel's place. She whirled around to face the children red eyes nearly insane. Still, little Mariko moved forward once again in front of Rin and held out her arms. While he had moved forward to prevent the demoness from harming Rin, Sesshomaru stopped when the other small child stepped in front of Suriel and watched the dog for a moment as she struggled with herself.
"Lady Suriel, you won't hurt us." The dog moved closer but then stopped. Her neck began to strain forward once again but then Suriel began to shake her head from side to side and whined. When she looked at the children again the amber ring was more pronounced but already growing slimmer. Still, Suriel had enough will power to leap over the children and the stunned imp and begin to savagely rip apart the few demons that were left. However, her attacks were not coordinated and her defense near non-existent which caused wounds to accumulate that would not normally have occurred. Sesshomaru watched this and pondered the abrupt change in the fighting style. She had been, he admitted grudgingly, a powerful and graceful opponent when fighting the demons before so how was it that she was now allowing herself to be wounded? Eventually, the last demon was killed—his skull crunched to nothing in Suriel's mouth.
Sesshomaru who had come to stand by the children to watch the fight now spoke, "Jaken, take the children and leave here."
"But my Lord, the other girl too?" Sesshomaru turned golden eyes to meet the imp and instantly Jaken was excessively bowing, "Of course, my Lord, of course! Rin, little girl, come on, let us leave."
For a moment the child stopped and Sesshomaru read the deep mistrust in the crystalline blue depths. He turned his gaze away from her and looked towards the dog that was savagely ripping apart the remains—black fur coat matted with all the collected blood of her enemies and self. "Your Lady will be okay."
Rin moved forward and grabbed the little girl's hand and tugged her towards the tree line where Ah-un waited, "It is okay, Mariko. If Lord Sesshomaru says that Lady Suriel will be okay then she will be. Lord Sesshomaru will bring her back safe." The girl looked back just once at the black dog demon before she allowed herself to be guided towards the dragon and from there lifted into the sky as they escaped the battle.
Sesshomaru waited until the female whirled around once more and met the red eyes impassively, "Surely this carnage is enough for you. Return to normal at once." A low snarling was all the reply that he got, "Or is it perhaps that you are unable to? That is a weakness. I won't allow such weakness to survive. Prepare yourself."
He rushed forward and drew his sword in the same instant. She growled and poisonous saliva dripped from razor sharp canines. Sesshomaru ignored the poison cloud and instead leapt through it to impale his sword in her shoulder where a newly formed scar had just barely begun to heal. That wound had been deep indeed for a scar to form. She snarled and reared up breaking his grip on his sword. He jumped away from her flashing claws and teeth and allowed a whip of yellow to emerge from his glowing claws. Suriel shook herself, dislodging the sword from her shoulder, and then narrowed her eyes. Sesshomaru met the amber ringed red gaze for a moment before he sent the whip spiraling towards her. Instead of blocking the dog seemed to move into the blow allowing it to slice another clean cut across her stomach from which blood gushed to pool on the ground where a purple black miasma swirled through it. His eyes slightly widened as he met the knowing amber-red gaze again. Was she really willingly allowing him to hurt her to fight against the poison? What was it that this female was thinking? He shook his head, "Defend yourself. I will not cut down an enemy that accepts death so willingly."
Suriel growled lowly at the implied insult but refused to take the bait. Sesshomaru glared and the whip disappeared, "If you will not defend yourself I will make it so you have no choice but to." Golden eyes widened and swiftly turned to a deep red with sapphire blue pupils while jaws elongated. A spiral of wind rushed around the daiyokai and when it cleared a white dog stood balanced on three legs.
He snarled and poison dripped from bared fangs. Suriel, while able to hold herself back from a demon in a humanoid form, growled savagely in the face of a dog seemingly challenging her authority. Suriel felt the anger that was provoked by the poison intensify. Idiot male! I thought he knew what I was trying to do. Why won't he help m-? Her mind blanked as she was pushed back to the brink of true insanity and thoughts and words lapsed back into the utter blackness of rage. The black dog's eyes glinted crimson—no trace of amber—and she charged. The white dog met the charge and then they were on their hind legs clawing viciously at each other while jaws bit deep. Although the white dog was clearly larger he had to contend with a slight imbalance caused by his missing limb and for a while a nearly insane Suriel capitalized on it. They crashed across the meadow as a blur of black and white until finally the white dog pinned the female to the ground. Sesshomaru panted as he held her down and while she struggled it was weaker as blood continued to pool from various wounds. His own blood dripped down to speckle her fur even as hers had splattered across his snowy coat.
With a savage growl Sesshomaru lunged forward and bit deeply into Suriel's shoulder ignoring the pain as the poisonous purple miasma entered his mouth. Crazed red eyes met red-blue as more and more blood dripped from the midnight dog's body and slowly the amber ring was able to overtake the crimson madness. As the amber grew more pronounced Suriel's struggles ceased as once again rational thought returned and she willingly submitted herself to the pain to be rid of the poison coursing through her veins. Sesshomaru watched patiently, jaws still buried deep in her shoulder, until emerald flecked amber was all that remained. She never once looked away. Soon after, the blood that dripped into his mouth was clear of miasma and she heaved a sigh. He released her and moved backwards but then bent his head forward again and ran his tongue over the wound allowing it to clot. The dog padded a few paces away and then the trees' leaves rustled as twin spirals of power—marked by blue-black fire and a whirlwind of wind—allowed the dogs to shift back. Sesshomaru remained standing but the female fell to the ground. He moved closer to her and watched as lids slowly lifted to reveal emerald depths, "Thank you." Her eyes closed and Suriel knew no more.