"What the hell was that!" A certain dog barked in irritation. Fon gave a slight hum as she considered her answer. It was times like these that she wished she had mist flames, but would that even work on a demon anyway? Her Storm flames had, but those were nicknamed 'the flames of infinite destruction'. Especially hers as she was the strongest storm. An atypical at that.
"Red flames ye say. Perhaps the child's curse affects her purifying flames?". Kaede suggested neutrally, but Fon could read the underlying tones. Every assassin could (and wasn't that ironic?), the priestess was concerned with the possibility. Whatever the case, a convenient excuse had fallen into her lap. Could they start travelling now?
"Curse?" The dog echoed in confusion. Fon looked away from him as Kaede spoke.
"Aye. I do not know the details, but Fon is valiantly fighting a dark curse. The likes of which I have never seen before." It was a bit surreal, some one who wasn't an arcobaleno speaking of curses – true ones – and sounding like they knew what they were talking about.
"How the hell did you get yourself cursed?!" Inuasha yelled in disbelief. Fon, rather than acknowledging him, watched the fire that seemed to always be lit. A beautiful orange, reminiscent of the sky flames that had lured her in. Lichi gave a slight chirp to try and get her attention, causing her to absently pet his head.
"I'm talking to you!" Fon ignored him. He didn't know. Instead she closed her eyes to try and get rid of some of the rage that came with the subject. Try to keep her flames from reacting to her anger.
Atypicals were rarer than Skies, and more feared than Clouds. For good reason too. An atypical Rain would be as quick to anger as the truest storm, but would posses the greatest calming affect when they decided to use Tranquility. An atypical Cloud would be happy being bound and the first to accept an order, but held more rage than a territorial Cloud when provoked. Similarly, an atypical Storm like herself could be the calmest person you'll meet, but underneath the surface layed the fiercest Storm you'd ever see. A raging atypical Storm could prove even more dangerous than a pissed off Cloud. These people weren't prepared to see that. Even the other arcobaleno hadn't been prepared when she'd raged at the curse. Raged at Luce for taking them into it.
"Calm down Inuyasha. Curses are not well received and tend to be sensitive points." Kaede spoke up when she saw the traces of Fon's anger. The assassin gave her a grateful look before standing up with her smile back in place, effectively cutting off the dog demon's retort in the process.
"As interesting as this conversation is… I will be departing now."
Not long after found the would – be priestess perched on a high tree as she regarded the two items she needed to protect with a frown. The pacifier would eventually take her life and given to the next storm arcobaleno, she knew that and had, with a great grudge, come to accept that. The problem lay in the jewel. Kaede had explained what it was, and she remembered an old legend about it, and she had mentally put it on an only slightly lower level than the Trini sett. What would happen to it once she was gone?
Thinking about it, she realized her new friends would realize she wasn't growing if she stayed with them too. The thought brought a whole new wave of rage with it, causing her storm flames to flare up in response. She quickly vacated the tree as it burned to nothing, and how she wanted to make the world burn for what it did to her, and began meditating – a skill that a typical storm would fail abysmally in – to calm down. Perhaps it was too soon after being cursed…
It was like this that Inuyasha would later find her as he sought peace in order to think over his own circumstances.
"Did they cut the tree down or somethin'?" He questioned curiously. Fon just gave a small 'perhaps' in response, disappointed in herself for losing control. The simply huffed and made to walk away before a sting snapped him out of his melancholy mood.
"Ow!" He grunted as he smacked the source – a flea, "well if it ain't myoga the flea." Fon cracked an eye open at his unimpressed voice and glanced as the flattened flea fell to the ground. Lichi stared warily at the flea as he prepared a karate chop his master had taught him. He did not like fleas.
"You are familiar with this one?" She questioned curiously. Inuyasha gave a huff before responding.
"You could say that." Then, as he knelt down, "So what did you come to see me for Myoga?"
"My lord, I have urgent news." The few reported upon inflating itself with a pop. Fon listened curiously as Myoga reported the happenings of the grave of Inuyasha's father, and how a demon wanted to rob it. She decided not to interrupt as she was growing weary of being in that hut, which was likely where they'd go back to. Lichi required some comforting lest he grow hostile to the flea as well. A resigned sigh punctuated the realization that another battle would likely keep them there longer. Perhaps she should take over this one…
It was only her speedy reflexes that allowed her to grab a destracted Inuyasha and move out of the way as the wind she so loved picked up to ominous speeds and a giant demon, likely some ogre, appeared as if from nowhere and tried to crush them with a hand several times Inuyasha's size.
Fon quickly noticed the human sized demon on the larger one's shoulder and, deciding to see how things played out, let Inuyasha take the lead. Fortunately, her companion was quick to recover as he twisted to land on his feet while holding her, soon letting her up on his shoulder as he too noticed the other demon.
"You... Seshomaru!" He shouted causing Fon to him in question. The other demon seemed to disregard Inuyasha however as he studied Fon, his gaze sweeping over the jewel and pacifier without interest as he studied her.
'Is this the other cursed one those others mentioned?' Sesshomaru thought in mild curiosity before turning his attention on Inuyasha. 'It matters not. He is why I am here,'
"Admirable, so you remember your older brother." He spoke mockingly, unable to help a small at the end. His brother didn't seem to have changed. The half – bread who disgraced his kind.
"Brother hmm." Sesshomaru nearly gave a reaction to the soft voice that carried over the wind. He hadn't known a human to be capable of such a voice, particularly a cursed one. She was just simply too … calm. Cursed humans typically either cowered or raged for the duration of being cursed.
"A mortal, how interesting." He stated, taking note of how confidently she sat on Inuyasha's shoulder.
_-_–-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Back to Fon's POV.
Fon gave a soft hum as she regarded the demon. He didn't seem to have a high opinion of humans … and yet this had become a family matter for Inuyasha. If there was one thing the mafia valued more than their flames, it was family. For that reason Fon had no right to interfere if not attacked. She just gave her usual smile and jumped to another tree to watch the proceedings.
Inuyasha seemed to take her movement as a cue as he jumped to attack his brother, only to be cut off by a scream.
"Inuyasha!" The mentioned dog halted his attack as he caught sight of the woman in the demon's other hand, landing harshly back on the ground as he regarded her in open shock. By all appearances, the woman was human and yet something was … off. Fon couldn't quite tell what though.
"Mother?" Inuyasha questioned in disbelief. Don's smile faded as Sesshomaru asked about their father's grave. Yes, a true family matter, but something didn't add up. If Inuyasha had been sealed fifty years ago… his mother shouldn't be so young. After a moment, her smile returned. Who was she to say such things? Even so, this one was different.
"Fon! Take my mother and get out of here!" Inuyasha suddenly called after freeing her. Fon nodded and jumped over to her side, proceeding to remove her chains.
"I think not!" Sesshomaru called out in rage. Fon looked up to see a hand coming to her and forwent untangling the chains in favor of getting to safety. Unfortunately, she forgot her small size and tripped on the adults greater size, causing Inuyasha to have to jump in the way. The next thing she knew, there was a bright flash and she was unconscious.
Inuyasha POV.
When Inuyasha woke up, he was surprised to find himself in a beautiful field. Fortunately, fon was nearby and he quickly picked her up, and Lichi too, though with great reluctance there, making a confused face at the chains. Luckily, she seemed to be okay and the jewel was untouched. This was his chance to take it … but what about his mother? Where was she?
"Where am I?" He asked as he looked around upon realizing the question.
"This is the border to the spirit world." Inuyasha turned around to see his mother standing behind him, a sorrowful smile on her face, "I must be going back," she finished upon getting his attention. Inuyasha got on his feet, Fon remaining in his arms, in order to properly face her.
"Going back? Well you are dead and all I guess." But did she have to go so soon? Couldn't they have more time? With this thought in mind, he followed her when she forced herself to turn around and walk away. The chains that were on Fon concerned him, but his mother wasn't worried about it so he put it out of his mind. He didn't notice Fon crack an eye open to regard the woman suspiciously before closing it again. After a few seconds, his mother spoke once more.
"The child is beautiful. Is she yours?" Inuyasha gave a small start at the question, noticing his mother looking at him questioningly. Looking down, Inuyasha couldn't help imagine the scenario. If Fon had been his and Kikyo's child.
"No. She … she's cursed to look like this … I think." He really couldn't lie to her. Maybe everyone else he ever met, but not her. His mother looked said.
"Such a terrible age, and you … all alone … with no one to care for you …How can you ever forgive me?". Mother questioned as she adjusted Fon's position.
"It wasn't that bad!" Inuyasha quickly denied. His mother once more gave that sad yet loving smile.
"Inuyasha … I must go now." She said, her voice sounding close to breaking.
"Do you have to?" Inuyasha asked before he could stop himself. His mother once more created that flower in her hand, Inuyasha guessed it was a dead people thing, but this time she tossed it in the water and told Inuyasha to look into it.
Back to Fon
The cursed assassin quietly listened to the whole exchange, even after Inuyasha carefully put her down to look in the water. She knew there was some angle. Such an illusion was just that: an illusion. Having worked with the strongest Mist, Fon was well versed in seeing through them. Nothing short of Viper's illusions would fool her at this point.
When the demon tried to absorb Inuyasha, she struck.
Getting up with a swift spin, she tripped the demon, knocking it away with a puch before it could land on her friend. As Inuyasha remained asleep, she performed a jump kick to knock it into the water, landing calmly on her feet next to Inuyasha who woke up with a gasp and looked around wildly. He soon caught sight of the demon … and noticed she didn't have a face.
"Mother … I fell for it!" He shouted in rage once he put the situation together. Fon gave a small nod, unimpressed with the situation as the illusion faded and Inuyasha saw his true surroundings.
"How disappointing. I should not have listened to Jaken." The duo turned to see Sesshomaru emerge from the mist, a displeased expression on his face. Before Inuyasha could even finish calling out his name in rage, Fon met the demon half way through his charge, using her smaller size to maneuver under Sesshomaru's hand and punch him in the chest, her fist leaving a sizable dent in the metal armor and sending him back. Both speedsters landed swiftly on their feet after the encounter.
"I will be your opponent this time. Sesshomaru." She stated as she held out her hand in one of her many stances. Sesshomaru eyed her for a moment before taking a stance of his own.
"Very well. You die first."
Man, I feel so evil right now. Next chapter: Showdown, Sesshomaru Vs Fon.
Two chapters remain.