Chapter 9: Kawari
Kawari's POV
My name is Kawari, and I can be whatever your heart desires.
I am a full blooded shape shifting demon. Ever since my aunt, who was my only family, was killed by a ruthless and powerful demon, I have used my abilities to my advantage. Whatever someone wants me to be, I can become, real or imaginary. I can look into your mind and find out what kind of woman any man wants, and I can become that. And for the past century, I have been doing this, and when the man's guard is down, I kill them, either to gather information about my aunt's killer or for a paid job.
But no murder has filled that void that has been with me for so long, because a few weeks after my aunt was killed by Naraku, he mysteriously died, some say for a woman, but everyone has their different opinion or twist to the story. Even if they do say a woman was the reason for his death, anyone I have spoken to always have a different description of the woman, so being able to transform into the right girl before reaching the castle was pretty much impossible. But from the information I had gotten from the lizard demon I had just killed earlier, I found out he is now alive again.
Normal POV
Kawari sighed as she looked down at her reflection in the lake. "No one told me this shape shifting thing would have such horrible effects on one's self esteem." she said to herself. Just a few days ago she was a petite woman with porcelain skin, pin straight hair, and purple eyes, and today in her natural form she had lime green eyes, loosely curled auburn hair and an athletic body type. She tugged at the sky blue kimono she had taken from the castle she had escaped from. She knew she wasn't horrid in her natural form, but for some reason she felt more beautiful when she transformed for one of her jobs, because it was like being guaranteed that she would be noticed and wanted.
She looked at her surroundings. She wasn't very sure of where she actually was, but she assumed that she was close to her destination, because there was miasma oozing out into the distance, which many had said was a tell tale sign that he was there. It seemed strange to her that the forest around her looked so peaceful and only a few miles away the man whom everyone either detested or feared was alive again. She pushed on of her curls out of her face as she tried looking through the miasma to find the castle, but it was to no avail. "Stop being so scared Kawari," she whispered to herself, angry at the fact that she was already so nervous. "You've done this a thousand times, and this one will be no different."
She sighed, and she forced her feet to begin moving again. She hadn't had this feeling in a long time, and she couldn't understand why. She had been waiting so long for this chance, with countless hours of training and hundreds of murders under her belt, yet this one felt different, and she didn't understand why.
She continued on, and as she got farther and farther into the miasma, she noticed the environment began to change. The once peaceful and beautiful forest was now full of withering and dying vegetation. She walked over to a rose bush and picked out a midnight blue rose, carefully placing it into her hair. They weren't kidding when they said the miasma was strong, a mortal would've died half a mile ago, she thought to herself as she continued on. She tried sensing someone there, hoping she could get through into Naraku's mind and find this woman he was lusting for, but she couldn't sense any thoughts, which just irritated and frightened her even more.
As the sight of a castle appeared into the horizon, she felt something come up. Humph, he may be physically strong, but his mind still has some work to do... she thought as she slowly began to transform. She had a puzzled look on her face as her skin began to darken into a light mocha color, and her curls began to tighten slightly. After the few minutes that it took for her to transform, she went to a nearby puddle to look at her face. She had thick curly hair that was a chocolate brown, and she had a curvier body that was still toned and slim. But what struck her the most were the eyes. Her eyes seemed to go through every color, from a blue green in the center to a light brown on the outside of the iris. It's something I wouldn't have expected, but I can tell why he wanted her. She's beautiful. she thought to herself. She felt a pang of jealousy come in her, but she continued onto the path.
---0---0---0---
"Hello?" Soledad called out as she opened the door to what seemed like an abandoned hut. She had reached a village that was surprisingly made up of half demons, which seemed ironic because even though Sesshomaru always claimed he detested, she found a village after she left the castle a week ago. Even though she did feel lonely and isolated during the week she had traveled on foot, she felt relief that now Sesshomaru and Kagura could live together and maybe even be happy. She knew she'd be lying to herself if she said she hated Sesshomaru, even with what had occurred the past couple of weeks, but she knew this was for the best. She stepped lightly dimmed room, and as she entered she felt her stomach knot up, as if there was something bad here.
"Yes dear?" Soledad jumped up at the sound of a voice, only to turn around and see an elderly woman standing behind her. She laughed nervously and attempted to smile.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I was alarmed to see you there." she said with a half smile. "I was wondering if there was a vacant hut or room that I could live in....I feeling that I need a fresh start." The old woman's lips tugged into a smile.
"Well, my dear, there is. A woman had just died a week ago, so I hope you don't mind that too much." Soledad shook her head. "I will show you where the hut is." the woman said softly. As they left the hut, Soledad sensed someone was nearby, but she couldn't figure out who it could be. But she shrugged it off as they continue through the village. The usual calls of merchants rang in the air as they sold various goods from fish to garments. As she was absorbing the atmosphere of the village, she pondered whether or not she should stay in the country at all. Maybe if she saved enough money she could leave her past behind and truly start the new life she was trying to create for herself.
"I know this may sound I but nosy, but where was your previous residence? Your fine clothes suggest it must have been a lovely abode." Soledad promptly looked down at her kimono. She had forgotten she was wearing her violet kimono with a black obi, it was a simple kimono out of the ones she had, but the fabric manifested that it was worth a pretty penny.
"Oh, yes, I did reside in a place where the owner was well off, but I found that the two of us would be happier if we were apart." The elderly woman stopped walking once Soledad had finished her sentence, turning towards her. Even though Soledad was about six inches taller than the elderly woman, the deep brown eyes drenched in vexation penetrated through Soledad. The woman's tiny, wrinkled hands that were latent in her scarlet kimono grabbed Soledad's own firmly.
"Well, I hope it was for the best, and that you won't regret it." She said as she lightly tapped Soledad's hands.
"I hope not either." Soledad whispered softly as they continued down to the house.
---0---0---0---
"Mother, you're home!" Sol shrieked out as Kagura swiftly came up to the palace steps. As soon as the guards allowed Kagura in Sol almost tackled her mother to the ground.
"You know Sol, I am not physically capable of handling these mauling all the time." she groaned as she lifted herself up. Kagura began refixing the bun that was made loose by her physical assault.
"Well, you certainly deserved it, mother. Do you realize how long you were gone for?" Sol asked her. "And what you missed?" she whispered.
"Kagura." A shiver went down Kagura's spine as she heard the cold baritone voice call her name. "Come here." it commanded. Sol's eyes flickered with worry as her mother quickly went down the hallway to meet the demon lord.
"Yes?" she said as calmly as she could muster. She knew that this wasn't going to be one of the most positive conversations they've had, not like the past ten had been anyway.
"I noticed the kimono was gone." he stated calmly.
"My dear, there are hundreds of kimonos in the palace, you must state which one you mean." she said in a nonchalant manner. Sesshomaru growled softly.
"Onna, do not test me. You know which kimono I am talking about. And you must know that Soledad is gone now." An unexpected smirk emerged on Kagura's face.
"Oh did she? Good riddance to her. I hope you two had all your fun while I was gone." Kagura said bitterly as she turned to walk away. But before she could even blink he roughly grabbed her arm, causing her to hiss in pain.
"Don't speak of her like that."
"Oh yes, and calling her a whore was such a considerate compliment to her. And no, I had nothing to do with her leaving. But I made sure the two of you will never be together again." Kagura glared at him before ripping her arm out of his grasp, turning to him one more time before heading to her room. "Maybe you should've had your fun with her after all." she said sharply.